Our top 11 places to stay include a favorite bargain motel, a luxurious inn, and a century-old hotel

1 | El Dorado Hotel
The modern (spare yet elegant decor) and the classic (a restored historic building right on Sonoma Plaza) mix nicely here. 28 rooms from $145.
405 First Street West, Sonoma; 707/996-3030; hoteleldorado.com

2 | El Pueblo Inn
A favorite Sonoma bargain, this motel has old California style, a swimming pool, and reasonable rates. 53 rooms from $90.
896 West Napa Street, Sonoma; 707/996-3651; elpuebloinn.com

3 | Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn
Maybe it’s the rosé-pink buildings with their Cabernet-red tile roofs, but this resort just north of Sonoma has always seemed one of the most enjoyable of wine country retreats―at 10 acres big enough to be its own world, but convenient to valley wineries. 229 rooms from $290.
100 Boyes Boulevard, Sonoma; 707/938-9000; sonomamissioninn.com

4 | Gaige House Inn
This luxurious inn is considered one of the best in the Sonoma Valley. The setting ―an 1890 Victorian in the center of Glen Ellen―is winning, rooms have been updated with great style, and the breakfasts are superb. 20 rooms from $195.
13540 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen; 707/935-0237; gaige.com

5 | Hotel La Rose
In Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square, a century-old hotel with a beautiful stone façade; a contemporary addition is across the street. 47 rooms from $109.
308 Wilson Street, Santa Rosa; 800/527-6738; hotellarose.com

6 | Inn at Sonoma
This nicely appointed inn, part of the Four Sisters chain of boutique hotels, sits a couple of blocks from the Sonoma Plaza. 19 rooms from $145.
630 Broadway, Sonoma; 707/939-1340; innatsonoma.com

7 | Kenwood Inn and Spa
Luxury, privacy, and sweeping views mark this small resort, which blends Tuscan architecture and California-style spa treatments. 32 rooms from $350.
10400 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood; 800/353-6966; kenwoodinn.com

8 | Ledson Hotel and Harmony Club
Project of Sonoma winemaker Steve Ledson, this intimate Sonoma Plaza hotel offers luxury and swing, thanks to regular jazz nights. 6 rooms from $350.
480 First Street East, Sonoma; 707/996-9779; ledsonhotel.com

9 | Les Petites Maisons
Newly opened by The Girl and the Fig doyenne Sondra Bernstein, these four whimsically but tastefully decorated cottages―each with kitchenette―are a real addition to the Sonoma lodging scene. 4 cottages from $125 a night.
1190 East Napa Street, Sonoma; 707/933-0340; thegirlandthefig.com

10 | Vintners Inn
This plush inn is surrounded by a small vineyard, making it a fine place for travelers to soak up the Sonoma terroir. 44 rooms from $175.
4350 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa; 707/575-7350; vintnersinn.com

11 | Ramekins Culinary School, Special Events & Inn
Spanish-style architecture, in-room spa services, and elevated cuisine make this bed-and-breakfast a popular choice near the historic Sonoma town square. 6 suites from $225. 450 W. Spain Street, Sonoma; 707/933-0450; ramekins.com/the-inn

Keep Reading: