Worth the drive: Two days in Healdsburg (Part one)
Healdsburg. The northern Sonoma County sister-city of Sonoma.
Whether you like it or not, we are related. Two distinctly different plazas with interesting founding stories and more shops, tasting rooms, restaurants and AirBNBs than locals can shake a stick at.
We spent two days in Healdsburg, playing tourists. This two part series showcases our picks for the best food fun, delightful drinks, and lovingly designed lodging (no vacation rentals included) for your next visit.
Read day two here.
11 a.m. – Tour du jour
Walking food tours are as popular as ever and Healdsburg is no exception – Savor Healdsburg Food Tours ($89 | 385-9811 | savorhealdsburgfoodtours.com) is one of the oldest food tours in North Bay and it shows – founder Tammy Gass has the method down pact.
Even better? There are cocktails involved and you don’t have to make a single decision on what to do – Gass leads the way sharing fun facts about Healdsburg history and heritage.
Over the course of 3.5 hours you visit six establishments, the pace is laid back and accommodating for any fitness level.
Start at Healdsburg SHED for a farm-to-table mezze platter and trendy, yet tasty, shrub drinks, followed by Cafe Lucia, the sister restaurant to Sonoma’s own LaSalette, for fresh scallops and an effervescent glass of Vinho Verde.
A wine break at Gustafson Family Wines is next, to taste sustainably produced estate wines. Next, a trip to Bravas for the best tapas and sangria this side of Spain.
Sweet treats top off the trip with visits to The Taste of Tea for a Japanese tea ceremony and tasty pastries and your own choice of cupcake at the famous Moustache Baked Goods.
4:00 PM – Tea time
After a pleasant afternoon of indulgence, a cup of tea and a spa treatment hits the spot.
Taste of Tea (109 North St. | 431-1995 | thetasteoftea.com) is is a tea lounge, serving Japanese food, a sustainable collection of teas from around the world, and tea spa treatments.
Treatments ($75), using green tea, are provided in a private relaxation room decorated with Japanese art and a digital fish tank that is as memorizing as a real fish tank.
Green tea is used for facials, foot soakings and hand wraps, making one’s skin as soft as a babies bum after 30 minutes of soaking. Treatments include an educational and beautiful tea ceremony.
Top off your visit with a “MarTEAni,” a non-alcoholic tea drink ($7). The Moonstone is delightfully sweet, comprising cold dripped white tea with fresh mint, Sonoma lavender syrup, and a vanilla sugar rim.
7:00 PM – Trust me
Valette (344 Center St. | 473-0946 | valettehealdsburg.com) is a true gem, with exceptional service and a menu that is hand-crafted to the point of making it a destination restaurant.
After long-time Dry Creek Kitchen chef Justin Valette left the Charlie Palmer establishment, he co-opened Valette with his brother, Aaron Garzini, who manages the front of house.
Decently sized portions enable a shareable dinner between friends or opt for the well crafted “Trust me,” tasting menu custom designed by Chef Valette for each guest ($15 per course, 4 course minimum).
Menu highlights include the “Nouveau” French Onion Soup ($12), 60 Hours Sous Vide Lamb Bacon ($29), and the fun to eat Bread, Butter and Jam for dessert ($9).
For a mind blowing treat, indulge in Valette’s seared foie gras with cherries, it melts like butter in one’s mouth ($29.
Where to stay
The Honor Mansion (891 Grove St. | 433-4277 | honormansion.com), built in 1883, remained in the same family for 108 years until being bought by Cathi and Steve Fowler in 1994.
The most romantic bed & breakfast resort experience in Sonoma County, there are 13 rooms, most which are suites, including the Vineyard Suites with private outdoor patios with Jacuzzi tubs.
The property includes two bocce courts, a basketball court, tennis court, crouqet court, PGA putting green, a 40-foot lap pool, poolside massages, evening cocktails and an indulgent breakfast that includes guests’ choice of nine mimosas. Don’t forget to feed the fish. Rooms range from $200-$300+.
