93 Best Hotels in Napa and Sonoma, California

An upscale-casual ultracontemporary adults-only resort formerly known as Las Alcobas Napa Valley but now in the Hyatt Alila brand's fold, this hillside gem sits adjacent to Beringer Vineyards six blocks north of Main Street shopping and dining. The full-service resort has rooms fashioned in soft browns and crisp whites that contrast pleasingly with the lighter greens of surrounding vineyards—visible from many of the accommodations through floor-to-ceiling windows—and the darker hillside forest hues farther east and west. Pillow-top beds, plush furnishings and linens, state-of-the-art electronics, and spacious bathrooms stocked with superior products contribute to the aura of intentional yet offhand elegance.

Part of the Hyatt family, this boutique hotel with an urban-hip vibe has spacious guest rooms with white-marble bathrooms stocked with high-quality products. Rooms come in several categories, from standard kings to loftlike rooms, some of which have a private balcony and face an interior terrace. Dual-sided glass-enclosed fireplaces facing both the sitting and sleeping areas are a nice touch in junior-suite rooms. The lobby is a cross between living room and lounge. There's no front desk. Instead, hosts appear with iPads for speedy check-in, immediately offering a beverage to make guests feel in good care.

Ideal for travelers seeking design pizzazz, a see-and-be-seen atmosphere, and first-class amenities, this five-story downtown Napa property fuses New York City chic and Las Vegas glamour. Ultracontemporary rooms with Nespresso coffeemakers, wine refrigerators, and appropriate (and appropriately located) electronics docking stations come in several categories, from 285-square-foot Classic Kings to 780-square-foot Archer's Den suites with balconies and fireplaces. All rooms have beds with Euro Top mattresses (no pillow tops here) draped in 100%-cotton linens and topped with down duvets and down pillows. There are also work desks, safes, and 65-inch flat-screen TVs with premium channels. Small refrigerators are stocked with refreshments; there's a fee for them, but it's reasonable. The look overall is clean and sophisticated, with local art adorning the rooms and the hallways. Tip: Some of the best views are from upper-floor rooms facing south and west, though the southern ones pick up a little street noise on the balconies.

The '60s are back splashier than ever at this tastefully and whimsically restored motel diagonally next to a park and across from the Luther Burbank Home & Gardens. The owners of the popular Spinster Sisters restaurant around the corner, who've been collecting mid-century modern furniture for years, have put their collection to swell use furnishing the Astro, a design lover's delight where something different catches the eye every few seconds. Each room is individually decorated, some with Sputnik chandeliers and vintage Eames chairs and accessories like pottery, old cameras, and wooden ice buckets. Built-in benches in some rooms are useful for storing luggage, and all rooms have flat-screen TVs and refrigerators but no microwaves or (except for two suites) coffeemakers. The two-building motel sits on the edge of the SOFA Santa Rosa Arts District, across Santa Rosa Avenue from two tattoo and piercing parlors that add further local color. Shinola bikes are available for rent.

Taking a cue from the olive-tree-studded landscape, this hotel with a renowned restaurant and spa cultivates a luxurious look that blends French and California style. It backs up that look—custom wood furnishings, original art, and soft yellow hues—with lavish amenities that include private terraces, jetted soaking tubs, and extra-large showers. Superlative service and valley views that stun at nearly every turn add to the romance of this hillside hideaway whose French name translates to "inn of the sun."

Groups or those who simply prefer lodgings that feel more like home should consider these two-bedroom suites just off Sonoma Plaza. All have fully stocked kitchens (cookware, dishes, utensils)—although with several of Sonoma's best restaurants nearby, you may not do much cooking. Each suite comes with air-conditioning, a gas fireplace, a patio or balcony, Wi-Fi access, and washer/dryer, and all the bedrooms have California-king beds.

Guests at this spot along the Russian River camp (well, sort of) in luxury under the redwoods in cute-as-a-button Airstream trailers decked out with top-notch oh-so-contemporary beds, linens, and bath products, with smaller "Happier Camper" and tent options (not year-round) only for two. The cleverly modified Airstreams have all the mod cons and remarkably roomy bathrooms with walk-in showers. Ten luxury tents, a relative bargain, are set up during the summer. They don't have showers, but guests use the facilities in the mid-century modern–inspired clubhouse.

