This is a review of the Sonoma Hotel's "cottage". It's a converted artist's studio on the grounds of a beautiful 100 year old home just off of Sonoma Plaza. The grounds are beautiful and it's very well located. The owner is a great guy and pays a lot of attention to the property. If you are looking for something quaint and not too fancy it's a great choice. The only concern I have is the heater/AC system seems to get a bit overwhelmed when it gets hot up there, and it had a hard time keeping us warm at night, although the owner came over and set up a small radiant heater and eventually it warmed up. As long as the temperature is moderate this is a really unique little spot that I really enjoyed...the first time I stayed here the Hotel staff were pretty bad, but this time everyone was really nice. Upgrading my review to reflect the most recent experience. read more

Rustic? Definitely. Historic? Probably. I've come to understand that rustic generally means "no elevator" and historic generally means "a pronounced lack of modern amenities." I can handle that. First impression - my sister and I entered the lobby, dragging two 50 pound suitcases (we'd come off a short cruise) which we were told to put in the corner. The woman at the desk didn't ask our names and when we offered them, told us it wasn't necessary. No "hello," no "my, that's a lot of luggage." Just, "come back at 2:00 and your room will be ready." OK. Not the warmest of welcomes but we weren't expecting a parade or anything. After wandering the square and sampling the local libations, we returned and I took the first good look at the lobby. Very quaint and charming. A truly lovely old building. We checked in, prepaying for our two (not inexpensive) nights and while the (different) lady was processing our paperwork, I noticed, and commented on, something about a one hour wine reception each night. Then, and only then, did she mention that there was complimentary wine thing from 5 to 6 in the lobby each evening. Sis then asked about the complimentary breakfast and we were given the pertinent stats. None of this would have been imparted to us if we hadn't prompted it. We asked if we had to carry our bags up the stairs and the answer was, "we don't have an elevator." Not quite what I asked but it got the point across. We went to the room to deposit purses and coats and gear up to bounce the luggage upstairs and were pleasantly surprised to find that a nice gentleman (owner?) was bringing them up. (Kudos for that!) He also helped us get into the room as the key required some special dance moves even though the door appeared not to be locked at all. (There was a 3/4 inch wide gap between the door and door jamb.) Once in the room, we saw that the online pics did justice. We had a "one queen, one twin" room and it was cute. A tad small but totally doable. The bathroom had a beautiful clawfoot tub with a rainshower showerhead (which I've always found to be completely unworkable) but I was impressed with this one. Good water pressure and a pleasant experience overall. The sink had some serious erosion and since it doesn't appear to be an original piece (although I could be wrong) I would replace it if I were in charge. We went out to cruise around and wandered back at 5 for the wine hour. Yet a third desk lady failed to greet us and when we said we'd come back for the wine said, "good." It was two minutes to 5 and there was a half bottle of sweating white wine getting warm on the counter next to some glasses. We weren't sure if an alarm would go off if we made a move before the clock struck the hour so we sat and waited for further instructions. She never said, "help yourselves" or "let me get you some wine" so after about five minutes (and we were the only ones there), we got up and left. Didn't seem to bother her a bit. That night we learned of another unadvertised perk. The beds are not just beds, but musical instruments. So are the floors. We were on the second floor which seemed to be woodwinds and string instruments and I think the third floor was the bass and horn section. I'd say the place was half full and the beds seemed to be playing a somewhat exhuberant Bach Concerto the first night. By Day Two, when they were ¾ full, it was a full blown Tchaikovsky extravaganza, complete with cymbals and cannons. Every time any neighbor rolled over, music happened. Let me just say, I do not want to be at this hotel when there is a honeymoon couple anywhere in the vicinity. For most of the first day we thought the room didn't have a TV (no problem at all) but eventually opened the top cabinet of a small dresser and found a quaint 12" that I'm sure would do the job. Rustic? Check. Day Two was much more of the same. Bottom line -- clean, cute, RUSTIC, no elevator, no in-room safes, dodgy door locks, no guarantee of luggage help (we bounced our own down the stairs.) But by far my biggest issue was - no smiles, no greetings, no welcomes, no happy to have yous, no thanks for comings, no have a nice trips, no come agains. Then again, maybe they don't need to. They've got LOCATION. And musicality. A LOT of musicality. read more

