Downtown Napa’s Under-the-Radar Hospitality Gem
Of the myriad hotels, inns, resorts, and B&B’s throughout Napa Valley, none are quite like R INN NAPA. Located steps beyond the bustling Downtown Napa corridor in a beautifully renovated historic building, this European-style boutique hotel currently flies slightly under the radar, its popularity primarily the result of online rave reviews and word of mouth. Urban, contemporary, and indulgent, R INN NAPA and its luxurious rooms and suites provide a different kind of wine country hospitality, a type to which travelers are gravitating.
Family-owned and operated, the hotel is the only hospitality venture within the family’s diverse real estate portfolio. Much of the inn’s original artwork is provided by the patriarch, whose avocations include photography. With help from the mother, the daughter acts as an interior designer, sourcing the best in textiles, sumptuous furnishings, and dramatic lighting fixtures from around the world, such as the two sculptural Venetian chandeliers that hang in the posh Lobby Lounge, a favored gathering spot for guests. The son acts as general manager, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the tech-driven haven.
Each of R INN NAPA’s 15 rooms and its freestanding two-bedroom bungalow (all accessed with keypad codes) feature top-of-the-line indulgences such as adjustable beds, Comphy linens, and heated Toto washlet/bidets. Within the Courtyard Building are ten Courtyard Rooms. Within the main Loft Building are five sumptuous Loft Suites, three of which feature two-level upstairs/downstairs, with floating wood staircases and 20 ft. high ceilings. Two of the Loft Suites feature deep soaking tubs. All feature fireplaces and heated bathroom floors. All guests are treated to a bountiful continental breakfast on weekends and are provided day/night access to the Loft Building-located full chef’s kitchen and Courtyard Building pantry, where sodas, waters, yogurt, and snacks are readily available.
It’s these little, no-resort-fee ‘extras’ for which travelers are taking notice. Guests receive a glass of wine at check-in, and included with every room is a luxe bottle of wine. In addition, the five Loft Suites generously feature wet bars/refrigerators stocked with complimentary items such as wine, cheese, assorted drinks, chocolate, chips, and crackers. Parking in the large adjacent lot is free; state-of-the-art televisions feature Netflix and Hulu. A bocce ball court provides outdoor entertainment, and the garden area and outdoor living room, featuring Restoration Hardware furnishings, allows for comfortable outdoor entertaining. Finally, the Loft Building’s stylish 10-seat dining room – available to all guests – is the perfect space to host a private event or meeting.
“Our family’s vision was to create a modern boutique hotel featuring high tech self-sufficient amenities and ample indoor/outdoor common spaces with a residential feel and artistic character,” said the son, who serves as concierge, offering guests a variety of in-the-know dining, winery, and entertainment suggestions. “With a walkable location in the heart of downtown Napa, our property is ideal for entertaining or escaping to a private haven. What we offer is unique to the area and has great value.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Story By: Fran Miller // Photos Courtesy of R INN NAPA
