A lot of us dream of one day living in California wine country. That dream usually involves an architecturally stunning home on a hill surrounded by vineyards as far as the eye can see. Sure, if we’re dreaming we may as well dream really big, but for most of us, living in Napa Valley would not exactly look like that dream.
When we come back to earth and opt for something still quite dreamy but a little more attainable, our dream might start to look a little like the Stahlecker House, one of the most affordable stays in this ever-more expensive area of Northern California.
The Stahlecker House is a ranch-style home-turned-bed-and-breakfast owned by the Stahlecker family, who has been hosting guests here since the 1980s. The one-acre property backs onto the Napa Creek at the end of a cul-de-sac in a residential neighborhood less than a five minute drive (about 30 minutes on foot) from downtown Napa.
Unlike traditional hotels, check in here is self-service, with electronic locks on the main doors and guest room doors. Before arrival, guests receive codes and detailed instructions to their rooms. Upon arriving, I felt like I was entering my own not-so-little home in Napa
The house has a few common spaces accessible to all guests. There’s a spacious living room with a fireplace, cozy seating, wall of bookshelves, dining table, and some board games (my husband and I enjoyed playing a quick game with the oversized checkers every time we passed the table). Another cozy space adjacent to the living room has free snacks and coffee.
All of the furnishings were clean and stylish but also relaxed, homey, and very comfortable. Opposite the front door is a large patio and backyard that looks towards the Napa Creek. There are plentiful seats and tables for soaking up the sun with a glass of wine or a light snack.
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The inn has just five rooms, which range in size and amenities, including deep jetted rubs, fireplaces, and private patios. I booked the smallest room, the Oak Room. It had a full bed, two cozy club chairs, a small buffet table, mini-fridge, and 43-inch flatscreen smart TV.
The room was definitely small and might have proved too small for a multi-night stay with lots of luggage but I was there for a quick overnight with my husband; we’d packed light and just needed a comfortable, clean place to stay, so for us the size was perfect.
The bathroom was also on the small side, but had adequate counter space, plenty of hangers and towels, and an iron and ironing board. In the bathroom and bedroom, colorful art and interesting vintage touches, like an antique radio and tin talcum powder ad, added an extra touch.
We arrived at 3pm, the earliest check-in is allowed, to drop our bags before making the quick drive to downtown. When we returned at 9pm, the parking lot was full, yet we never saw or heard any other guests during our stay. Even in the morning, as we grabbed coffee and fruit from the self-service table, the house was calm and quiet, despite appearing to be full of guests.
We also never saw the hosts, which was fine with us, and we knew how to reach them if needed. It allowed us to more fully immerse ourselves in the dream that this was our very own home in Napa. But guests who prefer a more hands-on experience from their hosts should know they won’t get that here, and that helps keep costs down.
We paid just $176 all in for our night at the Stahlecker House, which for Napa is an incredible price for anything but a bland room in a somewhat dumpy motel—and the Stahlacker House is far from that.
Prices on their website generally start around $180-$240 depending on season for the smaller rooms, and range from $280-$380 for the larger rooms, which have queen beds, private patios, electric fireplaces, large soaking tubs, and separate sitting areas. You can also compare rates and make reservations at Booking.com or Booking.com. My husband and I are already planning to make a return visit and spring for one of these larger rooms for a longer stay.
Still, for a simple overnight where we just wanted a very comfortable bed and a clean room, the Stahlecker House was a delightful surprise that offered so much more. For the briefest off time, we got to pretend we had our very own quiet, stylish home close to downtown Napa.
