Best Restaurants in Healdsburg

In our younger days, my now husband and I would take day trips to Healdsburg as special treats – mostly for the weather and the yummy food (we weren’t wine drinkers at the time).. Now that we’re back in Northern California, we’ve been wanting to go back and rediscover all the best restaurants in Healdsburg (new to us and familiar spots).

In the heart of wine country, Healdsburg is a small town that’s ideal for walking around the downtown area. There are tasting rooms, bookstores, shops, and loads of coffee, ice cream shops, and restaurants – even just on the main plaza and more within a few blocks.

Coffee in Healdsburg

We have two favorite coffee spots in Healdsburg! The first one we discovered a few years ago on a trip to Mendocino. Black Oak Coffee is delicious. The cafe also has a good amount of seating and some more substantial food options. We had a slice of quiche and a bagel with lox. They also have other breakfast morsels, but don’t think that takes anythign away from how yummy their coffee is.

Up on the plaza is Flying Goat Coffee. This is a spot for the coffee aficionado. There isn’t much seating inside (or even much outside), but the Plaza is just across the street with plenty of benches for seating. They have a selection of morsels to enjoy with coffee but not really breakfast options of much substance.

Brunch in Healdsburg

If you have a chance, grab brunch at Roof 106. Looking over the plaza on the south side, it’s the rooftop restaurant of The Matheson (on my list for our next visit). I had the Caesar salad (with an added sous vide egg). My husband had the smoked salmon eggs Benedict. And my son ordered the plain waffle – another reminder that looks can be deceiving because it was a delectable waffle that I helped him finish! (Reservations Needed)

Best Restaurant in Healdsburg

I’m not usually one to pick a favorite, but I think my husband and I would both put Bravas on the shortlist (if not full on committing). It’s a Spanish tapas bar that just so darn good. This was another find on a trip back from the coast a few years ago.

We got lunch reservations on this trip (reservations absolutely necessary). It was warm outside, but they kindly moved umbrellas around and kept us all happy and fed.

The dishes are yummy and just what you want. I’d recommend ordering grilled bread on the side if you ordered the clams

Pizzando Review

We walked into Pizzando just after arriving in town for our weekend of Russian River glamping! Though they obviously have pizza, they also have a yummy selection of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and pasta! We had spritzes and enjoyed the early evening as it cooled off.

The restaurant is on the West side of the plaza and nicely shaded come dinner time by the building. They do also have indoor seating and, just as important, chocolate and vanilla soft serve ice cream!

Lo & Behold

A new one for us, Lo & Behold offers an eclectic menu from fried chicken and ahi tacos to Korean short riblets and cucumber salad (surprisingly my favorite dish of them all – not pictured).

I enjoyed one of their mocktails. My husband didn’t love the featured cocktails and went with his go to margarita, which he enjoyed! (reservations necessary)

Ice Cream in Healdsburg

This is important. I know because I have an almost 6-year old who loves chocolate ice cream. And I know because there are 3 places just on the plaza. There’s the soft serve at Pizzando (above). I think you can just walk up to the window to order it.

We went to Angela’s Organic Ice Cream (a B Corp company!). Said nearly 6-year-old devoured his chocolate ice cream!! And if we had just one more afternoon in town, we would’ve hit up Noble Folk on the opposite side of the plaza!