Healdsburg Travel Guide

If you are a wine or food connoisseur, Healdsburg is the perfect weekend vacation for you. This small wine country town boasts some of the greatest wineries and restaurants that the Northern Bay Area has ever seen. Wine enthusiasts who especially love Pinot Noir and Chardonnay will definitely love Healdsburg. Because of its climate, Healdsburg produces award winning Pinot Noir and Chardonnays. Healdsburg has been one of my favorite weekend escapes from the city time and time again. From my time in Healdsburg I’ve created the ultimate Healdsburg travel guide so you can find the best places to stay, eat and drink!

Where To Stay

235 Luxury Suites — Do you have a big party traveling with you? 235 Luxury Suites is the perfect place to stay. 235 Luxury Suites is a small hotel that has four 3-bedroom suites. The 3-bedroom suites are perfect for accommodating families, small to medium size groups, and special celebrations such as bachelor and bachelorette parties. Each suite comprises of a communal area with couches and a plasma television, and fully stocked kitchen and dining room. It’s also conveniently located just half a block away from the square, which is where all the action is!

Honor Mansion — This hotel is located a bit further from downtown, but perfect for those looking for a romantic and intimate getaway. Honor Mansion is a resort with 13 cottages/suites throughout the property. Each cottage is unique and has it’s own theme. During my stay I slept in the Vineyard Suite II which had an outdoor jacuzzi with a patio area and an immaculate king bed. But the TRUE highlight of the room was the fireplace that opened up to both the living room and bathroom. In the evening I soaked in the bathtub, with the fireplace ablaze, while I sipped on the sherry that was provided. Happy hour, fresh baked cookies and a buffet breakfast is included in your stay.

Duchamp Hotel — This contemporary boutique hotel has 6 suites. The suites surround a long lap pool which is situated at the center of the property. If you’re into posh, luxe properties, this hotel is the spot for you. Check out my full review here.

Where To Drink

Gary Farrell Vineyards — By appointment only, you and your party can receive an ‘Exploration Tour & Tasting.’ You’ll get a tour of the winery and a unique cheese and wine pairing in a private room overlooking the vineyards.

Williams Selyem Winery — What I love about this winery is their unique story. It started off as a fun project among friends in a garage. One the friends secretly entered the wine in the Sonoma County contest and it won best in show. They quickly became popular and outgrew their garage. By appointment only, you can get a tour of the winery and have an intimate wine tasting in a home that they’ve built on the property for the owners.

MacRostie Winery — What I love about this winery is how open the wine tasting room is! The floor to ceiling window allows the room to be bright and welcoming. And speaking of welcoming, the wine room welcomes dogs! It was a sunny day during my visit to MacRostie, so they set my group up with a beautiful seating arrangement outside.

Robert Young Estate — Perched on a hill, this small wine tasting room is the perfect spot to watch the sunset while sipping on a glass of wine. And if you wonder down the hill to the mansion on the property, there’s a massive wisteria tree right next to it. It’s the perfect spot for a photo op!

Where To Eat

Valette Restaurant — This amazing restaurant was founded by a pair of brothers who have passion for the culinary arts. The brothers pride themselves on showcasing the best local products that they can find. Both locals and tourists LOVE this restaurant. If you do come from dinner, I highly recommend the “Chef’s 5 Course Tasting Menu” with a wine pairing. The waiters go over the ingredients of each dish, as well as highlight the local producer that is being showcased in the dish.

Journeyman Meat & Co. — This meat store should NOT BE MISSED. My group and I came here for a brunch tasting. The owner, Pete, was gracious enough to go over each dish with us and offer a wine pairing along with it. From the breakfast sandwiches and charcuterie board to the pizza and burgers, everything was superb!

Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar — Willi’s is also a local favorite. They have great oysters and seafood dishes. Their dishes are tapas style, so several small dishes are meant to be shared.

Oakville Grocery — If you’re looking for a grab-n-go, drop by Oakville Grocery which is located right on the square. They have sandwiches, salads and pizzas you can grab before you head out to a winery. Or bring it across the street and enjoy it the park.

KINsmoke — If you’re looking for something hearty, check out this barbecue spot located on the plaza. I love getting a platter of brisket with two sides and a cornbread. MMM GOOD!

Flying Goat Coffee — A great place to grab a quick cup of coffee! I had a iced chai latte that was really good.

Transportation

A trip to Healdsburg isn’t complete without wine tasting. So I strongly encourage you to hire a chauffeur to take you winery to winery, especially if you have a large party. And split amongst a party of 8 or more, renting a bus can be very affordable. Below are two services that I’ve used and had a good experience with.

Pure Luxury Transportation – Pure Luxury took great care of us. They offered us snacks and refreshments that lasted throughout the day! And when you’re day drinking, you’ll need those to refuel.