There are many reasons to be obsessed with Petaluma—rolling hills, a haunted downtown, all the chickens—but my favorites are the ways it makes life better. Which explains why half of this list is edible.
Brutally Addictive Chocolate Croissants
Whenever I tell someone I live in Petaluma, the first thing out of my mouth usually involves croissants. That says a lot more about me than it does about Petaluma, but here we are. And we do have some good ones.
Most notably, from Della Fattoria. Does everyone already know this? Probably. They’re possibly the best chocolate croissants I’ve ever eaten and certainly the only croissants I’ve ever attempted to save for myself by performing experimental mind control on the people in line ahead of me when there’s only one chocolate croissant left. I’ve also heard expressions of dismay behind me when I’ve been the lucky soul to snag the last chocolate croissant on a Saturday morning. 143 Petaluma Blvd. N., dellafattoria.com.
Stellina Pronto also makes a lovely chocolate croissant, only it’s called a nutella cornetto and it’s an altogether different experience. It’s bigger, more dessert-y—one can almost get away with calling the chocolate croissant from Della’s a reasonable breakfast—and decorated with toasted hazelnuts. It was exactly what I needed on the Wednesday after Election Day when Della was closed and my existential dread required soothing. 23 Kentucky St., stellinapronto.com.
Side note about Stellina patrons: As I made my way out of the bakery on that fateful Wednesday morning, my massive nutella cornetto balanced in two hands, a man held the door for me and called me “ma’am.” On this particular day, when a woman had not gained entry to the White House and a man many women would refuse to be in the same room with did, there was something especially touching about being treated well. THAT’S RIGHT; RESPECT ME. And my powdered-sugar-dusted breakfast treat.
All the Refills One Could Ever Want
Ever open up an Amazon package and lift out lotion and laundry detergent, only to picture an image of Jeff Bezos’ smug face as he stands atop landfill piled with all the empty plastic bottles we’ve all personally tossed in? Or is that just me? I’m not trying to eco-shame anyone, because 1) rude and 2) whenever someone tries to shame me, I have to physically restrain my inner child from running off to do the exact opposite of whatever they just told me to do. Being able to easily refill all the stuff I use regularly is just something I’ve wanted for years, and I’m happy to have such a lovely option right downtown.
For those whose brain does something similar, may I suggest the Refill Mercantile? Customers can bring in their own reusable bottles, scrounge from the communal free offerings or purchase something nice to use over and over. They can fill them up with everything their household needs, from face wash to dish soap. The husband-and-wife team who owns it takes pains to find the healthiest versions available, often locally sourced.
When I dithered over shampoo because a combination of well water and my particular hair texture makes finding the right one basically impossible, they let me take home a week’s worth to try for free. I extended that free week to a month because I listened when Jonathan Van Ness said one should only wash their hair every other day, and then I took it way too far because, well, let’s just blame Covid. 6 Petaluma Blvd. N., refillmercantile.com.
Soothing the Crazy
We’re walking around in a trauma echo chamber these days, especially if we listen to the news or participate in social media. Those who succumb to road rage or find themselves in a fugue state scrolling a phone on the couch for hours at a time may find their nervous systems are in disarray.
For a long time I had no idea what chiropractors do—and, honestly, I’m still not entirely sure—but I do know that they can chill out one’s adrenals and fix that wonky hip. Acorn Chiropractic Club will probably do something else. But for anyone with a nervous system that needs help, it’s a good place to go. 141 Second St., acornchiropractic.com/petaluma-ca.
For those of us who spend a fair amount of time at the doctor, only to walk away after getting no help whatsoever—I was once told to wait until the symptoms got worse and then go back for medication—Chinese medicine might be the answer.
Petaluma Community Acupuncture is another communal space where one can receive acupuncture and herbs tailored to their own particular needs, and the sliding scale makes it really doable. Chinese medicine has helped me with so many of the things doctors shrug their shoulders over before shuffling me out of the office. Go in, tell the acupuncturist about all those weird symptoms, get some needles tapped in and take a nice rest. 21 Kentucky St., petalumacommunityacupuncture.com.
Drinking Tasty Things by the River
We have a river, so why not go drink things by it? Just don’t fall in. Medieval map makers would definitely label the bottom of that river with a toothy dragon and a casual “Here Be Monsters.”
My favorite place to eat in Petaluma right now is Luma. The staff always takes good care of us, even when we have to eat on the velvet couches because we strolled in without a reservation an hour before the Petaluma Lighted Boat Parade. Pro tip: Strolling in an hour before the Petaluma Boat Parade is a good way to skip the gnarly parade traffic, have a cheeseburger and a cocktail, and then just walk out the back door to the river as the boats begin their watery cavalcade of light and motion. 50 East Washington St., lumaeatery.com.
My favorite mocha in town can be found at Grand Central. The baristas there use high-quality chocolate, and they’ll sweeten to one’s taste. One may get a nice coffee and sit in the sun on a wooden lounge chair or in a hammock by the river. Customers with kids are in luck because the establishment is wildly kid friendly. Those without kids might want to bring noise-canceling headphones on the days when the place turns into an impromptu kindergarten. 226 Weller St., grandcentralpetaluma.com.
Of course, Petaluma’s best place to enjoy a vast array of fine wines in a river-adjacent piazza is La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge. Located in the heart of Theatre Square, the spot is the perfect place to while away a day—and perhaps the evening, too—sipping and soothing away this anxious era. 151 Petaluma Blvd. S., ldvwine.com.
Amber Adrian is a writer and healer who blogs at amberadrian.com.