So this may be a great place to stay if maybe your room is upstairs, but ours was on the first floor. Yup, basically in the lobby of the hotel. The person who checked us in told us we were lucky we didn't have to carry our bags up the stairs, but I would have gladly thrown my back out to carry our bags up to the 3rd floor. The room we stayed in was clean. That maybe the only good part of the room. Maybe for some, that's the most important part. The room we stayed in was a handicap accessible, kinda random, since the bathroom floor was at just a slant, you had to lift one leg to balance yourself out. The room we stayed in also was also next to the courtyard, so when you finish dinner at the girl and the fig, you could enjoy another drink and cigarette right next to my window (and yes, I heard all about your myspace encounter). The room we stayed in was right next to the in-house phone. It was great being woken up at 7 am to hear another guests' conversation. The room we stayed in also was built with paper thin walls. You could hear everything, not only were you awoken early, but you stayed up late. Will this be my last time here? Probably so...If you have your say and it's not a sold out weekend, demand that you are on another floor. Unfortunately for us, we were the last to check in. read more

We visited Sonoma for our first time and chose a small inn right in the heart of it all. The innkeeper waited up for us after our late flight into SFO. We were given water upon arrival and were treated to delicious pastries for the continental breakfast in the morning. Very close to several tasting rooms, free parking close by, and the nicest staff. The room and bathroom was large and clean with a lot of charm. Will definitely return. read more

it just FEELS old. which is a good thing. no unnatural scents to greet you as you walk through the door, no clickety-clack of heels across the lobby, no hustle and bustle of people trying to hurriedly check-in or out of their rooms. approximately 7' wide hallways upstairs. our room had a clawfoot tub, dated books by the nightstand, and wall hangings. ...one of which was a portrait of a woman whose eyes (i imagined) followed you while your back was turned. i did have trouble sleeping though. the bed was a little too stiff (or was it too soft??) for me. we just so happened to check-in in time to do a wine tasting at castle vineyards next door, and enjoy the complimentary wine from 5-6pm at the hotel afterwards. stephen and i worked on a crossword puzzle in the lobby, warm and content, w/a belly full of wine. read more

I went to a wedding and stayed the night in this hotel was quaint and I loved the history. This is why I gave the 1 star. My room was overlooking the square which was great for view but not for sound the restaurant below was noisy but sounded like people were having fun. The sheets were clean but the bed was not comfortable. The bathroom was adorable but the water did not stay hot while I was showering. My blow dryer would not work in the bathroom. I need tv to sleep and cable cut out in the middle of the night and would not work. I was willing to look beyond all of my issues with the hotel and move on to my planned activities for the day. I went downstairs to to grab a pastry and discuss the cable situation, and immediately the girl Kristin at the front desk tells me "well I can't control the weather and my internet is not working either!" I was not expecting that response, what I was expecting was something on the lines of we have called the cable company or I'm sorry for the inconvenience. During my checkout she continued to show me the WORST customer service I have ever encountered. The next thing she yells at me is "what should I do then?!" So I said "you should offer an apology and let the customer know what you are doing to rectify the problem" she next said "I don't need you telling me what to do!" I'm puzzled and I say "you just asked me what you should do?" This woman is clearly emotionally and mentally unstable so I ask to talk to the manager. She hands me a card I ask her to write his name so I can call him personally. I leave and call the number- guess who answers? Yup Kristin who I thought was named Preston. When I asked for Preston she said "I thought you had a good memory? My name is Kristin not Preston!" And then hung up on me! I call back and tell her I didn't know it was Kristin because it sounded like Preston when I asked- she then goes on to talk over me rambling on and on followed by being hung up on for a second time after giving her my name and number to be contacted back on. What the hell kind of place is this?! read more

