SteveO's Sonoma Lodging Recommendations

This list represent a few of the wonderful places I'd recommend to stay in the wine country of the Sonoma County. I'll be adding more as I get them typed in. Questions and comments are welcome at: otruba@californiawineryguide.com

Lodging

For additional information call the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau at (707) 996-9212

Above the Clouds
3250 Trinity Road
Glen Ellen, Ca 95442
(707) 996-7371, (800) 736-7894
 
Above the Clouds is in a gorgeous 25 acre location overlooking the Valley of the Moon, above the town of Glen Ellen. Every evening you can watch the sunset against the crests of nearby foothills or watch as clouds roll in from the ocean. At times when the fog comes in below it has an "other-world" quality because all you can see is other hilltops like islands in a sea. You can enjoy the view from a balcony by your room and sip a glass of wine from one of our local wineries, which abound in this area. We are situated right in the middle of all this wonderful temptation.
 
Above the Clouds
 
Go to Top
Beltane Ranch
11775 Sonoma Hwy. (Hwy. 12), Glen Ellen, CA 95442.
707-996-6501.
On Hwy. 12 bet. Kenwood & Glen Ellen.
 
This former bunkhouse was built in 1882 and has been everything from a brothel to a turkey farm, but now it's a quiet and unpretentious B&B. A stylish porch and verandah were added to the house years ago, and there is an elaborate gingerbread railing. There are four guest rooms, each with a private entrance and bath. One room has a wood-burning stove. A full breakfast is served in the wood-paneled dining room. The ranch is also a working vineyard.
 
Beltane Ranch
 
Go to Top
Bodega Bay Lodge
103 Coast Highway 1, Bodega Bay, CA 94923.
Phone Number: (800) 368-2468 or (707) 875-3525.
 
The Bodega Bay Lodge is located on Highway 1 on the south end of Bodega Bay. Set among pines and flowered-covered dunes, the lodge overlooks the Pacific Ocean, Doran Beach State Park and the spectacular green bluffs of Bodega head. With its Four-Diamond hospitality, full service spa and fitness center, 84 luxurious guestrooms and suites, and exceptional conference facilities for groups up to 100, the Bodega Bay Lodge & Spa is the perfect place to stay while exploring the unspoiled Sonoma Coast.
 
Bodega Bay Lodge
 
Go to Top
Bungalows 313
 
313 First Street East, Sonoma, CA 95476.
(707) 996-8091, Fax: (707) 996-7301
 
5 Luxury Bungalows located 1/2 block from the Historic Sonoma Plaza, site of many fine restaurants, shops, galleries, museums & tasting rooms. Over 40 wineries within a 15 minute drive. Bungalows feature King/Queen beds w/ Luxury Linens, Kitchens/Kitchenettes, Private Bath ( some with claw foot Tub), Fireplaces, Cable TV, Phone, Private Gardens/Patios. This secluded compound provides the perfect setting for your Wine Country Getaway.
 
Bungalows 313
 
Go to Top
El Dorado Hotel
405 1st St. W., Sonoma, CA 95476.
707-996-3030 or 800-289-3031.
On the downtown Plaza.
 
The El Dorado is a special hotel. Restored to their original elegance, the 27 rooms all have private baths. French windows and terraces offer views of the hotel's Spanish courtyard or the historic Plaza. The lobby restaurant serves contemporary California cuisine.
 
El Dorado Hotel
 
Go to Top
Gaige House Inn
13540 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen, CA 95442.
707-935-0237. (800) 935-0237 FAX 935-6411
Off Hwy. 12 on Arnold Dr. to Glen Ellen.
Email: gaige@sprynet.com
 
This inn is an Italian Gothic Victorian built in the 1880s and recently restored with nine pleasant guest rooms, all with private baths and air conditioning; three have private entrances and two have fireplaces. The best is the Gaige Suite, which has a canopied king-size bed, an oversized whirlpool tub, and a private balcony with a grand view. Full breakfast is served. It's in an ideal location for wine touring and Sonoma dining. The innkeeper was an original partner in Auberge du Soleil.
 
Gaige House Inn
 
Go to Top
Glenelly Inn
5131 Warm Springs Rd., Glen Ellen, CA 95442.
707-996-6720.
Off Hwy. 12 at Arnold Dr., R. 1/3 mi. on Warm Springs Rd.
 
Originally established in 1916 as a railroad inn, this French colonial has grand verandahs on both floors and six rooms, with two garden suites nearby. All rooms have stylish country furnishings, queen-size beds with goosedown comforters, and clawfoot tubs with showers. One room holds a personal collection of hats; the Vallejo Suite features mementos of local figure of note, Gen. Mariano Vallejo. All rooms open to the verandah or garden in this quiet, wooded setting with nearby wineries and restaurants. A generous buffet breakfast is served near the stone fireplace in the dining room.
 
Glenelly Inn
 
Go to Top
The Hidden Oak
214 E. Napa St., Sonoma, CA 95476.
707-996-9863.
1 block E. of the Plaza.
 
Park your car and put on your walking shoes. Everything you desire for a relaxing visit to Sonoma is just a stroll away from this homey inn a block off the Plaza. The house is a Craftsman bungalow built in 1913; the three guest rooms all have private baths, and a new suite will be available in 1995. A full breakfast and afternoon refreshments are served daily.
 
