Glen Ellen, California

Tucked into the gentle folds of the Sonoma Valley, Glen Ellen is the kind of place you stumble upon and never want to leave. With barely 800 residents, this unincorporated village punches impossibly above its weight — offering exceptional dining, easy access to some of Sonoma's finest wineries, and a pace of life that makes the rest of the Bay Area feel like it is running on fast-forward.

Restaurants

Glen Ellen's dining scene is intimate, seasonal, and universally excellent:

• The Fig Cafe & Winebar — Rustic French-California fare with a neighborhood feel, a Sonoma Valley institution
• Glen Ellen Star — Wood-fired pizzas, whole roasted fish, and a vegetable garden that supplies the kitchen daily
• Les Pascals — Authentic French bakery and patisserie with impossibly good croissants and savory tarts
• Jack London Lodge Restaurant — Classic American comfort food and Sonoma wines in a historic lodge setting
• Glen Ellen Village Market — Gourmet deli, local cheeses, and everything you need for a vineyard picnic

Wineries

Some of Sonoma Valley's most acclaimed producers call Glen Ellen home or neighbor:

• Benziger Family Winery — Biodynamic estate with tram tours through the vineyards and a beautiful hilltop tasting room
• B.R. Cohn Winery — Olive oil and estate wines on the Sonoma Highway, with a gorgeous olive tree-lined driveway
• Imagery Estate Winery — Known for artist-label wines and an on-site gallery of commissioned artwork
• Laurel Glen Vineyard — Small-production Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma Mountain, available by appointment
• Eric Ross Winery — A neighborhood tasting room in the heart of the village, specializing in small-lot Pinot Noir and Syrah

Things to Do

Jack London State Historic Park

The former ranch of author Jack London, now a 1,400-acre state park with hiking trails through oak woodlands, the ruins of Wolf House, and a museum dedicated to one of America's most adventurous writers.

Sonoma Valley Regional Park

Easy creekside trails, picnic areas, and a paved path connecting Glen Ellen to Kenwood — perfect for a morning walk or bike ride.

Quarryhill Botanical Garden

One of the largest collections of Asian plants in North America, set in a dramatic hillside landscape with seasonal blooms from spring through fall.

Morton's Warm Springs

A private natural warm springs pool open in summer, beloved by locals for generations.

Why Glen Ellen

• Walkable village — Park once and stroll between restaurants, tasting rooms, and shops
• Literary history — Jack London wrote some of his most famous works here; the town still attracts writers and artists
• Wine without pretense — Tasting rooms here tend toward the casual and personal, in contrast to the more commercial Napa experience
• Central location — Minutes from Sonoma Plaza, Kenwood, and the gateway to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

Come for lunch. Stay for the sunset. Plan to come back.