Where everybody knows your name

Aqus Cafe in Petaluma has music, language groups, trivia, comedy as well as discussion groups. (photo by Crista Jeremiason)

Wine County has no shortage of great places for food, drink and diversion. But for those with an open schedule and a need for a leisurely pace, an additional attraction is required:  The atmosphere of a first-class hangout.  That’s a place where you can go whenever you feel like it, and do almost anything, including just chat with old friends and new acquaintances.  Sometimes there are community events, sometimes not. Food is usually simple and seems to morph easily from breakfast into lunch and supper.

It might just be that place where everybody knows your name.

If you’re looking for an easy feeling and a cozy ambience, try one of these five locally beloved hangouts:

Aqus Cafe
Five years ago, owner John Crowley, a transplanted Irishman, set out to create the kind of community gathering place found at Irish pubs, and accelerated the transition a couple years in by acquiring a license to serve beer and wine three years ago.
“I find America doesn’t have enough of these gathering spots,” Crowley said. “We’re interested in creating community. We’re focused on gathering people together. We have maybe 60 different events each month,” Crowley said.
In addition to food and drink, Aqus features exhibits by local artists, appearances by city and county politicians, readings by Bay Area authors and live music most nights, ranging from jazz and swing to folk, bluegrass and, of course, Celtic.
“We’ve got two knitting groups, a walking group and we just started a Hungarian language group,” Crowley added. “We’ve got an email and Facebook range of around 5,000 people, just in Sonoma County.”
Crowley’s goal is to offer a haven to people of all backgrounds and interests.
“In the morning time, we’re a California coffee shop. People bring their computers in and work on their laptops. Then in the afternoon, we migrate into a European cafe, and in the evening, we morph into an Irish Pub.”
189 H Street Petaluma., 778-6060, aquscafe.com

Redwood Cafe
Founded in 1994, this bright and airy downtown Cotati coffee shop and restaurant has long been a popular meeting spot for locals and visitors alike.
Its location on the Old Redwood Highway also makes it a good rest stop for cyclists on long rides.
“We try to get a little bit of everything so people have more reasons to come and support us,” said Moustapha Jamal, co-owner with Michael McCullaugh.
“We have a huge menu. We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have a juice bar, an art gallery. We have a display for local authors to sell their books. We do poetry readings. We have the Sonoma State jazz band on Wednesday nights. We’re busy.”
8420 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati. 795-7868, redwoodcafecotati.com

Toad in the Hole
An indirect descendant of Santa Rosa’s late, still lamented downtown pub, The Old Vic, this more modern version in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square has found its own identity over the past five years.
The place is run by owner Paul Stokeld, nephew of Old Vic pub founder Chris Stokeld, who continues to serve bangers at Toad in the Hole.
The roomy pub has a decor that Paul Stokeld calls “London pub meets modern American,” with a concrete bar top and table tops.
Entertainment includes weekly live music and open mic nights, plus oddball promotions like the annual Monty Python bock party.
“And we’ll put any soccer game up on the screen, or ‘football,’ as we call it, that anyone wants to see,” the younger Stokeld said.
116 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. 544-8623, thetoadpub.com

Cellars of Sonoma
A few doors away from Toad in the Hole, Scott Jordan offers a very different sort of place, but just as informal, comfortable and interesting at this two-story tasting room, which opened almost three years ago in Railroad Square.
“We represent nine small-production wineries. They range anywhere from 50 cases to a couple thousand at the most. They’re wines you wouldn’t find out in the market place. We’ve got close to 60 wines,” Jordan said.
“Not only do people get to hang out and taste wine, but they can order food to bring in from all the restaurants in Railroad Square. And we have live music four nights a week with local musicians. People end up dancing and having fun.”
133 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 578-1826, cellarsofsonoma.com

Aubergine Vintage Emporium and Cafe
By day, the long, high-roofed former apple-packing shed on Sebastopol’s Petaluma Avenue is Aubergine Vintage Emporium, where shoppers can browse for a nostalgic and stylish change of wardrobe.
At the far end of the building, there’s the cozy Aubergine Cafe and kitchen, with a living-room atmosphere and an easy-going ambience. Regulars chat with the staff on a first-name basis. Out on the open-air porch, there are pool tables.
At night, the site becomes Aubergine After Dark, a bar that features live music, but with the same informal feeling.
“It’s more than a music place,” said owner Randy Graves. “It’s a place where people can come together.”
755 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol. 827-3460, aubergineafterdark.com

You can reach Staff Writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. See his ARTS blog at arts.blogs.pressdemocrat.com.