Restaurants and Picnic Spots with a View: Sunsets, Vineyards and the Ocean

Dining in Sonoma County comes with more than great food and wines — it also comes with stunning views. Experience an unforgettable sunset over the Pacific Ocean, picnic above hillside vineyards, or dine al fresco under towering redwood trees.

Whether you pack a picnic from one of dozens of delis and markets, or make reservations at a fabulous restaurant, Sonoma County boasts amazing dining vistas that will fit any budget. Here are several ideas to get you started.

Gorgeous Picnic Vistas

Prepare a picnic — and your puppy — for this dog friendly, pastoral spot where you’re invited to wander and linger at BobDog Wines & Sky Pine Vineyards. Be warned, it takes a sturdy vehicle to handle the partly gravel roads accessing Sonoma County’s highest elevation winery, soaring 2,000 feet above Alexander Valley.

But your effort will be rewarded when winemaker Tim Ward and his wife Kandy Ward invite you to enjoy a hiking tour through the vines, and introductions to their miniature horses, mini-mule, and winery dog. Savor Old Vine Zinfandel, Mountain Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon made from CabSauv vines grafted onto Merlot trunks, and be sure to share the charcuterie with the pups.

On a clear day you can see forever, and most days are clear at the South Lake Trailhead at Lake Sonoma Recreation Area. This overlook area is off Stewarts Point-Skaggs Spring Road, and the trailhead has nice picnic areas with great views of Lake Sonoma in one direction, Dry Creek Valley in the other.

On your way to Lake Sonoma, make a stop at the Dry Creek General Store, a popular place for lunch for locals and visitors. Established in 1881, it’s now a gourmet deli and food shop, as well as a tableware and gift boutique. If you’re too hungry to wait for your picnic, enjoy it on the Store’s long front porch with a vineyard view. 

Or bring some nibbles to share with Ross Halleck, owner of Halleck Vineyard, who’s well known for breaking out his stash of  Sonoma County artisan cheeses, farm-to-table paté, hand-made-Pinot-infused chocolates, and fresh breads. Set 900 feet up a remote hillside, the tasting room in his giant, window-clad home offers views as delicious as his snacks and wines. Enjoy tastes of Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Dry Gewurztraminer on the back deck overlooking neighboring vines and horses, or on the front deck right next to his vineyard. Appointments are a must here.

Another spot to enjoy your lunch is the Vista Terrace at Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, in the picturesque Carneros region at the southern end of the Sonoma Valley. Gaze out over sun-drenched estate vineyards while sipping a glass of sparkling wine, perfectly paired with seasonal bites.

Also in the Carneros region is Viansa Sonoma, which offers a large terrace overlooking the valley. Perfect for larger families and groups, this winery offers a deli with an assortment of fabulous salads, deli meats, artisan breads, pastries, and wine. Parking is ample.

Scenic Restaurant Options

If you prefer to dine out, here are several restaurants with stunning views.

For an awe-inspiring ocean view, go to River’s End Restaurant & Inn on the coast in Jenner.  Perched on a bluff overlooking the mouth of the Russian River where it enters the Pacific Ocean, River’s End serves up delicious lunches and dinners with beautiful vistas, but offers especially spectacular views at sunset. During the day, it’s often possible to watch seal pups play and sleep on the beach below. The chef serves up unique and eclectic menus, internationally influenced but using local Sonoma County food products.

Everything tastes even better with the stunning sunset views across the Bay at Drakes in Bodega Bay. The ocean is right before your eyes, as you enjoy fresh catch and seasonal specialties. Sipping a glass of wine or cocktail in front of the outdoor fire pits is an extra slice of heaven.

Located at the Lodge of Bodega Bay, Drakes is open to the public for breakfast and dinner. The restaurant celebrates the local bounty of Sonoma County’s spectacular coastal region, finding local, sustainably sourced ingredients to prepare a menu that delights the senses. Drakes is the perfect place to start or finish your day.

Also in Bodega Bay, the tiny Boat House is almost always packed, with lines spilling out the door, and customers can get downright territorial over the handful of tables inside and on the little porch overlooking the water, where at sunset, the water glitters gold and red. Boathouse owner Captain Rick Powers catches his own rock cod in the ocean right outside the seaside shanty’s door, and drags his own crab pots for the crab cake sandwich. You order at the counter, your food is sent out in a plastic basket lined with red-and-white checkered paper, and everything is really, really good, made to order by the friendly chefs at the grill. Mouthwatering favorites include just-shucked oysters, fish ‘n’ chips, thick and rich clam chowder, a local salmon burger, and fried prawns and scallops.

Though it’s big and touristy, the waterfront Tides Wharf Restaurant knows its way around superb seafood. Set on the waterfront across the street from the Inn at the Tides, the place is also a fish market and wholesale seafood business. So stock up on the fresh stuff to-go for your own sunset beach picnic, or take a seat in the airy, casual dining room for oysters Florentine, crab cakes, hot or cold whole cracked crab, linguine with clams, a hot crab and cheese sandwich, or zesty cioppino. The setting sun streams in through the windows, bathing everything in romantic light.

Going inland, enjoy spectacular views of the Alexander Valley countryside from the outdoor patio at the Quail Run Buffet at the River Rock Casino. Located on the Dry Creek Rancheria of Pomo Indians, the restaurant overlooks sweeping views of vineyards quilting their way to the river, along the valley’s rugged mountain edge. Depending on the day and time, Quail Ridge offers a variety of full-course moderately-priced buffets – Asian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Italian, and American.

Nearby, Rustic at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery offers fabulous vineyard views in a relaxing winery resort atmosphere. Sit outside on the patio and watch the sunset over the gentle rolling hills of the Alexander Valley while sipping wines from one of Hollywood’s famous directors, and dining on cuisine that embraces both international and traditional Italian dishes, with an emphasis on family-style cooking and seasonal ingredients.

This is just a quick sampling of how to pair wonderful food with amazing views in Sonoma County. Need more ideas? Browse our extensive Sonoma County listings for more wineries and restaurants, or find your favorite picnic spot at one of over 50 state and regional parks in Sonoma County.