The Hidden Oak Inn
 
Go to Top
Kenwood Inn and Spa
10400 Sonoma Hwy. (Hwy. 12), Kenwood, CA 95452
707-833-1293.
1 mi. S. of Kenwood.
 
This intimate resort looks like a small Tuscan village in a grove of oak trees. The inn includes 11 lush and large rooms, each with a fireplace and a pleasant view. At the heart of the compound is the pool and gardens, where a spa facility was added in 1994. Treatments include massage, aromatherapy, and facials, all available on the terrace when weather permits. A full country breakfast is included and there is also a lunch menu offered poolside.
 
Kenwood Inn
 
Go to Top
Magliulo's Rose Garden Inn
681 Broadway, Sonoma, CA 95476.
707-996-1031.
2 blocks S. of the Plaza on Broadway.
 
Fresh flowers, antique quilts, ceiling fans, and an outdoor cabana add warmth to your stay. There are five guest rooms, two with private baths; the remaining three rooms share bath facilities. Continental breakfast is served daily in the dining room. The pensione is within easy walking distance of historic Sonoma Plaza.
 
Go to Top
The Sonoma Hotel
110 W. Spain St., Sonoma, CA 95476.
707-996-2996.
On the downtown Plaza.
 
Many of the 17 rooms in this hotel share bath facilities, but each room is sumptuously appointed with antiques, old oak, and stained glass. The best is the Bear Flag Room, with a glorious antique mahogany bedroom suite. Complimentary continental breakfast is served. The location is ideal, with downtown Sonoma at your feet.
 
The Sonoma Hotel
 
Go to Top
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa
18140 Sonoma Hwy. (Hwy. 12), Boyes Hot Springs, CA95416.
707-938-9000.
Just N. of Sonoma.
 
Native Indians considered this spot a sacred healing ground; by the turn of the century it had become a getaway for well-heeled San Franciscans who came to Boyes Hot Springs Hotel to "take the waters." The resort, now the Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa, has been a destination ever since. The Sonoma Mission Inn is Sonoma County at its most luxurious, from the impressive Mission-style facade to its health spa pamper palace. The 170 rooms and suites, while not lavish, are done in pastel hues and appointed with plantation shutters and ceiling fans. Many offer views of the inn's shady grounds and a few have fireplaces. The main building dates to 1927 and has been expanded and renovated over the years. A world-class spa was opened in 1981 and numerous accommodation/spa packages are available. In 1993, after years of research, the inn found a new source of mineral water, a 135-degree artesian well 1,100 feet below the surface. Now the inn's whirlpools and two outdoor pools are naturally warmed by this soothing aqua. The eight-acre grounds also include two restaurants: the Grille and the Cafe. While it is convenient to wineries and historic sites of Sonoma Valley, it's located along a hectic and well-developed thoroughfare. The grounds, however, remain peaceful.
 
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
 
Go to Top
Sonoma Valley Inn, Best Western
550 2nd St. W., Sonoma, CA 95476.
707-938-9200.
1 block W. from the Plaza off Hwy. 12
 
An "intimate motel" may be the best way to describe this exceptional lodge just a block from Sonoma Plaza. Rooms and furnishings are well above average for a motel -- most are equipped with kitchenettes, wet bars, whirlpools, or fireplaces. All rooms open onto a lovely courtyard. It's ideal for families visiting the valley. Complimentary continental breakfast is included. Special golf packages are also available.
 
Sonoma Valley Inn
 
Go to Top
Thistle Dew Inn
117 W. Spain St., Sonoma, CA 95476.
707-938-2909.
1/2 block off the town Plaza.
 
This inn is decorated throughout with vintage Mission furniture. Each of the six guest rooms (two in the main house and four in the adjacent cottage) have a private bath, air conditioning, and ceiling fans. One room opens to a deck, two rooms have gas fireplaces, and one is equipped with a large whirlpool tub. A full gourmet breakfast is served in the dining room or on the deck. This is a charming inn, reasonably priced and in an excellent location for strolling to all of Sonoma's finest.
 
Thistle Dew Inn
 
Go to Top
Trojan Horse Inn
19455 Sonoma Hwy. (Hwy. 12), Sonoma, CA 95476.
707-996-2430. (800) 899-1925.
Near Spain St.
 
Elegance and glamour abound in this house that has been decorated in a classic Victorian style.  All of our rooms have private en-suite baths, 600 thread count sheets, select Frette linens, Egyptian cotton towels and spa robes.
 
Trojan Horse Inn
 
Go to Top
Victorian Garden Inn
316 E. Napa St., Sonoma, CA 95476.
707-996-5339.
2 blocks W. of the Plaza.
 
This 1870 Greek Revival farmhouse has a wraparound porch furnished with comfy wicker. The garden is a peaceful treasure. The four guest rooms, one in the main house and the rest in a century-old water tower, have private baths and are elegantly decorated with Victorian furniture. Woodcutter's Cottage is a private retreat with a fireplace, clawfoot tub, and garden view. Breakfast is served in the dining room, on the patio, or in your room. Wine is served in the evening by the parlor hearth.
 
Victoria Garden Inn
 
Go to Top