There’s much to be said about the charming Healdsburg Inn on the Plaza. After all, it’s located in the heart of its namesake town, recently called the jewel of the California wine country. Moreover, this historic bed and breakfast is just one of the many reasons Healdsburg has become such a coveted destination in Sonoma County. Coupled with easy access to fine dining, tasting rooms, and boutique shopping, the Healdsburg Inn deserves your utmost consideration.
Healdsburg Inn on the Plaza
112 Matheson St.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 433-6991
www.healdsburginn.com
The Healdsburg Inn is a two-story B&B part of the Four Sisters collection of boutique inns in California. Set along the boundary of the historic Plaza, the inn occupies the town’s only Victorian-style commercial building. Featuring 12 nicely furnished rooms, Healdsburg Inn also offers a complimentary breakfast and wine hour.
How to Get to the Healdsburg Inn
From San Francisco
Healdsburg Inn and the rest of Healdsburg are easily accessible by car via Highway 101. If traveling from San Francisco or Santa Rosa, take Highway 101 North to the Healdsburg Avenue exit. Stay on Healdsburg Avenue for about a half-mile until you reach Matheson Street. You’ll then turn right on Matheson, and this Four Sisters property is one block away, at the corner of Matheson and Center streets. Two guest check-in parking spaces are in front of the inn to streamline your check-in process.
From Ukiah, Cloverdale and Geyserville
From any part north of the town of Healdsburg, take Highway South to exit 504 for Westside Road toward Guerneville. At about a quarter mile, you’ll turn left on Mill Street and proceed until you reach the roundabout. You’ll proceed from the roundabout to the third exit onto Healdsburg Avenue.
Parking at Healdsburg Inn
While there isn’t a dedicated parking lot for the Healdsburg Inn, there are free and paid lots nearby. Of your options, the most convenient is the AirGarage lot directly behind the hotel. Parking is $24 a day at this lot, and you can make reservations via the AirGarage mobile app. Another advantage to parking here is the gated entranceway that connects the lot to the back of your B&B. In addition, there are public lots within two blocks of your hotel. The largest public lots are on Vine Street, between W. North and W. Matheson Streets. However, one parking section has a three-hour limit at the corner of Vine and W. Matheson Streets.
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Accommodations at Healdsburg Inn
The Healdsburg Inn offers 12 guest rooms, including an ADA-accessible room. Each room features high ceilings, fine furnishings, and spacious bathrooms with fine toiletries. Except for two rooms with a combination shower and tub, the rooms offer a separate shower space and tub. In a bit more detail, your bathtub can be a jetted spa tub or clawfoot tub. Of course, some rooms also offer a nice view of historic Healdsburg Plaza, including the Carriage House and Plaza King.
More Room Amenities
Other room amenities include a flat-screen TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and branded bathrobes. Coffeemakers, ironing sets, hair dryers, personal safes, complimentary water, and mini-refrigerators are also available in most rooms.
Amenities at the Healdsburg Inn on the Plaza
In addition to the complimentary wine hour and gourmet breakfast, amenities are representative of the Four Sisters brand. These include bike rentals, freshly baked cookies, and concierge service to help you plan your Sonoma County Wine Country visit.
Related: Meritage Resort and Spa: Gateway to the Napa Valley
Dining Recommendations
Because of its prime location, you can visit many outstanding restaurants and wine bars at the Healdsburg Inn. This includes The Matheson and its speakeasy-like Sushi by Scratch Healdsburg, which are just two buildings from your hotel. The Michelin-starred Barndiva, Chalkboard, Dry Creek Kitchen, Troubadour, and Valette are other phenomenal dining options nearby. If you want to dine at the ultimate destination, the Michelin-star Single Thread is just minutes from your hotel. Another recommendation, yet away from downtown, is The Madrona, which is inside its historic namesake hotel.
