Kenwood Inn and Spa

10400 Sonoma Hwy., Kenwood, California 95452, USA
Fodor's Choice
Four Sisters Inns

Why We Like It

The Kenwood Inn oozes romance—more than a few guests are here on honeymoons or anniversaries—but its charms extend beyond the amorous. Staffers efficiently go about their task of providing full but unobtrusive service, and the pool, hot tubs, and grounds inspire hours of lolling. If this doesn't provide sufficient relaxation, there's always the spa.

Fodor's Expert Review

With its mature fruit trees and buildings resembling a Mediterranean-style villa, this luxury inn seems as though it's been here for a century, but it was actually completed in 1989. A haven for romance since the day it opened, the inn, oriented more toward cooing couples than families, sits just off Highway 12 across from acres of vineyards backed by the Mayacamas Mountains, which separate Sonoma and Napa counties.

You Should Know The inn survived the fires of Fall 2017 but suffered smoke damage. The innkeepers, the respected Four Sisters Inns group, chose to close Kenwood until around Valentine's Day 2018 for a top-to-bottom refurbishment, including the replacement of all linens and bedding.

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Room

Fluffy feather beds, custom Italian furnishings, fireplaces, and French doors in most cases opening onto terraces or balconies lend this inn's uncommonly spacious guest rooms a romantic air. All the rooms have separate entrances, espresso makers, and refrigerators. The 14 room types out of a total of 29 accommodations is a tip-off that each one has a unique appeal, from price to views to lavish layout. The inn has only one pet-friendly room (dogs only), so it's wise to book as far ahead as possible.

Tip Rooms in the front facing Sonoma Highway pick up some street noise; when booking be sure to ask for one in the back of the property.

Bathroom

Bathrooms range from the pedestrian (shower only, small shower-tub combo) to semi-palatial ones with deep jetted soaking tubs and walk-in ceramic-tiled showers. Upgrades to some were part of the post-fire makeover.

Lobby

Done up in dark wood with subdued lighting, the lobby is a quiet place where the transition from "out there" to tranquil getaway begins. Hosts greet guests with a warm smile and a glass of sparkling wine before commencing with a tour of the property and escorting them to their rooms.

Pool

Three atmospheric courtyards contain an outdoor heated pool and two hot tubs. You could easily spend an afternoon padding from one to the next in your robe and slippers, forgetting you came to taste at the many nearby wineries. For a fee, hotel and spa guests (and day guests) can reserve deluxe poolside cabanas with lounge chairs and a love seat, plus amenities that include a bottle of wine, winery passes, soft drinks and waters, a cheese plate, and a Bose music player.

Spa

A pretty setting, expert practitioners, and rejuvenating therapies using products from iS Clinical, Intraceuticals, and the French line Caudalíe make a visit to the Spa at Kenwood an ethereal experience. Signature treatments include delicious-sounding Honey Wine Wrap, which involves a warming, full-body slathering of wine yeast and honey. The Crushed Cabernet Scrub raises the sweetness ante by adding brown sugar to the honey, along with crushed grape seeds and grape-seed oil. The spa's other services include massages and facials.

Gym

The inn has no gym but does provide guests with complimentary day passes to the Parkpoint Health Club Sonoma (16-minute drive), which has fitness machines, free weights, and multistation workout areas. Instructors lead dozens of daily classes, with yoga, aerobics, and dance among the most popular.

Dining

The room rate includes an elaborate breakfast served buffet style. There's always a hot dish, often an omelet or quiche, sometimes French toast, along with ham or a similar meat, a baked item like a scone or coffee cake, and granola, seasonal fresh fruit, yogurt, and cereals. In good weather, guests can dine outdoors in a verdant fountained courtyard.

Drinking

"Magic Hour" wine and cheese tastings take place daily between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Marinated olives, dried fruit, nuts, and other nibbles are also served.

What's Nearby

Getting Around

The Kenwood Inn occupies a rural parcel along the Sonoma Highway, also signed as Highway 12. Most guests arrive by car. A small stretch of Sonoma Highway ½ mile north of town has several tasting rooms and some shops and a few eateries, but most people drive even to these because the road's shoulders aren't wide at most points. Sonoma County Transit buses stop near the inn and neighboring wineries.

Restaurants

Kenwood has a few restaurants worth checking out, most notably Salt & Stone (1-minute drive) for what its owners describe as "rustic California Mediterranean cuisine" (there's also an oyster bar). Visit Palooza Gastropub & Wine Bar (2-minute drive) for jazzed-up pub grub, and Café Citti (2-minute drive) for casual, stand-and-order Italian. Over in Glen Ellen try Glen Ellen Star (7-minute drive) for sophisticated Modern American and Umbria (8-minute drive) for Italian overlooking Sonoma Creek.

Bars

The nearest full bar, at Salt & Stone (1-minute drive), serves martinis, Manhattans, and other classics along with specialty cocktails like the New York sour, whose ingredients include bourbon, lemon juice, and a layer of Petite Sirah. The wines are well chosen. Palooza Gastropub & Wine Bar (2-minute drive) has a full bar and 16 craft beers on tap; local wines are a focus, making this is a good place to get to know what Sonoma Valley has to offer.

Quick Facts

HOTEL INFO

Phones: 707-833–1293