Weekend in Petaluma, CA: Bay Area Weekend Getaway

I recently covered Mexico’s Wine Country, so it only made sense to also make a trip up to the Sonoma & Napa Valley area to check out what they had to offer. I feel like when people talk about visiting California Wine Country (or vaguely call it “Napa”) they basically refer to all the small towns in the area. The town of Petaluma, CA technically isn’t in Napa but is a hidden gem in Northern California. Keep reading for my guide to a Bay Area weekend getaway in Petaluma.

Where to Stay in Petaluma: 

I opted to stay at the Metro Hotel & Cafe, about a 10 minute walk to the center of town. A couple of reasons I loved it was 1) location 2) the French-inspired decor and 3) it was reasonably priced. (They were actually voted in the top 10 boutique hotels under $200 in the US)

• Location: Metro Hotel & Cafe, 508 Petaluma Blvd S, Petaluma, CA 94952
• Price: $150+ up
• Pro Tips & Notes: 
  • Breakfast is included, and features fresh crepes and coffee.
  • Want to glamp? Not only do they have normal hotel rooms, you can also rent one of their 3 airstreams on the property for a more unique experience.

Where to Eat in Petaluma, CA

Coffee & light snacks: Acre Coffee

Acre Coffee, a local coffee shop has five different locations in the area. We visited the downtown Petaluma location and opted for coffee & light bites.

• Location: 21 4th Street, Petaluma, CA 94952. You can find the other locations here.
• Downtown Hours:
  • Mon – Fri 6:30 AM – 6 PM
  • Sat – Sun 7 AM – 6 PM
• Pro Tip: They serve breakfast all day, and this is a great option for a reasonably-priced breakfast.
• What we ordered: Latte, Avocado toast

Brunch: Della Fattoria

Looking for a sit-down breakfast option? Della Fattoria offers a brunch, lunch and dinner. If you’re on the hunt for something a little faster (or need to eat on the go) their bakery is right next door. The decor is pretty unique and eccentric, and makes for a great discussion for guests.

• Location: 143 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952
• Hours: 
  • Daily 7 AM – 3PM
  • Thurs –Sat also open 5:30 PM –9:30 PM
• Pro Tip: We arrived around 10 AM on a Sunday and it was packed! We were seated pretty quickly (~25 min) but if you want to avoid the wait, head there earlier.
• What we ordered: lattes (served in adorable bowls) and breakfast sandwiches.

Lunch: Wild Goat Bistro

Everyone that has been to Petaluma has raved about the Wild Goat Bistro. I’m always curious if places are actually as great as everyone says. Spoiler: this one was! We went for lunch, but they also serve dinner. I would call the food rustic-chic-fresh.

• Location: 6 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952 (Inside Great Petaluma Mill Shopping Center)
• Hours: Daily 11:30 AM – 9 PM
• Pro Tip: I’d highly recommend making a reservation as it is really popular.
• What we ordered: House white wine, Lagunitas (local) beer, Get Chopped Salad, pizza special. Check out the menu here.

Dessert: Petaluma Pie Company & Lala’s Creamery

You may or may not know this but I’m really not much of a dessert person. I was tempted by both Lala’s Creamery & Petaluma Pie Company (conveniently located across the street from each other).

About Petaluma Pie Company: 

• Location: 125 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952
• Hours: 
  • Sun –  Thurs 9 AM – 7 PM
  • Fri – Sat 9 AM – 9 PM
• Pro Tip: They make their pies fresh every morning, so go early in the day for the freshest options. Also fun fact: they grow some of their own ingredients, and source the rest from local farmers.

About Lala’s Creamery: 

• Location: 134 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952
• Hours: 
  • Sun – Thurs 12 PM – 9:30 PM
  • Fri – Sat 12 PM – 10:30 PM
• Pro Tip: Their flavors are always changing, and they carry a variety of dairy-free & gluten-free options. 

Beer Garden: Langunitas Brewing Company

Other Eats: 

I have a couple of friends from the Petaluma area, who were able to provide some other locals’ recommendations. I didn’t get to all of these, but have heard great things.

• Lombardi’s Gourmet Deli– casual sandwiches
• The Shuckery – oysters & seafood
• Old Chicago Pizza – best deep dish in the area.
• Brewsters Beer Garden – Open aire beer garden. 
• The Block – open air food trucks & beer garden
• Adobe Road Winery – wine tasting.

Shopping in Petaluma, CA

I would recommend spending some time getting lost on the little streets of downtown Petaluma. You could easily cover the whole area in about 3 hours or so. There are lots of little shops and restaurants. Below are some of my favorites!

Vintage & Antique Finds: Vintage Bank Antiques

As a big fan of antiques, Vintage Bank Antiques left me with my mouth open. 5,000 square feet, and 3 floors of vintage and antique items. Not to mention the fact that it’s in the old bank makes it a destination by itself!

Note: there are quite a few different consignment/ antique/ vintage shops in the area. So if this is your scene you’ll love it!

Quirky & Eccentric: Heebee Jeebee General Store

The Heebee Jeebee General Store is part vintage shop, part souvenir store, and 100% interesting items. Get lost in here and find some gifts to bring home!

Succulents Galore: Flourish

I love a good plant store, and Flourish is filled with them! They also have some other smaller home items worth taking a look at, even if you can’t bring a plant home.

Local Foods: Petaluma Market

Lastly, if you’re looking to bring home some local foods, make the Petaluma Market your last stop on your way out of town.

Things to Do in Petaluma, CA

Walk along the Riverfront

After stuffing yourself with all the great food in town, go for a walk along the Riverfront.

Visit the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum

The Petaluma Historical Library & Museum is an impressive structure that as it sounds is part library, part gift shop, and part museum. They host cultural events and have rotating exhibits.

• Location: 3004, 20 4th St, Petaluma, CA 94952
• Admission: Free
• Hours:
  • Mon – Wed CLOSED
  • Thurs – Sun 10 AM – 4 PM

Bonus idea: Garden Valley Ranch 

If you have some extra time, hop in the car and check out the Garden Valley Ranch. They have an impressive rose garden.

Looking for more Petaluma travel advice? Visit the “Visit Petaluma” website for more info.