AVOID THIS HOTEL AT ALL COSTS!!!! My husband and I stayed here this past weekend and had a horrible experience. I had already been on yelp before I booked it, so I already knew about the less-than-great ammenities (no parking, no elevator, tiny rooms, tiny beds, old carpet, etc) but since we had a bedandbreakfast.com gift card, we figured we'd give it a whirl. I was already expecting the grounds to be just okay, but I made the mistake of thinking that the staff would be good. THEY ARE SO INCREDIBLY UNACCOMODATING AND RUDE!! When we checked in, they refused the gift card saying that even though they are listed in the the bedandbreakfast.com brochure AND website, they do not accept the gift cards. This was a complete SCAM since that is the only reason I booked the hotel in the first place. The woman then, in her haughty tone reminded us that we should have checked if they accepted it upon making the reservation (thank you, captain obvious!). Then she refused to offer us any solutions and rudely said that even if we chose to not stay there, she would still charge our credit card still have to pay the full amount of our room for both nights. Needless to say, the first 10 minutes there ruined the next two days and we will never, ever return there!!! read more

Really a perfect little hotel -- pleasant staff, nice room, great location. I look forward to my next visit.

Don't expect a luxury hotel. Don't expect a lot of interaction and attention from the staff. This hotel operates like smaller hotels in Europe, so expect old fashioned no frills and no pretentiousness. Expect a piece of American history in an amazing location at a decent price. Yes, the sink is in the room and not the bathroom. No, there is no elevator in a historic hotel in a small town. If you really expected that, you would probably enjoy staying in Napa rather than Sonoma... or not traveling to any rustic area, for that matter. This hotel reflects the character of the town. There is a very laid back atmosphere and they don't respond to snootiness. One of the best restaurants I've ever enjoyed is in the same building (although operated separately)- The Girl and the Fig- they also have a laid back attitude, although they are far more service oriented. Don't expect much from the hotel's continental breakfast... it's a continental breakfast. Recommend heading across the street to the Sunflower Caffe for an incredible breakfast. Don't forget about the free wine offered in the hotel lobby in the evenings. Also, there is spotty, free wifi (perhaps from a different location). Comfy bed. Small closet. Thin doors and walls. Great bathroom. To minimize noise from the bar next door and street noise, don't stay on the first floor unless you have a problem with stairs. Enjoy Sonoma for what it is, not what you want it to be! read more

I made a last minute booking at this hotel. Kirstin, at the desk, went out of her way to guide us to the hotel when our GPS clearly wasn't working. She stays on the phone with us until we arrived and stood outside to greet us. This type of service was much appreciated. This hotel is quaint, in a great location with a bar and restaurant attached. We stayed in the first floor room which was very quiet, well appointed, comfortable bed. A perfect hotel for an evening downtown. The pastries and coffee served in the morning were delicious and again the person working the front desk was quite helpful with information. I appreciate a kind welcoming staff. It makes a big difference. read more

Great place to stay, bar and restaurant attaches the main lobby (Girl and the Fig). Right across the street from the El Dorado Kitchen and on the corner of the downtown area. Rooms are not large, but they are nice. You may hear the bar if you are staying on the 2nd floor, but it is not too loud. read more

Great location. Girl and the Fig was excellent and attached to the hotel, which was handy for a quick cocktail and nibble at bar. Room size was decent and bathroom updated. Marble floor in bathroom felt good on feet! However, our particular room had no hot water. When we made inquires at front desk, the woman responded, you have to let the faucet run for a pretty long time before it gets warm. Tried this the next morning and after 5 minutes (no exaggeration) it was only lukewarm. Toilet also took 2 flushes on average. With a major drought in affect, I would think efficient plumbing updates should be priority # 1 for this place. Bad coffee. read more

This is the perfect vintage hotel in Sonoma. It has the decor and location that places one in the town square in a previous century. You hear the friendly people eating and drinking at the first class Girl and the Fig restaurant downstairs. The place is popular everyday of the week because it is that good. Join the party and go downstairs and walk to your room for a comfortable night's rest. My wife and I can not say enough for the great experience we had this past week. We stayed two nights and spent some of the grand children's inheritance. The accommodations are antiques just like us and made us feel like we were home. We will be back during the fall season. read more

