Wine country is known for their fine dining and their impressive food scene. So, we were excited to try all the good food Healdsburg had to offer as food is one of the most important things to us on vacation.
We didn’t really hit up many (or any really) fine dining restaurants as we had to just come from San Francisco and eaten our way through some expensive restaurants, but that didn’t stop us from finding some really great meals.
This guide highlights our favorite restaurants and meals we had while visiting Healdsburg and the surrounding areas.
Heads up: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you book at no cost to you. We only link to stays and experiences we'd actually choose for ourselves.
Our Favorite Hotels in Healdsburg California
Budget: Lodge at Healdsburg
Mid-Range: Liora Estate & The Madrona
Splurge: The Farmhouse Inn
Healdsburg Dining: Location, Pricing & Reservations
Location: This guide covers restaurants in Healdsburg Plaza and the surrounding areas, so if you are up for venturing out a little further we have some other restaurants that are worth traveling a little further for.
Pricing: Prices were a bit more than we are typically used to, but that wasn’t a surprise for us being in California and wine country. We were still able to find some places with decent prices since we avoided the fine dining establishments.
Reservations: This is a bit out of character for us, but we actually went into this part of the trip without having decided where we were eating beforehand. Which meant we had exactly zero reservations. It ended up not being an issue for us surprisingly. I don’t think we had to wait for a table once. We usually eat on the early side which helps and we were visiting in early June. If you want to visit any fine dining restaurants, we definitely encourage you to book ahead.
Our Favorite Healdsburg Restaurants
Lo & Behold - Our Favorite Healdsburg Restaurant
Location: Healdsburg Plaza
Price: $$$
Our Rating: 4.5/5 stars
What We Ordered: Kimchi Noodles, Almost Famous Chicken Tendies
We immediately loved Lo & Behold as soon as we walked through the door. We sat on the patio and it’s a total vibe. It kind of feels like you are on a tropical vacation rather than in wine country. Think lots of string lights and plants. The inside also has a great atmosphere. It’s the perfect date night setting.
Besides the great ambiance, we really enjoyed the food. The menu is super eclectic, so it has something for everyone. They describe it as “global comfort food”. Lots of shareable plates from a variety of cuisines. We wish we could have tried more as it all looked delicious. We loved the unique flavors and that it was something different than your typical restaurant.
They also had some good cocktails that were on happy hour.
Journeyman - Best for Lunch in Healdsburg
Location: Healdsburg Plaza
Price: $$
Our Rating: 4.5/5 stars
What We Ordered: Italian Hoagie, Famous BLT
We were shopping around the Plaza before one of our wine tastings and decided to have lunch here. It basically a butcher shop first with some fantastic food offerings. We were honestly a bit sad we couldn’t buy any market offerings to take home with us.
There’s only a handful of seats inside and a few tables outside, but we didn’t have any issues with finding a table. The sandwiches we ordered were tasty. The bread was fresh and of course the meat was high quality.
They also have some awesome looking pizzas and burgers. Or order a salumi board to go. It’s a perfect pairing to take to a wine tasting.
Sonoma Pizza Co.
Location: Forestville
Price: $$$
Our Rating: 4.5/5 stars
What We Ordered: Pepperoni Nirvana - Chris’s Way
This place was just down the road from where we were staying at The Farmhouse Inn in Forestville and it did not disappoint.
Usually pizza joints are pretty casual, but Sonoma Pizza Co. is a more elevated experience. While it may be elevated, the atmosphere is inviting and relaxed. They have a huge outdoor patio that’s perfect for sipping on a cocktail and enjoying your pizza. They have some really great refreshing cocktails.
The pizza is Neapolitan style with a sourdough crust. They’ve got classic pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven or specialty pizzas baked in a Swedish electric deck. We ordered a specialty pizza which was the perfect amount for two. The crust was perfectly chewy and we loved the flavors with the ricotta cheese and honey.
Fern Bar - Best Burger in Sebastopol
Location: Sebastopol
Price: $$$
Our Rating: 4/5 stars
What We Ordered: Smash Burgers & Fries
We were on the hunt for a burger as we hadn’t eaten any on our trip thus far. That’s where Fern Bar came in. It’s definitely a fancy, (very) expensive burger but it hit the spot. They also offer a variety of other unique, eclectic dishes to try if you aren’t feeling a burger.
Fern Bar was a cool spot and has the vibe of an upscale gastro pub. The atmosphere was very lively and it’s obviously a popular spot.
This was actually the busiest place we went to, but we were able to snag a spot at the bar. We’d suggest getting reservations here. It’s also a bit further away in Sebastopol, but the city is charming and deserves a visit if you have time.
