Today I want to bring you my downtown Healdsburg guide. This small town in Sonoma County sits on the banks of the Russian River in the heart of wine country. It’s known for everything from its sunny plaza to its high-end restaurants, shops, wine tasting rooms, and hotels. Surrounded by some of the best vineyards in Northern California, it’s a great place to come for a day trip or a weekend getaway.
Downtown Healdsburg
There are a lot of fun things to do in downtown Healdsburg. I’ve been coming here for years, and I always enjoy the clothing boutiques, antique treasure troves, bookshops, cellar doors, and hotels. Healdsburg Plaza is a great place to soak up the scene, and the restaurants and coffee shops are some of the best in wine country.
Whether I’m walking around the square, dining at a restaurant with 3 Michelin stars, sipping a coffee (or more likely, wine), or buying gifts, there’s always something to get me excited about this part of Sonoma County.
It’s easy to come here on a day trip from San Francisco or an overnight getaway. You can even do a multi-day Sonoma itinerary and base yourself here. The downtown area is small and walkable, and it makes for fun exploring. You can rent bikes to get around, too.
There’s enough in town to keep you busy for a full day, but you can also go wine tasting in nearby areas like Dry Creek Valley, Russian River, and Alexander Valley. You can combine Healdsburg with a trip to Sonoma or Napa, too.
Where to Stay
If you’re looking to base yourself here, you’re in luck. There are lots of great downtown Healdsburg hotels to choose from. They range from guest houses to luxury properties, and they’re perfect places to stay while you’re visiting. You can book one here.
I’ve stayed at SingleThread in the past, and it’s heavenly. If you can snag one of the 5 rooms, don’t miss the award-winning restaurant, sunny roof terrace, and Japanese-inspired breakfast.
Other great places in the downtown area are the hip Hotel Healdsburg and its eco-friendly sister property, H2Hotel. Right next to the latter is Harmon Guest House, which has a great rooftop bar. Down the road is Hotel Les Mars, a Relais & Chateaux property.
If you want to stay right on the square, Healdsburg Inn is a good choice. And speaking of inns, I’ve had a great stay at the Grape Leaf Inn a few blocks off the square.
If you’re willing to stay a bit farther from the heart of town, Montage Healdsburg is a gorgeous retreat nestled in the hills, and The Madrona has some of the most stunning interiors in wine country.
Downtown Healdsburg Restaurants
If you’re looking to eat, my top picks for restaurants in downtown Healdsburg range from fine-dining establishments to places so casual you can eat outside on the curb.
SingleThread restaurant is the stand-out here. With 3 Michelin stars and food so beautiful you almost don’t want to eat it, it’s a destination in itself. I had a memorable birthday meal here once, with course after course of impressive California-Japanese cuisine (much of which came straight from the husband-and-wife team’s farm).
If you don’t want to book months in advance, there are plenty of other great restaurants in Healdsburg. There’s a vegan restaurant, cafe, wine shop, and market boutique called Little Saint. Set in a beautifully designed space on North Street, it’s spacious, airy, and oh-so-hip.
Then comes Barndiva, a unique restaurant, cocktail lounge, and wine bar set in a barn-like building on Center Street. This place serves up local farm-to-fork American cuisine and has everything from gardens to patios and a studio space on site.
Other noteworthy restaurants in downtown Healdsburg include Valette, which focuses on showcasing local produce, Chalkboard, a small-plates restaurant in Hotel Les Mars, Dry Creek Kitchen in Hotel Healdsburg, and Bravas Bar de Tapas, a tapas restaurant with a great outdoor space.
But I promised you a place you can eat on the sidewalk, and I don’t want to disappoint. Located in the same building as SingleThread, the Journeyman Meat Co. is part butcher, part cafe, and part shop.
It serves up mouth-watering salumi and other casual fare. There are a few tables outside, but when it gets busy, anything will do as an al fresco dining space.
Bars
So what about downtown Healdsburg bars? There are a lot of good ones here, from wine bars to those that specialize in cocktails.
One of the most famous is The Matheson. This restaurant has a popular rooftop cocktail bar, Roof 106, that sits right above Healdsburg Plaza. It serves inventive cocktails and small plates at tables nestled among fire pits and greenery.
Duke’s Spirited Cocktails is another beloved Healdsburg bar. Located right on the historic plaza, this place is known for its farm-to-glass drinks.
Another popular bar in Healdsburg is Burdock, a sibling of Duke’s. This place specializes in artisanal cocktails and light bites. The interior is everything a cocktail bar should be: mood-lit, elegant, and refined. Drinks range from the traditional to the tiki.
Other bars that deserve a mention include The Elephant in the Room, which is known for live music, and John & Zeke’s Bar, a local dive bar with a pool table and shuffle board. They’re perfect if you want something more casual.
Downtown Healdsburg Tasting Rooms and Wineries
This wouldn’t be wine country without some tasting rooms, and Healdsburg has no shortage of them. From the square to the side streets, there are dozens of places to go wine tasting in this part of Sonoma County.
