Sonoma County, California, along with neighboring Napa, is justly acclaimed for its quality wine and food, with hundreds of celebrated wineries and many Michelin-star restaurants. Our curated selection of hotels encompasses rustic country inns, grand Spanish Mission-style resorts and quirky farmhouse hotels. All are brilliantly placed for exploring the area’s gastronomic offerings and local attractions, such as the Sonoma Coast State Park, Charles M Schulz Museum and Research Center, and Sonoma TrainTown Railroad.
Wine is the star attraction at the Inn at Sonoma, with many of the 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, while you can order wine and picnic boxes to take on your adventures.
Clustered around a firepit courtyard shaded by an ancient tree, MacArthur Place’s bungalow-style rooms and suites make for a relaxing base from which to enjoy the fruits of Sonoma’s famous wineries. Head to 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.
From the classic mid-century modern stylings of the rooms and suites to the outdoor pool, flanked by cabanas and shaded by cypress trees, the Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort and Spa is a vision of good taste and luxury. The Raindance Spa offers body wraps, facials and scrubs using local organic ingredients, a philosophy extended to Wit & Wisdom Sonoma, where spice-poached shrimp and roasted wild mushrooms are among the coastal Californian dishes on offer.
Named for the mythical empire of gold, El Dorado is a very tasteful affair, with rustic lampshades, bedsteads hewn from local wood and private balconies overlooking the garden’s 150-year-old fig tree. It’s certainly a holy grail, though, for seekers of fine Sonoma cuisine, with the steamed mussels, risotto of the day and seafood paella among the finest you’ll find in town.
There’s a cheerful, friendly vibe about Best Western Sonoma Valley Inn’s courtyard, with large communal tables lit by fairy lights and the sound of fountains tinkling in the background, while the outdoor pool is a similarly tempting spot. Rooms have a homey feel, with wood floors and a fireplace – some also have a private patio or balcony overlooking the garden.
This welcoming inn features 16 individually designed guest rooms, each one 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 grand hotel is a beautiful exemplar 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 Sonoma’s finest (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 Willow Stream Spa’s curated wellness packages.
Full of lovely vintage pieces, including alarm clocks, four-poster beds and wood-fired stoves, the Belle de Jour Inn has the feel of a cozy country home. The rooms are spread among little cottages set in 6 acres (2ha) of hedge-lined pathways and gardens, certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. You can explore the nearby Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve via its scenic hiking trails, while balloon rides and wine tours are also on offer throughout the area.
Only Napa can outdo Sonoma when it comes to wine, with this gorgeous valley producing California’s finest vintages. Wine Country Inn’s guest rooms and cottages – most of them with a balcony or patio overlooking the vineyards – are the perfect sanctuary from which to explore the best the region has to offer. Every morning, a wine country breakfast utilizes the best of the region’s farm-fresh ingredients, while the concierge can help plan your days to the letter, from touring local wineries to dining in Michelin-star restaurants.
Centered on a historic farmhouse dating from 1940, the Sonoma Chalet offers rooms and cottages that feature plenty of original touches – such as vintage stoves, calypso lamps and chandeliers – with Navajo rugs and paintings by original owner Alfred Reichmuth adorning the walls. Many have a working stove and refrigerator alongside the heritage pieces, and you can enjoy breakfast on the terrace or in the cozy farmhouse-style kitchen. Views of the area’s vineyards are spectacular, while the cultural delights of San Francisco are less than an hour’s drive away.
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 with 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.
With a prime location on Sonoma Plaza, the Ledson is a grande dame of the city’s hotel scene – a picture of old-world elegance, with rooms featuring antique dressers and chandeliers and opening onto furnished Juliet balconies. Enjoy a glass of wine beside the dark-wood lobby fireplace or in the on-site tasting room, which showcases the finest wines from the winery of the same family who founded the hotel.