What a charming Italian restaurant right in the heart of Mendocino. It's approached down a long…read morepath through a seemingly secret garden. What a pleasant way to approach a culinary experience. The restaurant has lots of charm. As you approach the front door there's a window into the kitchen where they are making the home made pasta. This definitely sets the tone. The dining area is cozy and has a 'woodsy' ambiance with nice decorative touches, an upstairs mezzanine and a beautiful garden deck/patio out back for dining too. The staff are super friendly and one feels as though you're eating in someone's friends home. The menu has many excellent dishes, primarily pastas. This is northern Italian cuisine so don't expect a lot of red sauces. The soup, a pasta fagioli, seemed interesting so I had a bowl and selected the Penne alla Boscaiola with onion, mushrooms, sausage and a cream sauce. I found the soup a bit underwhelming compared to some hearty types I've had in the past. It seemed to lack the strong richness and the beans were somewhat mushy. It wasn't bad, just different for me. The Penne, however, was a knockout. I haven't had that good a pasta dish in years. All the flavors were spot on and the ingredients perfectly proportioned and melded together. The sauce didn't overwhelm the dish and coated the pasta perfectly. I couldn't have been happier. The pasta here is obviously top notch and I'd love to try many more dishes. I doubt you can go wrong.

Best spot on the Mendocino Coast for an Italian dinner. Some of the waiters even speak Italian!…read moreStaff are friendly and service was thoughtful. There is so much to look at inside this restaurant, and the outside grounds has twists and turns to other garden areas--A mystic backyard for sure! For dinner, We had pasta and salad. The pasta was perfectly cooked--Upgraded to egg fettuccine noodles. The sauce was fresh and wonderfully flavored and covered the noodles with just the right amount of sauce. Not too much and not too little. The hearty smoked salmon salad was great too. I didn't realize it was smoked (missed that on the menu! Haha) I wanted salmon, but it was good with a nice fresh dressing. The bread served is focaccia pieces, rosemary and tomato blends which went well with my salad. Wine list offers a lot of wines. Of course Italian. Enjoy Mendocino!

Great organization of vendors, easy passing between vendors and attendees. Loved that covered…read moreseating available was provided on an especially hot day.

Killer Wines, Killer Prices, Killer Vibe…read more Mendo Vino is where Mendocino's wine scene really shines. The wine selection is absolutely fire. This place contains all the local gems, thoughtfully picked, and honestly some of the best around. When I stopped by, Michael was so nice and welcoming. He actually took the time to chat with me, listened to what I liked, and helped me find exactly the right wine no pressure, just genuine advice. Seriously, it felt like having a friend guide me through the shelves and I went home with just the right flavor of wine. And now to the prices. Shockingly good. You get amazing quality without having to empty your wallet. The vibe is cool, chill, and totally unpretentious, perfect for kicking back with a glass and soaking in that Mendocino magic. If you want great wine and a friendly, relaxed spot, Mendo Vino is where it's at.

Amazing service and choices. Ohhhhh so creamy chocolate. The…read moresweet taste of heavenly chocolate to put a smile on your face.

For decades my family has enjoyed purchasing overpriced treats from Mendocino Chocolate Company, we…read morealways just considered it a favorite indulgence however; today we entered the store in Fort Bragg we were shocked to see very low selection of chocolates, absolutely no sugar free options, and the woman at the counter seemed to be very inconvenienced both that we were there and that we had the audacity to ask questions. We left without purchasing anything. They lacked both product and customer service, we searched and found a competitor across the street instead. The owner of Redwood Chocolates not only had quality ingredients and delicious treats he also had a smile and kindness.

One of NorCals best kept secrets is the quaint town of Point Arena, home of Arena Cove! The…read moreabsolute most picturesque, gentle, calm and natural water views you'll ever see! Arena Cove is home to a pizza parlor and coffee shop as well as a fishing pier and if you come at low tide, the most amazing tide pools with fish, sea urchin, sea star fish, crab and countless water plants. Beautiful hiking on the shoreline and the best sunsets! I love visiting when I need a time out from the hustle and bustle of life; a quick trip is always humbling and helps me to refocus on the finer things in life... like nature!!!

I hate it when people Yelp landmarks instead of businesses. Just a personal pet peeve of mine…read more There's an exception to every rule, and I happen to be exceptional, so based on three exceptions to the rule I believe a review of Point Arena Cove is worthy of Yelp. First, this is an obscure little town and it needs Yelp reviews to encourage people to stop and experience all it has to offer. Second, this cove is not visible from Hwy 1 so you might drive right past it. Third, there are hours associated with the pier (open for boat launches from 7am to 4pm), so it's like a business. I'm not an expert on coves, but I've seen quite a few in my day. I think I'm a pretty good judge of cove character. La Jolla Cove, in San Diego was my favorite. Until I visited Point Arena Cove. There is so much going on here. I visited on a Saturday morning and ended up having great conversations with the very warm locals. A few showed me the abalone they had just hauled in (the Fish Police were right there to make sure every one was legal) and another showed me pictures of an albatross that visits the cove (very rare!) surfing with surfers. There are dogs galore (please leash them on the pier) and nice owners to go with them. This is a working cove, but people also go to talk and drink coffee. The cove is the best place to capture the local flavor of Point Arena. You absolutely must visit it.

