Hotels

The Best Luxury Hotels in Napa Valley and Sonoma

Napa Valley and Sonoma are full of charming hotels and resorts. Our guide shows you the best ones to check into.

By 

Kristen Shirley

 |  June 21, 2024

There is nowhere in the world quite like California wine country. Rolling hills, dramatic vistas, and countless world-class wineries, all within driving distance, make it a picturesque destination for an unforgettable getaway. North of San Francisco, Napa County is home to some of the most beautiful properties, many inspired by the South of France. Our guide to the best luxury hotels in Napa Valley and Sonoma will help you find the perfect place to stay.

The Best Luxury Hotels in Napa Valley

Auberge du Soleil  

Auberge du Soleil has one of the best locations in all of Napa Valley. The beautiful resort is located atop a hill in Rutherford, overlooking rolling vineyards with the Mayacamas Mountains in the distance. It’s truly spectacular, especially as the sun sets. The terraced grounds have 50 rooms and suites nestled amid olive and oak trees, a luxurious pool, and the famed Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil. Further, the hotel is adults-only, so it has a relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere. 

Auberge du Soleil Spa is absolutely incredible, and it’s reserved exclusively for hotel guests. It has decadent couples treatments, such as Bubbles and Bliss. This two-hour treatment combines a body scrub, massage, and soak in a private outdoor tub surrounded by plants and trees, accompanied by Laurent Perrier Champagne.

Even if you’re not staying here, the Michelin-starred French spot, the Restaurant, should be on your list. We recommend coming for brunch or timing your dinner with the sunset so you can enjoy the panoramic views. Order the three-course chef’s tasting menu for the full experience. 

Bardessono Hotel & Spa

Two miles from Napa River, this sleek hotel is located in the heart of downtown Yountville, which offers a different experience from the more remote hotels in Napa Valley. However, despite its downtown location within walking distance of incredible restaurants, Bardessono still offers a memorable resort experience. The wood, stone, and metal buildings connect through a winding pathway of circular stone terraces surrounded by pools. Wood platforms join these terraces, so you’ll feel like you’re walking through a spa every time you leave your room. 

Fittingly, it has an exceptional spa, B Spa, that offers in-room treatments incorporating local ingredients, such as Chardonnay Wine Therapy products. You can book a contemporary designed Spa Suite with a private terrace and outdoor shower, or a Maple Grove Villa, which has a private courtyard and cocktail pool. There are three one-bedroom villas, which groups traveling together can combine. Lucy, the on-property restaurant, serves fresh, globally inspired cuisine. The menu includes diverse dishes like miso soup, chipotle shrimp tacos, cornish hen saltimbocca, and red-wine braised short rib bourguignon. 

Meadowood Napa Valley

Meadowood is one of Napa Valley’s most storied hotels. For starters, this serene resort sprawls across 250 acres on lush, sprawling grounds in the middle of wine country. This private valley has virtually everything you could want in your stay, including a nine-hole golf course, five tennis courts, three swimming pools, bicycles, and plenty of places to hike. Moreover, there’s even a croquet court, should you fancy a game. Meadowood has just 36 rooms and suites, which keeps an intimate feeling wherever you are.  

The Wine Center is an oenophile’s dream and is exclusively open to resort guests, Meadowood Club members, and The Napa Valley Reserve members. This exclusive space is staffed by wine experts who can create classes and tastings geared toward your interest and level of wine knowledge. These range from private consultations with a top sommelier to guided winery tours with its experts. There are also a host of classes designed to increase your wine knowledge, such as a dive into blind tasting, an opportunity to taste wine verticals, rosé all day, and a master class on the nuances of Cabernet Sauvignon. 

The Restaurant at Meadowood is one of the country’s best restaurants. It has won every award imaginable, from earning three Michelin stars to five Forbes stars. The modern American cuisine focuses on the bounty of Napa Valley, including produce from its 3.5-acre farm. It’s currently closed, but you can enjoy the delicious food from Chef Christopher Kostow at The Charter Oak. 

