Inside Auberge du Soleil, the Napa Valley Icon That's as Good as Provence

Stay Here For

The bragging rights. Auberge is a Napa Valley icon through and through.

If you’re after quintessential California wine country, look no further than Auberge du Soleil, a Napa Valley hotel as iconic as the destination itself.

From its house cabernet sauvignon and award-winning restaurant to its epic views across the valley, the vibe is total sophistication. This adults-only property is where your parents might celebrate their wedding anniversary every year, leaning hard into tradition—much like the hotel.

It all started in 1981 when French-born San Francisco restaurateur Claude Rouas opened Napa’s first fine-dining restaurant on the hillside property. He added guest rooms five years later, building The Inn of the Sun—and a Napa Valley institution—in the process.

Over the years, the rooms, restaurant and spa have all been upgraded to emphasize the views and keep up with the times, but the resort has maintained its time-honored feel. You come here to experience classic Napa Valley: the big wines, the fine food and the quiet luxury that define this destination.

Don’t miss the smoked-salmon pizza with scrambled eggs and crème fraîche at breakfast.

When Rouas first saw what’s now the Auberge property—dotted with grape vines and olive trees—it reminded him so much of Provence that he was moved to create a piece of France in California. He filled his menu with Provençal-inspired dishes, designed guest rooms that wouldn’t feel out of place in the Luberon countryside and even planted lavender terraces, all to such great effect that the staff lovingly refers to the hotel as “Provence without the passport.”

The most impressive views are from The Restaurant’s terrace, where you can clearly see the Silverado Trail and the miles of surrounding vineyards—but the pool and many guest rooms also offer sweeping vistas of the valley and the Mayacamas Mountains in the distance.

And then there’s the Parc du Soleil, a peaceful area south of the guest rooms ringed by a 0.7-mile walking trail. Here you’ll find a sculpture garden with 100 works by 60 different California artists; an open-air pavilion built over a stream, where fitness classes are held each morning to the sound of trickling water and rustling trees; lavender terraces; picnic areas; and separate redwood, woodland and meadow sections for strolling.

It’s a singular amenity so charming the resort provides plein air art supplies, should guests feel inspired.

Many couple’s treatments at the spa include soothing soaks and Champagne.

When you’re not out wine tasting, you could lounge by the sun-drenched pool, but the outdoor soaking springs at the spa are even better. Open to all guests, even without a spa appointment, the area features cold, warm and hot plunge pools, each with valley and forest views. 

Soaking in the hot pool, looking out to the olive and oak trees, it’s hard to imagine a more peaceful spot for a hydrotherapy circuit. 

Even with all these one-of-a-kind offerings, The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil remains the focal point of the Auberge. It can feel a bit fancy at times, but there’s no arguing with the fantastic food, offered at dinner in three- or four-course prix fixe or six-course tasting menus. The pan-seared yellowfin tuna, served in an addictive bacon dashi, is a standout. Make an early reservation and request a seat on the terrace so you can catch the sunset during dinner.

From the hotel’s commanding hillside position to the Champagne cart that’s wheeled to your table when you first sit down for dinner, you can really feel how it sets the standard for Napa hospitality.

The Room

Rooms at Auberge du Soleil are housed in ocher, vine-covered “maisons” that look plucked from a Provençal village. (Each one is named for a town in the south of France, from Mougins to Menton.) Interiors, however, feel more coastal grandmother (in a good way), with lots of neutral tones, wood accents and natural light. There’s a fireplace in every room, plus a private terrace with gorgeous views of either the gardens, hillside or valley. 

The room to book is the Deluxe Private Garden Suite, which has not only a separate living room but also a lush outdoor area with a deep soaking tub and rainfall shower. If you’re traveling with a group, spring for one of the two Private Maisons, which have two king bedrooms and panoramic valley views.

The Features

Dinner at The Restaurant is offered in three- or four-course prix fixe or six-course tasting menus.

Don’t miss: A long, leisurely dinner at The Restaurant. Opt for the four-course prix fixe and ask your server to create custom wine pairings for each course.

Favorite features: The private parking spot each guest has right outside their front door; it enhances the hotel’s cozy, residential vibes.

Can’t stop thinking about: The complimentary fitness classes, held daily at 9 a.m. in La Pagode. Attend a yoga sculpt session and your instructor might just slide open the front door of the pavilion so you can do sun salutations toward the actual sun as it rises over the valley.

The Lowdown

The highly specific reason you’d come here: You want to propose over a picnic in the Parc du Soleil, just like your dad did.

What are you packing? Linen pants, cotton button-downs and chambray bucket hats. In other words, your best coastal grandmother garb.

What are people drinking? Lots and lots of wine from the award-winning, 15,000-bottle cellar.

The perfect spot for your social media post: In front of the fountain on the pool deck, with the entire valley floor spread out behind you.

Are guests staying in or going out? Staying in for dinner at The Restaurant—it’s destination dining in Napa Valley, whether or not you’re a guest of Auberge.

Be sure to try a glass of the house cabernet sauvignon.

Fast Facts

• Number of rooms: 50
• Number of pools: 1
• Fitness center? Yes
• Spa? Yes
• Salon? No
• Number of bars/restaurants: 2
• 24-hour room service? Yes
• Childcare and kids club? No, Auberge du Soleil is an adults-only resort