5 Unique Santa Rosa Hotels, Resorts & More

Discover the perfect blend of big-city style and small-town warmth in Santa Rosa, Wine Country’s largest city and the county seat of Sonoma County. Whether exploring vineyards or indulging in culinary delights, these Santa Rosa hotels provide a comfortable retreat, ensuring your stay is complemented by the charm of this vibrant destination.

With personalized touches and an array of atmospheres, these unique Santa Rosa accommodations promise comfort and an authentic and unforgettable journey through the heart of Wine Country.

Other attractions for those who like to stroll the city include wine tasting, investigating the art district, or taking a historic walking tour of a cemetery dating from the 1850s.

So, where to stay while in the city? A few suggestions:

Retro Motor Lodge Revival

Affordable, ‘retro-chic,’ and recently beautifully remodeled, The Astro Motel feels like a road trip to a past-perfect fantasy destination. Not surprisingly, given its sparkling new renovation, this motel was recently featured in Vogue, GQ, and Sunset magazines, among others.

Beyond the fun and exceptionally well-curated ‘vintage’ vibe you get from classic midcentury furnishings and cool wall art, there are a host of amenities in each room that make you feel taken care of: Casper mattress and pillows on the bed, linens with high thread count, Chivas soap, and Shikai hair and bath products, plus a great selection of tasty snacks and refreshments in the minibar. Complimentary Flying Goat coffee and the famous Spinster Sisters pastries are available in the mornings.

Added Advantages: You can ditch your car and rent a Shinola bike at the motel, then bike to your favorite destinations or walk to the downtown area, just a 10-minute walk. You’ll also find a good assortment of dog-friendly rooms, a lending library, and a lush garden courtyard.

323 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa

Victorian Neighborhood Home

Welcome to Casa Bello, a charming 1870s-era Victorian in the historic Cherry Street neighborhood. Accommodations include a full breakfast, kitchen access (so you can cook up your specialties), and bilingual, accommodating hosts who are also Sonoma County Certified Travel Ambassadors and guides — should you need a little extra input on your daily itinerary. 

Added Advantages: The owners, Eric and Paul, scout out the local farmers market on the weekend, looking for the best spot to set up a table just for their guests. You can talk to the food vendors, taste their wares, and head to the dining table pictured above with your goodies. Eric and Paul will do prep work for you or supply you with good china and glassware for an alfresco meal!

Traveling in a group? You can book a three-bedroom, one-bath private suite that can accommodate up to six guests or a two-bedroom, one-bath private suite for up to four guests.

432 Orchard St., Santa Rosa

Historic Railroad Square Hotel

Hotel La Rose offers some old-world European appeal in the center of Santa Rosa’s historic Railroad Square neighborhood. The inn, built in 1907 by Italian stonemasons, includes rooms in the main building and a carriage house in the back. You can enjoy their hotel breakfast in the morning and dining in an in-house restaurant (opening after a remodel for the summer of 2018.) The carriage house offers rooms with either a private balcony or patio. 

Added Advantages: This hotel is close to a wide assortment of sophisticated eateries, shops, and a couple of spas, as well as the Sonoma County Visitor’s Center. Another interesting note: one of the leading hotel rooms is occasionally visited by the ethereal specters of a few well-mannered ghosts — a pair of children and a woman in a flowing nightdress. So, if gentle haunting is an added attraction, ask for Room 42.

308 Wilson St., Santa Rosa

Tuscan Inspired Oasis 

Vintners Resort’s tagline says it all: Celebrate Everything. No appeal to the senses was spared in the design of this beautiful, certified green lodging resort, set among lush gardens and vineyards. The luxury is in the details. When you arrive, you’ll find a half bottle of wine from Ferrari-Carano for sipping on your private balcony or patio. The California King beds are all the more luxurious with deluxe featherbeds and down comforters. Enjoy any of the three dining options on the property, or treat yourself to a massage at the spa, Vi La Vita Spa — follow this with a cheese plate and sparkling wine to prolong the bliss in your room.

Added Advantages: Consider dinner at one of the two onsite restaurants, including the iconic and world-famous John Ash & Co restaurant, one of the pioneering leaders of fresh, local, and seasonal wine country cuisine in northern California. You can also wander the spacious and beautifully maintained grounds, especially the two-mile vineyard path.

4350 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa

On Safari 

Safari West Wildlife Preserve and African Tent Camp is a stunning and unique safari adventure on a singularly magnificent wildlife refuge home to 900 exotic animals on the eastern edge of Santa Rosa. This destination is worth checking out with its green hills and stately trees. Go for ‘glamping’ in one of their luxuriously outfitted and authentic safari tents. You’ll be at home with your private deck, bed and bath linens, ensuite bathroom, and polished hardwood floors. At night, you can relax around the campfire with a glass of wine, then enjoy your dinner at the onsite restaurant. A continental breakfast is available when you awake. 

Added Advantages: An extensive lecture series is planned for the year, as is an after-dinner children’s program (in the works for this summer). More than that … you get to listen to the ‘nightlife’ of the various animals that make Safari West their home.

3115 Porter Creek Road, Santa Rosa