Las Vegas has established itself as a go-to spot for casino resorts, complete with stylish accommodations, high-end dining, and non-gaming entertainment options like pools and spas. There’s enough to do that you can check in for the weekend and not have to leave, and you can still have a good time. But Vegas isn’t the only spot for an over-the-top gaming getaway. If you’re in California, you can find the Vegas vibe in Sonoma wine country at Graton Resort & Casino. It’s in Rohnert Park, about a 90-minute drive from downtown San Francisco. Modern Luxury named it the 2026 “best weekend getaway” from San Francisco. It was also the 2026 runner-up best casino outside of Las Vegas on USA Today’s 10Best. With Graton’s standout restaurants along with its gaming, spa, pool, entertainment, and comfy rooms, it’s no question why.
The casino first opened in 2013, and it’s managed by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, a community that includes Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo people. The gaming scene at the resort now features 3,000+ slot machines, table games, and live poker. The resort expanded in 2016 with the opening of a hotel tower with 200 guest rooms. Choose from either a double queen or king bed; plus each room has a soaking tub and separate shower.
The resort is in the midst of a massive $1 billion expansion. In May 2026, it unveiled 144,000 square feet of non-smoking casino gaming along with three new restaurants. By 2027, there will be two new hotel wings, which will more than double the number of rooms at the resort. It will also have a second pool and cabanas for adults-only. By 2028, it will have a new entertainment venue with seats for 3,500.
Highlights of the dining scene at Graton Resort & Casino
While gaming and gambling has their appeal for plenty of visitors, you could design your entire stay at Graton Resort & Casino around the restaurants — it has more than a dozen places to eat and drink. One of the standout options is AYA; it was given the “Best of Award of Excellence” by Wine Spectator. Opened in May 2026, this stylish restaurant features a large rooftop patio with views of the Sonoma hills. Executive Chef Roy Ellamar created the menu to feature local, seasonal ingredients whenever possible, with dishes like salt-baked halibut and 12-hour smoked short ribs. The wine list features fantastic options from the region, including some from the breathtaking Russian River Valley.
Another good sit-down option is 630 Park Steakhouse. You can add Petrossian caviar to any of the appetizers, like the king crab, and the highlight of the entrees is the high-end steaks. Then at Playbook, you can eat elevated pub grub, like chicken nuggets with caviar and lobster and shrimp rolls, while you watch sports on the many big-screen TVs. There are also watch parties for major-league Bay Area team games.
For something quick, several smaller restaurants serve burritos, pizza, sandwiches, and ramen. The instant noodles are a highlight at Neon Kitty, which opened in September 2026, and it also sells treats like Spam musubi, dumplings, and bao buns. If you have a sweet tooth, visit SoCo Dough Co. for tasty gourmet doughnuts along with milkshake-like drinks. High rollers might want to splurge on the Millionaire’s Doughnut. It sells for $275, and the hazelnut and chocolate donut comes with an accompanying 1-ounce pour of Louis XIII Cognac, a particularly prestigious cognac made from a blend of 1,200 raw brandies and aged for decades.
Entertainment at Graton Resort & Casino and the best way to get there
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Get snacks and drinks at the poolside bar at Graton Resort & Casino and enjoy them at your lounger or in one of the reservable cabanas. The pool area is open to hotel guests, and it can also be booked separately as a day pass if you aren’t spending the night — keep in mind that the pool is seasonal. While soaking up the sun next to the water beneath the shade of a palm tree is relaxing, to really amp up the pampering on your Graton getaway, book a session at the spa. It offers a range of treatments, like massages, body treatments, and mani/pedis. Then, after a day of relaxation, you can head to a show — Graton has nightly entertainment, and it brings in acts like John Legend and Patti LaBelle.
The closest airport to Graton is the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport; it’s only about 20 minutes away. You have more flight options if you’re flying into San Francisco International Airport; however, the drive will be longer — typically between 1.5 and 2 hours, depending on traffic. The resort does have an expansive bus program that will take you to and from Graton with a number of stops in San Jose, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Modesto, and more.
If you’re driving your own car up to Graton from San Francisco, a fun stop on the way is the town of Sausalito with its quirky houseboats right across the Golden Gate Bridge. As you continue north, you’ll pass through Novato, which has a walkable downtown filled with cute shops and restaurants. Then, for a dose of nature in this part of Sonoma County, the Jack London State Historic Park, with its trails and redwood groves, is about a 35-minute drive from Graton.