Sonoma Plaza

We have always loved coming here and through the years it has never changed. Boutique hotels, great wine and amazing food. It is great for a couples getaway and lots to do with kids also. The square is something you need to see. It is also rated in the top 10 Fourth of July fireworks displays in the country. We went last year and it was unbelievable.

Lots of spots to tuck into, shops, eateries, ice cream, wine tastings, liquor tastings and more. Very walkable. Sweet little square/park in the center. Lots of parking (3 hrs).

Great downtown area, very walkable with a unique variety of shops, restaurants and tasting rooms. Spent much more time in this concentrated area than anticipated. Great people, great experiences, great time.

Beautiful landscaped square with many shops and restaurants around it. Tuesday was market day with food stalls, local sellers and live music. Many people brought their own outdoor set up and picnic. Nice atmosphere

This is such a nice place. I'm returning in two weeks. Places to stay like the Eldorado, where I stay and lots of restaurants and shops to keep you busy and the beautiful Sonoma square to enjoy

Sonoma Plaza is the heartbeat of wine country charm. This cute little park is surrounded by boutique shops, cozy tasting rooms, and irresistible eateries. It’s where history meets modern-day wine vibes, with everything from local art to world-class vino just steps apart. Perfect for lazy afternoons, impromptu picnics, or simply soaking up the small-town cozy magic. A must-visit gem that’s as welcoming as it is unforgettable and historically impactful.

Sonoma Plaza is one of those rare places that feels both lively and peaceful at the same time. Surrounded by historic architecture, boutique shops, and incredible restaurants, it’s the perfect place to stroll, relax, and soak in the charm of wine country. The park at the center is beautifully maintained — great for families, couples, or just sitting with a coffee and watching the world go by. Whether you’re into wine tasting, art galleries, or simply enjoying a scenic afternoon, Sonoma Plaza is a must stop. There’s a timeless quality to the place that makes you want to linger. Highly recommended for both first-time visitors and locals rediscovering its magic.

Picturesque. The square is charming and there are little spots to eat, shop and drink coffee in the vicinity.

We had just wrapped up an olive oil tasting across the street and couldn't help but make our way into this lively and lush park on the town square. What a great public space! We saw friends having a mimosa picnic, kids celebrating a birthday party, folks soaking in the sun--- so much fun and relaxation under way in this green space surrounded by shops and restaurants. The park offers a children's playground, water features and a fountain, and lush trees offering shade.

This is a decent little city park. We were walking around near closing time for most businesses and it was a little deserted, but still nicely manicured. We'd been wine tasting earlier in the day and I was in need of a restroom so we walked over to see if the public park had any and they did - which was fantastic! The women's restroom was closed for cleaning, and the guy had JUST closed it, despite us walking up clearly in need. It was really disappointing that he couldn't wait 5 minutes to clean the restroom, but we ended up just using the mens since it was vacant, and went about our evening. The restrooms were just ok - it wouldn't be my preferred place to stop, but they were adequate for a park.

Th Sonoma Plaza Park is one of the most lovely parks in Sonoma. In the square you'll find a little bit of everything: - plenty of paths to walk and explore - picnic tables - kids area to play - lots of beautiful greenery - bike parking spaces - pond + ducks/turtles/little fishes - visitors center - bathrooms - stage with seating area (although, I wish to see it used more) When visiting you can also explore the shops, wineries, and restaurants around. During spring and summer, we like to grab a bottle of wine and picnic at the park. This is also the time of year, when the park hosts the Tuesday Night Farmers Market - which is definitely worth visiting. And during winter time, you get to enjoy a different charm to the plaza. The trees around the plaza are beautifully lit and you'll even find dangling stars in a section of the park. Grab a coat, warm drink, and walk around the plaza.

