Often overlooked, the gorgeous gem of a city located in Central Sonoma County (just 1.5 hours north of San Francisco), is one of the best-kept secrets in California. This is serious wine country, with vineyards, wineries and lush surrounding farmlands waiting to be explored.
Other highlights include The Charles M. Schulz Museum dedicated to the famous “Peanuts” cartoonist, numerous art galleries and centers, hiking and biking trails, fabulous shopping, fine restaurants, a craft brewery and a cool laid back vibe. There are also some cute places to stay too, from boutique inns to modern and chic, here are the best cool and unusual hotels in Santa Rosa, California (in no particular order)…
1. Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country – a charming and stylish-chic hotel with a romantic Tuscan villa charisma
With over 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space on the doorstep of win country, the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country is the complete vacation location.
Within walking distance of Railroad Square and the restaurants, museums and stores that make Santa Rosa such a wonderful place to visit, yet with its own sense of style and privacy that means you can always find a quiet spot to relax whenever you want.
Rooms are elegant and understated, with neutral tones and quality furnishings, and of course wonderful views over Santa Rosa, perfect for relaxing in an evening.
You have a choice of dining to suit your mood, with casual dining at Sonoma Café, for all day lighter choices as well as curated wine and beer lists.
The Pool Café brings freshly prepared snacks to your outdoor fun, while a comprehensive in-room dining menu is also offered, including breakfast lunch and dinner with options for every taste.
A fitness center, outdoor pool, free internet and extensive concierge and meeting services mean that whatever you are planning in Santa Rosa, this hotel is a fantastic place to stay.
2. Gaige House – a quiet, chic and trendy accommodation perfect for a peaceful stay
Sitting within the heart of Sonoma Valley in Glen Ellen, Gaige House has an enviable reputation for quality and comfort that few can match. Built in the late 1800’s, the building began life as a private residence, and was fully restored to become the Zen paradise it is today in 2006.
The hotel is built around an Asian modernistic style, with the 23 rooms offering superb finishings including superb granite bathrooms and the highest quality furnishings in every room. If you want to relax in luxury, Gaige House should be top of your list.
With wine and cheese every afternoon, sumptuous breakfast prepared on site and wonderful grounds to explore, you can enjoy every moment at Gaige House.
The outdoor spaces are especially good, with a wonderful pool, a moon deck complete with fire pit for evenings under the stars, and a meditation alcove when you need to relax.
A luxurious stay as a base for exploring or someone to come, close off the outside world and relax, you can have whatever you want at Gaige House.
To book, check prices or availability for Gaige House
3. Kenwood Inn & Spa – a breathtaking, Instagrammable hotel surrounded by a soothing environment perfect for a romantic getaway
With just 29 guestrooms and suites located in the heart of the Sonoma Valley, Kenwood Inn is a boutique hotel that delivers an exceptional experience for all.
Blending 18th century style and a Mediterranean feel, you can enjoy elegant luxury and superb service. Each room features a luxury mattress, Italian furnishings, your own fireplace and separate entrance, making it a real home from home in stunning surroundings.
The grounds surrounding the hotel cover two and a half acres, and feature two pools, three courtyards and walks among the flowers.
There is also a fully featured Spa, with relaxation spaces and poolside cabanas to provide the very best environment for rejuvenation.
With on site dining options and easy travel to the wonderful range of quality restaurants in the region, you will be sp0olied for choice when it comes to dining. Kenwood Inn & Spa has something for everyone, a great spot for relaxing and exploring everything Santa Rosa has to offer.
4. Dr Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort and Mineral Springs a Member of Design Hotels – a retro, quirky, design hotel perfect for a rejuvenating retreat
An intriguing name that takes you to a very unique hotel experience. A comprehensive spa and resort, here you will find geothermal pools, cabanas, a full-service spa, mud baths, complimentary bicycles, outdoor games and so much more.
It’s a fabulous hotelfor relaxing and pampering yourself, but also a wonderful place to stay when you want to explore the region.
Rooms are a fantastic mix of midcentury style and modern touches. Avant Garde lamps sit next to painted brick walls, bold, bright furnishings and more traditional furniture. Its an unusual mix but comes together to make a very interesting and comfortable place to stay.
On site dining is excellent, offering outdoor dining with a twist that brings together the best of home-cooked comfort food with healthy eating, its delicious and great for you too!
5. Vintner’s Resort – an upscale and elegant resort located on a vineyard trail
Your gateway to wine country, Vintner’s Resort is a stunning location that sits in its own landscaped grounds but remains close enough to enjoy the best of Santa Rosa too.
With vineyards and fountains to wander though, you could be forgiven for never leaving the resort your whole stay. Rooms are varied, some with private patios and stunning fireplaces to enjoy in the evenings.
All rooms are beautifully appointed with marble bathrooms, beautiful woods and soft, comfortable furnishings.
Unique art adds splashes of color for a wonderfully relaxing environment, while a choice of dining options let you enjoy your favorite style overlooking the wonderful gardens, while a fully featured spa is on hand to help you ease the pressures of daily life.
You’re never far away from the regions best export, a fine bottle of wine, making Vintner’s a great place to sample that fantastic product.
