There’s no shortage of stellar places to call home when visiting Sonoma County Wine Country, but a chic collection of reimagined cottages just made the list of reasons you need to get a longer stay on the calendar.
Located in downtown Healdsburg, The Cottages at Little Saint is the latest venture from the team behind the gourmet vegan restaurant, wine shop, and uber-popular music venue Little Saint.
Inside The Cottages at Little Saint (Brendan Mainini)
“The Cottages are a natural next step for Little Saint,” says Laurie Ubben, founder of Little Saint. “We are excited to be able to extend our plant-forward ethos beyond traditional dining experiences and into the larger hospitality realm.”
Standing on the front porch of Gimme Shelter, one of the four cottages at Little Saint, I could see an explosion of color waiting inside. I was so excited to get a closer look, I entered the door code incorrectly twice before the lock cheerfully chirped and granted access.
Delightfully layered with maximalist design, you need more than a moment to take it all in. My eye went right to the pomegranate-studded vintage-inspired wallpaper, but the hand-painted checkerboard-like hardwood floor was just as attention-grabbing. With both a living area and a bedroom, the cottage is more than spacious enough for two, but it’s the explosion of color, patterns, and textures that makes a stay here memorable.
Inside The Cottages at Little Saint (Brendan Mainini)
The work of renowned San Francisco designer Ken Fulk—who also serves as creative director of Little Saint—every cottage is different but equally brimming with vibrancy. Tucked away in the back corner of the property, Deja Vu offers a secluded space with easy access to a communal fire pit. Court might feel a bit moody to some, but with two bedrooms, it offers a space that’s ideal for a girls’ getaway or a family escape. But it’s the imaginative secret passage hidden behind a vintage armoire that pushes the space over the top, connecting it with the Spark cottage, which has an additional bedroom and bathroom.
“Our goal for the design of The Cottages was the same as when we designed Little Saint—create a space that fosters community,” says Fulk. “The Cottages are a natural extension of the Little Saint universe; full of whimsy and nostalgia while still evoking a sense of freshness and originality.”
Music is a running theme through the Little Saint family, and the Cottages are no exception. Inspired in part by Los Angeles’ Laurel Canyon, an epicenter for musicians in the late 1960s and ‘70s, all cottages have a record player and a collection of vintage vinyl.
Inside The Cottages at Little Saint (Brendan Mainini)
Flanked with citrus trees, loungers, and striped umbrellas that give fun nostalgic vibes, there’s an intimate pool area with all the makings of a nice little hangout spot for cottage guests. The pool is heated. Since it hailed the day I stayed (who would have thought!) I couldn’t take advantage, but I imagine the Little Saint team will offer a lineup of fun activations when warmer days prevail.
Built in the 1980s, the property—formerly known as the Cottages at Healdsburg—is located directly behind Little Saint. Don’t sleep on taking advantage of the delicious proximity. Little Saint is a 100 percent plant-based restaurant. While that can be a hard concept for some diners to appreciate, the culinary innovation is noteworthy and downright tasty.
The menu is shaped by what’s in season at Little Saint Farm, just two-and-a-half miles away; among the winter highlights are the winter chicories salad, pumpkin and fennel sausage lasagna, and the Little Saint burger with a housemade seitan & beet patty and Gold Rush russet potato French fries. The trio of dips with farm veggies is a must-order. Paired with beet hummus, a cultured cashew dip topped with an apple compote, and smoked carrot dip, it’s almost too pretty to eat.
Trio of dips with farm veggies at Little Saint(Emma K Creative)
Along with an 800-bottle strong wine list and a farm-inspired craft cocktails—think concoctions like Golden Years, fashioned with Casco Viejo Reposado, Sotol Onó, and golden raspberry syrup made from berries harvested at the farm last fall—there’s an impressive lineup of non-alcoholic selections and seasonal shrubs to choose from.
Also impressive is the lineup of artists that have graced the stage of the intimate music venue located in the second-story space directly above the vegan eatery. The night after Beck headlined the 2025 Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco, the Grammy-winning artist played a solo show at Little Saint. Phoebe Bridgers popped in for a surprise performance in August 2022, only to return to the stage the following year with fellow boygenius musicians Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus. The venue holds just 100 people seated (280 standing), so tickets go fast, but lucky music-lovers are treated to a memorable experience.
Free music Thursday kicks off every week at 7pm. No ticket is required to enjoy the sounds of talented, up-and-coming artists. Whoever’s playing, there’s little doubt you’ll be singing a happy tune after the show, when you realize your cozy Wine Country cottage is just a two-minute walk away.
// 425 Foss St. (Healdsburg), cottagesatlittlesaint.com
Little Saint in Healdsburg(Emma K Creative)