As a visitor from Oregon, we were only planning to stay as long as our visit with a relative. She has to go back to work, so we bum around by ourselves, and it was 81 degrees HOT, compared to S. Francisco's windy yesterday and cool, we were bundled up like an Eskimo! After browsing to some of the shops, we were heading to our car, but we needed cold drinks, as we spotted vendors setting up for Tuesday's Market. We stayed around, like the natives, until we were done with our Paella, oh yeah! That was the reason why we stayed around, one of the vendors was setting up for dinner, and there's a band setting up as well. The shops, many are open, there's also a mission that we visited, and I needed to use the restroom, a hotel nearby let me use theirs. There's a thrift store, City Hall, and businesses around the area plus wineries & bars.

The Sonoma Plaza is a great downtown area that includes many restaurants, cafes, shops, wineries, bars, hotels and much more. The plaza includes a large grassy area in the middle of the town with plenty of room to gather with friends or family for picnics or celebrations. Fun fact is you can bring your own alcohol and drink responsibly in the park during daylight. In addition to the expansive lawn area, the center of the Plaza includes City Hall. Throughout the year many events take place in the Sonoma Plaza including the Lighting of the Plaza in December and markets during the summer and many community events. There are public restrooms available as well as many benches and tables, an amphitheater, a pond, and children's playgrounds. There is free parking available around the plaza. The plaza does get full on weekends and especially during events so be sure to arrive early and/or give yourself plenty of time to find parking. Enjoy the beauty of the plaza and all it has to offer! Cheers!

Visited Sonoma Plaza Park on Memorial Day, on the way to Napa. A speck of vegetation surrounded on perimeter by cafes, restaurants and shops of the downtown Sonoma. Parking was relatively easy just across the street, scored a spot in the shade! Yay! During past visits, my focus has been on a venue to eat & drink at. This time, business-or-pleasure scale shifted towards pleasure:) No business (food), just pure enjoyment watching multiple families of ducks roam around. Watched parents take care of the little ducklings.. awe so much fun. There are picnic tables with benches, one of which was occupied by someone doing a live online video stream.. to twitch! People also sat on the grass enjoying warm weather and sun. We're finally emerging on the other, brighter side of the pandemic! Sonoma City Hall is located here at the park as well. Nice architecture of the stone-built building in contrast with trees and greenery seems well balanced. Small pond in front of the City Hall attracts the duckies. They teach their offspring how to get in and out of water. Cool to watch! Park is family friendly with children's playground. Not so much dog friendly though - dogs are not allowed. It feels weird to me. Everywhere else dogs and parks are synonymous. Dogs and downtown shops as well! Los Gatos, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Carmel ! I wonder why not here? and if it's an outdated rule that requires revising. City Hall people? Anyone? 5/31/2021

A National Historic Landmark Designated in 1961 as a National Historic Landmark, the eight acre plaza is the largest of its kind in California. It was General Mariano Vallejo, the military commander and Director of the Northern Frontier for the Mexican government, who laid it out in 1835. The plaza is the location where in 1846 the Bear Flag Revolt , which led to the birth of the short lived Republic of California, took place. You can find the Bear Flag monument, a California Historical Landmark, on the North-Eastern corner of the plaza. Historic Mission San Francisco Solano, the last of the series of 21 historic California missions, is located diagonally across the street form the Bear Flag Monument. The Plaza also features four historic 19th-century hotels, including: 1) Swiss Hotel (1830) 2) El Dorado Hotel (1843) 3) Toscano Hotel (1850) 4) The Sonoma Hotel (1880) Almost at the center of the plaza is the Sonoma City Hall building which was laid out in February 24, 1906. Today the plaza is popular destination for all the visitors who come to enjoy the slow culture, good wine and delicious food. If you are visiting, you may want to make a short list of the historic sites I listed, and more, and take a stroll around the plaza before you settle down for some nourishment! You will not be disappointed.

Delightful little town square centered around the old Sonoma City Hall. I believe this is also a California landmark area since it dates back almost 200 years. There may be 100 stores and businesses around this building as you walk the four blocks surrounding it. Some kitschy and some standard stuff, there also are a few dozen places here you can eat mixed throughout. If you are up in Sonoma County visiting vineyards, make sure you stop in here.

