Driving down the winding lanes of Napa, you might feel like you’re lost in the most rustic parts of France—perhaps even a sunnier Loire Valley or a not-so-steep Rhône.
Perhaps it has something to do with the Medieval-style chateaus found around these parts (seriously, Castello di Amorosa is built to resemble a 14-century Tuscan castle), or the rows and rows of grapes that stretch as far as the eye can see. These vines produce some of the world’s best Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and more, which increasingly include a notable contingent of low-intervention wines. With over 500 wineries in the region, attempting to sip through Napa Valley’s increasingly diverse tasting rooms can be a herculean (but infinitely enjoyable) task.
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This is all to say, Napa is not a destination one can explore in a single day. To get the full experience, spend at least one night here—if not more. Good news: You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to hotels.
The area boasts a wide range of options, from trendy, centrally-located city spots and luxe pastoral ranches to glamorous spa retreats and locally-owned bed and breakfasts. Given the plethora of excellent hotels in Napa Valley—and the potential for choice paralysis—we decided to go quiz local industry pros for their top picks.
Here are nine expert-approved Napa Valley hotels, motels, guest ranches and more to book on your next wine country getaway.
The Best Napa Valley Hotels
Stanly Ranch
Napa, California
For those looking to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life, Stanly Ranch has you covered. Spanning 712 acres across southern Napa in the Los Carneros AVA, which is known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the bucolic escape is the most expansive of the Auberge properties sprinkled across the valley.
“Stanly Ranch is elegant and luxurious, but has a very down-to-earth ranch feel,” says Remi Cohen, CEO at Domaine Carneros Winery. As you bike or stroll across the grounds of this working ranch, don’t be surprised to see steers grazing, goats playing and dogs herding “wooly weeders,” a roving band of sheep employed by several California wineries for eco-friendly grounds maintenance.
Even the basic guest rooms have private terraces complete with fire pits, while the sumptuous suites and villas are spacious enough for large parties and extended stays. A calming aesthetic across all accommodations marries warm neutrals with oak, black metal and leather—in other words, peak quiet luxury.
On-property activities abound. Cohen suggests starting the day with a felt hat workshop, followed by a leisurely walk under the fragrant eucalyptus trees. Join a “hawk walk” with the resident bird trainer, who flies falcons and hawks to protect the grapes from starlings and sparrows. Follow everything up with a trip to the salt room and adults-only hot tub at Halehouse Spa, then a meal at on-site restaurant Bear, which offers a thoughtful selection of California wines.
There are added perks for parents, too, including a kids’ club and family pool, complementary kids’ meals throughout most of the summer and golf carts for when you’re too tired to hoof it across the property.
Alila Napa Valley
St. Helena, California
Framed by the picture-perfect Beringer Vineyards, the adults-only Alila Napa Valley is the ideal getaway for those seeking sanctuary-like digs in a romantic wine country setting. The property, which is centered around a Victorian farmhouse built in 1907, is just a few minutes from downtown St. Helena, but feels a world away. Quinn Martin, hospitality and events manager at Markham Vineyards, says the ambiance is enchanting.
“You can bathe in the saltwater pool or have a delicious meal,” Martin says. Be on the lookout for the property’s newest restaurant concept, set to open in May of 2024. “But the real draw for me is the tranquility and romance of the grounds.”
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Fragrant sage and lavender are planted throughout the property, and the well-appointed rooms are replete with muted linens and serene marble fixtures. Notably, floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors invite the outdoors in, while the spa-inspired bathrooms are equipped with rain showers and soaking tubs.
At the hotel’s dedicated spa, relaxation rooms and steam rooms are available to guests at no extra charge. The wellness calendar proffers an adventurous, forward-thinking array of experiences, including custom scent making, hiking, new moon yoga, forest bathing, after-dark astrology readings, vineyard-view painting and personalized sound healing.
Calistoga Motor Lodge and Spa
Calistoga, California
If retro vibes with an updated twist appeal, pull into the Calistoga Motor Lodge and Spa. The modern take on the classic 1950s motor inn is set in a charming small town with a reputation for being the most relaxed section of Napa. South African winemaker Bertus van Zyl, who is known for crafting skin-contact and natural wines at rebellious Calistoga upstart Tank Garage Winery, loves the contrast of new and old design by New York’s AvroKo.
