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.

Loved the interior. Had a little bit of a macabre, spooky feel. Great for a cocktail before/after a…read moreghost tour (or dinner). The bartenders were very knowledgeable and seemed to enjoy their craft. The cocktails we tried were all excellent, perfectly balanced and exactly what we ordered.

I'm not even a big tuna lover but do NOT skip the tuna dip with crème fraiche. It had delicately…read moresliced cucumbers and onions on it, my personal fav veggies to pair with my occasional tuna sandwich. Delicious! My partner got the patatas bravas with his salmon. So crispy and garlicky! And, the kitchen (plus our amazing server Gustavo!!) was kind enough to make a custom pesto cavatelli for me because I didn't want the cavatelli with morel mushrooms! I will be thinking about the texture of this pasta + the pistachio pesto for a long time. They kept the corn pudding of the original dish at the bottom and it was such a good combination of flavors. I got chicken added on top. I got an espresso martini with gin; pretty good, just wished there was a bit more espresso flavor. Probably would order one of their house cocktails instead next time. Lastly we had the stone fruit cobbler with ice cream and a pine nut/pistachio brittle. Unlike any other cobbler I've ever had. Perfection of different textures. Also, we had the duck fat fries on another day; they were delightfully crispy and lightly seasoned with garlic. The ranch it came with was so yummy and definitely dill-forward. I'd definitely come back! Thank you for your hospitality.

Just finished a 4 course dinner. It was mostly delicious successes and just one failure…read more The burrata salad was fresh, flavorful. The cheese portion was kind'a skimpy. The Parker house rolls looked a lot more impressive than they tasted. Over salted on top. Airy texture inside but weirdly chewy in a Wonder bread goopy way. Not a pleasing mouth feel. After just 15 minutes on our table they were stale. Bambie ordered salmon. Nice hunk, probably 7 ounces. Pink and fleshy. Moist. Gently cooked. Sides were garden fresh vegetables. I ate the 1/2 chicken. Airline cut. It was a little pullet, maybe 6 ounces. Cooked well. The spicy red sauce that was under the bird was outstanding. I'd be perfectly happy to have a plate of spaghetti with this sauce. The crunchy fingerling potatoes were fun at first, but as the meal went on I couldn't finish them. They were too oily and too salty. Dessert was the recommended cheesecake. Righteous. The exterior of the big slice had a mild Crème brûlée texture and the cake itself was a heavenly cloud. The poached strawberries were the perfect accompaniment. So, is this a 5 star meal & experience? No. i put it in the casual sort'a fine dining box. Last night I ate at The Girl and the Fig on the Sonoma town square. That meal was much more delicious for significantly less money. Tourists who are overly impressed with Michael Mina will be happy here. Locals like me who grew up eating at Sondra Bernstein's several restaurants over the years will be even happier.

Wow! I came back years later, and I'm still incredibly impressed by this restaurant. The girl & the…read morefig has truly mastered its sauces, elevating the dishes from great to excellent. Our waiter, Willie, was very knowledgeable about the menu, seemed genuinely happy to be there, and provided excellent service throughout the night. My only caveat was the radish appetizer. I was surprised that it was literally chopped raw radishes served with butter. Thankfully, Willie brought us an aioli that significantly improved the flavor, but the dish still felt underwhelming compared to everything else. Steak au poivre: One of the best dishes I've had all year. It was fantastic, memorable, and the extra sauce was also delicious with the sourdough. Flounder: Buttery, citrusy goodness. It was cooked to perfection, and the sauce took it to the next level.

We had a group lunch here with friends recently, and everyone enjoyed their meal. We sat on the…read moreback patio, which is shaded and has fans. Our table ordered everything from burgers to fish for lunch, and everyone enjoyed their meal. While they were quite busy, the service was friendly and prompt. The chocolate chip cookies were EXCELLENT.

We had the best afternoon enjoying a couple glasses of bubbles at Sigh. Jaime, the owner, was so…read morefriendly and helpful. We love the ambience! Nice wrap around bar area or you can enjoy the comfortable couches and very clever stools filled with sparkling wine and champagne bottle corks! Nice areas near the front window or towards the back that has lots of room for big parties to sip and enjoy. Fun, pretty and sparkly atmosphere. Great menu of wines and bubbles to choose from. Convenient location near the downtown park square and ample parking. We've been a few times now and will definitely be back.

Lots of bubble choices and great service…read more Popped in for a drink before dinner reservations. Ordered a flight for variety. All 3 champagnes were excellent. Bartender was knowledgeable and friendly. Some really interesting art and furniture that celebrates champagne. There's a wall with a mosaic of bottle tops, and stools made from corks. Very creative and fits the vibe. I saw they have frozen champagne drinks in machines right in front which sounds delicious on a hot day, but we didn't try any this time

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!

We stopped here for lunch in between wineries on our Sonoma County wine‑tasting tour, and it turned…read moreout to be one of the highlights of our day. The entire staff was so nice, friendly, and genuinely attentive you could feel the hospitality the moment we walked in. We sat at the bar, and the bartender deserves a special shout‑out. He took amazing care of us. On his recommendation, we ordered the burgers, and they were honestly the best, juiciest, most delicious burgers we've ever had! Everyone we encountered in town had that same warm, welcoming energy. It made our quick lunch stop feel like a real experience, not just a meal. We left saying we have to come back and spend more time in downtown Sonoma this place and its people made a lasting impression.

