Railroad Square Historic District

This single block is the charming part of the old Santa Rosa commercial district. The buildings do retain a smidgeon of late 19^th — early 20^th century look.
The retail shops are mostly mom & pop’s that cater to tourists, but there are antiques, thrift shops and a restaurant or 3 that locals do patronize. The old train depot houses a California Welcome Center. You can get Nor Cal tourist brochures and maps there.
Don’t wander much north of 4^th street, skid row is close-​by. Crime is not rampant here, but the neighborhood is less than savory. Avoid north of 5^th street after dark.
If you are a far flung visitor, 90 minutes is all you need for a walk about 4^th street and a meal.

Not a large shopping area but we really enjoyed ourselves on a brief stop passing thru Santa Rosa on a return from Bodega Bay. We visited the antique shops and thrift shops and found something unique in each. Nice array of restaurants and bars for a small area. Nice little area. I never thought of Santa Rosa as a destination but we will be back in the near future. Parking was not a problem for those used to meter parking. I spent $ 3 on parking for a nearly 3 hour visit. No big deal.

Railroad Square is such a great addition to the downtown Santa Rosa area. It has businesses you actually want to frequent while also having that old town charm that isn’t found much anymore. There is also a great diversity of shops and restaurants in this area. Where else in Santa Rosa can you buy new running shoes, get your hair cut, get brunch, shop for antiques and new items, get lunch, dinner, drinks, and hang out on a park bench all in walking distance? Nowhere that I know of!
If you are in the area and coffee is your thing — Aroma Roasters and Flying Goat are both great options. If you are looking for Mexican food go to Chevy’s. Yes it is a chain, but it has been there forever and you really can’t beat the fresh made tortillas. Omelette Express is your classic Santa Rosa breakfast place if you are in a mood for eggs. Every time I walk around down here I discover a new little shop or building I haven’t really appreciated before.
Parking wise, you do have to pay to park, worse yet with the annoying meters downtown Santa Rosa is now decked out with where you have to wander around to find the nearest pay station. But, overall parking is cheap, and if you are really pinching your pennies there are plenty of side streets with free parking in the vicinity.
Extra stars for a train station that has been used in movies and a smattering of Charles Schultz character statues which round out the Sonoma County atmosphere.

Although I have loved the shops in RR Square my whole life, the parking enforcement there is predatory. I wouldn’t risk parking my car anywhere near there for shopping. Better yet, shop somewhere that doesn’t punish local customers.