Gallina D’Oro - Best Mexican in Healdsburg
Location: Healdsburg Plaza
Price: $$
Our Rating: 4/5 stars
What We Ordered: Quesabirrias, Chicken Taquitos
This Mexican joint in the Healdsburg Plaza was probably our least favorite dinner spot we visited, but it was still delicious. That’s just how good all the food on this trip was. We wouldn’t say there was anything that set this meal apart, it was just good upscale Mexican fare.
We didn’t even step inside, so we aren’t sure what the vibe was like inside. We sat outside at some sidewalk side tables. If you haven’t noticed already, we love a good al fresco dining experience and the weather was perfect when we were there.
The margaritas were very good and we of course had to start with some guacamole. We thought it was a perfect place to relax. Even though the food was more upscale, it was very casual (at least outside).
Tiny Town Cafe - Best for a Cheap Breakfast Sandwich
Location: Forestville
Price: $
Our Rating: 4/5 stars
What We Ordered: Bacon, Egg, Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches
If you are looking for just a basic breakfast sandwich that won’t break the bank then Tiny Town Cafe is perfect. It’s definitely a hole in the wall, but the sandwiches were tasty and were thankful to spend less than $10 for a meal.
It’s a little bit out of the way if you are staying in Healdsburg, but if you happen to be staying or traveling further south it’s a good pit stop.
Capo Creek Winery - Best Food Experience in Healdsburg
Location: Dry Creek Valley, Healdsburg
Price: $$$$
Our Rating: 5/5 stars
Now Capo Creek and our last pick Reeve Wines aren’t actually restaurants. However, the food at these wineries were so good they deserve spots on this guide.
Capo Creek Winery offers a few different food and wine tasting experiences that are worth the visit. We did Mary’s Table which was a 6 course food and wine tasting experience with the owner Mary. It was the highlight of our trip. The food is given just as much love and attention as the wine while you are walked through the history of how Capo Creek got its start by Mary.
It’s a unique experience that’s very intimate and personal. The food was phenomenal and so was the wine. The food served when we were there included a shrimp appetizer, tuna/fruit tostada, poblano soup, steak crostini, ravioli, and cheesecake. Check out Our Favorite Wineries in Dry Creek Guide for more details or other recommendations for wineries to visit!
Reeve Wines - Best Pizza in Healdsburg
Location: Dry Creek Valley, Healdsburg
Price: $
Our Rating: 5/5 stars
Now Reeve Wines doesn’t advertise that they serve pizza and I wasn’t quite sure whether pizza would be offered when we went. I just saw others had mentioned it on reviews for the winery. So, we were happy to find that pizza was indeed served when we were there.
We went in with absolutely zero expectations, but man this was one of our favorite pizzas we’ve ever had and it’s included in the tasting fee! There isn’t any choice in what pizza you get, it’s just whatever they happen to be serving that day and honestly what we got wasn’t something we would ever usually order. It was a vegetarian pizza with squash and it was outstanding. Plus their wines are delightful as well.
We loved the ambiance here. It’s a laidback, casual tasting overlooking a vineyard. It’s a very small, family-run winery that obviously takes great pride in their wines.
Final Thoughts
Healdsburg and the surrounding towns have a really great selection of restaurants for how small the towns are. It is wine country, so where there is good wine there is also good food.
We hope you enjoy your time in Healdsburg as much as we did! We left full of good food and wine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need reservations for restaurants in Healdsburg?
From our experience, we didn’t have to have reservations for any of the restaurants. It’s probably better to secure a reservation if you are visiting over a weekend, but otherwise it seemed like it wasn’t an issue or would probably just be a short wait. You should book reservations for any fine dining restaurants. For the wineries, you definitely need to book a reservation as you can’t just walk in for those experiences.
Is Healdsburg expensive?
Yes, for both lodging and dining we found Healdsburg to be on the expensive side. It wasn’t really a surprise to us though given it’s in California and you are in wine country. That being said you can find places that are cheaper, there just aren’t many options.
What are the best restaurants near the Plaza?
For lunch our favorite place was Journeyman. It’s the perfect place for a quick bite or to pick up something to go to take to a winery. For dinner, Lo & Behold was our favorite. It had a great atmosphere, good cocktails and an interesting selection of food. It was all really delicious.
Plan the Rest of Your Trip
Check out our related blog posts:
Two Day Healdsburg Itinerary
Where to Stay in Healdsburg: Our Favorite Boutique Hotels for Every Budget
Best Dry Creek Valley Wineries: Our Favorite Tastings & Tours
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