Came here on the rec of a local and I'm glad we did! It was the perfect meal for our group of three…read moreto easily share, even with a gluten allergy. We ordered oysters, deviled eggs, and a ceasar salad to start, then got the steak and broccoli for a main course. I loved the oysters, steak, chimichurri that came on it, crispy potatoes, and deviled eggs. These might have actually been some of the best crispy potatoes I've ever had, they did them pretty perfectly. The Caesar salad was a little mayo heavy in some bites and anchovy heavy in others, dressing could have been mixed a little better, but it was still good for the most part and a good portion too. I was glad we got the broccoli to have another vegetable, but didn't love the sauce on it. It didn't really go with what we were eating, and just felt like it could've been rounded out a little more. We lucked out, didn't have a reservation but they had a spot for us on the outdoor patio, which ended up being the perfect spot to dine on a nice warm evening. It was quaint and felt like someone's backyard, highly recommend sitting back here when the weather is good.

Great atmosphere in beautiful outdoors. Nice Bar and dining…read moreas well. Dog friendly with menu. Food prep good

We had dinner at Layla with a party of six, and while the food was excellent, the service was…read moredisappointing enough that it overshadowed the entire evening. The biggest issue was that a mandatory 20% gratuity was automatically added to our bill. If you're going to require guests to pay a 20% tip regardless of the experience, the service should at least meet that standard. Unfortunately, it didn't. Our server, Chloe, seemed far more occupied with spending time in the kitchen or attending to guests seated outside than checking on our table. We were dining inside, where the restaurant was nearly empty, yet she would disappear for 10-15 minutes at a time, leaving us with no way to ask for refills, order additional drinks, or get simple questions answered. To make matters worse, our wine glasses arrived visibly dirty. We pointed it out, but they were never replaced. That's a basic service expectation at any restaurant, especially one at this price point. She also volunteered recommendations for her "favorite" dishes, despite us never asking for suggestions--and they happened to be among the most expensive items on the menu. It felt more like upselling than genuine hospitality. The kitchen deserves credit because the food was genuinely very good. But great food can't make up for inattentive service, especially when guests have no choice but to pay a mandatory 20% gratuity. If Layla is going to automatically add a 20% tip, then they should ensure the service earns it--not simply collect it regardless of how poor the experience is.

Situated in the lobby of the Fairmont Sonoma Inn, we enjoyed wonderful drinks and food from the…read moreMichelin rated Asante restaurant next door. We had the "Grown-up" Mac-N-Cheese (lobster and truffle), Tune tartare , hot wings and a good-sized (about 5" diameter) chocolate souffle. We thought we would save alittle with dinner at Auberge the night before and then lunch at French Laundry tomorrow, but we were wrong. Six cocktails and the three plates we shared came to $197 with a nice tip for Doris. Nice and casual, excellent appetizers from Sante! Very recommended!

We were booked for two nights at The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn. Since we got in after work on a…read moreFriday evening we ate, and of course drank at the Lobby Bar. Yes, it's called the Lobby Bar. After so many cocktails you'd swear it had a better name than the Lobby Bar. The nice thing is that they serve the same drinks at every Fairmont bar. I know the drink menu by heart so I was set. We had some Side Cars and the lovely cocktail called The White Lady. Our bartender was fantastic. She really made our visit. For food, we split the delicious most decadent Lobster Macaroni & Cheese. The noodles were those shell like ones. All of the bar food is made in the Michelin Star rated Sante Restaurant. The food was so fantastic. On top of the great drinks. After eating and drinking we went back to our room and found we didn't have an ice bucket. We also found that the ice machine was to far of a hike for us. We walked down to the Lobby Bar with our coffee pot and the sweet bartender filled it with ice for us no problem. On our two day visit we came in a few times and service was always exceptional. It's an easy way to also enjoy Sante as well.

Our early Saturday morning in Sonoma was made in this bar! Vivian, behind the bar, is as sweet as…read moreshe is spicy. She had our family cracking up and kept drinks flowing. I loved the simplicity of the place and the locals coming in and out. Vivian knew them all by name. Lastly, I appreciated the quality ingredients of the Bloody Mary. No premade mix! I hope to visit Sonoma again. This will be the first place we revisit!

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.

My friends and I had such a fun time at Pomme Cider Shop located just off the plaza in downtown…read moreSonoma! While I've been to cider taprooms before, I've never been to a dedicated cider shop featuring such a wide breadth of ciders. The selection was incredible! Pomme carries local ciders from Sebastopol, as well as from New York, North Carolina, Spain, etc. My friends ordered a cider flight, which is a fun option if you're having trouble deciding which cider to order. And as a tinned fish lover, I was thrilled to see such a wide assortment of colorful tins. Cider pairs well with tinned fish, so of course I had to buy a few tins and a bottle of cider to-go. ;) Overall, this is such a cute place to grab a drink. The interior is modern, yet cozy, and the bathroom is a total vibe! The guy who helped us was hilarious, and you could tell he was knowledgeable about both cider and tinned fish. Such a fun addition to Sonoma Plaza!!

Absolutely love this place! I can't believe we hadn't been sooner. Currently pregnant so no alcohol…read morefor me but they had an amazing NA section! My husband got a delicious cider. They also have beer, wine and delicious looking cheese. One of the owners helped us out and he was so accommodating and kind. We will for sure be back again and again!