Napa hotels

Location, scene and amenities are all important factors to consider when booking a hotel. As one of the best hotels in Napa for all three, Archer Hotel Napa ticks all the boxes. Located downtown, guests can wine taste on their doorstep, walk along the river and visit the Oxbow Public Market for everything from breakfast tacos to briny oysters at my favorite Hog Island Oyster Company.

The five-story hotel has suites with balconies and gold, cream and gray guestrooms with views of the surrounding valley. The signature restaurant, Charlie Palmer Steak, will please even the pickiest of eaters with its seafood and vegetarian specialties.

The sixth-floor rooftop has a spa offering facials and massages, a water deck and a fitness center. Meanwhile, the hotel’s Whiskey Bar, also on the roof, with its stone fireplace and redwood chairs, is a welcome spot when you’re ready to take a break from wine.

Napa River Inn was one of the first hotels I ever booked in Napa, and it’s still one of my favorites. This property in the Napa River Mill, built in the late 1800s, has so much character. Many guestrooms have high ceilings, brick walls and fireplaces (though the Plaza Deluxe rooms have a more contemporary look).

The other thing that makes Napa River Inn one of the best hotels in Napa is its riverfront location. Rooms have great views, and guests can easily walk or run along the river.

No matter the room category, everyone can enjoy breakfast in bed here. Freshly baked pastries like fluffy muffins and fruit-filled scones from locally loved Sweetie Pies Bakery are delivered to rooms each morning. The hotel also has a lovely spa where natural products harness the healing properties of grape seed extract.

Owning a piece of property in Napa comes with a hefty price tag few can afford. By staying at Milliken Creek Inn, you can pretend you live at a Napa Valley estate – even if just for a few days. Intimate and private, the inn has Napa River views, fireplaces in both common areas and guestrooms and made-to-order breakfasts. Known for its exceptional service, in 2024 the Inn was deservedly awarded two Michelin keys.

Little things like an afternoon wine hour, complimentary house-made cookies, and thoughtful turndown service make this one of the top-rated hotels in Napa. The 11 rooms have canopy beds with fine linens, rain showers and outdoor firepits.

Milliken Creek Inn is just north of downtown Napa on the Silverado Trail, a two-lane country road lined with world-class vineyards. A stop at Stag’s Leap Cellars, which pours some of the best cabs in the valley, is a must.

I love wine but don’t like feeling overindulged. That’s why Bardessono, one of the best hotels in Napa for travelers looking to balance wellness and the decadence of wine country, is one of my favorite Napa stays. The sleek, modern architecture, water features and rooftop pool set the tone for a serene and relaxing stay.

The field-to-fork Lucy’s Restaurant and Bar serves healthy yet delicious cuisine. Organic garden-grown greens, foraged mushrooms and California meat and seafood shine in vibrant dishes such as Liberty Farms Sonoma duck breast with delicata squash.

The spa menu features property-grown ingredients too. Guests can book the Garden Harvest Wrap or salt stone massage in the intimate spa or in-room. One of the best luxury hotels in Napa, every suite at Bardessono functions as a mini spa with an oversized bathroom, gas fireplace and outdoor space. Maple Grove Villas offer even more seclusion.

While Napa can feel like the ideal couples’ or girls’ trip getaway, families are not forgotten. I love taking my two boys to the valley to swim in the sun and eat great food. Family-owned Napa Valley Lodge in Yountville is a sophisticated, family-friendly option and is one of the best hotels in Napa for amenities.

Large double-queen guestrooms comfortably sleep families of four, and rates include continental breakfast. The heated outdoor pool, bocce ball court, and firepits provide hours of outdoor fun. Guests can also take complimentary cruiser bikes for a whirl.

The Tuscan-style lodge is surrounded by lush vineyards and located just on the edge of downtown Yountville. While Napa Valley Lodge doesn’t have a full-service restaurant, the pool service with refreshing drinks, wine by the glass, and house-made snacks offered from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day is sometimes just what you need.

