Tucked away in western Sonoma County, the tiny community of Occidental (pop. 1,115) packs a lot into its two-block long main street, home to galleries, gift shops, renowned dining establishments, and other local businesses. High-quality arts and cultural events are found at the Occidental Center for the Arts, while the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center promotes biological and cultural diversity.
As the midpoint on the exceptionally scenic 10-mile drive known as the Bohemian Highway, Occidental attracts cyclists and car clubs as the starting point for a number of beautiful and challenging routes between the redwoods and the coast. A favorite is to head west on picturesque Coleman Valley Road, which climbs over the ridge and then descends to Highway 1 along the coast.
North of town, the adventurous can fly through the tops of the redwoods via Sonoma Canopy Tour’s zip line experience.
Dining is a delight in Occidental. Founded as a railroad saloon and boarding house in 1879, the Union Hotel and Restaurant is now a lovely Italian cafe, bakery and pizzeria. Occidental's famous Negri's Italian Dinners & Joe's Bar, with its vintage trattoria ambience, has been serving Italian classics since 1943. And Mexican, French, and American cuisines are also served in local eateries.
Lodging is available in vacation rentals; the pet-friendly Occidental Lodge, with a pool and 27 rooms with queen- and king-size beds; and The Inn at Occidental, providing a luxury B&B experience.Â
Trip Ideas
The charming, bohemian community of Occidental is a great base for fun getaways in Northern California. Tucked into thick redwoods, the tiny town is only a few miles from both the Pacific Ocean and...
Say "Occidental," and many locals think "Italian" for the long-standing restaurants that serve generously portioned, family-friendly dinners in this small town tucked away in Sonoma County's Russian...
On the map, Occidental may look like a mere blip on your vacation screen – a place to pass through on your way to other destinations. But in reality those quirky, small town sensibilities create the...
Find Things to Do in Occidental
Type
Displaying 1 - 10 of 24
Jim & Michele Wimborough have been cooking in kitchens in the Bay Area (Zut on Fourth, Grand Café, and Boulevard to name a few) for the past 15 years. It has been their dream to find the perfect small…
This cozy Victorian has been transformed into an eclectic spot locally famous for it’s rotating craft beer, yummy pub food, and awesome live music. Come enjoy the vibe and immerse yourself in the…
This charming Mexican Cafe serves lunch & dinner to locals & tourists alike without direct competition. Located in the historic town of Occidental in Sonoma County's wine country.
We are a 102 year old meat processing facility, specializing in all-natural meat products. We carry high quality USDA prime dry aged steaks, local grass-fed beef, local lambs and goats, California…
Neon Raspberry is an art space dedicated to perspective shift and social commentary, giving priority to work that takes on questions of the day. We offer unique reflections of human experience that…
The Occidental Center for the Arts exists to provide a welcoming and accessible venue for the performing and visual arts in Occidental, California. Our mission is to enrich our community by providing…
Nestled among the redwoods, rolling green pastures filled with sheep, goats, cows, deer, and llamas, is the beautiful former logging village of Occidental, California in the county of Sonoma. Sonoma…
Hinterland is a women owned and operated screen printing, design and US-made apparel collective.
Our vision at Howard Station Cafe is to serve healthy organic ingredients as often as we can and provide a place of comfort through delicious food. All of our eggs are organic, and we offer organic…
For almost 20 years, Galleria has been cultivating art and jewelry collections from local and international artisans. You’ll find an amazing assortment of high quality items in a wide range of prices.…