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Looking for a guide to visiting Lodi wine country in California’s Central Valley? This complete Lodi Travel Guide has tips on where to stay, what to eat, wineries to visit, and other fun things to do while visiting the Lodi wine region!
We’ve found an unassuming hidden gem in California’s Central Valley – Lodi! It’s one of our favorite wine regions in California to visit.
For all you wine lovers and foodies out there, not only does Lodi boast a whopping 85+ wineries, it’s also an unexpected culinary delight with top notch eateries scattered throughout the town. The best part for us is that Lodi is less than an hour’s drive from home. Whether you are coming from near or far, definitely put Lodi on your weekend getaway radar!
Where to Stay in Lodi
Lodi has something for every budget, from a fancy hotel (Wine & Roses) to more budget accommodations like B&Bs and chain hotels like Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn.
Wine & Roses Hotel (Appellation)
Wine & Roses | 2505 W. Turner Road, Lodi, CA
Wine & Roses is definitely a top place to choose for your Lodi getaway! It is a little on the pricier side (rooms tend to start around $279/night – plus a $30.00 daily resort fee and taxes – but I’ve seen rooms on sale for cheaper on Hotels.com). It’s worth the splurge, especially if you’re celebrating a special occasion!
The grounds are so beautiful and it is really is a little peaceful escape you wouldn’t expect right in the heart of Lodi.
They also have an excellent fine dining restaurant on site called Americana House by Chef Charlie Palmer, which serves dinner from Thursdays through Mondays and weekend brunch.
Our room that we stayed in was spacious and updated, and they even gifted us with a bottle of wine for our anniversary! For a detailed review on our stay, check out this post.
Hampton Inn & Holiday Inn Express
The Lodi Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express are more affordable alternatives to Wine & Roses, and still offer a clean and comfortable place to rest your head. They’re both located within a stone’s throw of each other, and are in a very central location to all the wineries if you’re planning on doing some wine tasting during your stay.
Pertinent Info & Benefits of Both:
- Free hot breakfast
- Central location
- Free WiFi
- Outdoor pool (perfect for hot summer days). The Holiday Inn also has an indoor pool.
- Check-in: 3:00 p.m.; Check-out: 11:00 a.m.
- Free Parking
B&B’s / Other Accommodations
Lastly, if hotels aren’t your thing, there are a ton of other cute options scattered throughout the city as far as bed and breakfasts go, or if you just want to chill in an Airbnb. Here are some that I may personally consider for our next stay in Lodi!
- Airbnb: Garage Apartment (comes with access to a beautiful pool)
- Poppy Sister Inn B & B (close to Downtown; private bathrooms)
Where to Eat in Lodi
Lodi is quite the budding little foodie destination with a variety of places to choose from, and if you regularly read this blog, you know we thrive on a good food experience. There is plenty in the way of “international” cuisine, fine dining for your upscale tastes, and a plethora of dessert treasures to satisfy your sweet tooth!
Komachi Sushi
307 S Lower Sacramento Rd, Lodi, CA 95242
http://sushikomachi.com/
Komachi Sushi is actually one of our all-time favorite sushi restaurants! Never would I have imagined that a sushi joint out in Lodi, California could exceed my expectations.
What to Order:
- Green Lipped Mussels: By far, our favorite thing here are the green lipped mussel dish with house-made spicy salsa (that salsa steals the show!).
- Hamachi Truffle: Sliced, fresh hamachi with truffle oil, jalapeños, tobiko and ponzu sauce. Definitely a dish worth repeating time and time again.
- Tako Kimchi: Octopus, cucumber and avocado with spicy kimchi sauce.
- Hot Night Roll: This spicy roll consists of Panko shrimp, avocado, spicy crab salad topped with spicy tuna, jalapeños and tobiko. Delish, refreshing, and not drenched in spicy mayo.
Pietro’s Trattoria
282 Rocky Ln, Lodi, CA 95240
https://www.pietroslodi.com/
If you want hearty and tasty Italian food, especially after a long day of wine tasting, Pietro’s Trattoria is simply one restaurant that cannot be missed!
I would recommend making a reservation for Pietro’s as they tend to get very busy. Also do note that parking can be a little limited in their lot so be sure to arrive a few minutes early for your reservation to ensure you find a spot.
What to Eat:
- Start your meal off with their pillowy soft (and warm) focaccia bread with balsamic and olive oil. Hands down the best bread ever!