Sonoma plaza is a fun spot to grab a bite from downtown and sit in nature! They've got tons of shady spots to spread out and social distance at this time! There's also public restrooms available and an amphitheater were you can hear local artists!

I lived in Sonoma for a couple years when I was younger, so I have fond memories of riding my bike around the plaza, playing and enjoying festivals in this park. I love that you can purchase food and wine to enjoy in the park, because there are a lot of good places that you can score your picnic supplies from like Sonoma Cheese Factory. A visit to the plaza is always part of my trips to Sonoma. It brings back so many fond memories of my home away from home.

According to our tour operator, this is where California was born. The illegal immigrants from the United States raised a flag that is almost exactly what the state now has. They then went to the Mexican general and took him hostage. As the U.S. government became involved they saw what value the area had, and then brought the land into the growing country. This was the quick story we were told as we came into the square. With all the stores and restaurants here, you will surely find something that you like. The courthouse in the center is beautiful as it has the same facade on all sides. That way no one has to see the back side. The surrounding grounds are well kept and offer a nice place to have a picnic.

This is such a nice area! Beautiful plaza with lots of great restaurants and other stores. Make sure to come by and hang out if you are in the area. It was pitch-perfect except for the rowdy teens who were not wearing masks and being obnoxious.

Review #328 - 2019 Christmas has always been my favorite holiday for as long as I can remember & now that I'm older, I actually enjoy taking my daughter to different cities to see which place has the best tree lighting ceremony. We showed up at around 6 PM on Saturday, November 16th. I had a pretty hard time finding parking. I actually didn't expect it to be so crowded since I thought it was out in the middle of nowhere. I guess I was wrong! They had the place nicely decorated. The lights were so pretty. The kids actually said the building looked like a mini Disneyland. They offered free cookies, hot chocolate and hot apple cider. So generous of them! My daughter even spent some time playing on the playground, even though the older kids bullied her off the slides. I wish it wasn't such a long drive out in the dark during winter so I can bring the kids back again next year.

Sonoma Plaza is a go to spot when I'm visiting the area for its relaxing village green and plethora of shops and restaurants that circle the plaza. Before or after wine tasting or other Sonoma adventures, the plaza has unique cafes, shopping and dining options. During the holidays it's festively decorate and the surrounding retail will also decorate their windows-making it a great holiday stroll. There is free parking all around the square (which fills up quickly) along with side street parking. During the warmer months it's also a great place to enjoy the weather and relax on the many benches. There are other events hosted on the plaza and it's great hub for both locals and tourists. I've been coming here for years and it's always clean, well kept and a nice spot to kick back and relax.

This is a beautiful park located in the center of Sonoma. Parking can be found on the perimeter of the park, and it is free. Within the park sits Sonoma City Hall, a playground, a small outdoor concert center, and a monument dedicated to the fighters for California independence (early 1800's). There is plenty of space to enjoy the outdoors here. It is family friendly, and a relaxing place. I recommend walking through here if you find yourself in Sonoma.

This is why Sonoma continues to be a lunch and shopping destination for me. Love a town located on a Square! Shops and Restaurants come-and-go, but the Square remains. Something restful about a promenade of retail fondling and eating here. Perfect 1 day outing!

Glad we kicked off our visit to Sonoma here as there's definitely a little something for everyone around Sonoma Plaza. Even though we got there around lunch time and it was pretty packed, we were able to find parking pretty easily, and it was a great way to get our steps in after our meal. Highlights included: - Lisa Kristine's Art Gallery: Some of the coolest photography I've ever seen. - Wine Country Chocolates: Chocolate tasting and yes..free samples! - City Hall: Cool Spanish influenced architecture with a nice park/pond in the center of the plaza - The Mission and the exhibits: Lots of cool artifacts to check out in the barracks. Similar to other missions, I found the exhibits to be a tad on the pro-imperialistic side, but I understand the importance of keeping the history and structures to educate.

