Gourmet au Bay

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION

Gourmet au Bay sits at the edge of Bodega Bay's marina with an unobstructed view across the harbor to Bodega Head and the Pacific. The wine program is the point: every pour is small-production, boutique, and locally sourced, selected by an owner who works the bar daily and chooses wines directly with Sonoma County winemakers. Flights arrive on a handcrafted wooden surfboard, a nod to the coastal setting. The menu of wood-fired small plates, oysters, crab cakes, and flatbreads pairs naturally with the wine. Open Wednesday through Sunday, with full afternoon hours Friday through Sunday. On gray afternoons the harbor plays out in muted tones; on clear ones the water holds the light all the way to the headland.

OPERATOR STORY

Gourmet au Bay has been independently owned and operated since 1995, with a wine program built on a strict two-rule standard: every bottle must be small-production (under 1,000 cases) and carry a gold medal or 90-point rating. The owner curates the list in direct partnership with local winemakers, keeping the selection tightly tied to Sonoma County's independent producers.