Sebastopol is in Sonoma County in the Bay Area of California. It is named after the city of Sevastopol in the Crimea.
Understand
Sebastopol is a semi-rural town with an attractive downtown and sprawling farmland just outside the city edge. With a population of 7,700 (2019), it is a quaint but vibrant community that leans far to the left in its politics. Just north of Sebastopol is Graton, a small census-designated area with additional attractions, included below.
Get in
By car
Driving is the easiest way to get to Sebastopol. From the south, take 101 North and the exit for 116 West, in Cotati. From the north, take 101 South and exit for 12 West in Santa Rosa. Both roads go directly to downtown Sebastopol.
By bus
Sonoma County Transit.
Get around
The area of downtown Sebastopol is small and can easily be covered on foot. Buses are available but not frequent; to reach more rural areas, a car is helpful.
Route 24 of Sonoma Country Transit, is a loop around Sebastopol; it's free to use (as of June 2022).
See
- Hallberg Butterfly Gardens, 8687 Oak Grove Avenue, 38.430725°, -122.864893°, +1 707-823-3420. The gardens, located in Graton, are open for guided tours, by appointment, from April 1 to October 31, except for an annual open house. Appointments can be made only for Fridays and Saturdays between 10AM and 4PM. Suggested donation: child $2, adult $10, senior or student $7 2019-07-09
- Ragle Park, 500 Ragle Rd, 38.404132°, -122.8504°. sunrise to sunset year-round. A beautiful 157-acre park on the edge of town, with recreational facilities toward the road and ample, secluded walking trails through the gentle hills. The Gravenstein Apple Fair, one of Sebastopol's most beloved community events, takes place here every August. $7 parking fee
- Sturgeon's Steam Powered Saw Mill (Sturgeon's Saw Mill), 2150 Green Hill Rd (Hwy 116 North, right on Occidental Rd, right on Green Hill Rd), 38.41453°, -122.90053°. runs 4 weekends each year, check schedule on web site. Sturgeon's mill is a fully operational steam-powered lumber mill that cuts logs into lumber. All of the original hand tools, equipment, steam engines, rolling stock, and bookkeeping records are in use or on display. donation requested $25 per person 2019-07-09
- West County Museum, 261 S. Main St, 38.400657°, -122.823172°, +1 707-829-6711. The West County Museum is in the Sebastopol Railroad Depot building of the Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railroad. The Depot was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1996. 2019-07-09
- Sebastopol Center For the Arts, 282 S. High Street, 38.400124°, -122.82533°, +1 707-829-4797, info@sebarts.org. Th-Su 10AM-4PM. Art gallery. 2022-01-13
Do
- Food Crush Tours, info@foodcrushtours.com. Guided food and drink tours of Sebastopol. As of July 2019, offers one standard tour, "a delicious, exclusive tour of the chefs, makers, and artisans of Sebastopol and The Barlow Marketplace" - three hours, $89, including "enough food for lunch" 2019-07-08
- MainStage West, 104 N. Main St, 38.402160°, -122.824396°, +1 707 823-0177. Main Stage West provides professional live theater, in an intimate setting, at affordable prices, to the residents of Sebastopol and its surrounding region, performing new works and re-imagined classics. 2019-07-09
- Sebastopol Farmers' Market, Sebastopol Plaza on Weeks Way (take Hwy 116 through Sebastopol; it's in the middle of town), 38.40333°, -122.82376°. Su 10AM - 1:30PM. The Sebastopol Farmers' Market takes place in the Sebastopol Plaza year-round. There is always live music and a wide of assortment of food to nosh on. Farmers and ranchers sell fresh local fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggs, and baked goods, and locally-produced body products and crafts that are hand-made by local artisans are also on sale. Free admission 2019-07-09
Buy
- California Carnivores, 2833 Old Gravenstein Highway, 38.3746°, -122.7897°, +1 707 824-0433, info@californiacarnivores.com. Th-M 10AM - 4PM; closed Tu We. Operated by Peter D'Amato, author of The Revised Savage Garden: Cultivating Carnivorous Plants, and his partner Damon Collingsworth, California Carnivores is largest plant nursery in the United States that is exclusively dedicated to the cultivation of carnivorous plants. Established in 1989, the nursery has grown and sold the widest variety of carnivorous plants in the country for over 25 years! Venus flytraps, American pitcher plants, sundews, butterworts, bladderworts, tropical pitcher plants and other exotic flora are all on display in the nursery's public collection. 2015-06-10
- Copperfield's Books, 138 N. Main St, 38.402587°, -122.82468°, +1 707-823-2618. The Sebastopol branch of Sonoma County's only independent bookstore chain. The main store carries new books, while a fantastic used annex is just down the block.
