America's Best Small Food and Wine Town Has a Michelin-Starred Restaurant, Nearly 90 Neighboring Vineyards, and Just 275 Residents

Elk, California, may be small, but it’s mighty, with some of the state’s best wineries and an abundance of fresh food.

On a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, you’ll find the tiny town of Elk, California, home to just about 275 residents. This string of houses and hotels straddling the Pacific Coast Highway is often overlooked by travelers en route to Mendocino. But Elk, which lies close to the wineries of Anderson Valley, is making a name for itself in the food and wine world.

Foodies make the trek to Elk from San Francisco to dine at Harbor House Inn’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant, which sits above the Pacific coastline. The Michelin Guide calls the cooking here “highly original,” touting chef Matthew Kammerer’s use of “hyperlocal and foraged ingredients, elevating not only delicacies like sea urchin but also more humble items like seaweed harvested from the nearby coastline or lace lichen plucked from overhanging trees.”

Just five minutes down the road is the recently reopened Sacred Rock Inn (formerly the Griffin House and the Greenwood Pier Inn). The inn’s cliffside structures have been part of Elk since the 1970s and were mindfully renovated by the Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwok Indians over the course of 10 years. The boutique property reopened in June 2024 with a modern look and the same time-tested views. The oceanfront perch includes private cottages and bungalows with big windows and private patios that deliver unobstructed vistas.

In addition to this revered eatery and the new hotel, plus nearly 90 area vineyards, Elk’s landscape is simply stunning — beach meets rugged coastline before turning to redwood forests and rolling, vine-covered hills.

Why Elk Is the Best Small Food and Wine Town in the U.S. for 2024

There are not many towns of 275-some-odd residents that boast a Michelin-starred restaurant. And even fewer that back up to a renowned wine region. Elk, which has its own wineries, is just 30 minutes from the vineyards of Anderson Valley, a region known for its pinot noir, sparkling wines, and Alsatian grape varieties.

Unlike many wine regions that have been popularized to the point of overtourism, the wine experience in Elk and Anderson Valley remains approachable and intimate. Many wineries are owner-operated, and some retain a food element, like the handmade cheeses that complement Pennyroyal Farm’s estate wines.

Where to Stay

Sacred Rock Inn

Sacred Rock Inn is both an integral part of Elk, with a history that dates back to the 1970s, and the new kid on the block. The location, at the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea, is unmatched, and the lodging includes everything from cottages and bungalows to a Victorian mansion and cliff house. After a long period of closure due to renovations by the owners — members of the Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwok Indians — Sacred Rock Inn is easily the most exciting place to stay in Elk.

Elk Cove Inn & Spa

Surrounded by trees and facing the ocean, Elk Cove Inn & Spa is set in a mansion dating to 1883. Private stairs lead to the beach below and a cliffside gazebo provides views over the ocean, which is part of the gray whale migration route. The bed-and-breakfast includes 16 coastal suites and rooms, and a daily breakfast spread can be delivered to your room.

Harbor House Inn

Harbor House Inn is best known for its restaurant, which has two Michelin stars and just 20 seats. But the inn itself is a destination, too, with 11 guest accommodations set along the rugged Elk coastline and access to a private cove. In addition to six rooms in the main house, the property has a handful of cottages, including one with a covered terrace running the length of the home and a bathtub with ocean views. (Tip: Inn guests who book their stay 30 days or more in advance can make reservations at the restaurant before they go live to the public.)

Things to Do

Unwind at Greenwood State Beach.

This quiet, driftwood-strewn beach runs along the cliffs that support the community of Elk. It provides up-close views of the tiny islands off the coast, and plenty of seashells.

Tom Halen, general manager at Sacred Rock Inn, says Greenwood State Beach is a great place for visitors to unwind and adjust to the region’s pace. “Soak up the sun, take a refreshing dip in the Pacific, or stroll along the shoreline collecting seashells. During low tide, explore the fascinating tide pools teeming with life,” he says.

Go horseback riding on the beach.

In addition to exploring Greenwood State Beach by foot, you can spend the day horseback riding at neighboring Manchester Beach with the folks at Ross Ranch. The ranch, which is located in the hills behind Elk, also offers guided horseback adventures through the area’s redwood forests.

Halen notes these horseback tours allow visitors “to experience the beauty of the area from a unique perspective.”

Spend the day at an Elk winery.

For a taste of the area’s wine, you only need to drive 10 minutes inland from Elk to reach Drew Winery, which got its start on a former apple orchard by Jason and Molly Drew. The winery is known for its pinot noir and chardonnay, in addition to organic-certified, farm-grown food.

Halen notes the small, family-run operation is “situated on the hillside of the western ridge of Anderson Valley, producing cool climate wines. Their estate vineyard, Faîte de Mer Farm, spans eight acres and features pinot noir and chardonnay vines, along with a small truffle orchard and a 14-acre apple orchard.”

Visits to Drew Winery require advance reservations, and are only available on Fridays and Saturdays, but are well worth the added planning.

