Business Travel Guide to Sonoma

Our Local Expert Says:

Best multi-course family-style dinner in Sonoma. La Cena is a four-course meal for two for just $26.00 apiece; menu changes weekly on Fridays.

Description:

Estate really is located in an historic Victorian-era estate, the home built in 1864 by Spanish land-holder General Mariano Vallejo for his daughter. The lovely high-ceilinged building formerly housed an old-fashioned, though beloved local institution known as General's Daughter, named for the building's role in history. Since reopening in the fall of 2008 as Estate, the expansive dining room has become a popular destination thanks to the reputation of Sondra Bernstein, the culinary force behind The Girl & the Fig, widely acknowledged as one of the  best restaurants in Sonoma County.

But while Fig, and its offshoot, the Fig Cafe (located in the original Girl & the Fig building in Glen Ellen) serve food that's at least nominally country French, Estate is a chance for Bernstein and her longtime partner, sous chef John Toulze, to try something different. Working with a new executive chef, Chris Jones, they've developed a style they call "festive regional Italian" which translates as an eclectic menu filled with the kinds of dishes your Italian grandmother might whip up if she had access to all the bounty of Sonoma County's specialty farms and artisanal producers.

Estate is also a chance for Toulze to show up the skills he's developed in charcuterie; numerous dishes feature house-made pancetta, house-smoked bacon (perfectly chewy and extra-smoky), salumi, and other handmade meat treats from Jones' smokehouse.

The dining room ambiance is an odd blend of formal, old-fashioned furnishings and modern art, but it works perfectly thanks to scattered table lamps and floral arrangements that tie it all together into something invitingly homey yet festive.

The full bar features a good collection of local wines, there's no corkage fee for Sonoma wines. There are frequent special events
Regional Italian & festive drinking with a full bar, and extensive wine list, patio dining. . . but wait, that's not all. . . Estate grown products, estate crafted artisan products, and an avant-garde art art collection round out the mix.

Description:

Seared black pepper-lavender filet mignon, chicken breast with goat cheese and herb stuffing, steamed mussels with fennel and garlic broth...Sounds mouth-watering? Then head to the Cafe La Haye at Somona since that's what's on the menu here. Srumptious food, experienced staff and a tranquil atmosphere adds to your dining experience.

Description:

This is paradise not only for those interested in garden design, landscaping and art, but also for those who love the finer things mother nature has to offer. This ever-changing series of walk-through gardens offers the viewer a magnificent haven in California's beautiful weather. Cornerstone also hosts seminars and lectures on landscaping and garden design.

Description:

Arrowood Vineyards and Winery, is well placed in the Sonoma county amongst scenic views. This is a beautiful place to visit with mountains in the backdrop, Winery that resembles an English dwelling and a surrounding vineyard. A reason stronger enough to draw anyone here apart from the location is the delicious wines fermented here. The Wine is made from grapes grown only in Sonoma county, with Richard Arrowood's 40 years of experience and classic aging methods. Tours and tastings are available with prior reservation.

Description:

On the ground level of Sonoma Hotel, The Girl and the Fig offers eclectic French cuisine. The decor is casual and laid back and can get loud when the crowd streams in. Braised pork loin, steak tartare, duck confit, croque monsieur, pan seared duck, salami and brie sandwich, niman ranch jambon, salmon nicoise and homemade fig cake are some of the menu listings. Moreover, the bar has a great selection of French wines and cocktails. Reservations are the way to go.

Our Local Expert Says:

Under a Tuscan Sun: Best Italian vacation to be had without getting on a plane

Description:

Located in the Valley of the Moon in California's Sonoma County, the Kenwood Inn and Spa is designed in the spirit of a Mediterranean Villa. Each of the Inn's 29 guestrooms are appointed with fireplaces, featherbeds, Italian linens and luxurious robes. The intimate hideaway offers a dining room and wine bar exclusively for Inn guests, spa featuring ARCONA products and vinotherapy, two heated pools, sunning terraces, a steam room and hot tub. Wake up each morning with a complimentary signature breakfast that includes a daily feature like eggs over grilled farm bread with asparagus and tomato basil cream sauce.

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Description:

The favorable conditions of underground hot springs and ocean breezes at Bruce Cohn's vineyard make it possible to produce award-winning Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Apart from the tasting room, there's also a gourmet shop that retails secondary produce such as olive oil and vinegars. Moreover, every fall the winery organizes a music festival and golf tournament. Visitors can also choose from 4 wine clubs, which offer special retail rates to members and other privileges.

Our Local Expert Says:

Best way to beat stress and get your mojo back

Description:

Like a magical trip to ancient Kyoto, a visit to Osmosis day spa and sanctuary feels like an escape to another time and place. Oddly located in the tiny town of Freestone, west of Sebastopol, this holistic therapy spa is less about pampering and more like giving yourself the gift of a health-boosting treatment. Despite the name, an "enzyme bath" is more akin to a ritual sauna than a soak. Used by Japanese practitioners as a detoxification procedure, an enzyme bath involves immersing your body into a hot bed of fermenting cedar chips, which raises your internal core temperature and allows your body to sweat out toxins. Osmosis founder Michael Stusser is a serious believer in the importance of alternative healing, and hires only the best massage therapists available. So take advantage of the deep relaxation you'll feel after your bath and indulge in a massage as well, and you'll leave feeling restored, relaxed, and energized beyond what you thought possible.

Description:

Located on the ground level of El Dorado Hotel, the Kitchen prepares a sophisticated Californian menu of steak and truffle fries, Basque bouillabaisse, endive salad and free range chicken dishes. Choose to be seated at the poolside beds, the garden courtyard or private cabanas. The cocktail lounge offers interesting concoctions and about 20 wines by the glass.

Description:

The Sante Restaurant is the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn's premier dining room and has earned a national reputation for its outstanding food. Conde Nast Traveler said 'it's worth a special trip just to eat here' and Gourmet Magazine calls the food 'the best of the new Wine Country style.' Only the freshest local produce, meats, poultry and seafood are used to create elegantly simple dishes that let the natural flavors of the food speak for themselves. A wine list, honored with Wine Spectator's 2002 'Award of Excellence' features over 300 Sonoma and Napa wines.

Description:

This is the first luxury spa resort in California to have its own natural source of thermal mineral water. Located in Sonoma Valley, and surrounded by natural mineral hot springs, this resort offers the ultimate rejuvenation package. It has a state-of-the-art spa that provides massages and treatments derived from Egyptian, Roman and Greek civilizations. The rooms are designed artistically and offer a variety of packages, from moderately priced rooms to lavish suites. Each of its rooms is lavishly decorated and well-equipped with luxurious amenities.