- Milk & Honey, 123 N. Main St, 38.402587°, -122.82422°, +1 707-824-1155. Your one stop shopping for hippie or new age products. Altar decoration, crystals, candles, and jewelry.
- Dickinson Glass Studio and Showroom, 6770 McKinley Street (in the Barlow), hello@dickinsonglass.com. F-M noon-5PM and by appointment. Artisan glass-blowing products, including wineglasses, champagne flutes, brandy snifters, and ornaments. 2022-01-23
Eat
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El Coronel Mexican Restaurant, 1015 Gravenstein Ave (on Hwy 116 heading north into Sebastopol), 38.39008°, -122.81552°, +1 707-829-7010. M-F 11AM-9PM, Sa Su 10AM-9PM. Good Mexican food. Full bar. Items and prices appropriate for families with kids. 2019-07-28
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Fandee’s Restaurant, 7824 Covert Ln (in the Fiesta Market Center, just off Highway 116), 38.405494°, -122.83718°, +1 707-829-2642. M-F 6AM-9PM, Sa Su 7AM-9PM. Creative comfort food, using fresh, local ingredients. A family-friendly, neighborhood spot. 2019-08-21
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Goldfinch Restaurant, 119 S Main St, 38.401851°, -122.82387°, +1 707-827-9800, connect@livery135.com. Opening summer 2022, the restaurant will feature "wood-fired, locally sourced and sustainable fare", and "creative plant-based dishes with seafood and meat as sides".
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Khom Loi, 7385 Healdsburg Avenue, #101, +1 707-329-6917, info@khomloisonoma.com. Winner of a Bib Gourmand award from the Michelin Guide 2021, Thai cuisine in a friendly, unpretentious, and vibrant space
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The Livery, 135 S Main St, 38.401851°, -122.82387°. Opening late June 2022, a 22,000-square-foot, multi-level, all season, indoor/outdoor, food hall, beverage tasting room, cowork space and rooftop event center. Micro-restaurants will include El Charro Negro, Taverna Lithi, Cozy Plum Kitchen, and the Village Bakery.
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Ramen Gaijin, 6948 Sebastopol Ave, +1 707-827-3609, ramengaijin@gmail.com. Ramen noodle dishes and Japanese small plates
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Society Bakery and Cafe, 2661 Gravenstein Highway South, 38.375533°, -122.792426°, +1 707-861 9665, info@societybakerycafe.net. Tu-F 10AM-4PM. Coffee drinks, sandwiches and soups, and in-house baked goodies that taste as good as they look. Outdoor seating only. Try the ginger molasses cookies. 2021-10-13
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Sushi Tozai, 7531 Healdsburg Ave, 38.405163°, -122.831491°, +1 707 824-9886. 5PM-9PM. Sushi. Not great for authentic sushi lovers but good for roll lovers. Good sushi chefs that will make you anything you ask for. Try the prawn martini, you will not regret it. 2022-01-13
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Sonoma Wine Shop - La Bodega, 2295 Gravenstein Hwy South, 38.378870°, -122.79719°, +1 707 827-1832. Th-Su 5-9PM. Yes, it's a wine shop, but it also has a tasty dinner menu, served four days a week. It’s not exactly a restaurant, but more like being at a friend’s house for dinner. 2020-04-08
Drink
- Hardcore Espresso, 1798 Gravenstine Highway South (Hwy 116), 38.380527°, -122.806045°, +1 707-823-7588. A locals' hang out and the best place for coffee. Hardcore Espresso is exactly that, hardcore, the building is the back side of a barn. The cafe is half inside, half outside and is a part of the local flavor.
- Sunshine Roasters, 992 Gravenstien Ave, 38.421158°, -122.845558°, +1 707-829-3882. M-F 6AM-6PM, Sa Su 7AM-6PM. The second Sunshine Roasters in West County (the first is in Forestville). Good coffee and pastries. Owned by a guys who goes by Sunshine.
Sleep
Go next