- Make your way through their burrata salad (barbabietola) or house-made meatballs as an appetizer
- Order up any one of their amazing pasta dishes! We can recommend the paparadelle with oxtail ragu, the vongole spaghetti with clams, and the lasagna.
- My husband loves their porchetta, which is ultra rich and served on a bed of creamy polenta.
- Or, get a delicious pizza! The M&M is fantastic.
- End on a high note with their butterscotch budino – the best butterscotch dessert we’ve ever had and a must every time we visit.
Guantonios
600 W Lockeford St, Lodi, CA 95240
https://www.guantonios.com/
Guantonios is a cozy spot tucked away in Downtown Lodi serving up tasty wood-fired pizzas and a small a menu of Italian-inspired dishes that change with the seasons. The cacio e pepe and pepperoni pizzas are indulgent and pair well with the local Lodi wine selection!
When we visited, we were fortunate to try a special dish with braised butterbeans and smoked octopus, sourdough croutons, Mama Lil’s Peppers, and some of the best tasting olive oil I’ve had to date. This is just an example of the creativity of their seasonal dishes and I highly recommend picking a few items off the “not pizza” portion of the menu to sample!
Guantonios is only open for dinner, and there is limited space. Be sure to arrive early as they don’t take reservations unless you have group with eight persons or more.
West Oak Nosh
West Oak Nosh | 10 W Oak St, Lodi, CA 95240
Another one of our regular favorites is West Oak Nosh, serving up German-style pub grub in the heart of Downtown Lodi. They also have a great beer menu, pour local wine, and make craft cocktails at the bar (the Blood Mary makes a great beverage to have with any meal here!).
What to Eat:
- Avocado toast: It’s not just for millennials! The best part are the amazing picked red onions, and they have a brunch version on their Sunday Brunch menu.
- Pork Schnitzel Sandwich: This one is a definite winner in combo with the crispy schnitzel, tasty pretzel bun, slaw, and Chipotle mayo that brings a smoky element to the dish.
- House-made Sausage Board: Sausages are made in-house and served with an assortment of accoutrements. We’ve tried a variety of their sausages and my favorite is the andouille!
- Noshos: Flour tortilla chips covered in all the delicious things like guac, cheese, ground beef, and of course, pickled onions. Can never go wrong with this one!
- Scooby Snacks: Basically the ultimate Nosh combo with Nosh fries, schnitzel, poached egg, and guac!
Tequileros Food Truck
601 E Kettleman Ln, Lodi, CA 95240
https://www.instagram.com/tequileros_/?hl=en
You might find a lot of taco trucks on your trip to Lodi, but Tequileros is worth a stop! Their tacos are all amazing, but if you are a seafood fan, the shrimp is where it’s at! This taco truck location is in the Chevron parking lot, so it’s not really an ideal spot to sit an eat. Grab your grub to go and head to a local establishment for some wine and beer (I suggest Side Hustle Brew Co.!).
When I return, I need to try some of their loaded fries or one of their cheesy burritos. Check of their Instagram and it will instantly make you drool!
A Moveable Feast
1000 W Kettleman Ln, Lodi, CA 95240
https://www.instagram.com/feastlodi/?hl=en
If you’re looking for an affordable and casual lunch stop in Lodi, A Moveable Feast is an excellent spot for you! It’s a bright green food truck parked right off Kettleman.
What to Eat: I recommend the Crabby Crabcake sandwich, Cajun Shrimp sandwich, Pesto Chicken sandwich, and you definitely want to get the pesto fries!
Pro Tip…see if they will let you combine the shrimp and crab cake into one sandwich if you want to be a little extra (I’ve seen it done before and I’m totally asking next time!).
M Sushi Bistro
M Sushi | 212 S School St, Lodi, CA 95240
Two words: Udon & Ramen! If you’re feeling under the weather, or perhaps a little hungover after a weekend in wine country, the udon and ramen dishes here will definitely do the trick.
Though I love Komachi Sushi, M Sushi is centrally located in Downtown Lodi, making it a great stop if you’re tasting room hopping on foot.
M Sushi has dishes on their menu that are really just pure works of art, in addition to being delicious. Just check out the poke trio and albacore tuna and serrano pepper dishes below!
We did order some sushi rolls here as well, but I think they excel more in their soup dishes and fish dishes that are rice-free (which is a weird thing to say because rice is my ride or die).
