We have now returned to this spot because it made such a good impression on us the first time…read more Located in the quaint and lovely Glen Ellen, Poppy boasts such an inviting, homey, and somewhat French ambiance. Service here is incredible and everyone is extremely helpful with ordering and with our party and our quirks. When it comes to food, everything is great! We stated with the pork cabbage envelope every time we've been here and it's a nice light app but probably meant to split between two and not four to six people. The bread here is amazing and so is their ham! For entrees, the steak is incredible and always made to perfection. The chicken is also very good and pretty well proportioned to split in our opinion. Everything tastes incredibly fresh and well sourced and homey. Great place, great ambiance, and delicious food!

Well no wonder Poppy was on Sonoma Magazines top new restaurants of 2025!! My wife and I rarely…read moreget date nights these days, so it was a real treat to get out! Walking in, the restaurant has a light airy feeling with... big shocker... poppy art work all over. They have a cool couple dinner option but it includes wine and we don't drink, but our hunger level wasn't that high either. The menu is decidedly French but with a nice California/sonoma county farm to table feel. Any restaurant with a bread course is after my heart, so already there! We had the bread with ham and the duck liver, it was fantastic! We then had the smoked white fish tartine, again amazing. We finished with the Trout! I'm not going to describe every dish for one simple reason, it's all good! One constant theme throughout was balance! The chef is a master at balancing rich savory with tart, salt and acid. Lastly the service was awesome! She was so attentive and thoughtful. She asked how many courses we wanted the food bright out in 2 or 3 courses, she also noticed we had more liver and ham and brought us a bit more bread, without having to put in a full order. After each course they removed all the plates and silverware and brought us a fresh set! We will be back!

Intimate, rustic & exclusive wine tasting experience. Loved the cozy setup & in depth, candid chat…read morearound each wine. Highly recommend compared to a typical mass hyped winery.

When looking into wineries in the area, Schermeister stood out to me because everyone said the same…read morething - that Rob and Laura are amazing and that you have to come by. After a few tours of very large wineries, we ended our week in Sonoma and Napa with Schermeister and it was, undoubtedly, our favorite stop. Not only was the wine our favorite we had, but, as reported, Rob and Laura were just so welcoming and wonderful. They felt like old friends even though we had just met. Also, their tasting room is just gorgeous and in a lovely area. I whole heartedly recommend stopping in at Schermeister if they're open (they close when they sell out of wine) and I plan to come back any time I'm in Northern California.

Don't be fooled by the exterior or the fact that it's a saloon. It's kinda dark on the inside but…read moreit's usually bustling, and I've seen plenty of families with kids inside. The outdoor patio next to the creek is the place to be. Enjoy a hot afternoon amor relaxing evening. Grab yourself a water at the water station. Order your food and drinks at the bar and then take your number sign and claim a table. Food comes out pretty quickly and gets delivered to your table along with utensils. First time here and there was a live band playing on the patio deck just as the sun was setting. It was packed, lovely, and just a great time. Fish and chips were good standard fare. Large serving easy to share. Garlic fries hit the spot. Shrimp tacos were good, nothing fancy. Bloody Mary and Lemonade were both good.

The Jack London Saloon is one of those places we stop into every time we are in Glen Ellen. We…read morestarted going with friends who live nearby and it quickly became a regular thing. The indoor/outdoor flow and the laid-back energy are perfect for a relaxed hang any time. When we were planning our wedding at a local venue, choosing where to host the after-party was honestly the easiest decision we made. Working with Kim made it even better. She was incredible: attentive, organized, and felt genuinely invested. She thought of all the things I didn't and helped us create exactly the celebration we wanted. I really appreciated her help, it was one of the fun parts of wedding planning. If you're looking for good vibes on any given night, you'll love it here. And if you're lucky enough to be planning an event, talk to Kim. She and the rest of the team here are the best!

