Healdsburg, California
Sometimes the best getaways don’t require a passport. We kept it Californian as we headed north to Sonoma County for the weekend.
We spent a weekend in Healdsburg, tucked into Sonoma County’s wine country, and found the perfect mix of vineyard views, incredible food, charming shops, and, of course, plenty of wine. From tasting rooms and amazing meals, to exploring the town and discovering a few unexpected gems, it was the kind of weekend where we got to truly slow down and savor every sip.
Here’s a look at where we stayed, what we ate, the wines we tasted, and the places that made our Healdsburg weekend one worth remembering.
Where We Stayed: Liora Estate
For our weekend in Healdsburg, we stayed at Liora Estate, a beautifully designed property just steps from Healdsburg Plaza. With only 16 guest rooms, it has a much more intimate feel than a traditional hotel, but much more luxurious than a regular Bed & Breakfast. This place was truly first-class - absolutely beautiful, quiet, relaxed, and thoughtfully designed.
We loved being able to walk right into the heart of Healdsburg while still having a peaceful place to retreat to at the end of the day. It was the perfect home base. The amenities at the hotel were second to none. They have a valet parking spot right in front and they take the car and it is complimentary parking as part of your stay. Then as you enter the lobby, there is a bar to the left and a Library Lounge to the right. At the Library Lounge, they host a wine tasting from one of their family of wineries every afternoon. At the front desk, you will find even more complimentary wine as well as water or coffee.
As for the rooms, they are spacious, clean and comfortable. Upon arrival, we got a bottle of wine, as well as 2 artisanal chocolates. My favorite thoughtful touch that they provde is a breakfast basket that is delivered to your room every morning. It came with freshly made croissant and pan au chocolat, a yogurt and granola parfait, cheese, berries, orange juice, and french press coffee. It was such a lovely way to start the day.
Wines
Healdsburg has no shortage of wineries and tasting rooms. Here were the ones we went to that stood out.
Our visit to Ridge Lytton Springs was our favorite of the trip because it combined the beautiful views of the vineyards, a great discussion about their wine with our host, and a wonderful range for tasting, including the bonus pour of their 2018 Montebello.
This was such a wonderful, unassuming tasting bar in more of a warehouse area right outside of the room where they make the wine. The tasting was absolutely delicious and we enjoyed all of them. The stand outs were the 2024 Trousseau and the 2024 Syrah.
Dan Kosta is a renowned Sonoma winemaker and co-founder of Kosta Browne Winery which is very well-known. Convene is one of his brands and the tasting room is located at Bacchus Landing which is a cool area with six different boutique winery tasting rooms. The wines in the tasting were their specialty - 100% Chardonnay and 100% Pinot Noir.
OK, this bar at Bacchus Landing was such a fun one! The winemaker is a female Filipina. We enjoyed the wines and the vibes at this one.
This tasting room is located right in the heart of downtown Healdsburg. It’s a lovely vibe and we especially enjoyed the Omakase tasting - our hosts choice in choosing the wines after discussing what we like.
Where We Ate
Marela
The Liora Estate’s restaurant. Refined, impeccable service. Highlight: AMAZING truffle pasta - freshest shaved truffle i’ve ever had and it was sublime.
Lo & Behold
A hip, vibey, design-forward neighborhood bar. Highlights: All 3 dishes that we had here were so memorable. These will stick with us. Curried deviled eggs, Almost Famous Chicken Tendies, and a Homemade Kimchi Noodles. OMG. That’s all.
The Matheson
A cool, bustling, lively atmosphere. Great food. Highlights: Japanese milk bread, the polenta in the Local Halibut dish, and Rack of Lamb.
Little Saint
Beautiful, large space. Take your time and explore here. We just stopped by for a refresher. Highlight: An espresso affogatto.
Troubadour - Le Diner Menu
This place turns from a lunchtime bread and sandwich shop, to a 1-star Michelin star dinner restaurant. Intimate, cozy, lovely. Highlights: the 3 canapes and the Choucroute Garnie were the stand outs. But the whole menu was chef’s kiss.