Please read. You should NOT stay here. This hotel may present itself as a thrifty option in Sonoma. But, you will regret it. There is a 7 day cancellation policy. If you get here and don't like it, you have to pay them anyway. In fact, you have to prepay before you get to the room. Rooms are tiny. ALLERGIES! Toilets stop up easily. The hotel is ready to be gutted and redone. But, honestly, the facility would be better used as some kind of museum. It is already decorated as such. I don't have any ill will toward the owners. But, this shouldn't be a hotel anymore. read more

This is a review of our experience trying to book a wedding block. While we were able to get our deposit back without any problem and they were nice, it was definitely far too much trouble than it was worth. Despite the ideal location, the varying hotel room prices ($165 to $300) and strict 3 day minimum made it impossible for us to use even one of the rooms. We tried to work with the manager to come up with something that might work, but at the end of the day it was just a lot easier to choose other hotels in the area which made it a whole lot easier (The Lodge). Nothing against the hotel itself, but it was just difficult to work with them for a large event. read more

My experience in the city and at my hotel was wonderful. But I'm pretty sure the owner at the front desk is racist. She was aggressively suspicious of me waiting in the lobby for another guest to come down. She shouted at me while I waited, and was rude until my friend came down. Once she realized I was in fact waiting for a guest at her establishment she was apologetic, but too little too late. I would never stay here. read more

What terrible service.., I wish there was a negative star review option. The innkeeper Cheryl is a monster who refused to help is with extra bedding in any way (this is for the cottage) and had the gall to suggest sleeping in the car. I don't think I even need to comment any more on her absolute lack of sensitivity or civility or common human decency. Stay away from this place if you want even halfway decent customer service. read more

This is a historic hotel that is right smack in the middle of downtown Sonoma, because it is historic we knew it wouldn't be the Fairmont! I reserved one of the bigger rooms and it was perfect for us. The bathroom had a huge claw foot tub with a shower with an updated showerhead in a separate bathroom which was nice. Plenty of closet space and drawers, newer TV and a clean bed...what else do you need when you have been drinking wine all day!? The staff was friendly and helpful, just wish the price was a bit more reasonable. read more

I REALLY wanted to give this hotel 4-5 stars because we loved the location, the decor, and it was very comfortable! But- I had to take a cold shower 2 out of the three days we were there. That is the LAST thing I wanted to do on my honeymoon!! I actually have no complaints about the staff like most everyone else.. they were nice & informative. Like I said, I really loved the hotel, the 3 star rating is only because I took a cold shower the majority of the time I was there. If you book online, you can pick which room you want to stay in.. so no complaining about going up stairs or being in the lobby.. I knew exactly what to expect! read more

This place is extremely charming. Reminded us of similar hotels/inns we have stayed in Europe. It is old but that is the charm. It does not have an elevator but that is also the charm! Complimentary wine tasting in the evening and fresh baked pastries in the morning. It is not a days inn because it does have quirks and unique character. Great area and connected to an amazing restaurant! Make memories, stay somewhere different. read more

I stayed here while attending a wedding at one of the nearby wineries. I enjoyed my one night stay. I was not expecting an elevator, so I was not upset that one did not exist.. I know that the hotel is old, so I expected a certain amount of "charm". Old hotels do not have large rooms(bedrooms or bathrooms) or elevators-think Europe. Hotels built before the 60s did not have TVs or ironing boards in them and in order to accomodate these extras, space diminishes. The staff was very nice to me and since I was traveling solo, they helped look me over before I left for the wedding and offered suggestions. read more

Charming hotel located on the Square in lovely little Sonoma! The staff was most welcoming and so friendly & helpful. Our room was a corner unit with lots of light and had some neat furnishings. Very cozy and had everything we needed! Clawfoot tub with shower in the private bathroom was great. This hotel is near everything..we walked to the shops and restaurants. The continental breakfast was the best ever....O.J., fresh assortment of pastries and delicioius coffee!! This is the place to stay in Sonoma! Very good winter rate as well....we even got upgraded! Just wish we could have stayed longer! read more

