We spent a wonderful few days up in Healdsburg for Tommaso’s birthday getaway last month where the days were devoted almost entirely to good meals, slow mornings, and just enough movement to justify it all.

We hadn’t visited the city since 2017 when we dined at SingleThread shortly after it opened. It now holds three Michelin stars and it’s wild to think how quickly time has passed!

We checked into The Madrona, a restored Victorian estate tucked just outside downtown. The property feels transportive with heritage oaks, sweeping lawns, and that quiet wine country stillness. Our room was compact but cozy with heated bathroom floors that felt especially bougie. The small but well equipped gym was also a plus and we definitely took advantage of it.

Our first evening was intentionally relaxed. We wandered around the charming downtown plaza. We even walked past SingleThread for old times sake which brought back memories of that meticulous, hyper seasonal tasting menu, and the calm precision of the service. I couldn’t help but wonder how it’s evolved nearly a decade later.

After grabbing a drink at Roof 106, a cocktail lounge that overlooked the plaza, we headed to our dinner reservation at Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar.

Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar is lively and unfussy with a menu that has all the greatest hits of coastal comfort food. It took us a while to narrow it down.

I love clam chowder and while this wasn’t as traditional as I wanted, it still tasted delicious. Super creamy and rich and those saltine crackers on the side were addictive.

Who doesn’t love crispy fried calamari? This was a twist on the classic where the calamari was tossed in a orange and chili gremolata and while it was tasty, I still prefer the classic style.

Fries…another crowd favorite and was served with a Goat cheese ranch.

Tender and buttery lobster tucked into a soft brioche bun. The seafood itself was sweet and perfectly cooked though a touch more seasoning was necessary.

Tommaso really enjoyed the crab cake where there was basically no filler, just pure crab meat. We both agreed there were too many pickled onions on top but otherwise it was great with the aioli.

After a solid dinner we strolled to Noble Folk Ice Cream and Pie Bar for dessert where they have fun flavors of ice cream and various pies by the slice.

We ended up getting the sticky toffee pudding ice cream and apple pie à la mode with vanilla ice cream and both really hit the sweet spot.

The next day delivered a clear blue skies where we spent the majority of the day hiking up Fitch Mountain and visited calm Lake Sonoma afterwards.

Back at the hotel, we rested before dinner at Cyrus. The experience is theatrical and immersive with multiple spaces and courses unfolding throughout the evening. The night felt celebratory and was perfectly suited for a birthday.

Our last full day began with a workout at the hotel gym followed by a 90 minute couples massage at A Simple Touch where I was in pure bliss. After our massages, we had to get a sweet treat and these goodies didn’t disappoint at Dutch Door Donuts. We got a beignet, a salted brown butter donut, a blueberry cobbler donut, and a banana old fashioned donut. All were delicious especially since they were made to order so they were all warm and fresh.

We spent the afternoon meandering through town before our final dinner at Barndiva, a longtime farm to table Californian cuisine restaurant.

I started off with a vibrant passionfruit mocktail.

I knew we had to get these crispy goat cheese croquettes that were on top of a tomato jam and finished with a drizzle of lavender honey.

The lone miss of the evening. The green tomato aguachile lacked acidity and seasoning leaving the dish muted when it needed brightness.

Earthy beets, tangy cheese, fig balsamic, and a crunchy seed crumble. Cohesive and well executed.

Cooked to a true medium rare, tender, and flavorful. The fries were crisp though the béarnaise sauce could have used more body and punch.

I love a fruit galette especially served with ice cream so this was right up my alley. Simple but comforting.

Delicate choux pastry filled with silky hazelnut cream. A praline crunch or textural contrast would have made it better.

On our way out of town the following day, we stopped at Quail & Condor for pastries to bring home. Standouts included the red miso and caramelized onion biscuit, the everything seasoning ham and cheese croissant, and a cherry oatmeal cookie sandwich. While the pastries were solid, they just don’t compare to the bakeries back in San Francisco.

In the end, those few days in Healdsburg were exactly what we needed. Slow mornings, long meals, fresh air, and indulgent bites in between. It was days built around celebration, relaxation, and eating really well and that will always be our type of a memorable getaway.