The Best Hotels to Book in Sonoma, California, for Every Traveler

Some hotels in Sonoma have bars, but the Jack London Lodge keeps it old-school with a saloon. An antique polished oak bar, smooth velvet pool table and a few crates of suds offer you the real taste of local living in Glen Ellen. If such rustic remnants of this Victorian-era hotel aren’t your scene, know that the rooms are very much Sonoma in style. Luxury linens, cloud-like fluffy towels and a quick walk to the Laurel Glen Vineyard will remind you that you’re in the here and now.

The Calm Spa at the Cottage Inn embodies the definition of the word so well that any other name would fall short. Aromatherapy scalp massages, targeted cupping, Reiki add-on sessions and the rejuvenating cocoa-butter body wrap will send you into a near-permanent state of bliss. White-walled rooms awash with natural light act as a space to let your mind clear before and after your spa sessions. As you sip wine and sink into your private double jacuzzi, you’ll never see “calm” the same way again.

Hotel Petaluma would love to introduce you to some long-time guests: wine and oysters or, more specifically, the 54-seat oyster bar at the Schuckery and the locally stocked Barber Cellars Tasting Room. Cheese, vino and seafood will keep you from enjoying your room – though there’s no one stopping you from taking a tray full of these locally loved products up to your king bed. We’d say that they don’t give a “shuck” and that no one will “wine” about it, but we have a feeling your evenings will be cheesy enough.

Wine is the star attraction at the Inn at Sonoma, with many rooms housed in the aptly named Vintners Cottage. The modern rusticity of the decor, with soft leather armchairs and wall-mounted gas fireplaces, reflects the atmosphere of the Sonoma Wine Country. Various wine tours are on offer, and you can order wine and picnic boxes to take on your adventures.

This boutique hotel in Sonoma is clustered around a firepit courtyard shaded by an ancient tree. The bungalow-style rooms and suites at MacArthur Place make for a relaxing base to enjoy the fruits of the famous wineries in Sonoma. Visit the on-site cafe, the Porch, to pick up a coffee and picnic ingredients to take with you on your visits to local attractions, such as the Sonoma TrainTown Railroad and Jack London State Historic Park.

What you’re drinking in Sonoma matters as much as where and how you’re drinking it, especially at the Lodge at Sonoma Resort. Will you keep it casual and merely attend the evening wine receptions, or will you help yourself to the self-serve wine experience in the lobby? If you need help deciding, you can visit the High Horse – the converted horse trailer acting as a poolside bar. You won’t need your wit and wisdom to choose, though – especially if you go and order a drink at the Wit & Wisdom restaurant on-site.

This welcoming inn features 16 individually designed guest rooms, each colorfully adorned with original artworks depicting classic cars, motels and other Americana icons. Some also feature a private patio or deck, an ideal place to sit back with a glass of Sonoma wine. The inn can even help arrange activities to help you explore the Sonoma Valley, including hot-air balloon rides and cooking classes.

Built in the 1920s, this luxury hotel in Sonoma is a beautiful example of the Spanish Mission-style architecture found across California; it brings together a European feel and top-class hotel comfort. Relax with a glass of the finest wine in Sonoma (or a fresh smoothie, if you want something healthy) at the Water Tower Bar. Enjoy a round of golf at the beautifully landscaped course, or allow yourself to be pampered with one of the curated wellness packages at Willow Stream Spa.

Each of the seven rooms at Cinnamon Bear Creekside Inn is individually decorated, but all are named for classic jazz musicians and feature antique furnishings that fit their retro themes. The lovely flower-rich gardens overlook Sonoma Creek, and as a guest, you’ll be provided with a much sought-after wine passport, granting you free tastings at local wineries.