The thai tea drink alone deserves the five stars but the fact that the bartender was such a sweet…read moreperson and the service was great made it even better. They even have an amazing indoor ambiance full of board games, chairs, and booths, topped off with a beautiful outdoor patio AND the prices are REALLY good. All that combined just makes this one of the best bars in Sonoma. I'll definitely be coming back. Would give 10 stars if I was able!!!

When a woman on Sonoma Square tells you and your friends to go to Starling Bar, you listen…read more Starling Bar is the kind of place where, if I lived in Sonoma, I'd be there three times a week. It has the distinct feel of a neighborhood bar, staffed by people who know the locals and make excellent drinks. The bartenders are people who obviously know what they're doing: just one look behind the bar, and you can see that they have a rhythm and ease that speaks to a lot of experience. I had the Manhattan with Black Walnut bitters--the cognac-soaked cherry, imported from France, complemented my cocktail. The atmosphere is comfortable and easy, and people are friendly and having a great time. I liked the place so much that I bought two t-shirts. Until next time, Starling Bar--and hopefully we'll run into your cape-wearing fan again!

Love OSPH! Casey has…read morea great rotating tap selection, along with wine, soda, non-alcoholic options. The place is comfortable and inviting, with various seating options - bar, couches, tables. There's a patio out front to enjoy nice days, and a pool table in the back. OSPH also has the nicest/cleanest ladies room I've ever used in a bar. There's Karaoke some nights, and trivia on Wednesdays. I love Old Sonoma.

I play here often on tour and they really got a great thing going! The folks are really chill and…read moreenjoy live music! I'm performing here tonight, and come on out if you enjoy punk rock, psychobilly or power-pop!

Total stumble upon, as I had just hiked nearby and it was a little past lunch time on a glorious…read morewarm autumn sunday. Sure I was interested in some food but it was also a football Sunday and I wanted a cold frosty beer to celebrate my hike and the start of my roadtrip. I don't do strict planning when it comes to eating and drinking. I often find it more intriguing when serendipity plays a hand. I'm walking down this town's main retail square, insured something was within reach. I pass by this unassuming dive bar with no signage but very well laid out inside. It was surprisingly quiet for a weekend afternoon in a touristy spot. Friendly bartender asked me what I wanted. But I ask first if I could get our local football game on and if they served food. Game yes said it would be on within minutes. Food unfortunately no but there were tons of options outside the door. Ordered a cold lager on tap from the east coast. The lager was light cold and refreshing. I think I finished it within minutes. Tender was quick to ask for a refill, love that. I next get a beer refill, and a Jameson on the rocks to quietly sip on, as I was now committed to watching the first half there. Very impressive glass and pour on the Irish whisky. I take a few sips but finish my beer, but this time much longer to down as I wasn't so parched now. I sip the rest of the whisky but now well diluted from the cold ice, which makes it so much more smooth to me. It opens the spirit, takes away the heat and blooms the flavors. My second round took over an hour. Then halftime hits in the game with a close score, even though my team did not look good. I tell the bartender that I'll close out to look for some lunch. By this time the bar was filling up. 3 perfectly timed drinks for well under $10 bucks a pop just sent me on my long weekend on a sweet note. I found food around the corner where they had a tv and I was able to watch the remaining of the game there. If no TVs were found, I would have gone back to the bar to finish the game. I was still pleased with my short experience there. Small town watering hole encapsulated.

Fun little bar with a home town feel. Strong drinks too. Came here in the afternoon & it wasn't…read morebusy. Bet it would be busy at night. Don't laugh but after I wrote this we went back in the morning, yes morning. They open at 6:30am! We made it there more like 9:00am and had Irish Coffee and Lagunitas Willellised Coffee (13.1%!). Watched a bit of the Drew Barrymore Show and chatted with the locals sitting alongside us at the bar.

I visited the Beacon Bar in Sonoma recently and was disappointed by the level of hospitality we…read morereceived upon arrival. Our party of four approached the bar and attempted to move a stool from the end of the bar to help accommodate our group. Instead of offering assistance or guidance, the female bartender mouthed from behind the bar, "That does not work for us, you will have to ask others to move." The interaction felt dismissive and unwelcoming. In a very small establishment, I would expect staff--especially bartenders--to play an active role in helping organize seating and accommodating guests when possible, or at least to communicate in a friendly and solution-oriented manner. A simple suggestion or offer to assist would have gone a long way. Unfortunately, the lack of warmth and accommodation made us feel unwelcome and discouraged us from staying or spending beyond one round. While the bar may have potential, customer service is a key part of the experience, and this visit fell short. I hope management considers reinforcing a more hospitable and proactive approach toward guest service.

This place is a cute, small craft cocktail bar on the square and is great for pre-dinner drinks! We…read moreloved the seasonal menu but felt that the cocktails we got were a bit on the sweeter side and missing a bit of "bite". Regardless, the drinks were still pretty delish and beautifully presented. The service was attentive too. Beware the bar can get quite noisy with the music pumping and crowds talking over each other to be able to hear. Overall, great tunes, decent drinks, solid pre-dinner or post-dinner spot.