Some of the most beloved tasting rooms around the plaza include LIOCO Wine Tasting Room, Rockpile Vineyards, and Cartograph Wines. They make it easy to sample a range of varietals and styles without having to drive from one winery to another.
LIOCO is run by a husband-and-wife team that sources grapes from Santa Cruz, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties. The tasting room is located just off the plaza, and it offers a range of flights to taste in modern surroundings.
Rockpile has a spacious tasting room on the roundabout in downtown Sonoma. With both indoor and outdoor space, it’s a great place to sample a variety of wines. This place offers everything from Zinfandel to Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon, so you’re spoiled for choice.
Cartograph Wines is another of the best downtown Healdsburg tasting rooms. Known for focusing mainly on Pinot noir, the winery also offers aromatic whites in the style of the Alsace region of France and California sparkling wines. It’s all served in a space just off the plaza.
Other noteworthy names include Selby Winery, which has the oldest tasting room in Healdsburg, and Seghesio Family Vineyards, which pours Italian varietals produced by one of Sonoma County’s longest-established winemaking families.
Coffee Shops, Bakeries, and Cafes
If you need a caffeine fix or a pastry while you’re in town, there are plenty of places to get them. My go-to is Black Oak Coffee Roasters on Center Street. Set in a contemporary space, this place serves award-winning premium single-origin espresso and artisan coffee blends. The food is amazing, too. If they have it, the carrot cake loaf is divine.
Other coffee shops worth mentioning include Little Saint and Flying Goat Coffee. The latter does excellent pour-overs and espresso drinks.
When it comes to bakeries, Quail & Condor is the darling of the Healdsburg food scene. This unassuming little place on Healdsburg Avenue is famous for its cinnamon rolls and other oven-fresh goodies. Just make sure to arrive before they sell out.
Downtown Healdsburg Shops
When you’ve had your fill of eating and drinking, you can hit the shops in downtown Healdsburg. From clothing boutiques to bookstores and art galleries, there’s no shortage of places to indulge in retail therapy.
My favorite clothing stores in downtown Healdsburg are Ooh La Luxe and Tamarind. Right near each other on Healdsburg Avenue, they’re full of stylish clothes that make perfect Healdsburg wine tasting outfits.
When it comes to gifts, I’m a sucker for Gathered on Center Street. It has everything from tea towels to books, jewelry, and clothing for sale. Beyond that, Fideaux is an adorable dog shop with fun treats for puppy pals, and Lucky Heron is a hidden gem with all kinds of sweet local finds.
When it comes to home interiors, I love everything about Saint Dizier Home and Forager. The contemporary designs always make me want to redecorate my place.
As far as books go, there are two bookshops right on Healdsburg Plaza. Levin & Co is a great local bookshop with a good selection of titles and art on the walls. Copperfield’s Books is an independent number offering a range of genres and plenty of staff picks.
If you love antiques, you’re in luck. There are two great shops in Healdsburg, and they’re both treasure troves. Antique Harvest has shelves and tables piled with everything from glassware to old scales.
On the same street, Modern Antiquarium feels almost like a vintage museum. With everything from clothing to furniture and dishes for sale, it’s a genuinely enjoyable place to browse.
Back to food, Shelton’s Natural Foods Market is another great shop in Healdsburg. It has everything from local cheese to sandwiches and salads for sale. This place is perfect for getting a quick bite to eat if you’re pressed for time.
Healdsburg Plaza
Another of my favorite things to do in downtown Healdsburg is walk around the plaza. This green space is a good place to sit and watch the world go by, take in the sounds of street performers, or get involved in a local festival or event.
There’s always something going on around here, and it’s a fun place to soak up the local atmosphere in town. From the Healdsburg Arts Festival in August to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in December, there’s a lot to get excited about throughout the year.
Farmers’ Market
Speaking of outdoor spaces, the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market is an institution. Taking place on Saturday mornings (April to December) in the West Plaza Parking Lot and Tuesdays (May to October) in the square, it’s one of the original 22 Certified Farmers’ Markets in California.
The market has everything from fruits and vegetables to cut flowers, local cheeses, honey, fresh fish, and more. There are also prepared foods and crafts on offer.
Depending on the season, the market has special events, live music, and other entertainment as well.
Downtown Healdsburg Map
Want to see all the places I mentioned in this blog post? I created an interactive Google map of downtown Healdsburg that you can see here. If you click on the blue pins, you can find more information about each one. I hope it helps you plan your trip!
Downtown Healdsburg
I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to downtown Healdsburg. There’s a lot to love about this place, and the range of restaurants, shops, hotels, and tasting rooms always keeps me coming back. There’s even a fan museum.
If you get a chance to visit, I hope this blog post helps you make the most of your trip. It’s a special part of wine country, and a great place to base yourself in Sonoma County.
You can also check out my video about the best things to do in downtown Healdsburg on YouTube. Happy travels!
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