Fodor's Expert Review h2hotel

Eco-friendly touches abound at this hotel, from the plant-covered "green roof" to wooden decks made from salvaged lumber. A block from Healdsburg Plaza, the h2 is within walking distance of many restaurants, shops, and tasting rooms, and many wineries are but a short drive away. Spoonbar, the ground-floor restaurant and bar, draws food- and cocktail-savvy travelers.

YOU SHOULD KNOW The h2 hotel's two sister properties include the Hotel Healdsburg, a block away across from the plaza, and the Harmon Guest House, set to open in 2018 two doors north of h2. A private walkway will connect the two properties.

room

Earthy items like striped tiger bamboo floors, wool felt area rugs, and side tables made from blocks of elm warm up the sleek rooms, where white walls and bedding inspire serenity. Rooms come in three categories (from smallest to largest): eco-king, eco-studio, and eco-suites. Each room has a patio or small balcony, and the many thoughtful amenities include the ample storage for your luggage and the guest computers on every floor.

The rooms' king beds can be converted to two twins.

bathroom

Eco-king rooms have walk-in showers; the studios and suites have deep, deep soaking tubs. The look is spare but settling. The same natural bath products used at the Hotel Healdsburg and its spa—Meyer lemon and sage shampoo and bath gel and lavender, jasmine, and blood-orange conditioner—are provided here, too.

lobby

A short pedestrian walkway leads east from Healdsburg Avenue to the h2's lobby. Along the way, guests pass a row of powder-blue bicycles (3-hour use is complimentary) and the water-feature sculpture incorporating thousands of spoons that gives Spoonbar restaurant its name. Although just a few dozen steps, the journey emphasizes the transition from streetscape to hip urban retreat. Once inside, the concrete and glass lobby, the large and colorful Roche-Bobois sectionals, a glass-art display, and pool views reinforce the notion.

pool

A few steps behind the lobby, the fenced-in pool area, whose adjacent lawn edges Foss Creek, gets sun for most of the afternoon. Faux-wicker patio furniture for lounging takes up much of the concrete portion surrounding the pool. Towels are provided and drinking water is available in the lobby. There's no hot tub.

spa

The h2 hotel has no spa, but guests often head a block north to the Spa Hotel Healdsburg, where the Healdsburg Signature Massage involves a Swedish-style approach and incorporates aromatic oils. Deep-tissue and hot-stone massages are also offered. Therapists use biodynamic botanicals for the signature facial, which concludes with a cool stone facial massage. Facials and nail treatments are available for women and men.

gym

There's no on-site gym, but guests are invited to walk 3 minutes to the hardwood-floored fitness center at the Healdsburg Hotel. Use is complimentary. Precor equipment includes two treadmills, two ellipticals, a spinning machine and a recumbent bicycle, and there are free weights and a multi-station workout unit. Bottled water and towels are provided.

dining

The hotel's complimentary breakfast, served in the lobby, includes an egg dish or two, baked goods made in-house, fresh fruit, juices, and tea, along with java from local purveyor Flying Goat Coffee. The chefs at the dinner-only Spoonbar prepare a menu of contemporary California cuisine with Italian influences. House-made pasta dishes like spaghetti with Dungeness crab and roasted sunchoke ravioli with grilled scallions and crispy prosciutto are the specialty.

drinking

Spoonbar's talented bartenders whip up zippy cocktails, many using locally produced spirits and incorporating seasonal organic herbs and produce. "Experimental" cocktails include the Smoked Old Fashion, made with bacon fat, Old Forester bourbon, and maple syrup. The wine list favors Sonoma County but also includes international selections. Cantina doors make Spoonbar especially appealing in summer, when a warm breeze wafts into the stylish space.