Destinations
Vineyard views await.
Julie Soefer
Napa Valley, California, has come a long way since 1839, when American settler George C. Yount planted the first grapevines in the area. More than two centuries later, it's now regarded as one of the most beloved and prestigious wine destinations in the world. Encompassing four regions—including Oakville, Rutherford, and five towns from American Canyon to Calistoga—the area boasts more than 400 wineries and counting, plus acclaimed restaurants helmed by lauded chefs and a diverse selection of boutique hotels and luxury resorts for solo travelers, families, and couples alike.
As a California native who has lived in big cities most of my life (including nearby San Francisco), I swapped city life for a slower pace when I moved to Northern California’s Wine Country a few years ago, and I haven’t looked back. It's given me plenty of time to get more acquainted with Napa Valley's hotel scene, and I've rounded up my favorite spots in the region I call home below. From an eco-luxe hotel and spa poised on a former family homestead in Yountville to a reconceived 203-room resort with a wellness wing in Napa, read on for the best hotels in Napa Valley for your next trip.
In this article:
Our top picks:
- Best for a stay in downtown Napa: Archer Hotel Napa
- Best for something transportive: Okaeri Calistoga
- Best for couples: Auberge du Soleil, Auberge Collection
Alila Napa Valley
Built in 1905 by architect William Henry Corlett as a private family residence, Alila Napa Valley’s all-white original building—now housing two restaurants, four guest rooms, event spaces, and the guest reception area—is considered one of the three grande dames at the northern end of St. Helena, about 30 minutes north of Napa. Today, the full property features 64 guestrooms and 4 suites designed by Yabu Pushelberg, with bathrooms decked out with Italian stone and Le Labo amenities. Located adjacent to Beringer Vineyards and just a 15-minute walk from downtown St. Helena, the hotel is in a prime position for those eager to imbibe, and there are two on-site restaurants, including famed Violetto, led by chef Mark Shoemaker. Spend an afternoon by the outdoor pool lined with cabanas and a firepit overlooking the vineyards, or duck into the spa for a Talisman Massage using soothing herbal poultices. For an only-at-Alila experience, book a guided falconry session or a wine-and-cycling tour led by a local winemaker.
Solage, Auberge Collection
Located a short bike ride from downtown Calistoga—known for its bubbling, thermal hot springs and low-key locals—this easy, breezy, modern-meets-country refuge underwent a major multi-million-dollar renovation in 2021, adding 11 new studios and a Mexican-inspired poolside eatery called Picobar. The resort's 100 rooms span 515-square-foot studios all the way to two-bedroom suites with three firepits and outdoor showers. Design your itinerary to be as packed or as relaxed as you like, with numerous complimentary fitness classes offered daily (options include meditation, aqua aerobics, and pickleball on two outdoor courts) and experiences like hot-air balloon excursions and mezcal and tequila tastings.
Bardessono Hotel and Spa
Located on the former site of Lucy and John Bardessono's former homestead, just steps from downtown Yountville, this 65-room eco-luxe hotel—with an on-site spa and garden-to-table eatery, Lucy Restaurant & Bar—was constructed using salvaged Tufa stone from the original family home, plus a 200-kilowatt solar energy system. The LEED Platinum–certified sanctuary is divided up into Spa Suites ideal for couples, with 800 square feet of space, including a fully enclosed furnished courtyard or patio; Steam Spa Suites, with an indoor and outdoor shower; and Tufa Suites, akin to Wine Country townhomes with massive living rooms, abstract art, and outdoor patios with flat-screen TVs. —Jennie Nunn and Pallavi Kumar
Casa Mani Resort
What was once an Embassy Suites has now sprung to life as its next iteration: a classy but laid-back luxury refuge near downtown Napa. Thanks to a complete $80 million transformation, the cozy, modern property—centered around an outdoor pool and a 73-foot-long lawn flanked by six towering redwood trees—is replete with 203 spacious accommodations with separate living rooms and bathrooms, each appointed with a freestanding bathtub, Red Flower apothecary goods, and a high-tech bidet. Reserve a Redwood Lawn King Firepit room for a private patio and firepit for nights in nature. There’s nearly everything one could need on-site, such as a gourmet grab-and-go lobby market stocked with locally procured provisions, a Peloton-branded fitness center, a sparkling spa with a hydrotherapy room, and the acclaimed BOA Steakhouse.
