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Hotel Review: The Carneros Inn (Napa, CA)

The Carneros Inn, A Plumpjack Resort

4048 Sonoma Highway,  Napa, CA 94559

Reservations 888 400 9000  |  T 707 299 4900  |  F 707 299 4950

http://www.thecarnerosinn.com

Caneros Inn
Caneros Inn
 
 The Carneros Inn resort, a Plumpjack resort, is actually a small village of 80+ cottages built into miniature neighborhoods.  The resort owners advertise the design as “California Farm”.   To my wife and I it felt more like a Restoration Hardware catalog.  If you like that look, you will love this resort much like we did.   The basic garden “cottages” are small pre-fabricated 420 square foot suites that have a front porch and 420 Sq. feet of living space as well as a spacious bathroom with heated floors.  In addition to the room is approximately another 420 sq. ft. outdoor living area you can walk out onto via your french doors. or through your outdoor shower.  Yes, your outdoor shower.  Our room came equipped with a king size bed, fireplace (with duraflame log), flatscreen TV, DVD player, soaking tub, a deck with chaise lounges, heating lamp and the aforementioned and signature indoor/outdoor shower.  Some of these outdoor showers have a cutout so you can overlook the vineyards as you lather up.
All together the “farm” feel seemed like a luxurious alternative to our city digs just 35 minutes south of us.  A great way to just get away mid-week to celebrate our anniversary, the Carneros Inn took us far away from our normal every day life even if it was just for 24 hours.  We couldn’t have been further from home while still have the modern and local luxuries that we enjoy every day.
Indoor/Outdoor Shower
Indoor/Outdoor Shower

Although they know that you will most likely leave the premises, the Carneros Inn gave us plenty of reasons to never leave.  The spa is a great retreat for locals and we found many women there for a “spa day”.  There are 3 restaurants.  The Boon Fly Cafe for a casual meal (hamburgers, donuts, etc.), the Farm, a high end restaurant featuring locally grown organic and sustainablly raised dishes, with homemade breads, pastries and Artesian charcuteries, and the Hilltop restaurant located near the adult pool.  There is also a small grocery where you can pick up deli items for a picnic.  Additional amenities include free bicycles which allow you bike the back roads to the local wineries where you can do some wine tasting, a large workout and fitness center, and two pool areas.  One pool area has a baby wading pool complete with baby Adirondack chairs.  The Hilltop infinite pool is for adults (over 14 only) and also includes an outdoor hot tub.  There is a great pool staff waiting to help you with your umbrella, towel and drink orders.  The resort has complimentary wi-fi as well as a complimentary stocked mini-bar.

The Hilltop Reception Area
The Hilltop Reception Area

 

Situated off of highway 121 between the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, you are are conveniently situated for winetasting in either direction.  You are only a 5 minute drive to the Napa Outlets and downtown Napa.  You are here for the aura of  Northern California.  Surrounded my vineyards, the only sounds you will hear at night are barking dogsfrom the local kennel, and the occasional scnet of cows and horses.  The resort is literally walled off from the highway so it is easy to miss, but if you are looking for the sheet metal walls, you can’t miss it.

 
 
 
The Boon Fly Cafe
The Boon Fly Cafe

 The closest Sonoma/Napa resort to San Francisco, the resort makes the perfect little getaway if you want to pamper yourself and get a little quiet and relaxation.

One of the great advantages of living in the San Francisco Bay Area is that we are so close to some of the most naturally beautiful Carneros09-000places in the world.  Just 45 minutes north of San Francisco is the Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine country.  While there aren’t many discounts with this resort we took advantage of a mid week one night stay without an early checkout.    The Carneros Inn is a sister company to the Plumpjack Resort located in Lake Tahoe and and is related to the Plumjack Winery as well as the now defunct Jack Falstaff eatery formerly located in  San Francisco’s SOMA  area.

King Cottage
King Cottage

All around the grounds are small apple trees with real apples.  Do not pick them.  Apples are placed in your room daily.  The Bath products are made by Red Flower of New York.  Amazingly for the price of the room, they do want to charge you $30 if you take the bath products home.  A little cheap in my opinion given that the mini-bar and the wi-fi are complementary.

Outdoor Shower
Outdoor Shower

The resort itself while located on a highway is walled off from the traffic.  Many might look at the resort like a compound or a commune sequestered from its surrounding neighbors by 30 foot high walls, electronic gates and acres of vineyards.  In fact I thought to myself this place was laid out like the most beautiful summer concentration camp you’d ever seen.  When you check in, you have to go to the front gate, give them your name and then drive to the far back corner of the resort where you will find the Hilltop registration.

Private Deck and Yard
Private Deck and Yard

Registration was relaxed with bottled water being offered and then once given our card keys, we followed our bell hop in his golf cart down to our little parking area.  Each cottage is grouped into groups of 6 to 8 cottage areas each forming their own mini-neighborhood.  While there, only two other cottages were occupied in our neighborhood.

The resort also has larger homes that are available for time share purchases.  This group of homes is called “The Orchard”  While similar in style, these homes are more sturdily built than the cottages and are gorgeous.  Be sure to visit one of the Open Home models when walking the grounds.
Farm Indoor Dining
Farm Indoor Dining

What separates this resort from other Napa resorts is the peacefulness.   We did leave the resort for dinner (Farm restaurant was closed the night we stayed at the resort) only for dinner at Tra Vigne, the restuarant made famous by Chef Michael Chiarello of Napa Style.    Other than that, we got everything we wanted.  Peaveful night walks and even sitting alone in the hot tub overlooking the vineyards and staing at the stars for several hours.  It was so beautiful we didn’t spend much time enjoying our beautiful room.

Dual Sink Bathroom
Dual Sink Bathroom
The outdoor waterfall shower was relaxing and very unique if you’ve never had an outdoor shower.  I admit to using it after swimming and again late at night.  Showering under a full moon was truly unique experience although I probably let in a few moths into our bathroom when I did that.
It isn’t often that you not focus your thoughts on the bedroom, but the Carneros Inn cottages have you focused so much on the bathroom.   When the bell boy showed us to our room, most of the description time he spent with us was on the functionality of the shower which had 4 different sprays, the inverted shower door which takes you outside to the waterfall shower and then locks into place to separate you from your outdoor patio.  The bathroom include a separate water closet as well as a soaking tub next to a picture window.
Farm Restaurant Outdoor Lounge
Farm Restaurant Outdoor Lounge
One night was definitely not enough time at the resort.  We didn’t have enough time to enjoy all the wonderful secluded offerings such as the complimentary Bianchi bikes, the yoga studio and spa, the Hilltop dining area, or the market and Town hall areas where you can enjoy a friendly game of Bocce ball on their outdoor courts.  The resort also offers in-room dining on your outdoor patio which we were planning on trying out .  Yes, no reservations necessary.
Bianchi Complimentary bikes
Bianchi Complimentary bikes

This resort is definitely for those looking for some seclusion and quiet.  Sightings of movie stars and other celebrities (San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsom, is the Founding partner and his sister , Hilary, is the acting President.

There are no tennis courts or golf courses associated with the property but the resort will make arrangements for those guest looking to play on any of the local course such as Silverado, Chardonnay or the Vintners Club.
The Town Hall
The Town Hall