Name: Sonoma Cheese Factory
Address: 2 W Spain St, Sonoma, California, 95476, US

Sonoma Cheese Factory

American

LocaleTerroir AI-produced county- and industry-inspired placeholder image

2 W Spain St

California

95476

Sonoma Plaza

Monday–Sunday, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM · longer hours in summer

Walk-Ins Welcome

CALL WEBSITE ORDER ONLINE

The Sonoma Cheese Factory is a 1931 institution on the Sonoma Plaza, now under Anidel Hospitality ownership, combining a cheese counter, wine shop, and casual dining. Artisanal cheeses are paired with meats cured and smoked on-site by The Butcherman, and the wine program emphasizes Sonoma producers. It keeps the approachable register that has made it a longstanding Plaza fixture.

Outdoor Seating

Casual Attire

Family Friendly

Lively Atmosphere

Historic Site

The Sonoma Cheese Factory began in 1931, when Celso Viviani and Gaetano "Tom" Vella founded the Sonoma Valley Creamery on the Plaza, and the Viviani family went on to run it for generations. Its address carries more history still: the site was once home to Casa Grande, General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo's residence built in 1835, which burned in 1867. The present building, designed by Pietro G. Canali, went up in 1944 and 1945. Today the Cheese Factory belongs to Anidel Hospitality, which bought it in June 2024 and has refreshed it as an all-day counter, wine shop and casual dining room in one. Nearly a century after it opened, it is still a daily stop on the Plaza and an easy first taste of Sonoma, a few steps from the mission, the barracks and the Plaza lawn.

Menu Highlights

Come hungry and come curious. The counter is the heart of the place, where cheese is chosen, cut and set out for the table, and the staff are glad to help build a selection around what you are drinking. The wine list is Sonoma-focused, hyper-local and small-production, with a few bottles from farther afield alongside, and any bottle can be paired with something from the counter. Seating is casual, inside and out, and the mood is lively, with families, locals and day-trippers coming and going all day. There are no reservations; walk in, order, and find a table. The Cheese Factory opens daily at 7 in the morning and closes at 5, with longer hours in summer. Go early for a quiet coffee before the Plaza fills, or late in the afternoon to put together a picnic for a winery lawn.

Juan Gonzalez

Executive Chef, The Butcherman

Juan Gonzalez leads the kitchen of The Butcherman, the barbecue counter in the back half of the Sonoma Cheese Factory on the Plaza. He brings fine-dining technique to barbecue, with extended curing, a house sauce and careful presentation, for the meats sold by the pound, the made-to-order hot sandwiches and the full menu at Sonoma's Tuesday Night Market.

Peter Kelly

General Manager

At the helm of the Sonoma Cheese Factory, Peter Kelly brings a seasoned hand and a deep connection to the region’s food culture. His knowledge of local producers and restaurant operations is informed by years of experience, including his tenure with Dean & DeLuca in Napa Valley.

Sonoma Cheese Factory

Sonoma Cheese Factory

Juan Gonzalez

Peter Kelly

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