Photo by kelly puleio photo
Northern Californians have long loved the Russian River for its low-key appeal and easy access as a getaway from San Francisco. Although the river itself stretches from Healdsburg to Jenner, most visitors gravitate toward the small town of Guerneville as their base for a warm weekend on the water, thanks to its easy river access, fun nightlife, and a food scene that’s sure to satisfy any city slicker with high standards.
For many, “dinner by the river” means grilling at a rented cabin. But those willing to venture out and explore the restaurants along its banks will find that the Russian River has become an excellent destination for food lovers, too. Leaving Healdsburg, follow the backroads that run alongside the Russian River to Guerneville, and finally, out to the tiny coastal town of Jenner, stopping along the way to eat at these standout restaurants, cafés, and an ice cream shop.
1. Farmhouse Restaurant
Photo by John Troxell
Farmhouse Restaurant, Forestville
Set in a quiet corner of the Russian River Valley, Farmhouse Inn is one of our favorite cozy hotels to spend the night. But it’s also home to one of the most decadent, splurge-worthy meals you can get in these here parts, the Farmhouse Restaurant. Chef Craig Wilmer treats guests to seasonal, prix-fixe feasts that feature an ever-changing mix of seasonal ingredients. Expect dishes like bite-size tostadas, delicately cooked squab, or a reimagined version of a baked potato. The inn also has a more casual, poolside eatery called the Farmstand, which serves regionally sourced bites ranging from fried chicken sandwiches to burrata.
2. Stumptown Brewery
Stumptown Brewery, Guerneville
Not to be confused with the Portland, Oregon, coffee company, Guerneville’s Stumptown features a different sort of fuel: beer. The brewery, which opened in 2002, pays homage to the area’s history both as a logging town and a hops-growing hub. The beer selection is mighty, and you can pair those pints with solid pub grub (think: burgers and barbecue). But while most visitors come for the beer, they stay for the spacious and sunny back deck and riverside lawn. For those arriving by boat, it’s also a popular spot (with plenty of space to dock) among kayakers and canoers paddling downriver from Burke’s Canoe to downtown Guerneville.
Pro tip: There’s often a taco truck in the parking lot, just in case anyone in your party is more in the mood for barbacoa than barbecue.
3. Boon Eat + Drink
Boon Eat + Drink, Guerneville
Established in 2009, Boon Eat + Drink was the first restaurant in what has now become a bit of a mini empire in downtown Guerneville. Founded by owner Crista Luedtke shortly after she launched Boon Hotel + Spa, it was a pioneer in the town, breaking the burger-and-fries mold with its fresh, Californian cuisine made with ingredients sourced from nearby farms. Even the wine list is local—Boon only serves Russian River varieties. Fifteen years later, it remains one of the best places for a dinner in town. The atmosphere is casual and cozy (it doesn’t accept parties larger than six people), and don’t be surprised if Luedtke pops over to your table to tell you the story behind the wallpaper images of her dog catching a Frisbee. Dishes at Boon are colorful and bountiful, bursting with seasonal goodies.
Since the restaurant’s opening, Luedtke and her partners have expanded to add more local favorites to Guerneville, such as a nearby tequila and mezcal bar El Barrio and the newly opened Road Trip.
4. Nimble & Finn’s Ice Cream
Photo by Jessie Beck
Inside the Guerneville Bank Club, Guerneville
No summer vacation spot is complete without an ice cream parlor, and Guerneville’s newest cone emporium has a front stoop perfect for perching on as you snack in the sun. The Guerneville Bank Club, located in a former bank, features a small-batch collective next to the old vaults, including Nimble & Finn’s ice cream, which serves such flavors as Lavender Honeycomb and Rhubarb Crisp.
Don’t miss the petite wine shop attached to the ice creamery—it has an excellent selection from local vineyards.
5. Piknik Town Market
Piknik Town Market, Guerneville
In the morning, mosey over to Piknik Town Market (formerly Big Bottom Market and under new ownership as of 2023), a hip café and upscale grocery that serves coffee, breakfast, and lunch in downtown Guerneville. Although, yes, it makes excellent cakes, sandwiches, and salads that you can buy for your river-day picnic, it’s the fluffy buttermilk biscuits that first put the location on the map. Despite the change in ownership and name, fans of the Big Bottom Market biscuits can rest easy: Piknik owner Margaret van der Veen has confirmed that the beloved baked good will remain on the menu.
6. Trillium Winebar & Taproom
Trillium Winebar & Taproom, Guerneville
Opened in late 2023, Trillium is an exciting addition to Guerneville’s main street drag. Despite being in a region renowned for its pinots and chardonnays, it’s the only proper wine bar in town. Cozy and convivial, it’s an ideal place to wind down after a busy day with a glass from its the organic- and biodynamic-focused wine list and small bites like oysters, tasting boards, and bread baked in-house.
7. Dawn Ranch
Photo by Gentl & Hyers
Dawn Ranch, Guerneville
The 22-acre hotel and resort, Dawn Ranch, reopened its in 2022 as a chic getaway with freshly remodeled cabins, cottages, glamping tents, and—most excitingly—one of the best new restaurants in town (open to guests and nonguests alike).
Come here for fresh, seasonal meals with a South American flair (don’t skip the prawns with shaved coconut on the dinner menu) and well-made co*cktails. Perched on the second floor of the main building and surrounded by redwoods, it’s a beautiful space as well. Try to book a reservation on its spacious patio and enjoy the view.
8. Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen
Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen, Monte Rio
Next to a skate park and community garden in the riverside town of Monte Rio, Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen is a quirky but delicious pit stop for breakfast, lunch, or a cup of coffee. Mismatched chairs, painted skateboards, and vintage bric-a-brac come together in a decidedly bohemian decor in the café’s semi–open air sitting area, while picnic tables in the garden offer a serene space to enjoy. The drinks are great (don’t miss the lemon mint slushy on a hot day) and it also has a small, Mediterranean-inspired menu with dishes like the house shakshuka and “beach laffa,” a flatbread sandwich stuffed with eggplant, egg, and tahini for those who brought an appetite.
9. River’s End
River’s End, Jenner
Highway 116, the main road from Santa Rosa and through Guerneville out to the coast, brings you along the Russian River where the river ends in the town of Jenner about 20 minutes away. Jenner houses the appropriately named River’s End restaurant, which sits on a cliff on Highway 1 overlooking the Russian River, the Pacific Ocean, and Goat Rock.
Its views are unparalleled, which makes it a popular dining spot (plus, the food is delicious). But it’s also ideal for grabbing a drink from the teeny Redwood Bar and watching the sunset on the outdoor deck, for which you need no reservations—just the right timing so your drinks last through the sun’s descent.
10. Cafe Aquatica
Courtesy of Christine von Raesfeld / Unsplash
Cafe Aquatica, Jenner
If it’s something more casual you’re after, join locals and tourists alike at the low-key and artsy Cafe Aquatica. Although the pour-over coffee is excellent and the sandwiches are tasty, it’s usually the view that steals the show. The café sits on an idyllic, waterside spot, right where the Russian River flows into the Pacific Ocean. So get a snack and a drink, find yourself an Adirondack chair on the lawn, and settle in to enjoy the views and (if you’re lucky enough to visit on a weekend) possibly some live music.
This article originally appeared in 2016; it was updated most recently on August 2, 2024, to include current information.
Jennifer Maerz
Jennifer is a copywriter, editor, journalist, and content strategist based in Portland, Oregon.