We spent a lovely few hours at Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen on a recent Sonoma trip…read more Although they were busy, we appreciated being able to walk in without a reservation and still enjoy tastings at the main bar. Our server, Patrick, was personable, knowledgeable, and truly went above and beyond. He gave us a great understanding of the history of the family winery as well as the nuances of the various wines. He never made us feel rushed, and we enjoyed sitting outside, taking in the beautiful views--and watching the tractor tours pass by--while we tasted. Patrick even shared side-by-side trios of Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons to highlight differences in winemaking methods, vineyard sites, and soils, which made for a particularly interesting and educational tasting experience. In fact, it was every bit as informative and enjoyable as other tasting experiences we've had that were far more expensive, more formal, and required advance reservations.    The tasting room also features a wonderful selection of gifts and specialty items. By the end of our visit, we left with three bottles of wine (2025 Frank Johnson Sauv Blanc and two 2022 Three Blocks Cab Sauvs) along with several gifts and mementos. Benziger has a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere and is both kid and pet-friendly. We also stopped by their sister winery, Imagery, afterward and found it to be another Sonoma gem. We wouldn't hesitate to return to either.

We did the sit down, more formal tasting. It was quite nice, on the great patio. But they also have…read morethe stand up tasting in the shop for a little less money. We didn't do the tour, but they have a trolley tour if you are looking for something with out having to walk a lot.

Imagery is such a fun winery! The wines are all incredible and very innovative . The art on the…read morewine bottles is so fun too. We've been a few times and it's always a great time, super chill place, everyone is super nice, and service is great. 10/10 would recommend

Came with my friend who is a wine club member. It's 12/30. It's not that busy. The wine club area…read moreis closed on the weekdays and there is a sign directing us to the main bar with a welcome of oh you don't have a reservation and weird looks like we were stupid to come without reservations. Ok. Noted. Now we are with Gerardo... He tells us we "get to" taste these wines and we ask for the white burgundy skipping the viognier. Other clients are tasting the sparkling which we just got an email about so we ask and he says we are getting an extra pour. Ummm we'd like to try before we buy is that a crazy expectation? And so we continue on. Meanwhile the other bartenderis offering other people side by side of the barbera and the upper ridge barbera to taste what they like...not us. When I commented that I do enjoy French champagne he said it's made in the same style and he has a bottle at home that he might drink for New Year's. Ok cool. He had zero wine knowledge. Didn't tell us much about the wines. And wanted us to purchase but was limiting our tastes and experience. Another couple arrived who noticed an error on their invoice and he could t figure out how to correct it and had to enlist the help of someone else. The final straw was we asked to taste the rose and he said it's not open today but then we saw other folks try it from the same fridge. Very odd. Didn't feel like there was a benefit to being in the club. He closed with telling us he needs to go to lunch so what are we buying? I've been here many times before and enjoyed the patio and the inside table with the fireplace and cute gift options. Today he made me question whether I would return. I don't think that the wine industry is doing really well so an experience like this is very off putting.

Hamel Winery came highly recommended by a friend who visited Sonoma recently, so it was our first…read moretasting spot in Sonoma Valley. From our personalized menus, yummy squash spread and focaccia, and delicious wine, it was a fantastic experience. Our sommelier, Emily, guided us through our tasting and had such a profound knowledge of the methods and practices that make Hamel's wine so special. The grounds, the views, the epic cave, it was all a once in a lifetime experience. Our favorite wines were the Grenache, the Sauvignon Blanc, and the Chardonnay!