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley is located in the heart of Calistoga, California — a small town on the eastern side of St. Helena, just 13 miles from downtown Napa. Set within a working vineyard, it offers the charm of a boutique resort but all of the amenities you would expect from a Four Seasons. The luxury property contains 85 rooms and suites and 20 private residences, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Vaca Range and Mayacamas Mountains. The contemporary interiors are decorated with leather bridles, antique stencils used to label wine barrels, and open copies of John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath — all nods to viticulture and ranching history. It also boasts two indoor pools, a 24-hour fitness center, and a relaxing spa.

One of the resort’s biggest highlights is its fine-dining scene. Truss is an on-site restaurant and bar that offers a small, seasonal menu inspired by local bounty — including sustainably sourced caviar. It is gorgeously decorated, featuring a floor-to-ceiling glass door wall. Beyond this wall is a large terrace with comfortable outdoor seating and a fire pit to cozy up to. If you walk through Truss, you’ll find Auro — Calistoga’s only Michelin-starred restaurant. There, you’ll enjoy the renowned Chef Rogelio Garcia’s five-course tasting menu that changes on a weekly basis.

Another huge perk of staying at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley is that you can walk directly from your room to a tasting at Elusa, the on-site winery. Led by one of the most acclaimed Napa winemakers Thomas Rivers Brown, the winery invites guests to explore its Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, and Sauvignon Blanc wines.

Solage Resort & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection

Up in Calistoga, Solage Resort & Spa is known for its incredible pools that take advantage of the area’s natural hot springs and healing waters. The 20,000-square-foot spa has five geothermal pools where you can indulge in hydrotherapy. There’s an icy-cold plunge pool, an ambient-temperature pool with water rich in magnesium, a 98-degree relaxation pool, a 102-degree saline pool, and a jetted mineral pool heated to 104 degrees. You can spend hours experiencing the different pools. Therefore, we recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before your treatment so that you can start experiencing the many tantalizing options.

The signature treatment is the Mudslide, a modern take on traditional mud baths. First, head to the Mud Bar and whip up a custom batch of rich Calistoga mud blended with your favorite essential oils. Then, you’ll paint yourself with mud and lay in a heated room to let the mud work its magic on your skin. After showering in a private outdoor shower, you’ll relax in a private geothermal soaking tub. Finally, your therapist will whisk you to a sound chair, where you’ll listen to harmonious music. The chair sends musical vibrations through your body — an utterly relaxing experience that may lull you to sleep. 

After your treatment, head to your suite or studio and relax on your private outdoor patio. The rooms have a modern style, with warm neutral colors and vaulted ceilings. After that, you may have worked up an appetite. Solbar is the property’s casual restaurant that serves up fresh local fare like whipped avocado with vegetables, Half Moon Bay sole with brown butter, and Liberty Farm duck. 

Milliken Creek Inn

Awarded two Michelin keys, Milliken Creek Inn is a fantastic spot for a private, relaxing getaway. Perched on the Napa River, it is just one mile away from Oxbow Public Market and downtown Napa. The intimate, 12-room hotel’s surroundings and interiors give it a serene atmosphere unlike any other property. The rooms are fully renovated and feature a clean, bright aesthetic with cedar and other wood finishes. Each room comes with a fireplace, stunning views, and a soaking tub complete with L’Occitane bath salts and lotions.

There is no on-site restaurant or café, but every morning, a breakfast of your choice is delivered directly to your room, courtesy of Milliken Creek Inn. The hotel also hosts a wine hour every evening in the lobby where you can sip on different styles and enjoy savory cheeses while mingling with other guests. 

Guests can enjoy massage treatments at the Spa Cabana, overlooking the river, or in the privacy of their rooms. During your stay, the hotel also offers a guest pass to Synergy Health Club, a nearby fitness center that offers studio classes.

The Best Luxury Hotels in Sonoma

Montage Healdsburg

This gorgeous hotel opened in late 2020 on 258 pristine acres of vineyards and oak tree groves. Montage Healdsburg features 130 bungalow-style rooms and suites, an 11,500-square-foot spa, three restaurants, game spaces (pickleball, anyone?), and a striking zero-edge pool with vineyard views.  

The resort takes advantage of its gorgeous surroundings and has plenty of expansive outdoor spaces. The guest rooms are spread throughout the property so that each one has beautiful views through floor-to-ceiling windows. You can choose from mountain, vineyard, or forest views, if you wish to be up in the treetops. There are lots of on-site activities at Montage Healdsburg, including an archery range, pickleball and bocce ball courts, and trails for hiking and biking. If you want to explore a scenic 15.5-mile loop, avail yourself of the e-bikes available at the hotel.  