The secret to North Block Hotel’s popularity is its communal courtyard. When I stayed there with friends, we loved sitting on the patio with its palm trees and water fountain, stargazing with a glass of wine in the evening. The 20 chic guestrooms fan out from the courtyard and all have marble vanities, feather duvets and either a patio or a balcony.

The hotel’s restaurant is the type of place I’d eat at every night if I could. The Restaurant at North Block serves ingredients from the coast and valley and specializes in stone-baked flatbreads and fresh pasta like spaghetti with Dungeness crab, garlic and fresh lemon juice. North Block Hotel also has a year-round pool lined with cabanas.

Gourmands, take note: this is one of the best hotels in Napa for food lovers, because it’s basically a block from the French Laundry.

Set across 22 acres surrounded by mountains and vineyards, Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection offers all the best things about California living with a touch of Provencal elegance. Guests love to sip strawberry-laced dry rose while playing pickleball here, with courtside wine service offered at the two pickleball courts.

Bikes are available for exploring the large property and cycling into downtown Calistoga. Guests can unwind with Spa Solage’s signature mud treatments and geothermal pools, while outdoor fire pits help guests stay cozy on cool nights. Studio and suite accommodations feature indoor-outdoor living.

One of the best hotels in Napa for families, it also offers lawn games, fireside s’mores, a Splash Pad and personalized pizza-making experiences. The modern Mexican cuisine and cocktails at Picobar beside the pool are some of the most satisfying in the valley. Try the prickly pear margarita paired with hamachi ceviche and salsa verde.

Founded in 1854, St. Helena is another idyllic and historic Napa Valley enclave that makes an excellent home base for exploring the valley. The Wydown Hotel is an affordable luxury option and one of the best hotels in Napa for travelers looking for a hotel rather than a resort experience.

I love the rooms at Wydown Hotel. They’re spacious and have fun perks like Geneva Sound Systems and Molton Brown bath products. During his travels, the owner collected much of the furniture and art in the guestrooms and high-ceilinged lobby himself, so everything feels hand-picked and reassuringly lived in.

The continental breakfast, served in the art-filled Tea Room, is everything you need to start the day on the right foot. For dinner, walk to The Charter Oak around the corner, the casual restaurant from the three-Michelin-starred chef of the Restaurant at Meadowood.

The Setting Inn Napa Valley showcases the valley’s agricultural roots while offering plenty of modern comforts. The main part of the hotel is a 1901 remodeled farmhouse, where large guestrooms designed for couples (the property is adults-only) come with private vineyard views, fireplaces, and soaking tubs.

There’s no need to get up early with Bouchon Bakery pastries delivered to your room every morning. Other amenities include Nespresso coffee makers, heated bathroom floors and electric bicycles for cruising around town.

The Setting Inn is also one of the best hotels in Napa for true oenophiles. It’s owned by the co-owners of The Setting Wines, a collection of luxury wines created by three friends, including winemaker Jesse Katz. Katz’s work experience includes stints at Chateau Petrus and Screaming Eagle. Don’t pass up the opportunity to taste an array of The Setting Wines in the St. Helena tasting room, which is included in your stay.

Many of Napa’s stately mansions have become bed and breakfasts, including The George. While it has just nine rooms, the term B&B seems too humble for this luxury stay on the Napa River. Not a blade of grass is out of place in the landscaped grounds, where you’ll find towering palm trees and topiaries.

One of the best hotels in Napa for history lovers, the grand residence, built in 1891, has been extensively refurbished so that its interiors balance the 19th and 21st centuries. There’s a formal living room with high-backed sofas and a dining room with a hand painted peacock and palm leaf mural, while guestrooms feature stained glass windows and vintage armoires alongside contemporary bedframes.

The property features self-check-in, heated bathroom floors and local Bentley’s Roastery coffee. While tucked away in ‘old town’, it’s still easy to walk to downtown offerings, like the Uptown Theatre and the public market.