Choose between more affordable camper-style rooms that mimic the interior of an Airstream trailer and the slightly pricier deluxe kings and queen rooms in the main building. Once there, shoot some bocce on the outdoor court, join an outdoor yoga class, feast on wood-fired pizza at Italian and Mediterranean-inspired restaurant Fleetwood or cool off in the pool. If you’re all wined out, van Zyl recommends heading to the spa, where you can ease into a soaking tub or submerge yourself in a mud treatment. And, if you need to break a sweat, nearby Oat Hill Mine Trail provides a vigorous workout and panoramic views of the valley.
These factors attract an interesting cohort of guests who are “a cool mix of younger and older people, with a pretty diverse demographic that skews younger than most Napa wineries,” van Zyl says. “It’s a really fun atmosphere.”
Solage Calistoga
Calistoga, California
A couple nights’ stay at the tony Solage Calistoga might set you back some cash, but Jacob Brown, beverage director at Lazy Bear in San Francisco’s Mission District, can’t think of a better Napa accommodation.
“Growing up in Minnesota, I had a vision of what California was like, and Solage is the platonic ideal of what a great California hotel should be,” he says.
Privacy is a key highlight of the luxury experience at Solage, where you can choose between little studios with patios and sprawling one- or two-bedroom cottages with outdoor showers, fire pits and soaking tubs or jetted hot tubs. Brown likes to settle in by one of the five pools (take your pick: an ambient temperature, magnesium-rich pool; a 98-degree relaxation pool; a cold plunge pool; a jetted-saline pool; or a jetted-mineral pool heated to around 103 degrees) with a citrusy Paloma cocktail and relax while taking in the dramatic mountain backdrop. When you’re hungry, head over to Solbar, where Food and Beverage Director Sean Murphy has curated a well-sourced wine list from Europe and Northern California. Bottles pair expertly with a comforting, yet refined menu of dishes like sake-marinated black cod and Wagyu zabuton steak with chimichurri.
“The service across the property always amazes me,” Brown adds. “There’s not a moment where you’re wanting for anything.”
Bann Napa Hotel
Napa, California
Don’t expect the standard California resort experience at Bann Napa Hotel. Located north of the city in the Oak Knoll District, this Thai-themed bed and breakfast is owned by Chef Lalita Souksamlane, owner of OSHA Thai in San Francisco. The property, an ode to Siam monarch King Rama V, who reigned from 1868 to 1910, features Thai-influenced design that mimics royal palace decor. Think flashes of gold, embroidered pillows, carved wood headboards and intricately patterned wallpaper.
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This place is owned by a chef, so naturally, the food delivers. The nine-course chef’s table experience—complete with Thai royal table settings, of course—can be paired with wines sourced mostly from Napa and Sonoma. The breakfast is among the most unique in the valley, with dishes like Thai eggs, water shrimp congee, chicken pho, waffles and puffy pancakes, plus fresh-baked croissants and local fruit.
“Their hospitality is unmatched and feels like a warm hug from Napa,” says Teri Marshall, director of marketing at Yosemite’s Rush Creek Lodge, Evergreen Lodge and Firefall Ranch.
Napa Valley Lodge
Yountville, California
“The Napa Valley Lodge is the perfect combination of all the things you want in a Napa hotel,” says Paul Wagner, instructor in the Department of Viticulture and Winery Technology at Napa Valley College. Indeed, the boutique spot is an open secret amongst locals for its great location and impeccable service. Despite its walkable proximity to Yountville’s superior dining scene—destination spots like The French Laundry, Bouchon Bistro and Bottega Napa Valley are all a five-to-ten-minute jaunt away—the lodge still manages to feel remarkably rustic.
The design is more traditional than at many newer Napa properties, but it’s that combined with excellent hospitality that draws repeat visitors. Guests are offered a treat-filled goodie bag, plus cookies and a glass of rosé at check-in. The complimentary breakfast is hearty and plentiful, with options from eggs and sausage to smoked salmon and make-your-own waffles. After a day of walking and tasting, recover at the spa with a rose petal body butter hydration treatment and a revitalizing foot scrub with reflexology, or just kick back by the tranquil pool with a good book.
