A sojourn in California wine country is virtually guaranteed to result in a satisfying of the palate, but the right place to stay is important, too. With its varying array of landscapes, Sonoma County offers lodgings that range from luxury resorts to quaint B&Bs, all framed by spectacular surroundings. Consider these, listed roughly from north to south.
Madrona Manor
Seventy miles north of San Francisco, Healdsburg is home to Madrona Manor, which is a historic 1881 Victorian mansion modernized with plush suites, Michelin-starred dinners, and extravagant service—all befitting its setting on eight acres of English gardens and wooded hillside. Take your gourmet buffet breakfast in the estate parlor, if you can bear to leave your room outfitted with antiques and a pillow-top mattress.
Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant, Forestville
A dozen or so miles to the south, Forestville’s Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant offers a ravishing mix of gorgeous guest rooms and a Michelin-starred restaurant fed by farm-fresh food. Elegant cottages and barn rooms feature fireplaces, feather beds, and deep soaking tubs that make lingering irresistible, while personalized concierge service helps curate vineyard visits and local adventures. Its seasonally inspired spa uses massage oils enriched by herbs and even heirloom apples grown right at the inn.
Bodega Bay Lodge, Bodega Bay
Or perhaps the ocean is calling, in which case Bodega Bay Lodge beckons as the only AAA Four Diamond hotel on the Sonoma Coast. The seaside perch, about 33 miles southwest of Forestville, offers a luxury escape, in snug rooms with fireplaces, down comforters, and private balconies for stargazing. But plan time to dine too, at the resort’s Drakes Sonoma Coast Cuisine (the seafood on the menu comes from the same ocean glittering outside the windows). Or indulge in a sea-inspired spa treatment like the massage using warm tiger-clam seashells.
Vinarosa Resort & Spa, Santa Rosa
About 23 miles inland, at Santa Rosa’s Vinarosa Resort & Spa, a 78-room hotel nestled amidst 92 acres of Sonoma farmland, guests can luxuriate in spa treatments and ramble along 2 miles of trails. The property includes a restaurant, an outdoor pool, and a fitness center, along with quiet seating areas spread across the grounds. Rooms and suites feature contemporary decor and views of the surrounding vineyards and hills, creating a comfortable base for exploring nearby wineries and attractions in Santa Rosa and the Russian River Valley.
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, Healdsburg
At the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, guests settle into a landmark wine country retreat built around one of the region’s rare natural thermal mineral springs. The resort’s elegant rooms and suites blend Mission-style architecture with modern comforts, while the acclaimed 40,000-square-foot Spa Montage offers geothermal pools, therapeutic treatments, and wellness programming. Onsite dining highlights locally sourced ingredients, including at the signature Santé restaurant.
The Lodge at Sonoma
In the heart of downtown Sonoma, The Lodge at Sonoma offers a relaxed yet refined stay just steps from the town plaza, tasting rooms, and restaurants. Its well-appointed guest rooms feature modern comforts and views of the surrounding vineyards; guests enjoy an on-site restaurant, wine tastings, and loaner bicycles for rolling through historic neighborhoods, while a heated outdoor pool and fire pits provide classic wine country relaxation.