Tin Roof BBQ
171 S Guild Ave, Lodi, CA 95240
http://tinroofbbqlodi.com/
Craving some hearty smoked meats for your wine country adventure? Tin Roof has them all, from brisket and pulled pork to smoked turkey and ribs. My personal favorite to keep things light is their Cal Cobb salad with smoked turkey (which is honestly my favorite of their meats).
Oxford Kitchen
110 W Oak St, Lodi, CA 95240
Bringing a bit of the U.K. to California, Oxford Kitchen has a great menu featuring a variety of English comfort foods. We loved their Shepherd’s pie made with lamb leg ragu and they do a pretty mean fish and chips with thick-cut chips (my favorite!).
Pair your hot meal here with a pint of Old Speckled Hen or Guinness end end on a sweet note with an order of the sticky toffee pudding!
Best Wineries in Lodi
As I mentioned above, the Lodi area has 85+ wineries! I won’t begin to even list them all here (because, 85…that’s a lot of wine to get through), but I will list some of my favs that are definitely worth returning to.
Durst Winery
Durst | 10173 East Acampo Rd, Acampo, CA 95220
I have nothing but lovely things to say about Durst! Here, you’ll find another tasting room where you can pull up a seat at the bar and relax while chatting it up with your host. When we visited, we were the only ones in the tasting room so we got all the attention (even from the winemaker herself). They also have couches you can cozy up on if sitting at the bar isn’t your thing, and enjoy their wines by the glass.
The winery grounds are very beautiful and peaceful – I could totally seeing this as being a great spot for an event!
Favorite Wines: Barbera & Old Vine Zinfandel
Peltier Winery
Peltier | 22150 N Kennefick Rd, Acampo, CA 95220
Another place with a great “hangout” vibe is Peltier with plenty of cozy couches to have a seat and sip your wine. Peltier also had some delicious wines to choose from, and we ended up taking home their Vermentino and Limited Release Oaked Chardonnay. I think the Vermentino was even better when we uncorked it at home for “Wine Wednesday!” So incredibly refreshing!
Favorite Wines: Vermentino & Limited Release Oaked Chardonnay
m2 Wines
2900 East Peltier Road, Acampo, CA 95220
https://www.m2wines.com
m2 is another one of my favs for ambiance with its modern and industrial vibes! They also have a great patio area where you can come with a small group of friends and enjoy your wine and maybe a few snacks or a picnic. m2 is located just down the road from Peltier (above) so this is a great one to pair with a visit there.
Favorite Wines: We really love their rosé, which has very fruity notes reminiscent of tangy strawberries, and their crisp Viognier.
Acquiesce Vineyards
22353 N. Tretheway Road, Acampo, CA 95220
http://www.acquiescevineyards.com
Acquiesce is a unique winery in that they only produce white wines, along with one rosé! Their wines are produced in stainless steel, which means no wood/oak finish to the flavor of the wines, making them extremely light and crisp. They also have a very lovely and unique bottle design!
Acquiesce also does a food pairing with most of their wines, which the staff hand-selects each season. Wines that had food pairings when we were there:
- Grenache Blanc, paired with goat cheese and a Meyer lemon/thyme confit
- Clairette Blanche, paired with Provencal mustard, fennel & curry spread (a unique wine with a unique pairing! Loved that curry flavor.)
- Viognier, paired with Manchego cheese and chutney (yes, yes, yes – perfect cheese for this wine!)
- Grenache Rosé, paired with a cherry pepper jelly
Favorite Wines: Grenache Blanc & Grenache Rosé
d’Art Wines
13299 Curry Ave, Lodi, CA 95240
http://www.dartwines.com/
d’Art was the first winery we visited in Lodi, and was a great preview of what Lodi wineries had to offer! We got some local recommendations from our host on what wineries to hit up and insight on good places to eat in town.
In this little tasting room, you’ll find photography art along the walls, which is all created by the owner! They have a most delicious Cabernet Rosé, and I loved re-living our tasting experience with our bottle opened up at home. Bonus points for a cool old truck they have on the property too!
They have a few outdoor picnic tables as well, so it would be a nice spot to relax with a newly-purchased bottle of wine and a cheese and cracker spread!
Favorite Wines: Cabernet Rosé & Dog Day Red
PRIE Vineyard & Winery
15628 Alpine Rd, Lodi, CA 95240
http://www.priewinery.com/
PRIE has probably one of the smallest tasting rooms we’ve been to, but that creates a more intimate tasting experience. Though their tasting room may be small, they have a lovely property with places to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine (and even enjoy your tasting), as well as play a round of corn hole with your friends!
