“Sonoma” is basically synonymous with “wine country” at this point, but it’s not just rolling hills and tranquil vineyards. Downtown Sonoma is the county’s hub, the B&B-studded jumping-off point for hundreds of thousands of wine country tourists who flock here yearly.

It’s also fantastic to visit in its own right. Despite its small size (just 30,000 in the city as of the last 2020 census, only 10,000 residents within city limits and surrounding communities) and laid-back vibe, Sonoma is a place of near-limitless possibility. You could spend a week here and experience just a fraction of what it has to offer. Here’s what we like to do as tourists in our own beloved town.

You’ll find many of these spots in or near Sonoma Plaza, the city’s beating heart. Yes, including Roche Winery’s very own tasting room.

Visit the Roche Winery & Vineyards Tasting Room

Start your downtown Sonoma experience off on the right foot with a stop at the Roche Winery & Vineyards tasting room. 

We’re open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Unlike many tasting rooms and vineyards in greater Sonoma, we don’t require reservations for smaller groups, though it doesn’t hurt to call ahead on weekends. For groups of six or more, we do ask that you reserve your tasting in advance. 

Roche Winery is dog-friendly and we love meeting new pups, so feel free to bring your furry friend on a leash if they’re coming along on your downtown Sonoma adventure.

Our downtown Sonoma tasting room occupies a charming 1940s-vintage Craftsman building with indoor and outdoor bars. The shaded outdoor garden patio is comfortable on even the warmest days and offers a great spot for people-watching in downtown Sonoma. During the winter months, the outdoor tasting area is tented with heaters too. With restaurant-quality seating for up to 60 people, it’s ideal for couples, larger groups, and in-between parties. We frequently host private gatherings — family reunions, corporate events, social hours, wedding week/weekend gatherings — and we’d be happy to host yours too. 

Prefer to sip inside? Our intimate indoor space is perfect for quiet conversation, and our staff is never more than a smile away if you have questions.

What can you expect at a Roche Winery tasting experience? That depends on which experience you choose:

• Select Family Tasting. Choose four non-reserve wines from our tasting menu. Options include our white wines, red wines, sparkling wines, dry rosé, and our crowd-favorite sweet wines. Your Select Family Tasting experience also includes straight-from-the-barrel tastings of our futures wine, which you won’t find anywhere else.

• Reserve Wine Tasting. Choose four reserve wines from our tasting menu: reserve Chardonnays, reserve Merlot, reserve Pinot Noirs, and Cuveé Genevieve. This tasting option also includes futures wines directly from the barrel.

• Private Tasting. Customize your tasting experience based on your preferences. With an expansive and ever-changing menu, the possibilities are virtually endless. We’re happy to work with you to put together an experience that meets your expectations — just give us a call.

• Group Tasting. Groups of six or more automatically qualify for our group tasting experience. Enjoy four of our finest limited-production wines and tastings of our futures wines straight from the barrel. 

Current Roche Carneros Club and Futures Club members both enjoy special member tasting benefits. Ask your host if you’re interested in becoming a member.

Hungry? Select from our house charcuterie board offered by Aunt Momo’s Wine Country Ranch Cooking, or build a custom culinary pairing with the hand-selected wine country meats, gourmet cheeses, and snacks in our deli case. 

Where: 122 West Spain Street

Hours: Daily, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Try Some Bubbly at SIGH 

SIGH is downtown Sonoma’s premier sparkling wine bar. And as one of Travel + Leisure’s top 25 wine bars in the United States, it’s clearly doing something right.

SIGH curates sparkling wines from across California and beyond. Their selection includes actual Champagnes, which regularly appear on SIGH’s tasting menu and in its signature Champagne flights. If you’re not a fan of bubbles, no worries: SIGH’s still wine list is tasty, and it has a solid lineup of artisanal beers as well.

SIGH doesn’t take reservations and can get quite busy on evenings and weekends, so plan ahead. If you can’t wait, it sells to-go beverages for consumption on Sonoma Plaza (permitted from 11:30 a.m. until sunset).

Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Where: 120 West Napa Street

Take a California Tasting Tour at Walt Wines

Unlike many Sonoma-based wineries, WALT sources grapes from up and down the Pacific Coast, spanning more than 1,000 miles from the Willamette Valley to California’s Central Coast. Its selections have the breadth you’d expect from such a wide geography and are all the more impressive for the fact that they’re limited to just two varietals: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 

WALT offers tastings for up to six guests at its outpost just off Sonoma Plaza. Reservations are recommended but not required.