I enjoyed my time at the annual m&m celebration in Sonoma. I only ate the orange ones. Quite fantastic. MMMMMMMMMMMMM REAL GOOD.

Beautiful park in the heart of Sonoma. There is a pond complete with water features, water fowl, a picturesque bridge and trees all around. There is a small rose garden with benches and places to sit and breathe in the rosy perfume and relax in the beauty. There is a town hall which adds a touch of gravitas to the park and architectural interest. There is a playground for the kids and lots of well maintained grass to play on. The Park is surrounded by unique shops and restaurants and is worthy of a leisure stroll and afternoon window shopping. There is plenty of parking available around the park and in a lot a block away. Worth a stop when traveling along Rte 12 through wine country.

Nice big green space in the center of Sonoma, where you can catch some shade, play in the playground or just picnic on the grass in between your shopping and wine tastings. Car parking all around the park.

What's not to love about this little slice of a haven? Especially in the spring, summer, fall in the sunshine with a light breeze, greenery all around and a beautiful brick facade of a building in the background. This is in the heart of all the great activities, the main square of Sonoma--terrific people watching and relaxing, hands down the best place for a picnic--grab a box lunch from any number of sandwich and cheese shops in the immediate area and you are set for a glorious afternoon, morning, sunset, whatever times of day it's perfect. I'm a bit persnickety about sitting in the grass without anything to protect my bum, so if you're anything like I am, bring a blanket or towel or something to spread in the grass. Beautiful little oasis and historical treasure!

Our Tuesday evening was lovely here; the farmer's market was in full swing! Lot's of music, vendors, food trucks, farmers with their delicious produce...ah, the energy of this place was so great. I wish we would've had more time to chill out in chairs or on a blanket and drink wine and feast on some of the tasty looking (and smelling) food.

It's really worth visiting when you're in town. Many stores worth seeing, fun for kids and teens and park in the center for young kids. Great selection of restaurants, candy shop, ice cream, etc. easy parking.

The Sonoma Plaza was stop #3 on our self guided Bottle Shock tour. The plaza is busy but cheerful. The architecture is fascinating. This plaza is surrounded by many historical buildings, including the Mission San Francisco Solano, Captain Salvador Vallejo's Casa Grande, the Presidio of Sonoma, the Blue Wing Inn, and the Toscano Hotel. Located on the north side of the square, the Toscano Hotel is seen in the background as the Vintners bring their wine to Spurrier. In the middle of the plaza, Sonoma's early 20th-century city hall, at the plaza's center and still in use, was designed and built with four identical sides in order not to offend the merchants on any one side of the plaza. Stop by the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau during your visit to pick up special "2-for-1" Wine-Tasting Coupons, brochures, maps, books, and more. Wear the "I love Sonoma Valley" stick-on label during your visit to Sonoma and get discounts and freebies at participating locations. On the south side of the square and a bit west on East Napa Street, you will find Della Santina's Trattoria. Della Santina served as the store front for Spurrier's wine shop and Maurice Cantavale's limo service/travel agency next door.

Visit on 11-04-12 Having taken a lap around the Plaza, my little boy was still bouncing around with energy that needed to be let loose. Attention parents: Sonoma Plaza Park is just the spot for that, so we head over. The Sonoma Plaza Park is located smack dab in the middle of the Sonoma Plaza. The park features a long slide, a few swings, and sandlot for the kids to run around in. It is a great time and guaranteed fun for the little ones. There is lots of grass area to layout and picnic and the park also features historical statues to look at. (+++) No dogs allowed--I'm a dog loving guy, but it's scary to see your little one get bomb rushed by a canine, no matter how small your dog is. (+) great location; perfect for picnics; plenty of park benches to relax at.

