PETALUMA

Petaluma, California, perfectly blends small-town charm with modern sophistication, making it one of the most desirable places to live in Sonoma County. Known for its beautifully preserved historic downtown, Petaluma offers a vibrant mix of artisan shops, award-winning restaurants, and a strong sense of community rooted in its agricultural past.

The city is surrounded by rolling hills, open pastures, and vineyards, giving it a relaxed, country-meets-culture vibe. Whether you're exploring the weekly farmers’ markets, enjoying live music at the Phoenix Theater, or catching a sunset over the Petaluma River, life here feels both grounded and inspired.

Residents are drawn to Petaluma for its excellent schools, easy access to the coast and wine country, and proximity to the Bay Area all while offering more space, a slower pace, and a deep connection to local heritage. It’s a place where farm-to-table living isn’t a trend, it’s a way of life.

Outdoor seating at Foundry Wharf with red umbrellas and people dining, located at the intersection of H Street and 2nd Street.
Industrial-style building with a rusty metal facade, modern exterior lights, and a bicycle parked outside. Address sign "229 Water St. North" visible, along with a wooden structure and a partial view of a larger building in the background under a blu
Outdoor entrance to a beer garden with wooden signage, picnic tables, and people seated under trees and blue sky.
Entrance to Brewsters Beer Garden with metal gate and signage, featuring a tree sculpture and industrial-style design. Background shows a brick building and cloudy sky.
Exterior of Cafe Zazzle with glass door and window displaying signs and company logo.
Street view of historic brick building with a vintage Coca-Cola mural and storefronts, including "Lan Mart" signage, in a small town. People are walking along the sidewalk, and cars are parked on the street.
Outdoor seating at a restaurant with green striped awnings and orange umbrellas, located at a street corner.
Street view of a cafe with large windows and a "CAFE" sign, featuring outdoor seating and people inside, located on a pedestrian-friendly street with trees and storefronts.
Historic multi-story building with ornate architecture at a street corner, featuring businesses like Prodigy Hairdressing. The street has traffic signs, cars parked along the road, and streetlamps. Nearby, there's a clock tower and signage for Kentuc
Cobblestone street with bare trees, brick buildings, and a distant clock tower under a partly cloudy sky.
A grassy area with trees, a structure with red stairs, a bench, and a silhouette of a bison statue, with industrial buildings in the background.
Riverside deck with picnic table, overlooking a calm river with a red building, industrial facility, and small boats in the background.
A landscaped garden with well-maintained grass, neatly trimmed conical bushes, and benches. The background features a building with large windows covered in green ivy and trees, under a blue sky with clouds.
River with industrial building, American flag, and trees on a clear day
Sign for Helen Putnam Regional Park in Sonoma County, surrounded by green grass and hills.
Lush green hills with dense tree coverage under a cloudy sky.
A winding dirt path through a grassy hillside with scattered trees, under a partly cloudy sky.
Dirt path through green hills with cloudy sky
Scenic view of rolling green hills under a blue sky with scattered clouds, featuring a winding path and large trees in the foreground.
View of a cityscape surrounded by green hills and forests under a cloudy sky.
Exterior of Lala's Creamery with vintage-style decor, outdoor seating, and striped window awnings.
Exterior of Lala's Creamery, a vintage-style ice cream shop with black and white striped awning, red metal patio tables and chairs, and signage advertising homemade ice cream and soda fountain. The setting is a sunny day on a sidewalk.
Entrance of a library with a wooden awning and a bicycle rack
Entrance of a brick library building with a covered walkway, bicycle rack, and signs. The word 'Library' is partially visible on the wall.
Exterior of Lunchette café with glass doors, a wooden sign, outdoor seating, and a menu board advertising grab-and-go salads, pizza al taglio, grain bowls, organic and gluten-free options.
Outdoor seating area of a café with red chairs and tables, decked with plants, under a beige awning. The building exterior is green with large windows and a second-floor balcony. A person is seated, and a handicap parking sign is visible.
Outdoor cafe seating with red chairs and tables under a large red umbrella, adjacent to a window with a "Pearl Petaluma" sign.
Brick building with signs for Brewsters Beer Garden and Buffalo Billiards, surrounded by greenery, with industrial silos in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Cityscape view of Petaluma, California, featuring palm trees, historical buildings, and industrial structures under a partly cloudy sky.
Wooden bridge over a river with ducks, surrounded by trees and buildings, under a blue sky.
Historic building "The Great Petaluma Mill" with a cafe, trees, and a cloudy sky.
Outdoor seating area by a cafe with tables, chairs, and a closed red umbrella. A signpost directs to Water Street Promenade, River Walk, Visitor Center, Cinema, Theatre District, and Garage. Trees with bare branches surround the area, and bicycles ar
A bright green building houses a restaurant named 'Quinua Cocina Peruana.' The exterior features large windows, a wooden sign, blue outdoor seating, and potted plants. There is a mural on the side wall and a small tiled step entrance. The scene appea
A green building with a sign reading 'Delicatessen & Tavern.' It has outdoor seating with tables, chairs, and red umbrellas. The building also has a sign in neon that says 'DELI.'
Outdoor seating area with tables and chairs, brick building, leafless trees, and a walkway on a clear day.
Street view of River Front Cafe with sign advertising breakfast, lunch, and dinner; includes an outdoor seating area under a covered walkway.
Outdoor seating area of "Sauced" restaurant with patio furniture, heaters, and a mosaic-tiled structure in the foreground.
Train station platform with tracks, sidewalk, and adjacent buildings under a blue sky with clouds.
Petaluma Downtown train station platform, railings, and shelter under a clear sky.
Exterior of a trattoria with a brick facade, black awning, and outdoor seating area with wooden barrels and tables.
Historic theater with a marquee advertising a Pearl Jam tribute on April 13, featuring ornate architectural design.
Street scene with colorful buildings and a whimsical sculpture, located at a sidewalk in a small urban area. The sky is blue with clouds, and there are trees and parked cars along the road.
Outdoor shopping area with brick walkway, tables, and chairs, lined with small shops and trees. Overhead string lights and a "Shop Dine Play" sign visible.
Entrance to "The Sweet Zone" candy store with open doors, displaying colorful decorations and candy items inside, located on a paved sidewalk next to another shop.
Exterior of a movie theater entrance with 'BOULEVARD' sign, featuring art deco design elements, parked cars, and a crosswalk leading to the entrance under a cloudy sky.
Street view of Topsy's Kitchen, showing a storefront with a sign, wooden benches outside, and adjacent shops under a covered sidewalk.
Petaluma train station building with arches, yellow facade, and tile roof, located on a paved area with benches and trees.
Park with green grass, trees providing shade, a sidewalk, and a colorful playground with slides and climbing equipment under a clear blue sky.
Community park with playground, gazebo, and green lawn
Gazebo in a park surrounded by trees, flowers, and plants; an American flag is visible in the background.
A riverside view of a town with historic buildings, a bridge, and a calm waterway reflecting the structures and sky. Trees and hills are visible in the background.
Street view of a historic building with ornate architectural details, located at the intersection of streets with cars and pedestrians. A clock tower is visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Sign reading 'Wickersham Park' in a grassy park with trees and a pathway.
Outdoor seating area of the Wild Goat Bistro with tables, chairs, and blue umbrellas under a covered walkway.