I stayed at the Sonoma Hotel for 3 nights recently while attending a friends wedding in Sonoma. Location - cant beat it - right in the heart of downtown Sonoma - plenty to do within walking distance. 1800s charm - sure, if thats what you are looking for. In about every other department, however, the Sonoma Hotel leaves me wanting more. First, there is no elevator of any kind, s be prepared to haul your large suitcase up several flights of steps. Second, the rooms are quite small. Third, the hotel is surrounded by the Girl and the Fig, an excellent restaurant. The only problem is that you will hear restaurant noise no matter where you stay at this hotel. Finally, the ceilings (and floors) are thin, so unless you are lucky enough to stay on the top floor, you will hear every step those above you take. You'll also hear (loudly) whenever they run water, or drop something on the floor. Bottom line - hotel rooms are for comfort and peace and quiet, and the Sonoma Hotel doesn't deliver. read more

The Sonoma Hotel is charming, nicely decorated and well located in the main square of Sonoma. They provide wine in the evenings and pastries and coffee in the mornings. The adjacent restaurant, The Girl and the Fig, is completely wonderful food! The lower rating is due to the noise level. Our room was located right over the patio of the restaurant, which was pretty noisy late into the evening. But even worse was the noise coming from the room above us. We could hear every move that person made - walking, flushing, showering. The creaking in the old hotel floor boards actually woke me up early in the morning. I get it, it's an old hotel. Maybe it wouldn't bother other people, but it bothered me enough that I likely would not stay there again. read more

Pros: location, location, location. This hotel is perfectly situated on the square and it's an easy walk to everything. It's also cute and charming. Cons: the bed was the worst bed I've ever slept in. It had a HUGE dent in the middle and me and my friend woke up all night falling into the center. My back has been hurting all week. I could never stay at this hotel again due to the terrible bed. The hotel is also super overpriced, but I think it's pretty clear you're paying for location and not quality. The breakfast pastries were also stale. Overall, if you don't mind sleeping on a bed that's missing all of its middle springs, you'll be fine. It's cute, and in a great location. Just don't expect to get the bang for your buck. read more

I made last minute reservations for my fiancee and I and ended up getting the last room available. Which meant it we had a room with 1 Twin Bed and 1 Full Bed. The girl I booked the reservayion with told me over the phone that was what we were in for but we also were staying on Valentine's Day weekend so I was just happy we were able to get a room! The hotel is country rustic, you almost feel like you're back in the wild west. The bathroom had a clawfoot tub and they provide a little packet of bath minerals for a nice touch. They also serve complimentary wine in the lobby from 5-6 pm and a continental breakfast in the morning with the best scones I've ever had! There is no elevator so if you have a lot of luggage or bad knees ask for the room on the first floor. It's definitly a no frills place but it's right in the heart of the Sonoma Square so you may not spend that much time there anyway. If your looking for a true spa experience spend the extra money and go to one of the more ritzy places. If you just want to get out of the city and have a quiet romantic weekend and not spend a ton of cash this is the place. read more

Stayed in room 21 for a couple of days in May and loved it. It is the front corner room that overlooks the park and we heard no noise from the Girl and The Fig. The claw foot tub was huge and the room had tons of charm. It's like stepping back in time when you walk in. The ladies at the front desk were cheerful and helpful and I really couldn't ask for anymore. The price was reasonable compared to a lot of the other Sonoma hotels, especially one right on the square! I would definitely recommend it to anyone. read more

This was a very unpleasant experience from the start. As soon as we walked through the front door the entire lobby smelled of cat urine. As we walked our luggage up the stairs to our room we noticed the the room was tiny. We were told we would have a room suitable for two. We had no room to put our luggage the bed was a bit bigger than a twin and the bathroom was so small you could barely stand in front of the mirror. The walls our so thin you could literally hear everything and I mean everything. It didn't help that the house cleaners were banging the vacuum against our door at 8 am. Oh and how could I forget the shower had very little pressure. I guess you could say a trickle at best. However there was one good thing and that was the location you are right in the heart of town and next door to some great restaurants. read more

