Valley

"This lowkey wine bar in Sonoma is one of the newer restaurants in the area, but it’s already a top must-visit spot whenever we head north. They serve creative, frequently-changing dishes like tender cumin lamb or soft-boiled eggs topped with XO sauce, and everything is prepared perfectly with simple, fresh, seasonal ingredients. The back patio decked in string lights and parklet are also great for unwinding with a glass of wine after being out and about all day - or just grab a seat at the bar." - julia chen 1

"Even if all you know about wine is that it comes from grapes, a visit to wine country should be high on your to-do list. Plus, you’ll get to eat at Valley. It’s a hideaway from the more crowded restaurants near Sonoma’s historic plaza. Time slows down here, and the local produce on the menu of simple Californian dishes reigns supreme. Roasted stone fruits are topped with ricotta, jammy eggs get crowned with XO sauce, and olive oil cake is worth the drive alone. So prepare to stay in the back patio until closing, and keep the bottles of wine coming. " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez

"The Day Trip: Sonoma Even if all you know about wine is that it comes from grapes, a visit to Napa Valley should be high on your to-do list. Mostly because you’ll get to eat at Valley. It’s a hideaway from the more crowded restaurants near Sonoma’s historic plaza—time slows down and the local produce on the menu of simple Californian dishes reigns supreme. The freshest roasted stone fruits are topped with ricotta, jammy eggs get crowned with XO sauce, and olive oil cake is worth the drive alone. So prepare to stay in the back patio for hours and keep the bottles of wine coming." - lani conway, julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez

"Valley is a wine bar and restaurant located right on Sonoma Plaza, serving a varied menu of small bites, salads, and main dishes. You could go for lunch or dinner, but we’d argue brunch, when they serve an interesting menu perfect for pre-gaming a day of wine tasting, is the best bet. If you like sweets in the morning, grab their olive oil cake with sour cream and preserves or french toast with apricot butter. If you’re more in the savory camp, the burrata and tomato tartine is the stuff of dreams." - allison green

"The first stop of the Middle Brow tour takes place at Valley Bar and Bottle in Sonoma on Thursday, March 7..." - Dianne de Guzman