This tiny town square is wonderfully picturesque, we were passing through during a visit to the valley for a winery tour. There are a fair number of amenities around including a cinema, kids play area, shops, wine tasting bars and restaurants. Worth a look if travelling nearby.

This park is in the middle of the main Somona square surround by lots of charming shops, wine tasting rooms and restaurants. It's a pleasantly peaceful scene with lots of meandering ducks, a couple playgrounds, shade and sun, lots of big trees and green grass and great people watching. You can toss a blanket down for a nap or picnic or relax on a bench or have a picnic at a table. It's a great place to enjoy your gelato or sandwiches or your bread and cheese and wine. The ducks are mainly lazily meandering about or snoozing except when kids are chasing them. Although there was a trio of ducks ganging up on a runty duck by chasing it, sitting on it and all three biting it's next. I felt compelled to intervene by throwing some water on them to break up the fight. There is a small pond which provides a tranquil water feature attracting more ducks and kids, and mom's making sure the kids don't join the ducks in the water. The visitor's center is in the middle of the park and offers helpful information on the surrounding area.

What a beautiful downtown area! Variety of shops, excess of wine tasting rooms, and a pretty green in the middle of it all. We stopped at many of the offerings here and we were pleasantly surprised by them all. The sonoma cheese factory was cute with delicious samples, envolve winery had wonderful service & wines, and we loved our time at el dorado kitchen which had the most amazing truffle frites and cocktails. We will definitely be back on our next trip!

STAYCATION IN SONOMA: February 19-20, 2011 For the President's Day Weekend, my fiance and I decided to run away and leave the craziness of the city behind. Original plan was Tahoe but had to cancel because of the blizzard. Not having much expectations, we found Sonoma to be a great place for staycation. Everything was within walking distance around the plaza--tastings, restaurants, chic boutiques, art galleries, etc. Sonoma is Napa Valley's less grandiose sister. Sonoma might pale in comparison to the grandeur and glory of Napa but she is charming, more affordable and has lots to offer whether you are a foodie, history buff, shopper, wine connoisseur or just a tired soul looking for some place to relax. 1.QUENCH OUR THIRST: Unlike Napa's $35 price tab for tastings, Sonoma's tastings are either free or affordable for about $5 for 6 tastings. And Sonoma offers good bottles of vino for much less Napa Valley wineries sell theirs. This was my perfect excuse to sample Sonoma's finest! 2. FEED OUR TUMMY: Sonoma is for foodies. We loaded up on random deli food from the Cheese Factory including picnic gadgets. Had a romantic dinner at Girl and the Fig. Started making plans to try the steak at Saddles next time. Mapped out which Parisian-style bistro we will have our brunch on our next visit.. Bought chocolates from almost every chocolate store we visited. 3. INDULGE OUR WHIMS: Aside from wine-tasting, shops offer free chocolate tastings and olive oil tastings. So we did all of the above: wine-tasting, chocolate tasting and olive oil tastings. And shopped/window-shopped until we dropped at chic boutiques all over!!!!! 4. KNOW OUR HISTORY: We visited the Sonoma Mission (Mission San Francisco Solano) and the barracks. There you will see and learn about the history of California, see how the Mexican soldiers and folks from the old days used to live. Admire the sturdy adobe buildings. Learn that the Bear flag (California flag) was first raised in Sonoma. All these learnings for a mere $3 per person entrance fee. 5. BE CULTURE VULTURES: We visited art galleries for free. Admired the work of the 19th century artist who travelled and painted the missions across California. His works are on display at Mission Sonoma. . 6. STAY FOR AWHILE: Most hotels offer rooms with fireplace and jacuzzi, and free wine tastings at the hotel. There are lots of B&B and cute cottages where you can stay. We stayed at a hotel with fireplace in the room. 7. FEED OUR SOUL: The drive to Sonoma was so beautiful. We passed by vineyards and farmlands. Perfect for cruising on a beautiful sunny day. We hungout at the Sonoma plaza to watch the kids play, listen to the street musician or just be quiet -- just for once. 8. FALL IN LOVE: Sonoma plaza is romantic at night. It has lots of nooks and crannies--each will surprise you and lead you to new restaurants, chocolate shops or just a pretty corner with flowing fountains. The corners and alleyways of Downtown Sonoma reminded me of my trip to Italy years ago--with its ancient history and old buildings. And do not write off Sonoma in the rain. We just grabbed our umbrella. We went for a stroll and went exploring. We found it more cozy and less crowded than during the daytime. VISIT SOON AND ENJOY! (Individual reviews of each place to follow.)