This place reminded me of a 1890 lower east side tenement room. The room was virtually a square box with a tiny bathroom with no sink. The sink is next to the bed! I couldn't even turn around holding my suitcases. If that was not bad enough the whole place had moldy smell. The bed was made for a child to sleep in (I'm not a big guy and my feet hung over the bottom) and the closet was a wooden stand up about foot wide. Of course I checked out and they still demanded my money. I wish them luck! read more

What's with the ladies at the front desk? We did not get a warm welcome at this establishment. The rooms were OK, but beware the walk-up (no elevator) with heavy luggage and no one to offer help (or even sympathy). Location on the Square is good, and the restaurant downstairs is very good (The Fig & the Leaf, accessible via interior door). WiFi was broken for a full day, too. Next time I'll stay someplace where I get a smile instead of a cold shoulder. read more

It was fun staying right on the Square in an historical setting - perfect location. The front desk people were very accommodating and made sure I had everything I needed. The pastries served in the morning are absolutely delicious. The room was small and cozy. The bed and linens were quite comfortable. The lack of an elevator was very European:)! read more

Admittedly I'm a fan of old historical inns so when given the chance I'll often chose those over others. While in Sonoma recently I had the option of a last minute double bedroom on the third floor so I jumped at the chance. Front desk was very friendly & helpful - even offering advice on a couple of local hikes while I waited for my room to be ready earlier than normal check-in. There are no elevators & parking is a bit iffy but if you work with it, it all works out. I loved waking to the fog over the mountains & the quiet town square after a bustling weekend night. Maybe it's the charm of Sonoma that has won me over but given the chance I'd stay here again in a heart-beat & hopefully sooner rather than later. read more

10/7/16 The A/c did not work. Offered us a box fan to get through the night. I can understand that they break but this was posted on 10/3/16 that a/c did not work. They could have told us when we checked in, or have it fixed since they knew they had a problem. Room reminded me of My Cousin Vinnie without the train. Not going back! read more

The good: service at the front desk was very assertive, gracious, and just down right awesome. clean room, continental breakfast, free wine at happy hour. I'm trying to think of something bad but just can't. They really helped us out buy helping with reservations, and directions. If you want to find a gem in sonoma please visit the Sonoma hotel. read more

Very Very Nice in the center of town and walking distance to everywhere. We will return every time we return to Sonoma.

If you have problems with stairs, stay away. The website doesn't indicate there are no elevators. I didn't notice on the confirmation they stated there were no stairs. We are elderly and they put us on the third floor! Also, poor air conditioning and windows have no screens, bugs welcome. Tiny room, 16 inch TV. in a cabinet that covers part of the screen. And you can smell the mildew. We paid for 2 days but just booked at another hotel in another city, this is definitely not a 3.5 star hotel read more

This was a lovely setting for our girls weekend away. Conveniently located in the heart of the downtown square very close the great shopping and restaurants. The beds were so comfy and rooms clean and lovely. No elevator.....as I would expect in this historic building but it did make for toting luggage to the second floor a little difficult. As far as noise from the Girl and the Fig restaurant or the square.....nothing was heard in our room which was directly above this very busy restaurant. This stay was very enjoyable and we will definitely return. read more

I stayed, note not slept, at the Sonoma Hotel on 10/4 & 10/5 and while the hotel was nice, the service was nonexistent. After a rain storm passed at 3am on 10/4 all that could be heard was the sink dripping like Chinese water torture. They gave us another room the next day, but they should have fixed the sink before giving us the room. At 3am on 10/5 we were awoken by the loudest tv you've heard. Called the front desk at 3:30am to no answer. At 4am I had to walk around a find the room with the TV. Thankfully the drunk had left his room open, so I went in and turned the tv off and went back to my own bed. The next day, all the staff could say was, "I hope you sleep well tonight." I thought to myself, of course I will, because I won't be at your hotel! read more