12 Best Small Hotels and Inns in Napa and Sonoma
Travelers who value personality in style, setting, and hospitality often stay at the Wine Country's boutique hotels and smaller inns, many of them owner operated. These dozen properties, all with a dozen rooms or fewer, provide an intimate experience that earns them high praise from guests and consistent repeat business.
Ledson Hotel
Why it made the list
Upscale luxury carries the day at this boutique hotel on Sonoma Plaza's eastern flank. Steve Ledson, the owner of Ledson Winery in Kenwood, named each of the six rooms after one of his ancestors, some of whom were involved in Sonoma County's 19th-century wine trade.
Brannan Cottage Inn
Why it made the list
One of the original remaining cottages from namesake Sam Brannan's 1860s spa resort is the centerpiece of this six-room inn a few blocks north of downtown Calistoga's short main drag. You could spend well more to stay at a nearby resort and not feel as coddled as you will here.
Meadowlark Country House
Why it made the list
Gentility prevails at this 10-room 22-acre haven 1½ miles from downtown Calistoga. The organic garden, wooded setting, and horses on the property strike all the right pastoral notes. With their Asian-tinged room decor, clothing-optional pool policy, and full gourmet breakfasts, European hosts Richard and Kurt keep the sophistication quotient high, too.
Wydown Hotel
Why it made the list
For his 12-room boutique property on St. Helena's Main Street, owner-hotelier Mark Hoffmeister and his design team blended vintage and contemporary elements with urban and country ones. The hotel occupies an older building, but it's been retrofitted to suit 21st-century tastes.
Black Rock Inn
Why it made the list
This Queen Anne–style inn's regulars breathed a sigh of relief in late 2017 when owner Jeff Orlik's deal to sell his St. Helena property fell through. So did Jeff, who realized how much he enjoys helping his guests experience the Napa Valley to the fullest, starting with the elaborate breakfasts that fuel them up for a day's touring.
The Inn on First
Why it made the list
There's a lot to like about this 10-room inn walkably west of downtown Napa. Owners Jamie Cherry and Jim Gunther pretty much think of everything required for a pleasurable stay, from the welcome half bottle of Mumm's sparkling wine to Jim's superb breakfasts, served at a long cherrywood table or outside if the weather's good.
Cottage Inn & Spa
Why it made the list
Soothing colors and graceful design contribute to the relaxing atmosphere at the nine-room Cottage Inn, a block and a half north of Sonoma Mission and Sonoma Plaza. The furnishings are plush, the hospitality new-age gracious.
Beltane Ranch
Why it made the list
The same family has owned this 105-acre working ranch for six generations. The six accommodations—five rooms in the main 1892 house plus a nearby cottage with its own garden—exude old-fashioned charm. A stay Beltane, 2½ miles north of downtown Glen Ellen, provides a rare glimpse into the original Wine Country lifestyle.
River Belle Inn
Why it made the list
Owners Mitzi and Tom Bangs thought long and hard about the type of experience they wanted to provide at their 12-room Healdsburg inn, which debuted in 2017 after they renovated and expanded the 1875 home Isabel Simi of Simi Winery occupied for 75 years. Their attention to detail, riverbank location, and extensive full breakfasts earned them instant recognition as one of Sonoma County's top lodgings.
Embrace Calistoga
Why it made the list
You're in for a marvelous time if you stay at the five-room downtown Calistoga inn of Brent Riedberger and Chris Johansen, aka "The Boys." Unfussy luxury is a hallmark of their hospitality, whose peaks include Brent's four-course breakfasts and the inn's jolly early-evening wine-and-cheese events.
SingleThread Farms Inn
Why it made the list
The Japanese concept of omotenashi, often translated as "selfless hospitality," informs all the interactions between the staff and guests of Katina and Kyle Connaughton, who operate a five-room inn above their much-lauded ground-floor restaurant. Decor wise, the overall effect is minimalistic. The service is anything but.
Poetry Inn
Why it made the list
The polished service begins even before guests arrive at this five-room Yountville inn, with staffers reaching out ahead of time to assist with winery, restaurant, and other plans. Once ensconced in one of the comfortably chic rooms, none of which share a wall, guests enjoy expansive Napa Valley views, full gourmet breakfasts, and fluid hospitality.
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