48 Hours in Healdsburg, California

Breakfast at Costeaux French Bakery

Kick off your day with breakfast at this legendary bakery beloved for its artisan breads, fresh pastries, and scrumptious café meals. The Costeaux French Bakery has been an institution in Healdsburg since 1923. Kick back on the dog-friendly patio to soak up the California sunshine while you savor Benedicts, French toast, and deep-dish quiches.

Stroll and Shop

Wander the charming town plaza to find boutiques and specialty stores perfect for picking up souvenirs and gifts. You’ll also discover antiques, collectibles, and plenty of art galleries to browse.

• Head to Mr. Moon’s for handmade jewelry, cool stationery, toys, small-batch soaps, and more.
• Check out Dovetail Collection’s array of fine woodwork, ceramics, jewelry, and home decor.
• Clothing by designer Yasuko is available in boutiques nationwide, but in Healdsburg, you can visit the only retail store.

Learn more about shopping in Healdsburg. Tip: The plaza’s outdoor bandstand hosts free concerts and other community festivities, so keep an eye on Healdsburg events.

Memorable Lunch

Relax and savor an exceptional lunch in Healdsburg. The Taste of Tea is a little oasis serving tasty sashimi bento boxes, ramen, udon, and exquisite tasting flights of classic teas. Bravas Bar de Tapas is an inviting spot to discover small plates, fragrant paella, and citrusy sangria.

Taste Wine in Healdsburg

Locals and visitors adore Healdsburg’s wine tasting rooms for their welcoming charm and walkable locations. More than a dozen tasting rooms are scattered downtown, making it easy to sip and stroll.

You can also book fun, guided tours for wine tastings, food pairings, and progressive dining experiences with local experts like these:

• Let’s Go Wine Walk
• Savor Healdsburg Food Tours
• Healdsburg Wine & Food Walking Tours

Michelin-Star Dinner

Consistently awarded three Michelin stars (the most you can get!), SingleThread offers a 10-course tasting menu built around what’s in season. The restaurant’s own farm supplies much of its produce — including olive oil and honey — and it’s also earned a Michelin green star for being a leader in sustainability. Reservations are a must.

Find more Michelin-star restaurants in Sonoma County.

Enjoy a Nightcap

Recap the day over cocktails that showcase local ingredients at Duke’s Spirited Cocktails, whether you’re in the mood for a classic or intrigued by fun drinks like Big Cucumber Energy and Old Cuban.

Or head to John & Zeke’s Bar, a local watering hole, for pool and shuffleboard.

Breakfast and Farmers Market

Start your day in the fresh air with espresso, pain au chocolat, and the famous sticky buns of Downtown Bakery & Creamery. Grab your fresh-baked goods to-go so you can stretch out and people-watch in the shady town plaza across the street.

For a lively stroll, head to the Healdsburg Farmers Market, which often includes live music as you pick out artisan bread, local preserves, and Sonoma County cheese to enjoy in the fresh air or to savor later.

The Healdsburg Farmers Market is held twice a week:

• Saturdays 8:30 a.m. to noon, mid-April through December
• Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., mid-May through September

Vineyard Tours Via Hike or Bike

There are more than 90 wineries and vineyards in Healdsburg, and cruising to and through them is half the fun.

Enjoy guided hikes, often paired with wine tastings at wineries such as Sutro Wine Co., Francis Ford Coppola Winery, and Amista Vineyards. At Amista, you’ll see their care for the land goes beyond organic farming to habitat enrichment that helps restore native fish in Dry Creek.

Learn about other wineries with walking tours.

If you prefer your wine tasting with more cardio, explore Healdsburg’s wineries via bike. Both Getaway Adventures & Rentals and Ace It Bike Tours host pedal-powered sip-and-cycle excursions, letting you take in Sonoma County’s rolling hills striped with vines, craggy mountains, and tranquil skies.

Locally Sourced Lunch

Just off the Healdsburg Plaza, discover Journeyman Meat Co., an old-school meat market with a wood-fired oven and a menu that changes weekly to feature seasonal local ingredients. Look for items like pizza with roasted leeks, bacon, and a farm egg, or a to-go plate of their house-made salumi with pickled veggies and cheese.

Fun on the Water

Soak up some sun at the Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach. From July through Labor Day, a seasonal dam creates a peaceful swimming area with lifeguards on duty.

This beach is also the launching point for self-guided canoe trips by Russian River Adventures. Paddle and float down a secluded and natural section of the river, watching birds and wildlife as you go, and then ride the shuttle back. (Dogs are welcome for an additional fee.)

Dinner Extraordinare

Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar serves up tapas, crabcakes, and warm sourdough bread with garlic-parsley butter on their tree-shaded patio.

At Guiso Latin Fusion, savor the homey, comfort-food feels that come with pupusas — corn cakes stuffed with cheese and fillings. Or try their Caribbean take on paella, where linguica sausage, seasonal veg, and an array of seafood swim in a saffron-infused garlic broth.

Check out more Healdsburg restaurants.