The Matheson
4.4(282)google
4.1(347)yelp
Local LifeWine TastingWinery
Overview
A spectacular, multi-level gastronomic playground stretching across an expansive, masterfully designed footprint directly on the historic plaza. Helmed by acclaimed chef Dustin Valette, the ambitious dining destination features a grand main dining room celebrating refined wine country cuisine, a high-tech custom wine wall dispensing over eighty rare varietals, and a lively rooftop lounge. The interior design masterfully integrates historic brickwork with sleek modern marble and custom art installations, providing an unforgettable sensory experience for food lovers.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-3 hours
Best TimeHighly recommended at 7:00 PM on Friday or Saturday evenings. This multi-concept culinary destination features a spectacular self-serve Wine Wall with 88 tasting taps. Exploring premium wines at your own pace before dining in the high-ceilinged, art-filled dining room is a Sonoma nightlife highlight.
Getting TherePerfectly situated at 106 Matheson Street, directly facing the southern edge of the central Healdsburg Plaza. The location is unbeatable; simply walk across the street from the plaza. Drivers can park along the plaza perimeter or use the larger public lots located just behind the square.
Travel Tips
- The main dining room and Roof 106 rooftop lounge operate on distinct reservation matrices; Roof 106 runs purely on walk-in waiting lists for its wood-fired menu, making early afternoon check-in mandatory to bypass long lines.
- Featuring an advanced 88-bottle automated wine dispenser bar, guests must present a valid passport or US driver's license to obtain a prepaid dispenser card; note that unredeemed card balances are typically non-refundable.
- Perched directly on the historic Healdsburg Plaza, immediate perimeters are actively patrolled by strict municipal parking enforcement; leave vehicles at peripheral free municipal lots to eliminate towing risks.
Reviews
Positive
- An absolutely stunning multi-concept dining venue; the first floor hosts an upscale main dining room with a massive mural, while the roof features an airy open-air lounge.
- The crowd-favorite is their high-tech automated Wine Wall, where guests can scan a card to self-pour dozens of premium local wines by the ounce with high freedom.
- Their modern Californian menu maximizes farm-fresh ingredients; everything from the dry-aged steaks to the creative truffle pizzas is seasoned with precision.
- Management is highly efficient; despite the grand multi-story scale, the service from hosting to guiding the wine wall and clearing plates is flawlessly professional.
Heads up
- The cost entry barrier is very high; besides pricey courses, sampling multiple premium pours at the automated wine wall can quickly skyrocket your final bill unexpectedly.
- As the hottest culinary hotspot downtown, the main room requires weeks of advance booking, while the unreservable rooftop often forces painful queues downstairs.
- While lively, peak crowds drive the ambient noise levels to near nightclub volumes, making across-the-table conversations difficult during dinner.
- Some note that due to heavy usage, certain popular wine dispensers can occasionally experience minor drips or lagging card responsiveness late at night.