Liza’s Guidebook: Santa Rosa and Beyond
Local Favorite Restaurants
These are our favorite places to eat within a short walk of our guest suite.
Friendly neighborhood restaurant. Asian fusion menu specializes in Vietnamese, but also does Chinese and Thai dishes well, too. Try orange chicken or spicy lemongrass beef pho!
16 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Goji Kitchen
1965 Mendocino AveFriendly neighborhood restaurant. Asian fusion menu specializes in Vietnamese, but also does Chinese and Thai dishes well, too. Try orange chicken or spicy lemongrass beef pho!
Local bay area sandwich chain. Each location is independently operated. Sandwiches come toasted on dutch crunch or sourdough (my fave). Love their fried chicken sandwich or cheesesteak.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ike's Love and Sandwiches
1780 Mendocino AveLocal bay area sandwich chain. Each location is independently operated. Sandwiches come toasted on dutch crunch or sourdough (my fave). Love their fried chicken sandwich or cheesesteak.
Homestyle Italian deli. Try their meatball sandwich, salads or family style raviolis and garlic bread.
Canevari’s Delicatessen & Catering
695 Lewis RdHomestyle Italian deli. Try their meatball sandwich, salads or family style raviolis and garlic bread.
Relaxed homestyle Mexican. I usually order the chicken sopas yum. Love their beans and rice.
16 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Taqueria Santa Rosa #5
791 Montecito CenterRelaxed homestyle Mexican. I usually order the chicken sopas yum. Love their beans and rice.
Classic American breakfast & lunch cafe, locally owned, a bit of a greasy spoon. A little more affordable than other sit down breakfast options.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lita's Cafe
1973 Mendocino AveClassic American breakfast & lunch cafe, locally owned, a bit of a greasy spoon. A little more affordable than other sit down breakfast options.
Nice place to have a drink and wood fired pizza (not a big fan of the rest of their menu). Outdoor beer garden with relaxed seating, including fire pits.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Steele & Hops Public House
1901 Mendocino AveNice place to have a drink and wood fired pizza (not a big fan of the rest of their menu). Outdoor beer garden with relaxed seating, including fire pits.
Fresh design your own poke bowls (Hawaiian specialty: rice, seafood, veggies, sauces) and huge drink menu (bubble tea etc.)
T4 Tea For U
2280 Mendocino AveFresh design your own poke bowls (Hawaiian specialty: rice, seafood, veggies, sauces) and huge drink menu (bubble tea etc.)
Delicious udon soup and Japanese style stir fried noodle dishes.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
IPPINN UDON
1880 Mendocino AveDelicious udon soup and Japanese style stir fried noodle dishes.
Family owned local favorite yogurt and ice cream shop. I love their tart yogurt flavors, and they order their scoop ice cream from a local creamery in Petaluma.
Yogurt Farms
1224 Mendocino AveFamily owned local favorite yogurt and ice cream shop. I love their tart yogurt flavors, and they order their scoop ice cream from a local creamery in Petaluma.
Arctic Neveria
1620 Mendocino AveMexican style shaved ice cream, slushees and other treats. Family owned.
Local and visitor favorite. Has a dynamic menu of small plates paired with wine. Part of the Stark Restaurant group that has many well loved restaurants in Santa Rosa.
81 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Willi's Wine Bar
1415 Town and Country DrLocal and visitor favorite. Has a dynamic menu of small plates paired with wine. Part of the Stark Restaurant group that has many well loved restaurants in Santa Rosa.
Community Features
Places you might need or want to visit. See what makes Rosa a sweet place for residents.
5 minute walk from the guest suite. Great summer repertory theater series brings music theater majors from around the country. Check out the bakery and fine dining put on by their culinary arts program if your schedule happens to line up (limited hours): https://culinary.santarosa.edu/cafe-and-bakery
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Santa Rosa Junior College
1501 Mendocino Ave5 minute walk from the guest suite. Great summer repertory theater series brings music theater majors from around the country. Check out the bakery and fine dining put on by their culinary arts program if your schedule happens to line up (limited hours): https://culinary.santarosa.edu/cafe-and-bakery
Main city park of Santa Rosa. Great children's playground with carousel, train, ponies and snack bar. Tennis courts. Trails. Trails connects to 2 other parks: Spring Lake Regional Park, and Annadel State Park.
77 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Howarth Park
630 Summerfield RdMain city park of Santa Rosa. Great children's playground with carousel, train, ponies and snack bar. Tennis courts. Trails. Trails connects to 2 other parks: Spring Lake Regional Park, and Annadel State Park.
Community swimming pool with large slide and water features for little ones. Open swim in the summer months.
Ridgway Swim Center
455 Ridgway AveCommunity swimming pool with large slide and water features for little ones. Open swim in the summer months.