Related: Michelin Caliber Omakase at Sushi by Scratch Healdsburg
Wine Tasting in Healdsburg
Before you venture out to some of your favorite Sonoma County wineries, you can enjoy wine tasting in town. Indeed, you have two dozen tasting rooms to consider, about half within a block or two from Healdsburg Inn. For example, Siduri Wine Bar, Hartford Family, Idlewild Wines, and Williamson are all an easy walk away. That’s to mention the closest to your hotel, LIOCO, RoadHouse Winery, and Thumbprint Cellars. Also within Healdsburg are notable tasting rooms like Hirsch Vineyards, Hudson Street, Seghesio Family Vineyards, and Spicy Vines Winery.
Sonoma County Wineries
If you need further convincing that Healdsburg needs to be on your radar, consider your winery choices. For one, Healdsburg is the only town in the wine country with three distinctive yet separate wine regions. That is to say, the Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Russian River Valley. While you may already have some favorites, you should include a few more. For instance, do you have Francis Ford Coppola Winery or Silver Oak Cellars on your list? How about Bella Vineyards, Flowers, Jordan Winery, Kendall-Jackson, or Korbel Champagne Cellars? In all, you have several wineries to consider in Sonoma County. In fact, with over 450 wineries, Sonoma County has more wineries than neighboring Napa County.
Insider’s Tip: California’s Oldest Winery
If you want to visit California’s oldest winery, add Buena Vista Winery to your itinerary. However, this historic winery dates back to 1857 and is in Sonoma, some 47 miles away. This means you might want to visit California’s first premium winery after your stay at the Healdsburg Inn.
Family-friendly Healdsburg Inn
While Healdsburg’s primary focus seems to be world-class lodging, dining, and wine tasting, Healdsburg Inn doesn’t overlook families. However, you should contact the inn before making your reservation and staying. This will allow the friendly staff to book a room most suitable for your visit. Incidentally, children five years or younger can stay free at the Healdsburg Inn or any other Four Sisters property.
Recommendations for a Friendly-Friendly Outing
If you plan to travel with children, there are some family-friendly attractions. First and foremost is the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, about 14 miles south of your hotel. Dedicated to the famed comic artist and creator of the Peanuts comics series, Charles Schulz spent over 30 years in Santa Rosa. As you can imagine, this museum is filled with memorabilia featuring popular characters like Snoopy and Charlie Brown. Among your other family-friendly attractions are Safari West, Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, and TrainTown. There’s even the family-friendly Francis Ford Coppola Winery, with two swimming pools, a children’s library, and more.
Dog Friendly
The Healdsburg Inn has one dog-friendly room available for your reservation. However, this will require you to make a particular reservation in advance. In addition, you will be required to sign the hotel’s Fido Rules and pay a pet fee of $65. Please note that you must contact staff about bringing a pet before your stay. By not doing so, you are subject to an additional $200 fee, and your reservation may be canceled. Of course, if you have a service animal, there is no pet fee, although pet rules are still observed, with some exceptions.
Upcoming Special Events in Downtown Healdsburg
Yet more reasons to visit Healdsburg and stay at the Healdsburg Inn are the town’s special events. This is especially important if you plan to visit this summer or into the crush season.
Tuesdays Evenings at Healdsburg Plaza
From May 28 to August 27, you can enjoy free live music on Tuesday evenings at Healdsburg Plaza. In other words, you are mere footsteps away from seeing an eclectic group of musical performers, from country and rock to jazz and reggae. In addition, food vendors sell locally sourced gourmet bites.
26th Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival
From June 15–24, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival is said to be one of America’s best small jazz festivals. Held at venues across Healdsburg, including the Plaza’s bandstand, the jazz festival offers free and paid events. Among the marquee names appearing this year are GRAMMY Award-winning singer Samara Joy and acclaimed jazz saxophonist and composer Joshua Redman. Tickets are currently available, although VIP categories are sold out. However, many free events open to the public remain available.
Taste of Sonoma 2024
The Taste of Sonoma, held at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens, is one of the year’s highlights in Sonoma County. This June 22 event will feature over 100 local wineries offering over 60 wine varietals from 19 regions. This lively event will host food trucks, themed lounges, and a beer garden. Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens is just 10 miles south of Healdsburg.
Related: Green Gables Inn in Pacific Grove
About The Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, and Radio.com. He earned a media fellowship from Stanford University and is a member of Bay Area Travel Writers (BATW).
