Fodor's Expert Review Andaz Napa

Part of the Hyatt family, this boutique hotel with an urban-hip vibe has luxuriously appointed rooms with white-marble bathrooms stocked with high-quality bath products. On the ground floor are wine-tasting rooms, a restaurant, and bikes for rent. From spring into fall, the second-floor Mercantile Terrace is a stylishly casual outdoor spot to sip wine or cocktails or just hang out. The well-trained staffers here provide low-key yet polished service.

The splurge here, the 1,000-square-foot Vintner Suite, has two sofas, a dining room that seats up to 15 people, and a private balcony with a retractable glass wall.

room

Rooms come in several categories, from standard kings with or without views to loft rooms, some of which have a private balcony and face an interior terrace. Even the smallest room seems reasonably spacious. All rooms contain a complimentary minibar well stocked with snacks and nonalcoholic beverages. The dual-sided glass-enclosed fireplace facing both the sitting and sleeping areas is a nice touch in the Large Loft category rooms.

YOU SHOULD KNOW Some rooms along 1st Street pick up noise, though the double-pane windows mitigate this.

bathroom

All the bathrooms are done in white marble, with gleaming chrome fixtures and walk-in showers. A sleek oval soaking tub adjoins the bathroom in many rooms—tubs in the Large Loft category are spacious enough for two. The deluxe 29 Cosmetics bath products are by Lydia Mondavi of the famous wine family.

lobby

The vibe in the Andaz Napa's lobby is a cross between living room and lounge. There's a bar to the right, comfortable seating to the left, and no front desk. Instead, hosts appear with iPads and an offer of coffee, wine, or water, with the goal to make you feel immediately in good care. In the evening, the lobby is a fun place to hang out, with the bar serving craft spirits and musicians (usually acoustic) sometimes performing. Local wineries sometimes pour wines in the late afternoon.

spa

In-room massages—Swedish, deep-tissue, prenatal, and aroma candle—are available through the nearby Greenhaus European Day Spa. You can arrange for a couple massage if desired.

gym

Guests have privileges next door to the hotel at the Exertec Health & Fitness Center, which has exercise equipment, an indoor pool, a steam room and a sauna, and a Jacuzzi.

dining

The ground-floor Andaz Farmers Table serves breakfast daily, with a menu that includes pancakes, egg dishes, and espresso drinks. You can also order breakfast to go. The separately run Tarla Mediterranean Bar & Grill, in a ground-floor storefront, is open for lunch and dinner.

drinking

Craft spirits from local distillers are the focus at Mercantile Social, the Andaz Napa's lobby bar, which also serves craft beers and wines from local boutique wineries. Mercantile Terrace, on the second floor and open seasonally, has cozy cabanas and fire pits. A cool place for a late-afternoon cocktail, it often bustles on summer weekend evenings.