I love Fort Bragg. I've been coming here for years. I try to get to town 2-3 times a year. It's my…read morego to spot for relaxation, chillaxing, walking, exploring, hiking, photography and to hang out with my dogs. Over the last two years I've made friends with some of the locals, too. I see them at the dog park, another fun place near a beautiful aquatic center. There is something for everyone here: food, ice cream, chocolate, activities, shopping, exploring the harbor, beaches, restaurants, a movie theater, souvenirs, train or rail bikes; some of the rail bikes have dog kennels so your pup can go with you. Lots of local events at various times of the year. I look forward to going again in the fall or winter.

In my experience, people checking city reviews are potential tourists or residents, so I have a…read morereview for each. As a tourist destination, it's a sleepy little getaway ideal for families. Couples and groups of friends not expecting a roaring nightlife will like it as well. Of the natural popular points of interest, I wasn't too excited about the botanical gardens (Plants!), Fort Bragg Coastal Trail (Water!), Pomo Bluffs Park (Cliffs!), Jackson State Park (Trees!), Noyo Beach (Driftwood!), Belinda Point Trail (Mud!), Otis Johnson Park (Stairs!), Noyo Headlands Park (Rocks!), MacKerricher State Park (Sand!), Seaside Beach (Rocks AND Sand!), but Pudding Creek Beach, which is directly under a tall picturesque bridge is cool. Russian Gulch State Park (nine miles south) features the Sinking Hole and another beach under a bridge that is even taller and picturesquer. The biggest draw, of course, was Glass Beach (see separate review), which brought us four hours from San Jose. However, I suspect that people unwilling to hike down some small but precarious cliffs to less-travelled coves will likely be unimpressed by the treasure hunting. Fort Bragg has a main strip/downtown area with some cool things to see, buy, and eat. FOOD: Fair amount of independent options. We enjoyed Cowlick's (separate review), which has lines of people waiting for nationally recognized homemade ice cream. Egghead's and Laurel's Deli (with a huge locomotive) are popular for breakfast, though we ate with the locals at David's Deli (separate review) down the road where 1 and 20 meet. The Bakery has "special" baked goods that will get you baked. DRINK: We grabbed a drink at Welcome Inn (separate review), next to Golden West Saloon, both of which are unpretentious bars with pool and shuffleboard. Stop by Golden West for the Fort Bragg postcard photo op. Elsewhere, Pacific Star Winery and North Coast Brewing are well-reviewed. MUSEUMS: the Sea Glass Museum (separate review) has the largest display of sea glass in the world. Triangle Tattoo Museum, Mendocino Coast Model Railroad Museum, and the Guest House Museum (displaying a historically-dated cross-section of redwood outside) are downtown as well. Elsewhere, Noyo Center for Marine Science has an orca skeleton and interactive topographic sandbox. ACTIVITIES: Skunk Train looks fun, offering rides by rail bike or train, but it was too overpriced for me (I think the prices for Skunk stink). The kids might enjoy Wiggly Giggly Playground outside the Ft. Bragg Library. Elsewhere, you can ride a horse at Ricochet Ridge, kayak past seals and sea otters (like Liquid Fusion is one vendor) or catch an early movie at the independent Coast Cinema. SHOPPING: Lots of shops. We enjoyed Lost Surf Shop (separate review), where Shasta will give you a high five if you rub her belly. Just make sure her husband doesn't see. (Just kidding, Shasta is a dog). As a resident, it doesn't appear to be overcrowded or disruptive despite being a tourist destination. The city's history is linked to military, fishing, lumber and the displaced Pomo tribe. Mild weather and uniquely cool summers. Not incredibly diverse (75% white) and most people vote blue. Property theft rates are double state average, violent crime is 33% higher. Thanks, Obama. (I kid). The seclusion can be good or bad. The 101 at Willits is 35 miles of elevated, winding roads that can take you to Santa Rosa (2.2 hr) or San Francisco (3.3 hr). The I-5 at Williams (2.7 hr) can get you to Sacramento (3.7 hr). Seems like a nice place to live, especially along the rocky coast, which reminds me of the black-and-white emo version of Big Sur.

