Sonoma County wine country boasts a long list of fantastic hotels to call home when planning a Northern California getaway. If your plans include spending time on and around bustling Sonoma Plaza, El Dorado Hotel & Kitchen is worth checking into.
The historic 27-room hotel and restaurant is located across the street from Sonoma Plaza and in the thick of bustling downtown. Countless shops, tasting rooms, and eateries are within an easy and enjoyable walk.
Historic Hotel
The El Dorado Hotel & Kitchen is a National Historic Landmark. It was built in 1843 by General Mariano Vallejo, the founder of Sonoma, for his brother Salvador Vallejo.
I stayed in a recently renovated Courtyard Deluxe King Room located on the second floor. Fun and colorful, the room’s vibrant, patterned wallpaper captures your attention the moment you enter. The king bed was dressed in all-white Matouk luxury linens, and a pair of vivid throw rugs topped the wood-look style vinyl floor.
French doors led to a balcony with views of the onsite restaurant’s outdoor dining courtyard and pool. The bathroom featured a small, single-sink vanity, walk-in shower, and toilet. All rooms offer a small refrigerator, illy coffee machine, and Fellow electric tea kettle.
Dining & Amenities Worth Knowing About
The hotel features a seasonal, solar-heated saltwater pool lined with lounge chairs. Open May through October, it’s typically a quiet spot to relax after a day filled with wine tastings. A limited number of cruiser bikes are available, first come, first served, for folks who like the idea of rolling through town.
- Buy Travel Insurance
- Get a Car Rental
- Search for Great Tours HERE
El Dorado Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In the morning, expect offerings ranging from a blended berry breakfast bowl with granola, coconut, and honey to buttermilk waffles and Huevos Rancheros. Lunch and dinner options might include steamed mussels with white wine and garlic, seafood paella, and a vegetable risotto studded with butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, and maitake mushrooms. I recommend snagging a spot in the outdoor courtyard.
EDK Cantina features a handful of taco varieties, burritos, enchiladas, chips, and salsa, as well as a long list of other choices. The eatery is takeout only, but hotel guests can have food delivered poolside.
Around Sonoma County Wine Country
Within a 30-minute-or-so-drive of El Dorado Hotel & Kitchen, you can reach hundreds of wineries. The property’s center of Sonoma location makes it easy to include both Sonoma County and Napa Valley wineries in an itinerary. Downtown Napa is only 14 miles from the property.
Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport is just under 30-miles away. San Francisco International Airport is about a 60-mile drive.
Rates for a Courtyard Deluxe King Room start at $340. Pets are not allowed. There is a small parking lot; when full, ample street parking is typically available. The property does not have an EV charger, but there is an Electrify America charging station with four chargers about a block away.
Check the latest rates online for El Dorado Hotel.
Because the hotel is located in a historical building, there is no elevator access to the second floor, just a wide (and beautiful) staircase off of the lobby. Patio Deluxe King Rooms are located on the ground level, between the pool and the parking lot. Accessible rooms are available upon request. If you have questions or concerns regarding accessibility, it’s recommended to contact the hotel directly.
El Dorado Hotel & Kitchen is part of the Mosaic Hotel Group; the portfolio includes another Hotel Scoop favorite, Olema House.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by El Dorado Hotel & Kitchen, but as always, her thoughts and opinions are her own.