Drive through Navarro River Redwoods State Park.

Just 15 minutes up the coast from Elk is the Navarro River Redwoods State Park. The 11-mile-long oasis straddles Highway 128 and is known as the “redwood tunnel to the sea,” following the Navarro River in its journey to the ocean.

In addition to providing travelers with a scenic drive, Halen says it’s also a great place to “hike, bike, or simply lose yourself among the towering redwoods and lush greenery.” In the late winter and spring, he says, people come to “kayak or canoe and navigate the tranquil waters of the Navarro River.”

Wander between the wineries of Anderson Valley.

Long before food, wine, and ocean views put Elk on the map, the Anderson Valley was making a name for itself. The 15-mile-long valley, which lies just 30 minutes from Elk by car, is one of the coolest-weather wine-growing region in California and known for its production of pinot noir, chardonnay, and Alsatian varieties (riesling, gewürztraminer, pinot blanc, and pinot gris).

From Elk, you can drive up the coast, turning inland on Highway 128. After passing through the state park’s tunnel of redwoods, you’ll come upon a series of wineries. Our recommendations include (from north to south): Husch, Navarro, Toulouse,  Goldeneye, and Foursight. Pennyroyal Farm, also home to a vineyard, is a great place to end the tour, as the wine here is complemented by a spread of handmade cheeses from the on-site creamery.

Where to Shop

Artists’ Collective in Elk

Elk is a tight-knit artist enclave, and nowhere is that more apparent than at the Artists’ Collective. The gallery and shop showcases the work of local and regional artists, including those who focus on photography, painting, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, and furniture.

Matson Mercantile

Matson Mercantile, in the heart of Elk, is best described as a small-town shop with big charm. It carries everything from tools and gardening gadgets to kitchen goods and gifts. In addition, several local artists and writers sell their products (think: jewelry, purses, and gloves) and books here, making it a great place to pick up a souvenir or gift.

The Elk Store

Ever wanted to experience a small-town general store? It doesn’t get cuter than the Elk Store, which has a bit of everything. In addition to a deli serving all-day breakfast and a menu of sandwiches that can be enjoyed outside in the sea breeze, the Elk Store sells beer and wine and an array of food-related gifts and necessities.

Where to Eat and Drink

Greenwood Restaurant and Elk House at Sacred Rock Inn

When Sacred Rock Inn reopened in June 2024, it also launched two on-site restaurants: Greenwood Restaurant, which considers itself to be “approachable fine dining,” and Elk House, a casual eatery with pub fare set in a historic building. The former has a wine menu sprinkled with local vino (including a pinot noir from Drew), while the latter has a beer list that includes brews from the neighboring towns of Point Arena and Boonville.

Restaurant at Harbor House Inn

When it comes to dining, the restaurant at Harbor House Inn is hard to top. The two-Michelin-starred eatery is on the radar of foodies and oenophiles around the region, so finding a reservation requires advance planning. The restaurant’s full tasting dinner menu is available in the 20-person dining room every Thursday through Monday. A set lunch is also on offer. The wine list is dominated by French wines, but does include local labels, too.

Sibo Restaurant at Elk Cove Inn

The food at Sibo Restaurant has a distinct French flair, including lapin à la moutarde and coq au vin. Dinner reservations are required, but there is a grab-and-go menu available on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sibo is run by chef Victor Passalacqua, who was born in Peru, and features local ingredients along with plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options.

As Halen explains, “The Mendocino coast remains a treasure trove of fresh seafood, organic farms, and rolling vineyards. This provides the foundation for innovative, hyper-seasonal menus across the region.”

Gama

South of Elk, in the town of Point Arena, is an izakaya that Halen says is known for its focus on local, sustainable ingredients. Gama uses Japanese cooking techniques to produce everything from grilled skewers and fish dishes to Japanese pickles. When you need a break from the local wine scene, Gama is a great place to enjoy a sip of sake.

Best Times to Visit

Elk remains cool year-round, making it a popular destination in the summer, when people are looking to escape the heat. But Halen notes spring and fall are also wonderful seasons to go.

“Spring is a great time to visit Elk if you love wildflowers. The cliffs along the coast come alive with colorful blooms, and the weather is mild,” he says. He also recommends visiting in fall, during the harvest.

Winter tends to be quiet, with lots of rain. While it might not make for great beach weather, “the crowds are smaller, room rates are typically lower, and the scenery is dramatic,” Halen adds.

How to Get There

Elk is in Mendocino County, north of San Francisco and Santa Rosa. The nearest large airport is Charles M. Schulz — Sonoma County Airport (STS), just under two hours by car from Elk. That said, most visitors fly into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and make the 3.5-hour scenic drive north to Elk.

There’s a bus service in the area — including a route that runs from Santa Rosa to Elk with one transfer, and another between Elk and Anderson Valley — but the buses are not frequent enough to make sense for most visitors. There’s also not a readily available ride-share service in the area. For this reason, renting a car during your trip to Elk is a must.

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