Hamel winery is definitely an experience for those with a bigger wallet/purse. The property and the…read morenewly built wine tasting and wine making buildings were gorgeous! We were were greeted by our personal wine staff who guided us through the wine tasting. He was pleasant, but overall seemed a bit apathic throughout the whole process. He was knowledgeable about the wine and the property. He guided us through the wine caves, which was lovely. I appreciated the personal attention, but it became a bit uncomfortable as the staff member sat with us between pourings. I would have liked the option to take our time drinking the wines, but I felt uncomfortable and slightly rushed as this person sat with us and did not always speak te whole time. We did arrive 30 minutes late due to the Tock app (reservation app) guiding us to the wrong location. We called Hamel to notify them and the person said they would wait for us, but I detected a bit of a tone. I also emailed Tock, which they responded quickly but basically said that they investigated it and it was basically an issue on Apple's side of things. No acknowledge of the inconvenience this had on me and my husband. We did receive a very tasty appetizer made by their world-renowned chef, but the wine fell short in my opinion. It seemed a bit watered down with little flavor overall. The wine is very expensive along with the wine tasting. Ultimately, I think you're paying for the view, experience and the cost of those new buildings.

We were staying in Sonoma for a few days and a friend of mine recommended B. R. Cohn! We are so…read moreglad that we stopped! Located just a few miles outside Sonoma, it was an easy find with plenty of parking. They allowed walk ins for tasting or a glass! The server let us try a few before deciding on their Zinfandel by the glass. It was stellar!! Highly recommend. The grounds are just as great as the wine! As you explore past the tasting room, there are themed rooms tucked into smaller buildings nearby, which allow you to find a cute space to sip! We actually opted to go back into their bigger outdoor space, which includes views of the vineyards. It was so peaceful and lovely! We can't wait to come back!

Since ownership turned over there is even better energy here! They will be brings by back their…read moreolive oils and vinegars in the next year. The wine selection was more diverse than most places but I have to admit, most all of our tasting was a hit out of the park. Very drinkable wines, very smooth in a location piping through old classics on the sound system creating a great vibe amongst the tables and vines. Service was top notch. Everyone was so kind, welcoming and interested in sharing the history of their wine (and wine history too)! Will definitely keep them as a must visit on the next visit. Thank you for a memory making kind of experience!

On a recent trip to San Francisco, I was lucky enough to get to explore a bit of Sonoma county…read more This was our first winery stop of three and it was just gorgeous! You have to make a reservation for a tasting. Each tasting is $30ish per person and well worth the price in my opinion. It was my brother's third time visiting here and my first and I could see why he continues to go back. The porch has a beautiful view of the vineyards and the mountains. They are very dog friendly and brought a few treats and a water bowl over for my brother's dog. The service was excellent. The wine tasting was comprehensive and enjoyable. We even got to try one of their reserve wines that was off menu and that was probably my favorite (and also the most expensive, of course). We both enjoyed the Knight's Valley wine too that was on the tasting menu - I think I'm remembering the name correctly. Our server recommended a few other wineries and restaurants to us and she even gave us a coupon for a complimentary wine tasting at another winery if we purchased a bottle there. Overall, we really enjoyed this visit to Arrowood and would certainly recommend it to anyone else who is in wine country for the day.

Had a lovely tasting experience here yesterday with wine club members who love the wines that are…read moreproduced here and wanted to share it with us. The causal exterior and farmhouse style structures are a welcome charm as you enter the interior of the main building. The decor and high ceilings, warm environment draw you. The views of the surrounding vines, the friendly staff member and the delicious wines made the private tasting experience so delightful. They are known for their reds and all were very good. Actually the entire event was so pleasant and a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

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.

I visited the Beacon Bar in Sonoma recently and was disappointed by the level of hospitality we…read morereceived upon arrival. Our party of four approached the bar and attempted to move a stool from the end of the bar to help accommodate our group. Instead of offering assistance or guidance, the female bartender mouthed from behind the bar, "That does not work for us, you will have to ask others to move." The interaction felt dismissive and unwelcoming. In a very small establishment, I would expect staff--especially bartenders--to play an active role in helping organize seating and accommodating guests when possible, or at least to communicate in a friendly and solution-oriented manner. A simple suggestion or offer to assist would have gone a long way. Unfortunately, the lack of warmth and accommodation made us feel unwelcome and discouraged us from staying or spending beyond one round. While the bar may have potential, customer service is a key part of the experience, and this visit fell short. I hope management considers reinforcing a more hospitable and proactive approach toward guest service.