We actually were trying to hit up another pizza joint nearby but it ended up being closed, which…read morewas a blessing in disguise because Buck's Place is a diamond in the rough! Small parking lot available around back! Large outdoor patio, separate bar area, and expansive dining room provide you with many an option for small to large groups! The interior has local hangout/dive bar written all over it, but in a casual, welcoming vibe. We had bar service since the dining room wasn't open quite yet when we arrived! The bartender was confident, efficient, and welcoming, even with a large crowd of people! The food far exceeded our expectations! The mozzarella sticks are truly a STAR...perfectly crunchy with a tender, "ideal for the cheese pull" center! We had the Vodka Sauce pizza, which was truly delicious...taking the normal red sauce pizza up a notch with the twist! You cannot skip the side of ranch...which rivals even the best Midwest recipe I could remember! If you want solid pizza and bar food after a long day of exploring the nearby vineyards, Buck's Place is where it's at!

Just dropped in here for the first time recently, and really enjoyed it!…read more Started with a great chopped Italian salad. Their focaccia, I believe is made in house, was also great. We shared a sausage pizza, and added some mushrooms to it, and it was also quite good. Great place to drop in, either for the patio, the bar, or the restaurant. I understand they often have live music on the weekends. Bonus points for all of the staff being super friendly! See you here soon! This is a backwoods Sonoma gem!

I love a good bar bar. Unpretentious. Great bartenders. Decent food when you need it. A cool dark…read moreplace on a hot day. Steiner's satisfies. Stiff drinks. Cool bartenders. Good burgers fries onion rings. Most importantly stiff drinks.

Does this place ever close? We saw that it was open around 7:30am!!! We came by at 11am for a…read moreBloody Mary. It was delicious. I had vodka and the hubs had mezcal instead. They were loaded with crispy bacon, plump olives and a piece of celery. Yum! The bartender- John - was super friendly. He gave us all kinds of recommendations for nice golf courses as he saw we just came from playing golf. The bar itself has pool tables and dart boards as well as lots of TVs with various programming. Seems they have a great food menu, but we did not eat. They also have snacks like bags of interesting chips that you don't find in US routinely, if you just want something quick. Seems the bar has a lot of options and you could probably get whatever you want. Maybe not craft cocktails but typical ones. Parking is along the street. Bathrooms for customers.

Some restaurants simply serve a meal. Others create an experience that stays with you long after…read moreyou've left the table. HopMonk Tavern is unquestionably the latter. Just a short six minute stroll from Sonoma Plaza, HopMonk offers everything you hope for in a great tavern. The sprawling courtyard is shaded by mature trees, accented with umbrellas and string lights, while the warm tavern interior creates an equally inviting atmosphere. Whether you're meeting friends for lunch or enjoying a craft beer on a sunny afternoon, it's a place that immediately encourages you to slow down and relax. Even on a Tuesday afternoon, there was a steady stream of guests arriving, a testament to its popularity with both locals and visitors. The service was exceptional from start to finish. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, our server struck the perfect balance of anticipating our needs without ever interrupting the experience. For lunch, I ordered the French Dip, paired with HopMonk's house IPA, a combination that couldn't have been better. The sandwich arrived beautifully presented alongside crisp fries, a crunchy dill pickle, and a steaming cup of rich au jus. From the very first bite, it was clear this was an expertly crafted French dip. The grilled roll achieved the perfect balance of a crisp exterior and soft, airy interior, and even after several generous dips into the au jus, it never became soggy or fell apart. Inside, thinly sliced beef was layered with perfectly melted provolone, sweet caramelized onions, and just a hint of truffle aioli that added richness without overshadowing the beef. The au jus was deeply savory and wonderfully balanced, rich in flavor without being overly salty. Every bite was thoughtfully composed and incredibly satisfying. The fries were equally impressive: perfectly golden, crisp on the outside, and fluffy inside. The HopMonk IPA proved to be the ideal pairing. Its bright citrus notes and subtle hints of pine refreshed the palate between bites and complemented the richness of the sandwich beautifully. It was one of those pairings where the food and beer genuinely made each other better. I've had French dips throughout Northern California, and this one easily ranks among my favorites. From the food and attentive service to the relaxed atmosphere, HopMonk Tavern delivers on every level. I'll definitely be back, not just for another French dip, but to explore more of a menu that clearly takes pride in doing the classics exceptionally well.

Food was meh and price for what you get was worse. I can usually give some consideration for price…read moreif I am getting good tasting quality food. That was not the case here. We ordered the Nashville hot chicken sandwich with fries and the French dip with pickle fries. The Nashville chicken definitely was not hot and didn't have much flavor. Fries were ok. The French dip was better, but not for the price. Need to update the bathrooms too. Dine elsewhere.

If someone was to ask me for a rec in Sonoma, this would be top 3…read more Incredible. Multiple people recommended Valley to us so we came by for brunch. The breakfast potatoes were to die for. Wow 10/10. The chilaquiles were the best I've ever had. The sauce had an incredible flavor with a salty balance from the queso. The restaurant is a vibe. It's so fun and funky. P.s as I'm sitting on the patio next door I'm tempted to go back for dinner ;)

This quaint little restaurant was busy and constantly flowing with people. They can accommodate…read moreparties of two and they had tables of 8 or so! The food was unique with hints of Asian influence but there are some very French things as well. We ordered way too much for two people so I definitely recommend one main, and only 3 or so small plates to share. The pork chop was really tender and my favorite thing we had as well as the burrata. The staff was knowledgeable and we had people check in and they were really knowledgeable about the wine list as well!