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While a day visit to our MacRostie Estate House in the heart of the Russian River Valley offers guests an unforgettable tasting experience, for those planning a more leisurely exploration of wine country, the picturesque town of Healdsburg is a must-visit destination.
Centrally located in Northern Sonoma County less than 20 minutes from Santa Rosa and just 5 miles from our Estate House, the idyllic town of Healdsburg has a population of less than 15,000, ensuring its quaint charm.
Despite its small-town vibe, Healdsburg has earned acclaim as a foodie paradise, with world-renowned wineries and restaurants including Michelin-starred gems and family-owned favorites. Healdsburg’s restaurants and hotels are consistently featured on regional and national “best of wine country” lists in such publications as the New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and Sunset Magazine. The town has also been recently spotlighted by Wine Spectator in an article entitled “Healdsburg’s Big Moment: Small-town America meets wine country luxury in this vibrant village in Sonoma” and in the San Francisco Chronicle, in a story by Esther Mobley titled “My Ideal Itinerary for One of Wine Country’s Cutest Downtowns.”
We are delighted to share five of our favorite places to dine in Healdsburg, including some of our Estate House team’s top picks, as well as destinations recommended by our guests and club members.
Located in the vibrant heart of Healdsburg, Gallina D’oro is one of several restaurants in Sonoma County owned by the Diaz family. Combining rustic simplicity with culinary sophistication, it offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a culinary focus on the humble chicken and the versatile egg. Rooted in farm-to-table principles, guests can enjoy shrimp and fish tacos for lunch, or a delicious Mole Oaxaqueño made from twenty rare ingredients for dinner. It is also a great place for breakfast, where you can start your day with homemade Huevos A La Mexicana or Chilaquiles before you embark on a day of wine tasting, Whatever you choose, you’ll leave happy and full.
Founded in 2015 by famed Chef Dustin Valette and his brother Aaron Garzini, who both grew up in Healdsburg where their great-grandfather operated local bakeries, Valette was envisioned as a canvas for local farmers, winemakers, and artisans to showcase their crafts. Valette serves high-quality, yet honest food while offering warm and impeccable service and a collection of acclaimed small-production wines.
With delectable dishes such as Day Boat Scallops en Croute, American Kobe Beef Tartare, and Bone-in Duroc Pork Loin with Front Porch Farms Polenta, the Michelin Guide calls Valette’s cuisine “modern American with a few French twists.” While the a la carte menu is wonderful, we also recommend trying Chef Valette’s five-course ‘trust me’ Tasting Menu.
Named one of the “top 20 tapas restaurants in the U.S.” by Travel + Leisure, one of the “Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants” three years in a row by the San Francisco Chronicle, and a MichelinBib Gourmand selection in 2019, Bravas serves up traditional Spanish and modern tapas-style dishes created by James Beard finalists Mark and Terri Stark.
With an array of both warm and chilled tapas such as Tuna Belly Salad, Bacon Wrapped Dates, and Steamed Clams in Cava, Bravas is great for a lunch or dinner of delectable sharing. Beyond the tapas menu, Bravas does amazing Raciones (large plates served family style) such as Whole Crispy Mount Lassen Trout, as well as made-to-order paellas for two or four diners.
Named one of the “Top 100 Restaurants in America” in 2019 and the recipient of the OpenTable Diner’s Choice 2020, 2022, and 2023, Guiso Latin Fusion is a family-owned restaurant that has been serving Latin American and Caribbean dishes since 2015.
With a focus on local, seasonal cooking, Guiso sources fresh ingredients from local farmers’ markets to create an array of delicious dishes. With an emphasis on family-style dining, the Guiso menu offers everything from Cuban Sliders and Hanger Steak Skewersto Tacos de Pescado made from Bodega Bay rockfish and Spicy Sauteed Wild Prawns in Grandma’s Guiso tomato sauce. Open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner, and for lunch during the summer months, Guiso is a local favorite.
Recognized as one of Sonoma’s premier food and wine experiences, The Matheson is guided by renowned Chefs Nate Davis and Dustin Valette. The menu is a modern ode to Healdsburg’s micro-seasonal ingredients such as locally foraged fungi and purpleheart tomatoes grown on a farm within walking distance of the restaurant.
The menu is divided into Snacks, Garden, Sea, and Land, the food is both seasonal and deliciously sophisticated, with the Michelin Guide writing that The Matheson is an “über-cool space that never takes the focus away from the menu that weaves seasonal products with California flair and Mediterranean elements. The results are thrilling.” With its beautiful location, sophisticated ambiance, and artful plating presentations, it’s an Instagrammable-worthy destination for passionate foodies.
