Graton Resort and Casino
Rohnert Park, California
Sonoma visitors and residents have endured 10 years of construction and associated traffic jams on the already-narrow section of Highway 101 that winds through town, but by the end of last year, everyone could see that Graton Resort and Casino was worth the wait.
When a casino resort comes to a destination known for its food and wine, you expect flashy celebrity chefs, but Graton kept things decidedly local while packing in the star power: Martin Yan, known for his M.Y. China in San Francisco; Tony Gemignani of Tony’s of North Beach fame; and Douglas Keane, recent Top Chef Masters winner from Healdsburg’s sorely missed Cyrus, have all set up shop in the $825 million resort.
As the largest casino in the Bay Area, clocking in at 340,000 square feet, Graton doesn’t skimp on gaming, with 144 blackjack, poker and baccarat tables and 3,000 slot machines. But during the day, once you’ve had your fill of the casino’s cuisine, it invites you to take advantage of special rates on visits to partner wineries around the country, including top brands Kendall-Jackson, Clos du Bois and Gloria Ferrer.