Three delightful restaurants grace the property. Hazel Hill blends Californian and French cuisine in a beautiful setting, with a fairy-light-decorated terrace and a treehouse-inspired dining space. Despite the sophisticated menu, the vibe is relaxed and unpretentious. For cocktails and bites, head to Scout Field Bar in the lobby. There’s live music and a roaring fire pit every night. The poolside restaurant, Hudson Springs Bar and Grill, is perfect for a casual al fresco lunch. 

Hotel Les Mars

Stepping into Hotel Les Mars, a member of Relais & Châteaux, transports you from the heart of Healdsburg to historic France. Original artworks, sumptuous decor, 17th- and 18th-century antiques, and elegant fireplaces fill the 16 rooms in this boutique hotel. Rooms on the third floor have gorgeous 20-ft-high beamed ceilings, and the King rooms have luxurious four-poster canopy beds. Chalkboard’s menu changes daily and offers inventive small plates and delicious crudos. Further, Hotel Les Mars has partnerships with some of Sonoma’s best wineries, and the concierge can organize wonderful wine tastings for you. 

The Inn at SingleThread Farms

This petite inn has just five rooms, but it’s one of the most in-demand properties in Sonoma. It’s located above SingleThread Farms restaurant, one of only 14 restaurants in the US to have three Michelin stars. The rooms at the Inn at SingleThread Farms are decorated in a soothing, contemporary style, with clean lines, painted white brick walls, and neutral tones. 

Of course, the main reason many guests come here is for the exquisite cuisine. You can also order some of the restaurant’s incredible dining options delivered to your room or to the rooftop garden, such as the multi-course Donabe Hot Pot dinner. A stay at the Inn at SingleThread Farms also comes with complimentary breakfast, which is out of this world. You can choose from a menu that might include a classic Japanese breakfast or a Périgord black truffle omelet. 

Carneros Resort & Spa

Just a 20-minute drive from downtown Napa and Sonoma Square, Carneros Resort & Spa is a luxurious property that offers easy access to a host of stunning vineyards. It has 86 cottage-style suites as well as six multi-bedroom residences and eight multi-bedroom suites. The cottages are designed with an eye to Napa’s countryside aesthetic including wood accents, crisp whites, and touches of muted colors. Each cottage comes with a private front porch and a backyard garden with a sundeck, allowing guests to lounge freely in nature. 

Farm is the resort’s on-site fine dining option that offers an Italian countryside menu. It has a cozy atmosphere that’s complete with outdoor patios and fire pits. For more casual fare, the Boon Fly Café is a charming restaurant that resembles a roadhouse and is famous for its signature Boon Fly donuts.

After a long day of exploring the area, enjoy a relaxing treatment at the Spa at Carneros. It’s lauded for its facials, which incorporate ingredients grown on the resort’s property and change by the season. It also offers cold plunges and massages that you can enjoy either indoors or outdoors. The barn-inspired facility overlooks the resort’s adults-only infinity pool and fitness center, decked out with Peloton bikes and two pickleball courts.

MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa

If you’re looking for a historically authentic experience in Sonoma, MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa is the place for you. The property is a heavily renovated, former-working ranch that is 150 years old and spans 20 buildings with 64 luxurious rooms. It offers 11 types of rooms, including the Artist’s Cottage, which has a fireplace, a private patio with a dining table, and an indoor-outdoor hybrid shower. All the rooms have a rustic design and custom furniture that incorporate a warm color palette of taupe and sage green.

The resort has three on-site dining options. Grab a coffee and a bite at The Porch, which serves fresh pastries and breakfast sandwiches every morning. Layla is MacArther Place’s Mediterranean-inspired restaurant where the halibut shakshuka is a must. The Bar at MacArthur offers imaginative cocktails, craft beers, and light bites — all in a gorgeous lounge with dark wood finishes. 

The Spa at MacArthur offers a variety of skin and massage treatments that promote wellness and healing using ingredients derived from the very garden it rests in. It features an indoor lounge, men’s and women’s steam rooms, and an outdoor whirlpool — all of which are open overnight.

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