Large community swim center with lap swim schedule year round, large playground and tennis courts
Finley Aquatic Center
2060 W College AveLarge community swim center with lap swim schedule year round, large playground and tennis courts
Small park close to our guest suite. Large soccer fields and baseball diamond. Nice fenced in playground. Bathrooms and bbq area.
Franklin Park
2095 Franklin AveSmall park close to our guest suite. Large soccer fields and baseball diamond. Nice fenced in playground. Bathrooms and bbq area.
Neighborhoods and Nearby Towns
Explore some of the neighborhoods, towns and villages that make Santa Rosa and Sonoma County unique
Progressive small town, mixture of hipster, hippie, yuppie, and down-home country. Florence Street is fun to walk down and see the 'junk' sculptures created by Patrick Amiot. The Barlow Center is the hipster shopping center with lots of wine tasting, local food scene restaurants and bars, and boutique shopping. Favorite eateries/coffee: Ramen Gaijin, Fern Bar, Criminal Bakery, Taylor Maid Coffee, Sunday morning farmer's market in town square.
119 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sebastopol
Progressive small town, mixture of hipster, hippie, yuppie, and down-home country. Florence Street is fun to walk down and see the 'junk' sculptures created by Patrick Amiot. The Barlow Center is the hipster shopping center with lots of wine tasting, local food scene restaurants and bars, and boutique shopping. Favorite eateries/coffee: Ramen Gaijin, Fern Bar, Criminal Bakery, Taylor Maid Coffee, Sunday morning farmer's market in town square.
Tiny hamlet nestled in the redwoods. Fun stop on your way to or from the coast. Eat at Howard’s Station for breakfast and Hazel’s for lunch or dinner. Drive on Coleman Valley Road for beautiful views and a sweet short hike to an overlook.
71 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Occidental
Tiny hamlet nestled in the redwoods. Fun stop on your way to or from the coast. Eat at Howard’s Station for breakfast and Hazel’s for lunch or dinner. Drive on Coleman Valley Road for beautiful views and a sweet short hike to an overlook.
Coffee and Bakeries
Local Sonoma County only mini chain. Solid food menu and bakery items when you need your avocado toast and pumpkin teacake fix. Churro donuts! Minimalist styling. Pretty latte art. 1/2 off bakery goods in later afternoon.
46 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Acre Coffee
2365 Midway DrLocal Sonoma County only mini chain. Solid food menu and bakery items when you need your avocado toast and pumpkin teacake fix. Churro donuts! Minimalist styling. Pretty latte art. 1/2 off bakery goods in later afternoon.
Yum just yum. Desserts and breakfast/lunch cafe menu. Santa Rosa location is in the West End neighborhood near Railroad Square. New Sebastopol location too.
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Criminal Baking Co.
808 Donahue StYum just yum. Desserts and breakfast/lunch cafe menu. Santa Rosa location is in the West End neighborhood near Railroad Square. New Sebastopol location too.
Who can pass up a gourmet donut shop?? Not me...donuts are my happy weakness, and these are fresh and fluffy with interesting flavor combos.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
City Garden Doughnuts & Coffee
1200 4th StWho can pass up a gourmet donut shop?? Not me...donuts are my happy weakness, and these are fresh and fluffy with interesting flavor combos.
Wood fired bread and scones made in house. Sweet garden and tiny town (Freestone) on your way out to the coast. If you really want a splurge, add a stop at Osmosis Day Spa across the street!
176 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Wild Flour Bread
140 Bohemian HwyWood fired bread and scones made in house. Sweet garden and tiny town (Freestone) on your way out to the coast. If you really want a splurge, add a stop at Osmosis Day Spa across the street!
Known for their Gravenstein Apple Pies (when in season) this place does fruit pies REALLY well.
20 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mom's Apple Pie
4550 Gravenstein Hwy NKnown for their Gravenstein Apple Pies (when in season) this place does fruit pies REALLY well.
Screamin' Mimi's
6902 Sebastopol AveAwesome ice cream shop in Sebastopol.
Hikes!
Best Places for a Hike in Sonoma County
Lots of hiking options short or long. Oak grasslands with some redwood grove surprises mixed in. Pretty heavily used by mountain bikers and locals
162 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Trione-Annadel State Park
6201 Channel DrLots of hiking options short or long. Oak grasslands with some redwood grove surprises mixed in. Pretty heavily used by mountain bikers and locals
Stroll through a beautiful redwood grove, or hike up the ridge for views and few other people
500 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve Visitor Center
17000 Armstrong Woods RdStroll through a beautiful redwood grove, or hike up the ridge for views and few other people
Park at Shell Beach and cross highway 1 to hike up a hill and back towards Pomo Canyon filled with redwoods. About 6 miles roundtrip. Hawk watching and varied landscapes, beautiful views out over the Pacific Ocean.
