Hip Rental Apartments in Napa You'll Want to Call Home

RiverPointe’s cozy, colorful Napa cabins include studios and one-bedroom cottages with space for four. On the water’s edge, adventurers can easily jog, walk or bike the Napa River Trail or pick up fresh ingredients at Napa’s Oxbow Public Market. Whip up dinner in the kitchen or at the communal barbecue. One of the most amenity-rich cottage options in the valley, RiverPointe also has two hot tubs, a swimming pool, sauna, gym and a games room.

At this secluded St Helena hotel, with lodgings that include suites and guestrooms, the five cottages feel like luxurious private residences with king beds, fireplaces and soaking tubs. Surrounded by cabernet-sauvignon vineyards, it has vine-laced views in every direction. There’s also a full-size rectangular pool, a hot tub and relaxation area. While the cottages don’t have kitchens, a full wine country breakfast with fresh fruit, meats, cheese and pastries is included and delivered to rooms promptly each morning.

At the Carneros Resort and Spa, standalone cottages settle visitors into the serene beauty of Napa country living. Situated in different ‘neighborhoods’ throughout the property, each have front porches and landscaped grounds with fruit-rich pomegranate and citrus trees. Beyond floor-to-ceiling patio doors, lies a backyard with a sundeck, garden, fire pit, chaise lounge and an outdoor soaking tub. The luxurious feel continues inside, where one king and two double beds meet dual vanity bathrooms with heated floors and glass-enclosed showers. In-room wine dispensers (cheers) with the best Napa Valley vintages are the icing on the cake.

Located on Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga’s main thoroughfare, the Cottage Grove Inn celebrates the town’s uniqueness. Farmers still work the land here and locally-owned businesses dot downtown. Guests are encouraged to explore on cruiser bikes and pack picnic backpacks. Located in a grove of elm trees, each white-washed cottage with colorful shutters has a vaulted ceiling, deep soaking tub, wood-burning fireplace, reclaimed hardwood floors and a semi-private outdoor porch opening onto the gardens. Rooms also have yoga mats and fitness rollers for guests to use.

Originally a farmhouse built in 1880, Main Street was transformed in 2014 to host visitors from all over the world. The beautifully restored cottage, with two queen beds, has exposed beam ceilings, antique furniture and a kitchenette with a griddle. A mile from downtown Napa, the property feels like a private park landscaped with roses, jasmine, lavender bushes and citrus trees, and there are plenty of outdoor seating areas to enjoy the region’s wines. In addition to the cottage, there’s also a carriage house, cabin and airstream trailer to bed down in.

Located in the hills near Calistoga, cottages at the tranquil Aurora Park have decks with views of the mountains and vineyard-covered valley. The outdoor spaces are ideal for a glass of wine, like a steely chardonnay or elegant Bordeaux-style blend at sunset. Guests wake up each morning to a basket of warm pastries and fresh fruit, and the cottages have feather beds, California-inspired art and hardwood floors. The hotel’s concierge can arrange wine-tasting tours, hiking and biking, and a visit to Calistoga’s healing natural hot springs.

Located in the bohemian village Glen Ellen on Calabasas Creek, this collection of cottages is walking distance to many excellent tasting rooms and restaurants. The Secret Garden-like property with rose bushes and wisteria has seven cottages with fireplaces, Jacuzzi tubs and in-room coffee machines. The hotel’s Martini Bar, a raucous local haunt, carries over 500 bottles of Napa and Sonoma wines and closes when the bartender feels like it. The owners love helping guests seek out the best local wineries and things to do around town.

The secret 1940s hideaway of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, the Cottages of Napa Valley offer privacy and perks aplenty. Each has a living room, kitchenette and patio with a fireplace stocked with wood. If you need space to spread out, the two-bedroom cottage – with space for six – has a kitchen, dining room and even a cedar relaxation room. The secluded property is shaded by mature oak trees and cobblestone walkways trace the grounds. Bonus: fresh pastries from Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery in nearby Yountville are delivered to guests each morning.

You’ll likely want to pinch design inspiration from the three bright and cheery bungalows at this boutique hotel in Calistoga. Inspired by their travels, the owners wanted to create something that felt more like a home than a hotel. Each has modern farmhouse vibes with high ceilings, open kitchens, jute rugs and adorable Dutch doors, and there’s ample outdoor space with a porch and backyard as well as a covetable parking spot. It’s just a quick walk to downtown, so you can dine (and drink) without driving.

Those looking for a character-filled stay might want to check out the laid back and pet-friendly Calistoga Enchanted Cottage. The house on a wooded hillside close to downtown Calistoga is nothing fancy. Still, it makes up for it with plenty of quirky charm, thanks to features like a working Franklin fireplace and antique-glass windows looking out over an emerald-green forest. The large porch is strung with twinkly white lights and a patio with a barbecue might entice you to sing Kumbaya under the stars.