A Local Hotel Owner's Guide To Dining In Guerneville

Forbes

a day ago

Main Street Guerneville Main Street Kelsey Joy Photography
Rooted in redwoods and shaped by decades of creativity and community, Guerneville feels like a different side of Sonoma. It's walkable, unpolished, and packed with personality. The town has long been a welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community, and that openness shows up in everything from the art to the hospitality to the food.
Courtyard and Stavrand Hotel Emma K. Morris
Emily Glick, owner of The Stavrand Hotel, knows the town better than most. After more than a decade in hospitality, she left her job with Kimpton Hotels and reopened a historic inn just off Main Street in 2021. The Stavrand blends old-school warmth with modern design and sits on six forested acres just a ten-minute walk from downtown. The hotel also happens to serve one of Guerneville's best dinners, with multiple courses, hyper seasonal ingredients, and local wine pairings, but it's reserved exclusively for overnight guests.
Person Holding Cheese Board Emma K. Morris
When visitors ask where else to eat around town, these are the five spots she always recommends.
boon eat + drink exterior boon eat + drink
Opened by Crista Luedtke over fifteen years ago, boon eat + drink remains one of Guerneville's essential dinner spots. The space is cozy, stylish, and always buzzing, with a seasonal menu that keeps it interesting. Think seared local halibu with succotash and cranberry beans, or polenta lasagna with mixed veggies and rainbow chard. Look forward to a wine list full of Sonoma favorites.
'Boon eat + drink has been a top spot on Main Street for over a decade—fifteen years, I think—and for good reason. Make sure to try the Brussels sprouts if you go,' Emily says. 'Crista's star keeps rising on the Food Network, where she's often featured as a judge or contestant on Guy's Grocery Games . She's really charismatic and a great champion of Sonoma County, and our town in particular.' Road Trip
Mac Daddy Burger Road Trip
Crista Luedtke's latest project is more laid back, with a travel-inspired menu that moves between global small plates and nostalgic comfort food. You might start with DIY deviled eggs, then go for the Mac Daddy burger, which hits like an elevated version of your favorite fast food classic. Other standouts include Thai braised pork and summer spaetzle, if you're craving something with a German twist. Drinks lean low ABV and aperitif forward or you'll find local wines here too.
'Road Trip is her newer concept,' Glick says. 'It's more eclectic, the kind of place where you can stop in for a couple of appetizers or enjoy a full three course meal.' Equality Vines
Equality Vines Interior Equality Vines
More tasting room than restaurant, Equality Vines pours wines with a mission. Founded by two LGBTQ+ activists, the winery supports civil rights causes and has become a Guerneville staple over the years. Guests can order a flight, add a charcuterie board, and explore bottles themed around gender and marriage equality. The space also opens into Oli Gallery, a local art spot showcasing work from Donavan Irby and other Sonoma creatives.
'I love that they support good causes and that their tasting room opens into my favorite gallery, Oli, where the art is amazing and the owner-artist, Donavan, is so kind and talented.' The Lodge at Dawn Ranch
Dinner Table Spread at The Lodge Dawn Ranch
Part of the recently reimagined Dawn Ranch property, The Lodge is raising the bar for resort dining in Guerneville. The concept includes multiple dining experiences in one, with a relaxed lounge offering a small plates menu and a more formal dining room featuring two seasonal tasting menus. The kitchen is led by an Argentinian and a Brazilian chef, whose backgrounds influence the menu with vibrant flavors, wood-fired techniques, and a fresh take on California ingredients.
'I'm excited about their new three restaurants in one concept,' she says, 'where the more loungy area offers one menu and the actual dining room provides guests with the two tasting menu options.' El Barrio
This tequila and mezcal focused bar serves a tight menu of Mexican comfort food that's ideal for snacking or sharing. Chips and salsa, queso fundido with chorizo, and ceviche rotate alongside mini quesadillas and tacos made with organic corn tortillas. Fillings vary daily, with meat and vegetarian options posted on the board.
'Ooooooh, boy, let me tell you,' she says. 'The cocktails at this spot are delicious and the bartender Stephen is basically a mezcal savant. I've learned a lot from him and enjoyed drinks with different spirits, not just tequila, though this bar will make anyone a fan. Their food menu is small but fantastic and everything tastes like Martha made it with love. It's hard to notice at first, but there's a really charming hidden patio at the far end of the space, and my co workers and I always hope for seats there.' Main Street Bistro
Main Street Bistro is where locals go for unfussy comfort food and live music. The menu covers the classics—pizza, pasta, burgers—and there's often a piano set or jazz night depending on the day.
'This bistro is a bit less polished and more of a locals' hang-out,' Emily adds. 'It has charmed me more and more over the years, and it's fun that they host live music on certain nights. They're good for classics like a cheeseburger or pizza, and let's just say their Manhattans are pretty powerful.'