There’s so much more to a fabulous hotel than just a comfortable bed. An unforgettable hotel experience is about myriad details. It’s about how the staff smiles at you at check-in, the coffee roast quality at breakfast, the temperature in the room, and the massage pressure at the SPA, to name a few. Hotel Healdsburg in California ticks nearly all the boxes, in addition to its unbeatable location in the heart of one of the emerging food and wine capitals of America’s Northern Coast.

Hotel Healdsburg is located about 108 kilometers north of San Francisco, in the middle of Sonoma County. Unlike the neighboring Napa Valley, this area still maintains its down-to-earth rustic charm. The agricultural economy prevails here, and most restaurants practice a farm-to-table approach, using local and seasonal ingredients. After several highly anticipated restaurant openings in the past few years, Healdsburg has become one of the foodies’ beloved destinations in America and beyond. But it was the Hotel Healdsburg, with its luxury vibe blended with warm Californian hospitality, that helped put Healdsburg on the culinary map when it opened in 2001.

Hotel Healdsburg boasts a prime location on the edge of the town’s buzzy central Plaza, lined up with cafes and wine-tasting rooms. Still, the guests immerse themselves in ultimate privacy and comfort once inside. While the hotel’s facade is sleek and minimalist, the interiors from an innovative San Francisco-based David Baker Architects design firm exude warmth and coziness, with soft light, velvet couches, plush chairs, and a fireplace in the lobby.

The property’s fifty-five rooms are available in several categories. All have plenty of space and a relaxing flair, with subdued colors from subtle grey to light blue, contrasting with dark pecan wood floors. Teak platform beds with Frette linens are locally made, as are some accessories like paintings from a Sonoma County artist. French windows open into private balconies overlooking the hotel’s olive garden. Spacious bathrooms with tile-covered walls provide large bathtubs, walk-in showers, and bespoke organic toiletries. In addition to the continental breakfast with fresh juice, homemade granola, and organic coffee, the perks for the guests include daily re-stocking of complimentary snacks, Nespresso capsules, and drinking water.

The hotel’s fine-dining Dry Creek Kitchen remains one of the most frequented restaurants in the area. The chef is Charlie Palmer, a holder of multiple Michelin stars and a pioneer of progressive American cooking. Palmer’s culinary style evolved from his upstate New York farm upbringing, training in France, and the Culinary Institute of America. The Dry Creek Kitchen cuisine embraces the fusion of the finest local produce with classical French cooking traditions. Humboldt Bay oysters, diver scallops, poached shrimp or roasted duck, and other meats and seasonal veggies from nearby farms pair up with the wine list of more than 600 selections.

Most wine served in this glassy, airy restaurant overlooking the Healdsburg Plaza comes from Sonoma wineries. Sculptural floral arrangements adorn the dining room, and floor-to-ceiling windows and oversized doors open to a sunny patio, evoking wine country’s outdoorsy lifestyle. For more casual fare, another eatery at the hotel, Pizzando, offers wood-fired pizzas Neapolitan- and Roman-style, homemade pasta and focaccia, seasonal appetizers, and Italian-inspired cocktails. At the Spirit Bar in the Fireside Lounge, single-barrel scotches and whiskeys, wines from the best local appellations, and small-bite treats from Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen are available. On summer weekends, locals join the hotel guests to listen to live jazz performances from some of the region’s top musicians.

For discerning weekend trippers, Hotel Healdsburg, with its bespoke SPA and an overall secluded feel, is a welcoming place to decompress from the high-paced life. The heated pool and a jacuzzi tucked into the back of the garden, amongst olive trees and towering cypresses, provide serenity and quiet. The hand-picked signature SPA treatments like an invigorating scrub of raw sugar infused with the essence of local Meyer lemons or strawberry and rhubarb extracts, lavender peppermint, or a hemp-derived CBD essential oils restorative massages will help recharge the body and mind.

Healdsburg’s pedestrian downtown is full of art galleries, shops with handmade ware, open-air markets, gourmet boutiques, eateries, and tasting rooms. Most are within walking distance from Healdsburg Hotel, and at least 80 vineyards are within a short drive. Eno-enthusiasts can effortlessly explore at least three wine regions in the area, each with distinct microclimate and grape varieties: Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley. The guests willing to burn off the calories from their epicurean experiences can explore the scenic surroundings on a bike – Hotel Healdsburg provides them for free. Hiking and horseback riding alongside Sonoma County’s foothills are also an option all year round.

With its pretty Queen Anne homes, dozens of tasting rooms, and top-notch restaurants, Healdsburg is an alluring all-year-round destination to relax and indulge in gourmet experiences. If you opt for Hotel Healdsburg, “the grande dame of downtown,” as the locals have dubbed it, you’ll most likely be returning here again.