Tranquility and luxury with a low carbon footprint are among the goals of this ultragreen wood, steel, and glass resortlike property in downtown Yountville, but there's nothing spartan about the accommodations, arranged around four landscaped courtyards. Spacious rooms with private patios or balconies have high-thread-count organic bedding, gas fireplaces, and huge bathrooms with walnut floors. About half the rooms have combination showers/steam rooms, outdoor showers, or both. All the accommodations come equipped with the high-tech touches you'd expect of a contemporary upscale hotel—virtual-surround speaker systems, flat-screen TVs, and cordless phones—plus front doors you can open using your smartphone and motion sensors that detect when you're gone and adjust the blinds for energy efficiency. At the hotel's restaurant, Lucy, the chef uses mostly local ingredients, some grown in the hotel's garden, to craft the menu.

On a slope of the Mayacamas range with gorgeous Sonoma Valley views, this working ranch, vineyard, and winery contains charmingly old-fashioned rooms. Quietly romantic, Beltane feels totally off the grid despite its location 2½ miles north of downtown Glen Ellen. From the decor and setting to the relaxed hospitality, nothing at the 105-acre ranch seems calculated or overly manicured. A stay at this casual spot owned by the same family for six generations provides a rare chance to experience the Wine Country lifestyle that predates the era of luxury inns and haute cuisine.

Budget travelers get what they pay for—and a little bit more—at this motel a few blocks from Calistoga's downtown. Guest rooms, decorated in earth tones and pastels, are reasonably spacious and come with pillow-top beds, coffeemakers, microwaves, and refrigerators. There's free Wi-Fi access, and some rooms have fireplaces and balconies. As for the public spaces, the lobby's decor hints at boutique-hotel glamour, and the pool area has a hot tub and a steam room.

Arts and Crafts style infuses the 1902 Blackbird Inn, from the lobby's fieldstone fireplace and lamps casting a warm glow over the impressive wooden staircase to the guest rooms' period-accurate, locally crafted oak beds and matching night tables. Six of the inn's eight rooms have gas fireplaces, four have private patios (a fifth has a balcony), and three have private entrances. The bathrooms have marble-tile floors and marble countertops. Some bathrooms have large tubs with showers, with a few of the tubs equipped with whirlpool jets. One room has only a shower. All but two of the Blackbird's rooms are less than 300 square feet, with the largest room topping out at 309 square feet. Ask for one of the larger rooms if size is an issue, or request Room 12 at the adjacent Finch Guest House; at 361 square feet it takes up the Victorian-style home's entire second floor. The two buildings are within walking distance of Napa's restaurant-rich downtown area.

Redwoods, Douglas firs, and palms supply shade and seclusion at this lushly landscaped resort ¾ mile north of downtown Guerneville. The pool area and on-site spa put the emphasis on relaxation, but Main Street's bustle and dining options—including boon eat+drink, under the same management—are easily accessible. The hotel provides complimentary orange bikes you can ride into town, out to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, or to nearby wineries and river beaches. Most guest rooms surround the pool, but a few quieter ones lie toward the property's rear. Beyond them, and more peaceful still, are a vintage camper and, available in summer only, three tasteful tent rooms sitting atop wooden platforms.

Stained oak floors, wainscoting, and retro bathroom fixtures recall Victorian times at this small inn whose centerpiece is an 1860s cottage from Calistoga's original spa era. Contemporary comfort is the ultimate goal, though: the beds have plush mattresses and high-thread-count sheets, and rooms are equipped with large flat-screen TVs, electronics charging stations, and illy coffee machines. Eco-friendly touches abound, most visibly in the LED lighting throughout the property. A tall palm, even taller twin cypresses, and an elm tree thought to be 300 years old shade the inn.

The sturdy metal gate of this vacation-rental complex near Sonoma Plaza opens into a leafy courtyard fronting three buildings containing smartly furnished studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom accommodations with kitchens or kitchenettes. The two-bedroom suites occupy the two-story 1907 stone structure that anchors the property. Renovated in 2022, they're good choices for families or couples traveling together, but the studios and one-bedroom options are also commodious and comfortable.

These spacious (584–889-square-foot) contemporary bungalows provide guests with an upscale, up-to-date home away from home, with fireplaces, outdoor patios and dining areas, wireless and streaming-service connectivity, fully equipped kitchens, and washers and dryers. With all the accommodations sleeping up to four, the bungalows work well for families or couples traveling together.