Hours: Daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: 381 West First Street

Have a Burger Break at HopMonk 

Even the most dedicated wine aficionados need a palette cleanser from time to time. When you’re ready for a change of pace, head over to HopMonk, arguably downtown Sonoma’s best burger joint (though its full food menu includes much more than your standard cheeseburger-and-fries fare).

HopMonk’s beverage menu is a change of pace too. You’ll find wines from across California and beyond here, along with about a dozen innovative cocktails with names like Bite the Bulleit and Something About Mary. It all goes down in a historic farmhouse within walking distance of Sonoma Plaza.

Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Where: 691 Broadway

Grab a Bottle (Or Two) to Go at Sonoma Wine Shop

Sonoma Wine Shop is all about giving small, ultralocal winemakers an opportunity to shine. This is our favorite place to discover new wines from Sonoma and other California winemaking regions. 

Owner Bryan Cooper also makes wine under his own label, Harvest View Wines. They’re extremely limited in release (generally under 200 barrels) and exclusively available to Sonoma Wine Shop Club members.

Where: 412 East First Street

Immerse Yourself in Sonoma State Historic Park 

California’s northernmost Spanish-Mexican mission, Mission San Francisco Solano, is the centerpiece of Sonoma State Historical Park, located right in the heart of Sonoma. It’s notable as the only California mission founded after Mexico gained independence from Spain and as the only mission founded in the state without the express permission of the Catholic church.

Sonoma State Historic Park also features military barracks built a decade or so after the mission. This outpost famously saw the first raising of the California Republic’s Bear Flag in 1846, declaring the future state’s independence from Mexico. 

Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: 20 East First Street

Hike the Sonoma Overlook Trail

Sonoma State Historical Park is no one’s idea of a wilderness. If you and the rest of your party are up for something a bit more adventurous, head up to the hills and hike the Sonoma Overlook Trail. 

The Sonoma Overlook Trail is a challenging but manageable three-mile hike that starts at the Mountain Cemetery, less than half a mile north of Sonoma Plaza. (You can start your hike at the plaza if you wish.) Along the way, you’ll pass diverse native (and in some cases quite rare) plant communities, take in panoramic vistas of downtown Sonoma, and — if you’re lucky — spot local wildlife.

Hours: Daily, sunup to sunset

Where: 198 West First Street

Stay Up for the Tuesday Night Market

Grab a glass at the Roche Winery tasting room and then head out to the Sonoma Tuesday Night Market, one of downtown Sonoma’s top seasonal attractions. 

Don’t worry, you don’t actually have to stay up late — the night market opens at 5 p.m. and closes at 8 p.m. The focus is undeniably Sonoma County’s endless bounty of fresh produce, but you’ll find a lot else to like here, from fresh-cut flowers to handmade foods and beverages to live musical performances.

The night market season runs from early May through late September. Check the website for a full list of vendors, scheduled performers, and more details.

Hours: Tuesday evenings, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Sonoma Plaza (The Horseshoe)

Browse the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art

Don’t be fooled by its small size. The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art is one of the most innovative art museums this side of the Sierra. The main museum space is dominated by one special exhibition at a time, so check the schedule before you visit to see what’s in store.

Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: 551 Broadway

Pop Into a Few Downtown Sonoma Art Galleries

The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art isn’t the game in town for art lovers. Downtown Sonoma is studded with private art galleries showcasing the region’s vast artistic talent. Some of our favorites include:

• Musette

• Alley Gallery

• Fairmont Gallery

• Lisa Kristine Gallery

• Michael Friedes Gallery

Check each gallery’s website for open days, hours, and special events. Appointments may be required.

Take a Culinary Tour of Sonoma and Beyond

Like its arts community, downtown Sonoma’s culinary scene punches well above its weight. You’ll find some of Northern California’s most innovative (and interesting) restaurants right here, within walking distance of Sonoma Plaza and the Roche Winery taproom.

7x7 has a great guide to the food scene here. Some of our favorites are:

• Girl & the Fig, a food-to-table pioneer featuring house-cured charcuterie, seasonal entrees, and stunning wine pairings

• The Red Grape, arguably the best Northern California pizza joint this side of Sausalito

Can’t decide? Reserve your spot on a public Sonoma Food Tour, or take a private tour with a larger group. You’ll hit some of Sonoma’s best eateries and artisanal food shops, eating your way through a hearty lunch’s worth of samples along the way. And yes — wine pairings are included.