The Francis House
The Francis House is the kind of place that will make you scratch your head and think you’ve traveled to a bygone era—sans the proverbial time machine, but with all the modern conveniences and offerings of a boutique hotel just a few blocks from the main thoroughfare in downtown Calistoga. Built in 1886 as a private residence for local merchant and rancher James H. Francis, the storied French Second Empire–style manor has led several lives (including serving as the town hospital for more than 40 years) before its meticulous transformation into a bed-and-breakfast in 2018. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the eight-room property features a bellcast mansard roof, cascading stone fountains, and a bucolic setting fit for leisurely afternoons by the heated outdoor pool. Rooms in varying layouts recall swoon-worthy Parisian ateliers with antique writing desks and Chantilly lace drapes. On-site perks include an outdoor tennis court and infrared sauna with halotherapy.
Vintage House at The Estate Yountville
Vintage House is the light and airy version of sibling property Hotel Villagio at The Estate Yountville, located within the same 22-acre resort. Given the prime location and proximity to acclaimed tasting rooms and award-winning restaurants in Yountville, it’s a hub for wine enthusiasts, staycationers, honeymooners, and bridal parties. Guests run the gamut from executives in golf shirts to denim jumpsuit–wearing women, Louis Vuitton bags in hand. Rooms have crisp white walls and ceilings clad in shiplap, with decorative fireplaces and furnished outdoor patios. Turndown touches include seasonal amenities ranging from lavender-based dream mist to cabernet-infused chocolate truffles placed bedside.
Meadowood Napa Valley
For more than 50 years, this 250-acre woodsy Wine Country oasis has lured the likes of A-listers, couples, and vinophiles with an ample roster of offerings from private tennis lessons with a pro to therapeutic mustard baths in a hand-hammered copper tub in the spa. The hotel is comprised of 36 rooms and suites in varying shapes and sizes—from the spacious, family-friendly Hill House burrowed into the hillside to Cottage rooms with wood-burning fireplaces and enclosed porches—and amenities include complimentary car service to downtown Yountville and St. Helena, daily parking, and in-room minibars stocked with curated snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.
Hotel Villagio at The Estate Yountville
A grown-up Wine Country haven seconds away from top-tier tasting rooms and eateries, this resort features low-key vibes by day and a turned-up scene after dark. A $70 resort fee provides you with what feels like the run of the house, with complimentary offerings such as a welcome drink upon arrival, electric bike rentals, morning yoga in the vineyard on select Saturdays, snacks in rooms and lobby areas, and perks at partner wineries in Yountville, Napa, and Rutherford. Spacious rooms—113 in total—feature thoughtful touches like leather settees, decorative marble fireplaces, framed old-world–style maps of Napa County, and furnished outdoor patios and balconies. The property is also located on the same street as world-class restaurants like The French Laundry and Bistro Jeanty, and tasting rooms Stewart Cellars and Handwritten Wines.
Archer Hotel Napa
Located within downtown Napa's First Street, a 325-square-foot multi-use development with more than two dozen specialty boutiques, restaurants, and tasting rooms, think of this 183-room hotel as your home base in the Valley. Opened in 2017, the hotel features an all-day morning-espresso-to-espresso-martini lounge, an upscale steakhouse (named Charlie Palmer), a rooftop spa, a robust art program with works by local and regional artists, and guest rooms and suites in six different layout configurations. After a day at play exploring nearby wineries or a hot-air balloon excursion (the concierge can arrange either), head upstairs to the open-air restaurant and bar, Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar, for a cocktail and sunset-watching by a firepit.
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley
Poised within its very own organic working vineyard, Elusa, this resort is just a short walk from Calistoga, but it feels worlds apart. Designed with 85 rooms and suites and 20 residential villas—ideal for couples, groups, and families—the property boasts two pools (one adults-only and one for families with kiddos), a bocce ball court, a spa, and BMW house cars for guest use. For an unforgettable dining experience, book a table at Michelin-starred restaurant Auro, where you'll find a seven-course tasting menu artfully prepared by executive chef Evan Neumann.
Milliken Creek Inn and Spa
Situated just off the Silverado Trail (blink and you'll miss it), this secluded hideaway is Napa's best hidden gem. Located a six-minute drive from downtown Napa and Oxbow Public Market, the 11-room oasis features walking paths, cascading fountains, and romantic seating areas perched along the Napa River. Revamped in 2021 by Indigo Coast Interior Design in Los Angeles, you might feel as though you've been transported to Europe, with rooms outfitted with king beds, gas fireplaces, and large soaking tubs. Select rooms have private balconies and firepits. Meet new friends and swap stories in the lobby every evening over complimentary wine and cheese, plus accompaniments like grapes, toasted crisps, crackers, and freshly baked cookies.
