ROHNERT PARK, CA – Graton Resort & Casino has opened a major expansion that introduces a combined dining, gaming, and entertainment district to the property, the largest such addition in the resort’s history.
Anchored by AYA, a new rooftop restaurant from Chef Roy Ellamar, the expansion brings together restaurants, nightlife, and gaming in a single district designed around the wine country setting. Spanning 144,000 sq. ft., the smoke-free district functions as a destination within the resort, allowing guests to move between rooftop dining, craft cocktails, sports viewing, specialty desserts, and gaming.
The debut is among the more significant hospitality investments in Northern California in recent years and adds to Graton’s growing profile as a culinary and entertainment destination for both regional visitors and travelers from farther afield.
“What we’ve built here is unlike anything else in Sonoma County or Northern California,” said Greg Sarris, Tribal Chairman. “This expansion is about our people, our community and our guests. Sonoma County has extraordinary food, culture and people, and we’re celebrating all of it. Additionally, we’re putting people to work with more than 450 new jobs right here in the North Bay. That has always been the vision: that this business lifts Indian and non-Indian alike.”
At the center of the expansion are three new culinary concepts.
AYA
AYA is a rooftop restaurant from Chef Roy Ellamar, whose Filipino and Hawaiian heritage shapes a menu inspired by Sonoma County’s agricultural and coastal bounty.
The 27,000 sq. ft. indoor-outdoor space, designed by Rockwell Group, pairs sweeping Sonoma Hills views with Ellamar’s live-fire cooking style and an ingredient-driven menu shaped by the land, sea, and seasons of Northern California. Much of the produce comes from Graton’s nearby 40-acre farm, harvested specifically for the restaurant, alongside partnerships with local oyster farms, ranchers, and Sonoma County winemakers. Built around three pillars — fish, farm, and fire — dishes range from salt-baked whole fish finished tableside with hot oil to coal-roasted seafood, slow-smoked meats, and vegetable-driven preparations that evolve with the seasons.
Guests enter through a wine tunnel showcasing rare international allocations and Sonoma County standouts before arriving in a layered indoor-outdoor space designed for everything from celebratory dinners and sunset cocktails to weekend gatherings and late-night energy. A dedicated exterior entrance allows guests to reach the rooftop directly without entering the casino, establishing AYA as a standalone dining destination.
“From the first time I visited Sonoma County, I knew it was a place I wanted to cook,” said Chef Ellamar. “The quality of the ingredients, the connection to local farmers and fishermen, and the rhythm of the seasons make wine country a chef’s dream. With AYA, I’ve been able to bring my Filipino and Hawaiian roots into that environment and create something that feels both personal and rooted in this region.”
Playbook Sports Bar
Playbook Sports Bar is a game-day venue anchored by wall-to-wall screens and a halo display suspended above the central bar. The menu takes a chef-driven approach to tailgate classics, featuring Detroit-style pizza, birria nachos, and Buffalo wings, alongside standouts such as a pastrami bánh mì layered with pickled vegetables and Kewpie mayonnaise and Korean-inspired gochujang wings.
AA robust craft beer selection and bar program round out the experience, positioning Playbook for everything from championship matchups and fight nights to everyday games and group gatherings.
SoCo Dough Co.
SoCo Dough Co. is a dessert spot inspired by the charm of a modern diner, centered on handcrafted doughnuts made with locally sourced Sonoma County ingredients. Flavors include pistachio rose and ube honeycomb, alongside the “Millionaire Doughnut” — a $275 specialty filled with chocolate-hazelnut cream, finished with gold leaf, and served with a 1-ounce pour of Louis XIII Cognac. A rotating selection of seasonal offerings rounds out the lineup.
Beyond doughnuts, the menu extends into sweet and savory favorites including breakfast sandwiches, house-made gelato, and specialty beverages such as flavored iced lattes and signature milk drinks. The venue keeps extended late-night hours, catering to guests from breakfast through post-gaming and nightlife.
New Way to Game
The expansion also introduces a 144,000 sq. ft. smoke-free gaming environment featuring nearly 2,000 additional slot machines, including exclusive and newly released titles, alongside The River Poker Room and Lotus High Limit Slots, the resort’s premier high-limit gaming lounge. The space was integrated alongside the district’s restaurants, bars, and social venues, allowing guests to move between gaming, dining, and nightlife in one smoke-free setting.
Looking ahead, Graton’s expansion will continue later this year with additional restaurants, bars, and nightlife venues. Over the next two years, the multi-phase project will also introduce a new hotel tower with 220 guest rooms and a private VIP entrance; an adults-only pool destination with luxury cabanas, a dedicated bar, and live entertainment; and a new 3,500-seat theater designed to host performances, residencies, and major events.
