Where to Get the Best Pancakes in Sonoma County

Across Sonoma County, chefs put their own spin on the classic stack. Here are some favorites, from fluffy buttermilk pancakes to thin Swedish-style versions and a Dutch Baby big enough to share. Enjoy them on National Pancake Day, Sept. 26, or any day of the year.

Best Newcomer

Dolce Rosa: These plate-size ricotta pancakes are good enough on their own, but the espresso-spiked mascarpone and chocolate syrup, finished with a dusting of cocoa, push them firmly into dessert territory. Breakfast, meet tiramisu. 4910 Sonoma Highway, Suite B, Santa Rosa. 707-931-4625, instagram.com/dolcerosacafe.

Sweetest Treat

Cafe Carrusel: Strawberry Heaven pink pancakes with sweet glaze and colorful marshmallows are a childhood dream at this pink-on-pink bruncheria in downtown Santa Rosa. The morning-centric menu also includes matcha, ube, blueberry, red velvet, Oreo and classic buttermilk pancakes. 630 Third St., Santa Rosa, 707-655-8365, instagram.com/cafe_carrusel.

Sleeper Hit

Fandee’s Restaurant: Rich, fluffy lemon-ricotta pancakes are served with berries and vanilla crème anglaise. 7824 Covert Lane, Sebastopol, 707-829-2462, fandeesrestaurant.com.

Best Lemon-Ricotta Hotcake

Acorn Cafe: At the former Oakville Grocery site, Acorn Cafe serves a lemon-ricotta hotcake with house lemon curd, whipped ricotta and oat crumble, topped with lemon-lavender ice cream. 124 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-955-7001, acornhealdsburg.com.

Big and Buttery

Jeffrey’s Hillside Cafe: Buttermilk pancakes arrive as large as dinner plates, accompanied by two eggs and a choice of bacon, sausage or ham. 2901 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-6317, jeffreyshillsidecafe.com.

Brunch Favorite

Verano Cafe: Plate-size lemon pancakes get their distinctive texture from cottage cheese, eggs and lemon. Pair them with a mimosa — passion fruit is a favorite — or a cup of coffee. 18976 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, 707-931-6837, veranocafesonoma.com.

Bavarian-Style

Brother’s Cafe: The owners of Sebastopol’s Hole in the Wall opened this sister restaurant in 2022. The standout is the Dutch Baby, a German-style pancake with caramelized sugar and apples. 3135 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-541-6345, brotherscafesr.com.

Swedish-Style

Thin, crepe-like pancakes from Sweden aren’t hard to find in Sonoma County.

Baked on the River: The Pancakes from the North are thin and folded, served with vanilla whipped cream, lingonberry jam, butter and maple syrup. 16390 Fourth St., Guerneville, 707-865-6060, bakedontheriver.com.

Stockhome: These plate-sized pancakes have crisp edges and a hint of sweetness, and come with vanilla whipped cream and berries. 220 Western Ave., Petaluma, 707-981-8511, stockhomepetaluma.com.

Fill ’Er Up

Sax’s Joint: For sheer size, it’s hard to beat the restaurant’s enormous pancake, which is roughly the size of a pizza and made with a half-gallon of batter. 317 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-559-3021, saxsjoint.com.

Farm-to-Table

Americana: Pancakes, hot off the griddle, are top-notch. Choose from classic, blueberry or chocolate-chip pancakes, served with housemade vanilla-cider maple syrup, whipped cream and seasonal fruit. 162 N. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-827-3309; 205 Fifth St., Suite A, Santa Rosa, 707-755-1548, americanasonomacounty.com.

Best with Your Dog

Howard Station Cafe: This dog-friendly, locomotive-themed cafe serves stacks of buttermilk, blueberry and banana-walnut pancakes. 3611 Bohemian Highway, Occidental, 707-874-2838, howardstationcafe.com, instagram.com/howardstationcafe.

Maci Martell contributed to this article.