Word of Mouth: Healdsburg, California
The picturesque Northern Californian wine country town that crafts delicious culinary experiences with charm and passion From the overflowing pastry case at Quail and Condor Bakery to more than a dozen varieties …
The picturesque Northern Californian wine country town that crafts delicious culinary experiences with charm and passion
Word of Mouth: Healdsburg, California
The picturesque Northern Californian wine country town that crafts delicious culinary experiences with charm and passion
From the overflowing pastry case at Quail and Condor Bakery to more than a dozen varieties of salami at Journeyman, the magic of Healdsburg is much more than the sum of its charming parts. Ask a Healdsburg resident for a recommendation for where to eat or drink and they are likely to say “everywhere”! Walk around the town square, pick a place, and enjoy. This is a town that celebrates the bounty and flavors of California.
One local is excited about the champagne flights at the Bubble Room while another points us to Acorn on the plaza, gushing about their inspired reimagining of California comfort food in a luxe luncheonette style vibe. A popular draw to this celebrated culinary destination, the award winning SingleThread shines through abundant tasting menu presentations with the seasonal offerings from their own farm. Their luxurious five room inn has become a bucket list destination dining experience highlighting local ingredients with Japanese influence. And despite the perfection of the meal it’s presented without that fussy layer that can be offputting.
A little old west, a little bit Stars Hollow, evoking a plaza in a small town in Spain with distinctive Californian charm, Healdsburg has something for anyone who loves small-town charm in a world-class wine region. Here are a few of our favorite places to stay, eat, and drink in this ideal destination.
With so many hotels in the Sonoma valley—from the luxurious Montage to the culinary bucket list SingleThread—there are several charming options around the Healdsburg square and throughout the town. Set in an historic Victorian mansion, The Madrona offers dreamy accommodations with interior design by Jay Jeffers that feels both cozy and maximalist. Just one mile from the center of town, the Madrona looks out over picturesque vineyard views. Enjoy coffee, breakfast, and cocktails on the wrap around porch. Reserve a Bungalow for extra privacy and because they are achingly beautiful.
One step in the door and Little Saint begins to reveal itself, a glamorously designed space, a large evocative painting of animals, cooks at work in the central open kitchen space, and plant-based menus throughout the day. In the morning, they brew Saint Frank coffee and espressos alongside a rotating roster of guest roasters and serve them with breakfast dishes and baked goods. Thursdays feature Live music in their upstairs lounge with cocktails curated by Jonny Fritz.
Troubadour Bread + Bistro / Quail & Condor
After years as chef and baker at SingleThread, Sean and Melissa McGaughey turned their attention to creating their own dining and bakery spaces. If you’re seeking soulfully baked bread this is the place. At Troubadour, sandwiches come out piled on bakery trays ready to devour. Try the chicken salad on a super seed loaf or anything else they have imagined for the day. The chocolate chip cookies are praised by locals and a favorite sweet in a town full of excellent choices. In the evening their dinner features a french inspired menu. Head over to their bakery, Quail & Condor, for even more pastry choices, quiche, and a rotating array of seasonal and holiday bakes.
From their stunning vineyards along the Sonoma Coast to their gorgeous winery and tasting rooms in Healdsburg, the team at Flowers winery has the magic touch. Their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are examples of wines crafted from ideal coastal California grapes. About four miles from the center of town, the House of Flowers drool worthy space was designed by Walker Warner Architects. The exterior has been stained black to highlight the surrounding Redwood grove. Inside the minimalist and rustic space with light cypress walls evokes the quiet luxury of Californian design.
An idea conceived by two friends in an alley behind Spago in Beverly Hills has grown into an inspired focus on making chardonnay, pinot noir, and carignan from older vines, diverse soil types, and heritage clones; fruit is sourced from vineyards spanning 400-miles of Sonoma, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and Yolo counties. Their comfortable tasting room feels like visiting a friend’s house. Don’t miss the Pet Nat, a standout sip with a fun backstory made from harvesting the wrong grapes one night and making sure they did not go to waste. It’s a bright, effervescent lemony sip evocative of the lively and charming town where drinking wine is woven into the fabric of culture.
Venturing up the coastal cliffs to Hirsch Vineyards is a rustic, mostly off the grid experience. A great tasting experience can be found in their comfortable, accessible boutique tasting room in Healdsburg. Sample their estate pinot noirs made by Jasmine Hirsch, who took over for her father David—who originally bought the ridgetop vineyard land in 1978 and planted the first vines in the early 1980s. In the ensuing years they have become known for purity of flavor, telling their own stories so compelling they may inspire a trek up to the vineyard. 
With all this wine tasting, where do people go drinking in Healdsburg? Several restaurants boast large wine lists and fun cocktail menus. Tasting rooms abound, but what about a chill wine bar? That’s what Ryan Knowles, Jade Hufford, and Evan Hufford, formerly of SingleThread, were thinking and made it their mission to open their ideal hangout space. Focusing on offerings by independently owned companies, Maison Healdsburg is the place to drink wine, cider, sake, and beer chosen by seasoned hospitality pros. 
In a small town filled with cafes, options are surprisingly abundant. Black Oak Coffee Roasters, Flying Goat Coffee, Little Saint, and Troubadour all brew up comforting cups of coffee and tea. Find Black Oak at SingleThread and other locals’ restaurants and hotels too. Head to Plank Coffee and roastery for excellent coffee served in a rustic space with NorCal charm. A variety of savory breakfast items and sweets are served with nitro cold brew, honey lattes, and café au laits.