Sonoma Plaza remains the central focal point in El Pueblo de Sonoma. The plaza is surrounded by many historical buildings, including the Mission San Francisco Solano, Captain Salvador Vallejo's Casa Grande, the Presidio of Sonoma, the Blue Wing Inn, and the Toscano Hotel. In the middle of the plaza, Sonoma's early 20th-century city hall, at the plaza's center and still in use, was designed and built with four identical sides in order not to offend the merchants on any one side of the plaza. The plaza is a National Historic Landmark and still serves as the town's focal point, hosting many community festivals and drawing tourists (including Gayle and me) all year round. This location was where the Bear Flag Revolt took place in 1846, which led to the Mexican-American War. I love coming here and is one of the reasons that if given a wine country option, I'll choose Sonoma over Napa. I have no complaints about Napa destinations such as St. Helena, but Sonoma Plaza can't be matched for the overall combination of history, green accented relaxation, interesting shops, fun people watching, and good places to eat and hang. The only thing that Gayle and have missed is an opportunity to stay, of which her Birthday weekend might rectify.

This is a place made me think about Santa Fe. I like Santa Fe a lot, but I like Sonoma Plaza even more. I think I'll come back again with my family. You can get a map from visitor center, or download online. It helps a lot. http://www.sonomavalley.com/home/svvb/maps/sonoma_plaza_map.pdf

Well, in short, I spent the entire afternoon at this park. So needless to say, I'm a fan! The bf and I picked up lunch at the nearby Whole Foods and then strolled over and plopped down on a blanket. We set up a little picnic table and enjoyed an afternoon of sunshine, watching a family of ducks walking around, and playing games. The park has such a great vibe, plenty of space, and (very important) clean bathrooms. Free parking, cute shops, and great restaurants and wine rooms are located all around the park. You don't need to go anywhere else.

this lovely plaza is a wonderful place to spend the day. It seems to be the ONE THING in sonoma county that hasn't been changed/destroyed/remodeled over the years and thank God, because is perfect the way it is. This is going to sound strange, but I wish they would encourage volunteers or actually pay someone to protect the duck from dogs and kids. I've seen too many baby ducks die from the stress. Perhaps a park ranger. The playground could use a new piece of equipment or two and some more picnic tables would be nice, otherwise, its pretty perfect.

When I'm not having lunch at the grounds of General Sonoma's house, then I'm at the square enjoying the shade tree's, the families on the green and the kids on the playground. There are lots of picnic tables, but they go quickly. You can always spread out on a blanket, or do like me, I bring a collapsable table and my own chairs. Pictures of Sonoma: http://www.flickr.com/groups/sonomacounty/ In additon to the park grounds, they offer: City Hall Visitors Bureau Duck pond Fish pond Children's playground Tot lot Grinstead Amphitheater Rose Garden Fountain Bear Flag Memorial Picnic tables Benches Public Restrooms And you can rent the facilities for parties and events!

Such a beautiful town. The town square has so many wonderful quaint place to eat, shop, and taste wines.

Sonoma Plaza is a wonderful place to spend a day. It is essentially one big square with a huge green area as a park in the middle and a fantastic Clock tower as the centerpiece. There are at least 15 wine tasting rooms, several restaurants, plenty of shopping and parks for all ages. Sometimes you have to circle a couple times for parking, but it is free!

