The Best Resorts and Places to Stay for Your Vacation in Sonoma, California

The site of this luxurious resort is revered by Native Americans who viewed it as a sacred healing ground. It is fitting, therefore, that visitors will leave feeling revived. Soak in one of the geothermal mineral pools or spend a lazy afternoon in the Roman-style bathhouse. Golfers must make the short 1.3mi (2.25km) journey to Sonoma Golf Club and its 177-acres (72ha) of gleaming Sonoma Wine Country.

This six-acre (2.4ha) Sonoma resort is a byword for minimalist luxury. The 64 rooms are all decorated stylishly with many having access to a semi-private shared garden just outside the Victorian residence – just one of the nooks and crannies available. Sonoma Plaza is minutes away with its boutique stores, art galleries, and restaurants. Need a wine fix? There are 30+ tasting rooms all in one block of the plaza – good job it’s a short walk back to your room.

This luxury resort in Sonoma is all about the small touches. Guests receive a complimentary breakfast each morning that differs from your normal hotel fare – think mushroom sage tart with potato and cauliflower hash, or freshly baked cranberry scones. Every afternoon, guests are treated to free local wine and cheese – before retiring to their airy contemporary rooms for an afternoon nap. Don’t worry if it’s chilly out – each room has its own fireplace.

Just a block from the quaint Sonoma Plaza with its seasonal farmer’s markets and free outdoor concerts, this luxury Sonoma resort combines locale with a zeal for zen – its peaceful courtyards, Mediterranean-style atrium, and in-house Calm Spa are all designed to invoke serenity. Every room has unique architectural design elements – with a mix of fireplaces, hot tubs, kitchens, and private patios. Treasure the mornings when you’ll open the door to freshly made local pastries.

This luxury five-bedroom home combines crisp modern architecture with homely touches like a family room with a projector and record player. Pride of place goes to the pool surrounded by plush sun loungers – with a fire pit, barbecue, hot tub, and table tennis table ensuring you could happily never leave, although surely you’ll be wanting to hit some of those local plonks. The Valley of the Moon Winery and vineyards is 2.4mi (3.9km) away, while BR Cohn is a breezy 3.3m (5.3km). Santé.

Whether you’re downward-dogging in a morning yoga class on the lawn or getting treatment in the Raindance Spa, this luxury Sonoma Resort will guide you to an almost indecent state of wellbeing. Fancy adding a soupçon of culture to your holiday ensemble? Head across the road to the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art – before chowing down on some pasture-raised meats like crispy Berkshire porchetta at Wit and Wisdom, the hotel’s on-site restaurant.

Bring the home on holiday with these four quaint private cottages – just a cork’s throw from the Sonoma Plaza and a number of wineries. Seconds from your front door is the Sonoma Mercantile – a 21st-century take on the old-fashioned neighborhood general store that sells everything from local honey and candles to hyperlocal wine and breakfast burritos. Visitors may also use the Calm Spa at the Cottage Inn – book yourself in for the signature warm bamboo deep tissue massage.

Glass and windows abound in this single-floor house that welcomes the light – whatever the time of day. There’s a private swimming pool with a hot tub and even a bocce ball court, while anyone interested in exploring the area’s history can make the 2.3mi (3.5km) trip to Vallejo Home State Historical Monument. Don’t fancy cooking but craving some home-style eats? It’s a swift six-minute drive to Mamma Tanino’s Ristorante for classic Italian dishes like melanzane di parmigiana or spaghetti alla carbonara.