PRIE introduced us to the wonderful world of Carignane! Their Carignane Rosé was the most unique we’ve tasted – very light in color and tart. Their regular Carignane was also divine, and one of my very favorite wines tasted on our first trip to Lodi.
Favorite Wines: Carignane and Carignane Rosé
Jeremy Wine Co.
Jeremy Wine | 6 W. Pine Street Lodi, CA 95240
Cue the Downtown tasting rooms! If you’re not into driving around to all the outlying wineries, or if you don’t have a designated driver, there are so many tasting rooms in the Downtown area that are all within walking distance to each other.
Jeremy Wine Co. has such a cozy tasting room and may seem small, but they also have a “Hidden Garden Patio” out back, which we did not know about when we visited. Pick up some cheese over at Cheese Central, and enjoy some Jeremy Wine out back!
Jeremy also adds a unique element with their Jeremiah’s Jug feature – a refillable jug that features a rotating red blend (more info here). We were fans of the dry rosé and their chocolate port, which is funny since we aren’t typically fond of the sweeter wines. Definitely make this a stop when you’re Downtown!
Favorite Wines: Dry Rosé and the Chocolate Port (oh my!)
Best Breweries in Lodi
Yes, you can enjoy something other than wine in wine country! Aside from wine, Lodi also has some great breweries that are worth a visit! If you need a break from sipping on fermented grapes, give these places a shot.
Five Window Beer Co.
Five Window | 9 W Locust St, Lodi, CA 95240
Stop in to Five Window Beer Co. here for some refreshing beers if you get tired of the wine scene in town. Although, I had one of the most delicious things ever here and it wasn’t beer – it was a frose! A frozen rose wine slushy is the best treat on a warm summer afternoon in Lodi. 100% recommend that!
Side Hustle Brew Co.
2441 S Stockton St Suite 1, Lodi, CA 95240
https://www.sidehustlebrewco.com/
Side Hustle Brew Co. is Lodi’s latest addition to the beer scene and is the labor of love of former Riaza winery owner Rick! Step right up to the beer bar for some local brew and check out their schedule for rotating food trucks. We’re generally fans of all of their IPAs and special releases are constantly being featured here!
Side Hustle also often features live music and trivia nights, which both pair perfectly with a pint.
Other Stops to Make in Lodi
Cheese Central
Cheese Central | 11 N School St, Lodi, CA 95240
If you’re a cheese lover, you’ll definitely want to make a stop here on your visit in Lodi. Whether you are exploring the Downtown wineries or heading out to the vineyards, pop in to Cheese Central so you can have some snacks along the way!
Their sharp cheeses are amazing, and we purchased some from the likes of Canada and Spain, along with some ultra potent blue cheese! The prices of the cheese in this shop may seem a little steep, but the flavors of the cheese are so pronounced, you don’t need much in one sitting – just enough to complement your wines.
If you have some extra time and plan ahead, they also hold monthly classes for cheese making, bread baking, and other special events. You can check out their calendar of events here.
Lockeford Meats
19775 N, Cotton St, Lockeford, CA 95237
This section is purely for the meat-eaters out there, and it’s one of our favorite stops to make whenever we head out to Lodi! We highly recommend the Smoked Dakota, Hot Beer Links, and Cajun Andouille sausages. You may think it odd to include this, but many of my friends travel here to Lockeford just to pick up their sausages.
Tips & What To Expect:
- Bring a cooler with ice so you can safely transport your sausages back home.
- They only allow 10 people in their small shop at a time, so there will likely be a line formed outside of the door. Sometimes the line moves fast; sometimes a bit slow. One time, we got right into the shop when we arrived; another, it took us about 40 minutes to wait in line and pay for our goods! The wait is worth it though…
Wish List
A few other spots that we haven’t quite made it to are listed below. One of these days, we’ll tick everything off the list!
- Lodi Lake – rent a kayak or have a picnic by the lake
- Micke Grove Park – I’d like to go just for the Japanese Garden!
- Calivirgin Olive Oil – love me some olive oil tasting!
If you want a little more of Lodi, check our our vlog that we made on our first visit to Lodi for our anniversary trip.
Thanks for checking out our Lodi travel guide! For more info on things to do in Lodi, you can read up on the area on the Visit Lodi website. And, if you’ve been to Lodi and you have a favorite restaurant or winery to recommend, please let us know in the comments so we can check it out!
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