The range of hotel accommodations available in Sonoma County wine country is welcoming and diverse. You’ll find everything from luxe old farm houses to modern suites with full kitchens to boutique hotels with an 18-hole putting green. But if you’re a fan of historic properties, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is not to be missed.
Location & History
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is located less than three miles from historic Sonoma Plaza and a touch more than 40 miles north of San Francisco.
The property dates back to 1927, but long before there was a hotel, Native Americans sought out the onsite geothermal mineral springs for their medicinal benefits. While history buffs will relish the Fairmont’s story, even guests none the wiser will find it hard not to be taken with the landmark. Architecturally inspired by the California Missions stretching from San Diego to Sonoma, they don’t build hotels like the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa anymore.
Accommodations
The lobby is located in the hotel’s Main Building. Check-in is quick, efficient, and paired with a glass of sparkling wine crafted by Gloria Ferrer specifically for the resort. Be on the lookout for Canine Ambassador, Chardonnay, lounging by the front desk most weekdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn features 226 accommodations in a variety of room categories. While a selection of guestrooms are located in the Main Building, many more are located in multiple freestanding buildings that dot the 13-acre property.
I stayed in a Mission Spa Suite less than a 5-minute walk from the resort pool. With towering trees, gurgling fountains, bee-friendly gardens, and a colorful Tree of Wishes, just wandering the landscaped grounds can be a memorable part of your stay here.
My room was impressively spacious. At the foot of the king poster was a sitting area with a loveseat (that can also convert to a sofa bed), comfy chair, desk, and wood-burning fireplace. French doors opened out to a large balcony overlooking a garden courtyard with a fountain.
A deep, jetted soaking tub separated the bedroom from the bathroom. Along with a double sink vanity, there was a generous walk-in shower and a water closet. Sought-after Le Labo toiletries are provided in eco-friendly, refillable bottles.
Other useful amenities include a small refrigerator, a Nespresso machine, and an electric kettle. All accommodations at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa feature a complimentary bottle of local wine.
Public Spaces and Facilities
I highly recommend setting aside time in your wine country itinerary to experience the Fairmont Spa and Bathhouse. Home to five geothermal mineral pools and a whopping 28 treatment rooms, spa guests are welcome to linger before and after treatments. Resort guests without a spa treatment can book a day pass for an additional fee. The Resort Pool, located closer to the hotel lobby, is open to all guests.
A 24-hour fitness center is located steps from the spa. You’ll find a variety of free weights and cardio equipment, including Peloton spin bikes. Depending on the day of the week, morning yoga, Pilates, and stretch classes are offered. Most weekend days, an off-property, docent-led hike is on the property’s activity schedule.
Guests of Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa can also book tee times at the members-only Sonoma Golf Club. Don’t play golf? Consider practicing your swing on the tennis or pickleball courts.
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Dining Options
Signature restaurant Santé serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday Brunch. Breakfast favorites include Avocado Toast, the Croque Madame, and Melissa’s Famous Banana Bread with whipped espresso peanut butter (Santé is closed for dinner on Tuesday & Wednesday). Casual dining is available poolside at Water Tower Bar. Located in a shiny, vintage Airstream trailer, CaliForno food truck pairs selections such as fried chicken sandwiches and parmesan truffle French fries with live music performances, May through October. A trio of wood Swiss chalets that feature happy hour and prix-fixe menus typically appear just in time for the winter holidays.
All-Inclusive Package
A first for Sonoma wine country, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn recently introduced an all-inclusive package. The list of packages inclusions is lengthy and diverse. Along with three meals a day from a set all-inclusive menu (excluding alcohol), guests can choose between a daily round of golf at Sonoma Golf Club or a select 60-minute treatment at Fairmont Spa.
All resort fees and gratuities are included; other perks include a bottle of Gloria Ferrer sparkling wine, house-made macarons, and assorted in-room snacks and soft drinks. The starting nightly rate is $1,140 for two adults; there is a two-night minimum on weekdays and a three-night minimum on weekends.
Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.
Good to Know
San Francisco International Airport is a 60-mile drive; Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport is just a 27-mile trip, but flight options will be more limited.
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa offers ten accessible rooms adapted for guests with mobility disabilities.
Rates for a Mission Spa Suite start at $800. Be sure to budget for the daily $59 Resort Experience Fee. It covers a variety of services and goods such as basic Wi-Fi, a bottle of Highway 12 wine (in your room), daily wine tasting from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., shuttle service to Sonoma Plaza, and more. Valet and self-parking are available for an additional fee.
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is a pet-friendly resort. There is a fee of $150 per pet, per stay. No more than two animals are allowed per guestroom.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, but as always, her thoughts and opinions are her own.
