After three years of quiet on the ridge above Annadel State Park, Santa Rosa's landmark hilltop dining room is getting ready to flip the lights back on. The Villa, the retro Italian spot that once ruled the view, is being reborn as The Junction and is slated to open in May. Expect those sweeping vistas to return along with family-friendly pizza and an expanded beer program aimed squarely at groups, kids in tow, and longtime locals who have been wondering what would become of the hillside icon.
What is coming to the hilltop
According to Sonoma Magazine, the new Junction will feature a 4,000-square-foot beer garden outfitted with a play area and live-music stage, a 150-seat dining room, a 30-tap draft program, and an on-site bottle shop. Unlike the Mill Valley location, the Santa Rosa outpost will include a full bar. Construction has also reshaped the interior with glass walls that push the view front and center instead of treating it like background scenery.
From Mill Valley to Santa Rosa
The Santa Rosa project comes from Liz and Dez Fiedler and Jeff Krupman of Pizza Hacker, the trio behind the original Junction that opened in Mill Valley in 2020 and quickly earned fans for its large-format pies and hyper-local tap list. The Fiedlers' earlier work with Loving Cup and the Junction's beer-forward approach were profiled by the Mill Valley Chamber's Enjoy Mill Valley blog, which charted how the concept grew. In Santa Rosa, Krupman's Pizza Hacker will anchor the menu with a familiar lineup of pizzas, joined by new salads, wings, and fried chicken.
A long life on the ridge
The hilltop restaurant first opened in 1962 as the Hilltopper, then became The Villa when Gaspare Bernardo took over in 1976. He ran the restaurant until he retired in 2022, when he closed it. The building then sat empty for roughly three years, with visible signs of wear, before the Fiedlers bought the 3.5-acre property. The new owners have said they plan to preserve signature touches such as the half-moon doors and the original sign, details that appeared alongside early construction photos in coverage from Sonoma Magazine.
Why this reopening matters
The Villa's revival lands in a local dining scene that has taken some punches. In 2022, staffing shortages and steep food costs contributed to a wave of restaurant closures across Sonoma County. The Press Democrat documented that downturn and specifically listed The Villa among the year's shuttered spots, leading many residents to assume the hilltop would be redeveloped rather than restored. Local restaurateurs argue that projects that breathe new life into landmark spaces help preserve neighborhood character while also putting people back to work.
What to expect and when
The Junction is set to open in May with a menu modeled on Krupman's Pizza Hacker playbook: blistered, large-format pies alongside salads and shareable plates. A game room is also in the works, stocked with shuffleboard and vintage arcade machines. The menu style and ordering approach are previewed on Pizza Hacker's online storefront, giving diners in Santa Rosa a hint of what to expect. The owners have also signaled plans for live music and family nights. Opening day details and reservation information are still being finalized and will be updated as they are announced.