6. Hotel La Rose – a cute, boutique and unique hotel with charming character
Located on Santa Rosa’s historic Railroad Square, Hotel La Rosa is perfectly placed for any visit to the region. Serving travelers to the area for over 105 years, Hotel La Rosa is listed with the National Trust Historic Hotels of America and is a striking 48 room hotel spread over a main building and carriage house.
Rooms evoke the history of the hotel, with traditional furniture blending with modern comforts such as TV and free wifi to make a for a super-comfy stay.
This is a hotel with a unique character. Dining is taken care of by Grossman’s Noshery and Bar on site, a New York-style deli, bakery, and bar where you can enjoy eclectic breakfast, al-fresco dining or take out to eat in your room.
Of course, you also have a wealth of restaurants and other eateries on your doorstep in Santa Rosa.
To book, check prices or availability for Hotel La Rosa
7. Courtyard by Marriott Santa Rosa – a newly renovated, stylish hotel located in the heart of Santa Rosa
Courtyard is everything you would expect from Marriott, big, professional, luxurious and full of those little touches that make all the difference.
From the smart check in desks, and the fantastic service you can expect, to comfortable lounge seating in shared areas through to the classic style of the spacious, airy rooms, Courtyard makes life very easy indeed.
While Courtyardis within easy reach of the fantastic dining to be found in Santa Rosa, there is an in-house breakfast service, a Bistro for breakfast and dinner, and the hotel operates an in-room delivery service for local restaurant partners, so you can have a relaxing night in with great food if you wish.
A fitness center is open 24 hours a day, and an outdoor pool lets you make the most of weather during the day too. A great hotel that does everything right.
8. Brannan Cottage Inn – a unique accommodation where historic meets modern in a quiet location
Welcoming its first guests in 1860, the Brennan Cottage Inn is still in the same location on Wappo Avenue today, offering a bespoke and enticing mix of history and modern convenience.
With just six luxurious rooms, you can enjoy the feel of pioneer living with modern luxury.
Each room is unique, making full use of the period features of the building, with classical styles, wonderfully comfortable furniture enhanced with modern features including wifi.
Sam’s General Store offers gourmet coffee, pastries and other unique items while retaining the look and feel of the 1860’s, with classic style and modern service.
The hotel also offers a picnic service, creating a complete hamper for you to take to your chosen location to enjoy food in the sun. If you want to explore the area and really soak in the history, you can’t go wrong with this incredible hotel and everything it has to offer.
9. AC Hotel Santa Rosa Sonoma Wine Country – a sleek and modern design hotel perfect for both business and leisure stays
A very modern hotel that you enter through a grand covered entrance, AC Hotel Santa Rosa instantly makes you feel at home with attentive, welcoming staff and a relaxed atmosphere that matches the understated décor and overall ambience.
Large communal areas, outdoor seating and more make it a wonderful experience, while the modern décor with clean lines and subtle colors maximize space and give each room a light, airy feel.
With the AC Hotel Santa Rosa, it’s not just the rooms that make you feel right at home though, service is impeccable at all times, and with a fitness center, bar and 24-hour front desk, they can help.
The hotel is convenient for the best of Santa Rosa too, a perfect base for your trip and one that you will definitely want to enjoy more than once.
10. Hotel E – a boutique hotel located in a beautiful, historic building with scenic views
Sitting in the heart of Sonoma Valle between the Mayacamas and the Sonoma Mountains themselves, Hotel E is a glorious blend of traditional architecture and modern décor.
The building itself impresses the moment you see it, bright white in classical 19th century style, but it is the still functioning clock tower on top that you are sure to be captivated by.
Inside, period pieces and modern style come together to create a unique, relaxing and very comfortable space to stay, with rooms including free wifi, safes and more for convenience.
Looking out over Santa Rosa Courthouse Square, staying at Hotel E puts you right at the heart of this beautiful location, close to restaurants, museums and everything else you may want to visit.
The hotel provides 24-hour concierge, a lovely outdoor courtyard, a rooftop bar and an on0site restaurant, along with a Starbucks on the premises, and a fitness center to work all that indulgence off!
11. Art House – a contemporary and upscale accommodation with a sleek modern design
Sitting right on 7th Street, Art Houseis the perfect location for exploring everything Santa Rosa has to offer. The modern architecture houses 11 rooms, with a choice of apartments, quadruple suites, doubles and studios.
Each room has elegant décor with clean lines, very much brining the idea of a city loft to life. Big windows make every room light and airy, with plenty of space for eating and relaxing when you are not out exploring.
There is a mini market on site for eating in your room, but you are never far from the many fantastic restaurants Santa Rosa enjoys, so dining can be anything you want.
The hotel also has a rental car service if you want to venture further. If you like modern style and want to be in easy reach of all the main attractions, you can’t go wrong with Art House.
To book, check prices or availability for Art House
Beth was born under a wandering star, with drama in her veins and ink in her pen. After stints studying theatre in Dublin and Utrecht she used her creative streak to see as much of the world as she could on as little money. She toured Italian Schools with a children’s theatre troop, lived as an au-pair in both Rome and Washington DC, explored the British countryside, worked her way through much of Europe, Salsa danced in Cuba and road tripped down America’s west coast where she discovered her spiritual home; Portland, Oregon. In between adventures she resides peacefully with her family, cats and ukulele.