Great service on a Sunday night! We brought a group in late and enjoyed a wonderful meal.read more

The service and the restaurant were phenomenal! From being used to places filling up around dinner…read moretime, a Saturday night is not a bad night to come here! We loved the atmosphere which they have live music playing! Our server was very kind and gave us recommendations. We were able to split and share a Cesar salad and they gave two plates to share which was kind instead of one big plate and we appreciated that. I give 4/5 stars for the quality of the food only because I felt the spaghetti noodles were a little salty along with the sauce being salty. I love love love spaghetti and this was the first time I've been to an Italian restaurant and felt something was salty because I'm never one to complain. It could have been an off day but from the time we ordered to the actual dinner entrees to come took more than 20 minutes and it wasn't too crowded. Also, we ordered cannolis and the shell didn't seem crunchy/fresh but the flavor was there and the texture of the ricotta was smooth! For a couple who ordered 2 appetizers , two main entrees, one bottle of red wine , and two cannolis to share, we spent about 200 which was a little bit pricier than we usual experience at a typical Italian restaurant so just a heads up. Otherwise, this is a good place for fine dining in the area with nice staff and good portion food

One of my favorite vacation or long weekend spots. I love the area due to its weather, chill…read moreatmosphere, various places to eat and something for everyone. Beautiful views, photo opportunities, dog friendly, great parking, view points,

That California coast life! There's just nothing else like it. The Mendocino coast is just…read moreravishing. If you've never been to the Mendocino Coast, then you are seriously missing out in life. Of course the beaches are beautiful, but there's so much more to explore here. So many amazing parks that are filled with old growth Redwoods and flourishing waterfalls. The old town historic district that still incorporates much of the Victorian era. Delicious restaurants and adorable mom and pop shops. Campgrounds and hiking trails galore. Visiting the amazing parks here have made for some of my most favorite memories during my visits. Hiking the stunning coastal bluffs through Mackerricher State Park or taking a stroll through the headlands are just a few of my favorite things to do here. And that drive! That scenic drive down highway 1 will practically make your heart melt. I love that you can stop off at just about any point on the road to soak in the beautiful sights and sounds of this coastline. So grateful to be able to live so close to this beautiful coast.

If you have never gone on one of these events, add it to your bucket list…read more You start off on this little beach hidden off of Hwy 1 just as you are heading into Gualala. As you drive up, the smell of bbq is wafting through the summer air. On the evening that we went, we had the choice between Steak or Lobster. We had the lobster...yummy. Afterwards, we loaded into our kayaks and slowly made our way down the Gualala River (I think that's the river), until we ended up at the ocean...all under a huge bright full moon.

Not a big place, but a good jumping off spot to explore this part of the coast. Two grocery stores,…read moreample places to eat and sleep. Most of the motels have ocean view, and there is a short walking path along the bluff looking out across the river to the ocean. The regional park, a short drive, was a great beach walk. This is off the beaten path for Bay Area crowds, just north of Sea Ranch Plantation, with a reasonable range of places to stay and eat. Most of your exploring from here will be by car, but that was fine with us.

It's a very pretty town to pass through. I have passed through this town hundreds of times in my 60…read moreyears of life. However, this is the first time I have stayed in the area. First off I want to say restaurants are limited. I found one restaurant that had outdoor seating, aside from the one that had 'to go' shrimp burritos... There is a beautiful beach you see as you're passing through town, but there is literally no access to that beach (aside from a trail that runs several miles from Sea Ranch). I was shocked. Had to drive to anchor Bay to have access to a walk on beach. There was one beach at exit 5726. That allows you to pull off with signs, and then you get halfway down the trail and it tells you it's been closed since January 2026 due to erosion. There is one other beach, but there are numerous staircases to navigate. So you don't want to go there if you have elderly family members or pets. I was just really surprised, there are no places to walk, check out, or shop, it's just not your average Mendocino town. All things considered it's very pretty to pass through, but I wouldn't advise making a stop for any kind of beach or restaurant experience. Definitely not for the lodging experience. There's a very heavily crowded campground in anchor Bay, which is the only walk on beach in the area for 30 miles, the gal told me. I suppose if you wanted to snug in there neck to neck with all the other RVs and campers to get that itty-bitty beach then si be it. Not impressed. For ample space and drive up to walk out on beaches, go a little further. Mendocino county is full of amazing places to explore. As soon as you get to Albion, you find beach after beach, that doesn't take navigating multiple stairs or walking through crazy campgrounds to see the ocean. You have access to beaches all the way from Van Damme down to Cleone in Mendocino and everything in between. This little town of gualala is pretty too pass through, but that's about it.

**DEPOT UPDATE**…read more --The underlayment for the entire roof is laid --There were 12 pickup trucks [ heating, plumbing, etc] and 2 freight trucks on site, and a few diggers & front loaders. I went by at 11am, and I'm assuming [hoping] they were all busy inside the structure, because there was no visible activity outside. Still no mention in our local paper about the progress of this project. BUT the other things I noted before around town have had some recent press... the Kohl's did open on Wed Sept 30th and was announced in the paper. The old Rite Aid building is -- alas-- being torn down, not repurposed, and the site is a rubble pile now. It's a huge corner, so maybe something great will eventually go in there.