Beautiful place to visit. Definitely a must when visiting. Enjoy some shopping, ice cream, and the scenery.

This is the highlight of the sonoma town. At least the kids can come here and enjoy. You can view all the surrounding stores, wine tasting places and etc. in the park there are two playing structures. You can get a picnic mat and relax here. Whenever I'm in town, we make an effort to stop in this beautiful Park.

I've wanted to visit Sonoma for some time - years actually. For someone not from the area, it always seemed like sort of a mystery place. People would say they were to visit Napa and then someone presumably in the know would, if they felt a confident you mightn't blab about it, respond with "Oh, you should visit Sonoma...its better." I'm not here to pass judgment. I ended up in Sonoma Plaza Park early in the morning on a beautiful autumn day. The park surrounds Sonoma City Hall, so I presume the attitude and ambiance of this place is representative of what Sonoma founders and residents believe themselves to be, and aspire to become. Plaza Park and its central City Hall are viewable from the front from far away down Broadway Street. The giant palm in the middle of the esplanade only adds to the post-card quality of the scene. Once you're in the park, its quiet, even with some traffic moving around the outer perimeter of the square. There are benches and fountains and little ponds and trees and to my great delight, a rose garden. Whenever I come across a garden like this it slows me down and makes me stop and think. I mostly think I need to slow down, stop and smell the roses, and so I do. I wonder about people who grew up in such gentile surroundings. Even the sundial in the rose garden points to a different direction when it proclaims: COUNT NONE BUT THE SUNNY HOURS. People from Sonoma must grow up thinking this is how life is. It has to be a terrific shock when the leave valley pleasant and find out not everywhere is quite this way. But perhaps, in a marvelous twist, they carry some of the ideal with them and show it to the rest of us from time to time - as an example of how it could be like this elsewhere, because it is like this somewhere.

This is a gorgeous little park surrounded by lovely downtown Sonoma. There is a small little lake full of ducks and geese, paths, benches and huge, beautiful trees. I love to get a vegan ice cream cone from Sweet Scoops and wander through the park. It is a lovely little oasis. The only drawback? Adults allowing their children to chase and frighten the resident ducks. Not cool!

Classic! Every town should have one so welcoming and beautiful. I believe it's the heartbeat of the town and makes Sonoma the warm welcoming town it is.

I don't really know how we ended up here, but whilst exploring Sonoma, we came across this Plaza and around it were - O wait - that's right! -- We were trying to find points of interest using the Navi and lady told us that one was a cheese factory, which perked up my ears. Mmm, cheese :) That sounded fun (yes I know my ideals of fun are likely very different than yours...) and it was one of the quaint shops surrounding this mini-park, apparently known as Sonoma Plaza. Sonoma Plaza is not very large, but there are plenty of tall trees for shade, a small playground, pond, and some areas for picnicking. Surrounding the Plaza are... parking spaces! And surrounding the parking spaces are shops and restaurants - none of which I've ever heard of before, save for the 3 Dog Bakery. I am not sure I got the feel of Sonoma, but it seemed quiet and sounded like its visitors were from foreign lands. Anyway, it's a nice square of grass to roll around on. Seems like a nice place to take your children to play or to take a romantical stroll holding your lover's hand... or your dog's leash :) Or to drink in public, if that was allowed... :D

What a great little park! I drove from Napa on Thursday afternoon 8/11/16 after a long run. The drive was beautiful and I was hungry with a hankering for a sandwich. I picked up a Golden Gate vegetarian sandwich from the Sonoma Cheese Factory (which by the way, I highly recommend). The next decision was where to sit and enjoy this beautiful and aromatic lunch. The decision was easy, right across the street was the Sonoma Plaza Park with plenty of grass, trees, shade, and picnic tables. I trotted over eagerly to the park and claimed one of the picnic tables. I could not have picked a better place to enjoy my lunch in Sonoma. I finished up my visit walking around Sonoma in search of cheese and tomatoes to bring home with me to Napa for dinner. I look forward to my return to Sonoma again one day. This downtown area was so splendid and enjoyable.