53 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Shell Beach
Park at Shell Beach and cross highway 1 to hike up a hill and back towards Pomo Canyon filled with redwoods. About 6 miles roundtrip. Hawk watching and varied landscapes, beautiful views out over the Pacific Ocean.
Old growth redwood grove with few visitors. About 1 mile flat loop. Nice spot for quiet reflection.
29 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
LandPaths Grove of Old Trees
17599 Fitzpatrick LnOld growth redwood grove with few visitors. About 1 mile flat loop. Nice spot for quiet reflection.
Good variety of hikes, beautiful views. Located off of highway 12/Valley of the Moon area
95 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
2605 Adobe Canyon RdGood variety of hikes, beautiful views. Located off of highway 12/Valley of the Moon area
I recommend parking at the upper lot off of Kawana Terrace Road. Short hike up the mountain to see 270 degree views awesome to visit close to sunset.
44 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Taylor Mountain Regional Park
2080 Kawana TerraceI recommend parking at the upper lot off of Kawana Terrace Road. Short hike up the mountain to see 270 degree views awesome to visit close to sunset.
Sightseeing
Neat spot to tour especially if you have any interest in California history. Replica of fort built by Russian traders in mid 1800s with a few original buildings. Also has exhibits and annual festival celebrating the coastal Native American tribe of this region.
48 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fort Ross
19005 Coast HwyNeat spot to tour especially if you have any interest in California history. Replica of fort built by Russian traders in mid 1800s with a few original buildings. Also has exhibits and annual festival celebrating the coastal Native American tribe of this region.
So many beaches, so little time. I don't think most locals have been to all the beaches along this stretch...some favorites are Doran Beach for kids (best beach for playing in the water safely), Salmon Creek Beach (sand sledding anyone?), Portuguese Beach (cool boulders, lots of space), and Goat Rock Beach (where the Russian River meets the Pacific). No parking fees.
55 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Estatal de la Costa de Sonoma
3095 CA-1So many beaches, so little time. I don't think most locals have been to all the beaches along this stretch...some favorites are Doran Beach for kids (best beach for playing in the water safely), Salmon Creek Beach (sand sledding anyone?), Portuguese Beach (cool boulders, lots of space), and Goat Rock Beach (where the Russian River meets the Pacific). No parking fees.
SR 4th Street/Downtown Foodie Scene
Lots of great restaurants on 4th street and surrounds, about 1.5 miles from the guest suite.
Delicious Mexican. Love their salads, chips, salsa, margaritas, pretty much everything. Lots of space inside, usually does not have a wait for groups or require reservations.
30 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Rosa | Tequileria & Grille
500 4th StDelicious Mexican. Love their salads, chips, salsa, margaritas, pretty much everything. Lots of space inside, usually does not have a wait for groups or require reservations.
Puerto Rican food! Chicken, plantains, beans& rice! Friendly ambiance, comfort food.
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
El Coqui
400 Mendocino AvePuerto Rican food! Chicken, plantains, beans& rice! Friendly ambiance, comfort food.
Famous brewery, try some of their craft brews!
262 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Russian River Brewing Company - Santa Rosa Location
725 4th StFamous brewery, try some of their craft brews!
Creative and traditional sushi. Large space with neat layout in hideaway booths.
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Haku Sushi
518 7th StCreative and traditional sushi. Large space with neat layout in hideaway booths.
Now a small chain in Sonoma County, this is the original location. Huge burgers, milkshakes, fries, onion rings or tater tots, served at a horseshoe bar or some outdoor seating.
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Superburger
1501 4th StNow a small chain in Sonoma County, this is the original location. Huge burgers, milkshakes, fries, onion rings or tater tots, served at a horseshoe bar or some outdoor seating.
Local favorite breakfast spot. Cinnamon pull apart bread. Breakfast, brunch, lunch with a slightly Southern bent. All about the food, skip the coffee.
20 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dierk's Midtown Café
1422 4th StLocal favorite breakfast spot. Cinnamon pull apart bread. Breakfast, brunch, lunch with a slightly Southern bent. All about the food, skip the coffee.
Homemade pie and ice cream with stylish decor on 4th Street/downtown.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Noble Folk Ice Cream And pie bar
539 4th StHomemade pie and ice cream with stylish decor on 4th Street/downtown.
I actually haven't been here yet but I want to go! Have it on my list to go to one of their murder mystery dinners or Harry Potter themed events.
Tudor Rose English Tea Room
733 4th StI actually haven't been here yet but I want to go! Have it on my list to go to one of their murder mystery dinners or Harry Potter themed events.
Han Bul Korean BBQ
522 7th StDelicious Korean food. I love that Santa Rosa has a Korean restaurant