BEYOND THE LISTING

Beyond the Listing: What’s New in Sebastopol?

If you’ve been wondering what’s new—or newish—in Sebastopol, there’s quite a bit happening. Familiar spaces are being reinvented, new restaurants are opening, and local businesses are expanding. From Mediterranean small plates and British fish and chips to bagels, live-fire cooking and a new music scene, 2026 has brought plenty of change.

Here’s a look at what’s happening around town.

Restaurants & Food

Alesta Modern Mediterranean opened on Healdsburg Avenue earlier this year, bringing Mediterranean, Turkish, Greek and Balkan influences to town. The menu features small plates, grilled meats, gyros, manti, lamb shank and a tableside-flambéed saganaki.

The Porch Kitchen, near The Barlow, has evolved from its original grab-and-go concept into a fuller bistro experience, adding dinner and French-influenced seasonal cooking.

As a Brit, Chippy at The Barlow has my attention. The former Acre Pasta space is now serving fish and chips along with burgers, chowder, sandwiches and other casual fare. Growing up in the UK, I have some pretty strong opinions about proper fish and chips, so I’ll be putting them to the test.

Bonnie Bagels & Co. opened in August at 280 S. Main Street in the former Hippizzazz space and quickly developed a following, selling out within hours during its first two days. The shop specializes in East Coast-style sourdough bagels, breakfast sandwiches and house-made schmears. It’s also just a few doors down from longtime local favorite Grateful Bagel, adding a little new energy to Sebastopol’s bagel scene.

Angela’s Organic Ice Cream is expanding into the former Cock Robin space alongside Iggy’s Organic Burger, with ice cream and thick milkshakes joining the burger operation.

Wild Poppy Cafe is also expanding, taking over the former Woodfour Brewing space at The Barlow. The new location is expected to add dinner and seafood to the restaurant’s plant-forward concept, along with an on-site tofu production operation serving both locations and wholesale customers.

And then there’s Mansoor, the new interactive “flambé house” taking over the former Gravenstein Grill space on Bodega Avenue. The concept centers on live-fire and tableside cooking. The opening has been delayed, however, and there is still no confirmed opening date.

Wylde Provisions has also added something different to the local mix with its Playground & Café on Robinson Road, combining food and coffee with beer, drinks and a natural outdoor playground. It’s another example of a local business creating a gathering place that goes beyond simply serving food.

Business, Retail & The Barlow

The Barlow continues to evolve. Genero’s Delicatessen has opened in the food court, Rust Boutique has expanded from roughly 500 to more than 1,300 square feet, and Wild Poppy and Iggy’s are taking over previously occupied spaces.

What’s particularly interesting is that many of these changes involve independent local and regional businesses rather than national chains. That feels very much in keeping with Sebastopol.

Sportago, the longtime St. Helena outdoor clothing and equipment store, opened its second location at South Main and Burnett in May. The store carries outdoor and everyday clothing, running and hiking shoes, backpacks and camping equipment.

Downtown is also developing an interesting new music scene. Kindred, planned for the former Jasper O’Farrell’s space, combines an all-vinyl sound bar with food, drinks, books, audio equipment and roughly 3,000 records.

And another familiar space is getting a new identity. 116 S. Main Street, formerly home to Mothers Ruin and more recently Third Pig Bar, is undergoing an extensive remodel. The word on the street is that a tequila- and mezcal-focused bar is planned. There’s no opening date yet, but it will be interesting to see what emerges from this longtime downtown location.

Community & Housing

Not every change is about restaurants and retail.

Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County has completed Blankenship Place, a four-home townhome development on North Main Street. The three-bedroom, two-bath homes provide affordable homeownership opportunities for four local families, each of whom contributed hundreds of hours of sweat equity to the project.

It’s a relatively small project, but an important addition to Sebastopol’s housing landscape—and an example of affordable homeownership being integrated into an established neighborhood.

Real Estate & Development

Several larger projects are also shaping the conversation about Sebastopol’s future.

The proposed Valentine Avenue Homes project at the former church property would create 20 lots with 20 primary homes and 19 detached ADUs—39 residences in total—on approximately 2.7 acres. The project has generated considerable debate around density, parking, trees, privacy and neighborhood character.

The developer describes the project as a “missing middle” housing concept intended to provide smaller, more attainable homeownership opportunities. After a lengthy Planning Commission meeting, the commission voted 4–1 to recommend approval. The project now moves to the Sebastopol City Council.

Meanwhile, the proposed Barlow Hotel continues to move forward. Planned for the former Guayakí site, the 83-room independent hotel would include a restaurant, spa, meeting spaces and a rooftop bar, integrated into The Barlow. The latest timeline calls for the building permit package to be submitted in 2026, with construction potentially beginning in late 2026 or early 2027.