The Madrona

The Madrona may be new, but the Mansion, the hotel’s ornate centerpiece, certainly isn’t — this 1881 mansion was built in Aesthetic Movement style, and stands in stark contrast to the Tuscan and Provençal pretensions of so many other wine-country hotels. It’s set on the west side of Healdsburg, just across Dry Creek from the town center, and its extravagant silhouette isn’t the only surprise for arriving guests; the interiors, by co-owner and designer Jay Jeffers, are eclectic, incorporating period elements as well as modern interventions, a very fine art collection, and a boatload of antiques and curios collected during several lifetimes’ worth of travels. Rooms and suites are divided between the original mansion, its carriage house, and a handful of restored 19th-century bungalows. They’re all different, and all packed with throwback romance and modern comforts. And they’ve all got access to the Madrona’s impressive facilities: a lovely outdoor pool, a gym furnished with Peloton bikes and Tonal gear, a fleet of Van Moof electric bikes, and a guests-only lounge. Meanwhile guests mingle with the public at the Madrona’s restaurant over a wide-ranging all-day menu, crafted from seasonal ingredients (many grown in the hotel’s own garden) and served in the dining room, on the terrace, or just about anywhere else.