Stanly Ranch, Auberge Collection
Adopting its name from vintner Judge Edward Stanly, who first graced the area in 1856, this 712-acre retreat epitomizes Wine Country elegance in true Auberge fashion with 135 standalone cottages and suites set amidst rolling farmland. For more space, book a two-bedroom villa replete with daily breakfast, full gourmet kitchens and wine fridges, and access to a fleet of Mercedes-Benz vehicles for cruising around town. The wellness compound, called Halehouse, is also a highlight, featuring a robust menu of spa treatments and a Springhouse circuit program implementing innovative bio-hacking technologies, including a circulation-boosting hyperbaric oxygen chamber (advanced reservations required) and a giant cedar sauna for relaxation. Whatever you do, don't miss a meal—whether it's dinner at the renowned restaurant Bear, headed up by executive chef Anthony Stagnaro, a housemade confection at Gavel, or a scoop of ice cream at The Window.
Okaeri Calistoga
Tucked on a hillside just off Highway 128, one block from downtown Calistoga, this adults-only zen retreat—with a mini nature reserve– featuring concrete pagodas, a lily pond, stone pavers, and a wooden footbridge—is a veritable love letter to Japan. Here, you can expect to rub elbows (though with so much privacy and space, not literally) with local, high-profile wine industry veterans, or honeymooners from around the globe seeking a luxe, off-the-beaten-path experience. None of the seven suites and rooms are alike, with individual touches and artwork like framed kimonos, antique Japanese scrolls, a table lamp made of corn, and 3D folded book origami. You’ll be lulled to sleep at night by the gentle swishing of trees and the euphonic sound of frogs in the outdoor lily pond.
Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa
Take a road trip without having to brave traffic or comb campgrounds for RV hook-ups at this retro roadside motor lodge in downtown Calistoga. Revamped in 2017, the retreat features two heated outdoor geothermal pools, a bathhouse-like spa, and an Italian-inspired eatery serving up wood-fired pizzas. Book a Deluxe room with a king or two queen beds and a private terrace, or reserve a family-friendly Camper Suite decked out with a trailer-style banquette and hydraulic table that easily converts into a separate sleeping space. Head to the lobby for provisions—a bottle of Oberon Cab, caramel-covered popcorn—or a vintage board game.
FAQ:
What are the best cities to stay in Napa Valley?
As cliché as it sounds, there’s something for everyone in Napa Valley, as each city has its own distinct personality and scene. Downtown Napa is the bustling main hub, with walkability to tasting rooms and easy freeway access to other areas further north. Calistoga lures wellness seekers with geothermal hot springs and a laid-back vibe, while idyllic Yountville attracts culinary enthusiasts and wine aficionados with its storybook-esque setting.
When is the best time to visit Napa Valley?
There’s no such thing as a “bad” time to visit Napa Valley. But my personal favorite season here is spring. The weather is ideal, and everything is just greener. A close second is winter. It’s quieter overall, and chilly evenings and misty (and sometimes frosty) mornings mean cozying up in a comfy robe and slippers. If you prefer the heat, come in summer. It’s warm and dry.
How we choose the best hotels in Napa Valley
Every hotel review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
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Freelance writer and editor Jennie Nunn is a former staff editor at 7x7, California Home+Design, and Sunset. Nunn, a California native, is also West Coast Editor of Organic Spa. Her work has appeared in publications including AFAR, Luxe Interiors+Design, The Denver Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, 5280, Surface, Hospitality Design, ... Read More
The Francis House
$$$ | United States, Calistoga, 1403 Myrtle St. Corner Spring Street
Travel back in time to a bygone era in downtown Calistoga—while reaping the benefits of modern conveniences—at this luxury boutique hotel.
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Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley
$$$ | United States, Calistoga, 400 Silverado Trail N
Set among the vines with its very own onsite winery, this new Napa retreat with a spa and dining also has all the other goodies you want in an easy getaway.
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Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa
$ | United States, Calistoga, 1880 Lincoln Avenue
A retro retreat with two geothermal pools, a glamorous spa, and an Italian-inspired eatery.
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