Absolutely love this park. Great for kids. Plenty of playground and stores around the park to keep the whole family entertained!!

Love the plaza! I love town squares and plazas but I especially love Sonoma Plaza. In the summer they have the market in the square staring at 5 pm on Tuesdays. Great food selection, fresh produce, and music. Grab your picnic blanket, your friends, and your favorite bottle of wine and you have a party! The food selections and wine tastings selections on the square are great also. You can have breakfast at Sunflower Caffe, go to Bryter for a tasting, have a late lunch at Girl and the Fig, walk around and shop a bit, and then continue the wine tasting experience at Kamen or Ledson. Great spot to spend an afternoon!

We came here post race after the Napa to sonoma half marathon. It's a huge plaza with lots to do! Public bathrooms were pretty nice! There are lots of nice shops and restaurant surrounding the plaza. There was a big playground that was shaded with benches to sit on. Lots of grassy areas. We had a great time and can't wait to come back!

200 Reviews. For my 100th, I focused on my beginning, San Francisco - now let's bring it home. Sonoma is one of those towns that's great to grow up in, great to get the hell out of and great to move back to when you're wise. Many days of that childhood spent in the Plaza Square. A nice expanse of grass, fountains, playgrounds, and yes, a duck pond. This duck pond used to be the collection of duck feces, dirt and muck. A great place to fall in. Oh yes, my cousin did so. It's a story still told today... When you come to Sonoma, this is the place you come for. Surrounded by restaurants that are NOT chains, history and Sonoma feel, this is the heartbeat of the town. There's a huge rock on the far side of the park, with a dramatic statue commemorating the Bear Flag Revolt (also a tale rich in Sonoma's history). As a child, we would climb this rock to get to the statue on top. Well, I use the term "we" loosely. I climbed it once. I got stuck. I cried. A stranger had to come and help me down, then I was terrified, AND embarrassed. I never climbed the fucking thing again. Come to Sonoma and you will end up here, whether you meant to or not - and this will be what will make you fall in love with our sleepy town.

Perfect family meet up spot! Two play structures, duck pond, lots of nearby food options like sonoma cheese. Good amount of grass for tossing around the football too.

There's no other way I'd rather spend a warm day anywhere in the world than with a gaggle of amazing friends, unabashed sunshine, endless bottles of crisp Sauvignon Blanc, all while lazily hanging in the great outdoors. And if you find yourself in Sonoma, California... this is the place to enjoy all of the above. The Sonoma Square is unlike anything I've ever really experienced. It's like a high school quad for the entire small town. Whether you're there with a group of friends or you're bringing out the family to shop for locally sourced food stuffs at their weekly farmer's market, you're bound to run into hordes of people you know. If Dolores Park represented the entire city of San Francisco and not just a bunch of hipsters from the Mission, you'd have the Square in Sonoma. I don't think you're legally allowed to drink on premise, but like anything, the cops seem to turn the other cheek unless you're acting like a complete ass wipe. They don't really have issues with rabble rousers 'round these parts anyway, so enjoying some afternoon vino while basking in the Sonoma County sun is an activity one should certainly experience at least once in their life.

The Sonoma Plaza Park is a perfect place for relaxing. No wonder it's the setting for Ben&Jerry's ice cream fundraisers, farmer's markets, Occupy Wall Street protest offshoots. It's the largest Spanish plaza in California. Lest one confuse this with the Santa Fe Plaza because of the adobe&the mission church... there's a huge Bear Flag monument. It's an ideal place for picnics, bringing kids to the playground (the Santa Fe Plaza does not have a playground), talking, contemplating. The City Hall has 4 identical sides, because they didn't want to make any businesses jealous (really) The Sonoma Plaza is one of the most serene places in the Wine Country.