Wher to Eat Late in Sonoma & Napa Counties
Three years ago, a Reddit user going by “EextraNasty” posted this question on the “r/santarosa” subreddit: “Why does everything close at 9pm?”
They went on to lament a perceived dearth of “late night food options around town that aren’t chains, drive throughs [sic] or food trucks” and a litany of other misgivings (the city’s size and relative lack of offerings compared to other similarly-sized cities, breweries that prematurely close at 9pm) and concluded with a trifecta of queries that surely underscore the frustrations of many locals: “Is it just me? Are there some secret spots that aren’t well known? What gives?”
The answers are No, Yes and various factors involving Covid, the economy, staffing woes, a generational decline in alcohol consumption and probably somebody named Steve (as always).
Life-long locals may recall the heyday of independently owned diners and cafes in the ’80s and ’90s that served espresso up until and often past midnight, like Santa Rosa’s erstwhile Cafe This and Christine’s Cafe, or for more exotic fare, the truck stop-adjacent Zoya’s 24-Hour Café, which served borscht from dusk till dawn in Petaluma. Sure, such places were the domain of swing-shift workers, beatniks and vampires, but who else would one wanna hang with?
Meanwhile, Wine Country is mounting a late night comeback, EextraNasty. Here’s a partial listing of where we stand, heading northerly from the storage facility that replaced Zoya’s (RIP)…
Petaluma
Speakeasy
139 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite B
Open 5 to 10pm, Sun and Thurs; 5pm to 12am, Fri and Sat; Brunch from 10am to 4pm, Sat and Sun
An international tapas bistro offering a variety of small plates made from local ingredients and featuring live music at its sibling spot, The Big Easy, just across the alley.
speakeasypetaluma.com
Kapu Bar
132 Keller St.
Open 4 to 10pm, Wed and Thurs; 4pm to 1am, Fri and Sat, 4 to 10pm on Sun
A tiki bar that provides Polynesian, Hawaiian and fusion dishes. The vibrant atmosphere and campy cocktails make it an excellent spot for a fun, themed evening.
kapubar.com
Sonoma
HopMonk Tavern
691 Broadway
Open 11am to 9pm (Mon – Thur, Sun), 11am to 10pm (Fri – Sat)
Like its sib location (see the Sebastopol location below), this tavern offers American dishes and beers, live music and a large outdoor beer garden.
hopmonk.com/sonoma
Napa
Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin’ BBQ
975 First St.
Open daily 11am to 8pm, Sun through Thur
11am to 9pm, Fri and Sat
This wine bar and BBQ spot offers a variety of smoked meats, including beef brisket, pulled pork and their signature beer can chicken. The restaurant features an old-West theme and an extensive wine list, with over 40 wines by the glass, as well as tasting flights and artisan beers.
bountyhunterwinebar.com
Tarla Mediterranean Grill
1480 First St.
11am to 9:30pm, Sun through Thu; 11am to 10pm, Fri and Sat
Serving a sophisticated menu of Greek and Turkish fusion cuisine. The restaurant is perfect for enjoying cocktails and meze at the bar, or a full meal at one of their intimate tables. Their dishes are designed to satisfy discerning palates with a refreshing change of cuisine.
tarlagrill.com
Rohnert Park
Simmer Claw Bar
595 Rohnert Park Expressway
Open daily 11am to 10pm
“Where East Meets West: Viet-Cajun Seafood Delights”—SCB is known for its Vietnamese-Cajun fusion cuisine, which features seafood boils, crawfish, crab legs, or, from the family menu, “The Whole Shabang!” which includes 2lbs of crawfish, 1lb of clams, 2lbs of shrimp, 1lb of mussels, plus potatoes, corn and sausage. simmerclawbar.com
Bistro 101
288 Golf Course Drive W.
Daily 7am to 12am
Located at Graton Casino, this late-night diner offers sandwiches and burgers as well as steak frites, braised short ribs and sauteed Pacific salmon. Pro tip: The house always wins. gratonresortcasino.com
Sebastopol
HopMonk Tavern
230 Petaluma Ave.
Open 11am to 9pm, Mon through Thur, and Sun; 11am to 10pm, Fri and Sat
The original HopMonk location features a rustic setting with a large outdoor beer garden and live music. A variety of American dishes and an extensive beer selection are featured on the menu.
hopmonk.com/sebastopol
Santa Rosa
Jackson’s Bar and Oven
135 Fourth St.
11:30am to 9pm, Sun through Thur; 11:30am to 10pm, Fri – Sat
This “bar and oven” (as opposed to the usual “grill”) provides comfort food with a sophisticated twist (brick chicken, anyone?), using seasonal ingredients to craft their dishes.
Belly Left Coast Kitchen & Taproom
523 Fourth St.
Open 11am to 10:30pm, Mon through Thur; 11:30am to 11pm, Fri and Sat; 10am to 9:30pm, Sun
Offering a variety of modern American dishes, including both large entrees and small plates that are ideal for sharing. They are known for their extensive beer selection and a welcoming atmosphere for casual dining. Note: The kitchen closes at 9:30pm throughout the week and 8:30pm on weekend nights.
bellyleftcoastkitchenandtaproom.com
Russian River Brewing
725 Fourth St.
Open daily 11am to 10pm
Known for beers like Pliny the Elder, this brewery offers a limited menu of pizza bites, appetizers and sandos. RRB is the go-to spot for beer enthusiasts. (Last call for food is 9pm. Also check out the 700 Mitchell La., Windsor, location for a more extensive menu but slightly earlier last call for food time—8:30pm.)
russianriverbrewing.com
The Goose & Fern
116 5th St.
11:30am to 11pm, Fri and Sat; 11:30am to 10pm, Sun
The Goose & Fern is a cozy British pub where one can tuck into a cracking plate of fish and chips whilst sampling a top-notch range of pints. The pub’s laid-back vibe makes it the perfect spot for a good natter over some smashing grub and drinks.
thegooseandfern.squarespace.com
Haku Sushi
518 7th St.
Open daily 10am to 12am
Haku Sushi offers meticulously crafted sushi rolls boasting names like “Bazinga!” and “Twilight Zone,” as well as bento boxes and other Japanese dishes. Pro tip: The owners have another restaurant nearby—Han Bul Korean BBQ—with similar hours.
Healdsburg
Lo and Behold Bar + Kitchen
214 Healdsburg Ave.
11:30am to 12am, Thur through Mon
Serves global comfort food and crafted cocktails in a cozy and welcoming setting. There is a lush garden patio, a cozy lounge and a lively bar area. Sometimes, one just needs confit beef brisket tacos (FYI, the kitchen closes at 10 pm).
loandbeholdca.com
sad
Piala in Sebastopl is open until 10:30 and Townes in Satan Rosa is open on weekends until 11.