About half the lodge's rooms, decorated in mid-century modern style, date to its 1947 origins as a roadside motel, with the newer remaining ones (the most recent scheduled for completion by late summer 2023) edging this quasi resort into budget-boutique territory. With the MoonAcre Spa and Fleetwood Calistoga restaurant, multiple geothermal pools (one adults-only), the hotel provides decent value with its lower-end accommodations and a touch of class at the upper end. Amenities include comfortable beds, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen HDTVs.

Bright and spotless with a staff trained to please, this four-story Choice Hotels property provides value with a splash of boutique style in its public areas. A double-sided fireplace catches the eye in the lobby, whose bar has views of the large outdoor patio. Morning light streams into the nearby breakfast room, where (for a fee) guests dine on dishes that might include egg-white omelets, eggs several other styles, a croissant sandwich, and avocado toast. (There's no lunch, but you can order dinner from the bar.) The nondescript hallways give this corporate hotel's game away, but design touches like bathroom barn doors, leather headboards with decorative straps, and nightstands with faux-marble tops lend the guest rooms, done in shades of beige and brown, a modicum of flair. At the southern end of Napa's auto row on a busy four-lane road, the Cambria lacks Wine Country glamour but delivers a more than satisfactory experience.

A winning combination of glamour, service, and pastoral seclusion makes this resort with freestanding board-and-batten cottages the perfect getaway for active lovebirds or families and groups seeking to unwind. The several bars and restaurants on property and the Town Square's lawn games area and Pavilion open-air lounge provide numerous opportunities for socializing, but when it's time to power down, the cottages and suites deliver the utmost in privacy. Natural light floods the cottages, whose French doors lead to private gardens, some with fire pits and outdoor soaking tubs. Fireplaces, ethereal beds topped with plush linens, and spacious bathrooms with heated slate floors and large indoor-outdoor showers may make it difficult to summon the will to head to the hilltop infinity swimming pool and hot tub, where the vineyard views never fail to astound. The cottages are spacious, but even larger are the one- or two-bedroom suites, some of which have fully stocked kitchens (Viking appliances) and washers and dryers. The Hilltop dining room is open to guests only, but Farm and the Boon Fly Café, both public restaurants, are popular with visitors throughout the Wine Country.

A long driveway lined with freestanding, elm-shaded cottages with rocking chairs on their porches looks like Main Street USA, but inside each skylighted building you'll find all the perks necessary for a romantic weekend getaway. Each cottage has its own variation on the comfy-rustic look, with overstuffed chairs in front of the fireplaces and wicker furniture on the front porches the constant. Bright whites, high-quality bedding and linens, and colorful throws and pillows add a touch of style. In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, safes, coffee machines, and picnic backpacks for winery lunches. Spas and restaurants are within walking distance.

Delivering romance, relaxation, and Zenlike tranquillity is the raison d'être of this courtyard complex 1½ blocks north of Sonoma Plaza. Near restaurants, shops, and tasting rooms but quiet and seemingly off the beaten path, the Cottage Inn pleases sensitive travelers with serene style and graceful touches. Mexican-tile floors, leather furniture, and, in some rooms, brown wooden doors recall Sonoma’s 19th-century origins, but with the white walls and mostly pastel shades a mildly New Age sensibility prevails. Room types range from a spacious suite with a full kitchen to a small but not cramped courtyard room that's a bargain in high season.

Although most of the accommodations here date from the 1920s—when they rented for $5 a month (imagine that)—contemporary design touches and amenities, plush new furnishings, up-to-date bathrooms, and attentive service ensure a cozy, 21st-century experience. Back in the day, Hollywood legends Clark Gable and Carole Lombard reportedly canoodled in one of the cottages, which form an oval around a courtyard shaded by oaks and other tall trees. The hum of traffic along nearby Highway 29 periodically breaks the spell outdoors, and occasionally indoors, but the aesthetic and service more than compensate. Perks include private porches and patios, kitchens stocked with utensils, and a basket of pastries from Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery set on the doorstep each morning. If you're looking for a secluded, unpretentious getaway with a dash of country glamour, you'll love this place.

Redwoods on a steep slope tower above this tidy roadside complex of single and duplex cottages separated by a grassy lawn. Two-bedroom cottages suitable for families and groups have full kitchens. All the cottages, modestly furnished but with appealing contemporary accents, have refrigerators and microwaves. Many guests return yearly for the woodsy setting and warm service; book ahead as far as possible in summer. Complimentary fruit and coffee are available all day in the lobby.