There’s plenty to do in the neighborhood, too. Spend your day walking down Old Yountville Road to the George C. Yount Pioneer Cemetery and Ancient Indian Burial Grounds, and then on to George Yount’s mill followed by a stroll along the Napa River. “If you were feeling a tiny bit adventuresome, you could walk to Domaine Chandon, half a mile away,” Wagner recommends.
Archer Hotel Downtown Napa
Napa, California
“Warm on-site vibes make Archer hard to beat,” says Farae Strickland, Director of Membership at Brown Estate, who promises there’s no getting bored at this cosmopolitan boutique hotel. She regularly sends guests to the centrally located spot on downtown Napa’s First Street Corridor, where the nightlife crackles with electricity.
“Location, location, location,” Strickland says. “To step outside is to have all of Downtown Napa’s offerings—restaurants, wine tastings, shopping and nightlife—a delightful walk away.” It’s a good time to visit, too: Downtown Napa is in the midst of a renaissance, with more than 55 tasting rooms nestled inside a petite 1.5 square miles. The hotel’s Whiskey Bar and rooftop Sky & Vine, the latter of which boasts a reverse happy hour from 8 p.m. till closing, are prime attractions.
Room decor can be described as industrial chic, decked out in tones of cream, gray and gold. Many have fireplaces and private balconies. Be sure to book a meal at Charlie Palmer Steak—we suggest splitting a medium-rare tomahawk with a companion—and enjoy the Sky & Vine menu while dipping your toes in the roof’s six-inch water deck. There’s plenty of on-site rest and relaxation on offer as well: Before you begin your wine tasting for the day, hit a virtual Peloton class at the fitness center or sink into a CBD oil massage and aromatherapy facial at the rooftop spa.
Rancho Caymus Inn
Rutherford, California
Rutherford is an easy halfway point between Calistoga and Napa, positioning you well to explore the entire valley. The area “is truly the historic center of Napa, whether you are talking about the 1860s or the 1960s, but it’s also an important historic area for California wine country as a whole,” says Jesse Fox, winemaker at Sequoia Grove Winery.
It’s also home to the 26-room Rancho Caymus Inn, which channels vintage 19th-century California despite its 1980s founding by Morton Salt heiress Mary Tilden Morton. The building is a Spanish-style hacienda featuring barnwood beams, solid-oak doors, textured walls, black walnut countertops and marble accents. Soaring wrought-iron chandeliers and stained-glass windows by artist Gaye Frisk lend to the grandeur.
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The reasonably-priced rooms wrap around a plunge pool and an intimate patio with a roaring stone fireplace. The cozy atmosphere extends to the accommodations, which boast Indigenous Ecuadorian textiles and luxe leather sofas and armchairs set near small gas fireplaces. Breakfast is complimentary, and if you’re planning on staying longer than a few nights, consider a split-level suite or the Casita, a private two-story cottage set apart from the main inn.
“This inn is just perfect, not too big and not too small,” Fox says.
Harvest Inn Napa
St. Helena, California
Cloaked in a thicket of redwoods, this quaint spot in historic St. Helena manages to be both private and centrally located. The half-timbered cottage may seem modest in comparison to other Napa hotels, but the atmosphere is akin to a private retreat.
“This isn’t the Montage—it feels like old wine country,” says Patrick Davis, founder of SIP Napa. “It’s more low-key and geared toward serious wine connoisseurs, with a lot of late-20s and early-30s folks from San Francisco. They want to go and have their itinerary and go to three or four wineries in a day, and have a place where they can kind of disappear and relax.”
There’s plenty of luxury to go around, though. Most rooms offer oversized wood-burning fireplaces, and many are vineyard-facing with dramatic views of Mt. St. Helena. The Vineyard View Collection Spa rooms are especially notable, with private outdoor spa hot tubs that affords unobstructed views of the vineyard. Service is also excellent, breakfast is healthy and failling and the wine list features a selection of lesser-known producers.
Special events include cigar and wine tastings that pair vintners like Mondavi with noted cigar makers such as Cohiba. Dine at the on-site restaurant Harvest Table, which highlights locally-sourced ingredients, before taking in a game of bocce, an in-room massage or a dip in the property’s small pool.
For Davis, after a long day of wine tasting, there’s nothing better than having a late-night cocktail on the patio, since the bar stays open late. “When I go there, I always do a big exhale,” he says.
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Published: March 29, 2024