A historic, woodsy 15-acre property that reopened in 2022 as a deluxe, reconnect-with-nature variation on mid-century roadside resorts, Dawn Ranch provides accommodations ranging from one-room, cedar-shingled cabins and larger "chalets" with sitting areas to a cottage and a bungalow. High-quality beds, linens, and bath products signal the upscale intent, but the minimal decor and lack of TVs or phones place the emphasis on unplugging and unwinding. The resort helps guests achieve this goal by making bicycles, binoculars, sketchbooks, journals, picnic blankets, and yoga and meditation equipment available at the front desk. Most units have small decks out front, and the grounds contain meadows, a fruit orchard, a culinary garden, and a path through redwoods, oaks, and sycamores leading down to a small Russian River beach. Resort activities include s'mores parties, yoga and meditation sessions, and live music on some nights at the bandshell below the on-site Agriculture Public House restaurant (American cuisine, full bar).

In 2022, new owners completed the transformation of this Calistoga mainstay into a playfully retro mid-century-style resort with all the mod cons. Most notable are the slightly kitschy spa, relaxing heated mineral pools, and health-oriented House of Better restaurant. Natural wood and soft browns and whites predominate in the guest rooms, whose bright-orange and aqua-blue accents supply vintage verve. Accommodations range from smallish standard rooms to suites, a bungalow, a cottage, and a Victorian residence. On-site hot springs warm the resort's mud baths, part of a regimen that can also include a steam bath, a mineral-water soak, and a massage.

A classic 1950s-style neon sign marks the driveway to this roadside motel that during the off-season offers solid value to budget-minded travelers. Being in the Wine Country you'll pay a premium for the convenient location along Highway 29 a mile south of downtown St. Helena, but the rooms are tidy, and the landscaped grounds and picnic tables elevate the property over similar accommodations. Family-friendly pluses include rollaway beds and cribs for a modest charge. To avoid highway noise, ask for a room farthest from the road.

Guest rooms in this remodeled 1843 building skew contemporary with their Restoration Hardware furnishings, but the Mexican-tile floors hint at Sonoma's mission-era past. Each room has a small balcony or patio either street-side or facing a courtyard where guests lounge around the pool or sip cocktails. Although many patrons consider the Sonoma Plaza location above a bustling restaurant and bar a boon, earplugs are advised for all but the heaviest sleepers.

A giant pepper tree and a few palms tower over the garden courtyard of this updated 1959 motel whose landscaping, festive pool area, and thoughtful service make a stay here worth considering. Rooms, which come in three classes—Adobe, Sonoma, and California—are furnished with refrigerators, coffee/tea makers, safes, and flat-screen TVs. Adobe rooms, the least expensive, aren't quite as spiffy, but they face the interior garden courtyard, making them among the quietest. Sonoma rooms include down comforters, recliners, and patios or balconies. Some Sonoma and California rooms have a fireplace; some California rooms have a patio.

Extravagant hospitality defines the Napa Valley's luxury properties, but Embrace Calistoga takes the prize in the "small lodging" category. Every night there's a wine-and-cheese event on the expansive wraparound porch of this 1873 Victorian. (Heaters and blankets keep patrons toasty on cold days.) Guest rooms are immaculately maintained, each furnished with a tastefully casual mix of new and antique furnishings. Come morning, the brunch-style breakfasts are marvelous affairs. The attentive service includes matching guests with the right wine-tasting options.

A serviceable if unremarkable option when other inns and hotels are full, the three-story Fairfield, a bit south of Sebastopol's core, is a competently run chain hotel. True to the brand, the room decor is straightforward but colorful, and stone and wood features add style to the public areas.

The draw at this mission-style resort is the extensive spa with its array of massages and treatments, some designed for couples. The focus on fitness and rejuvenation extends to an adjacent 7,100-yard golf course winding through trees and vineyards, a changing schedule of fitness classes, and guided hiking excursions on Fridays and weekends. Fairmont and Deluxe guest rooms aren't large (some of the former are as small as 260 square feet) but are supremely comfortable; some have patios or balconies. Vineyard (500 square feet) and Mission (550 square feet) suites feel roomier and have fireplaces and Jacuzzi tubs. Vineyard Suites have fireplaces and separate sitting areas; most have a patio or balcony. The chefs at the resort's Santé restaurant prepare modern American cuisine.