Was staying at Occidental for the weekend and Negri's was locally recommended. We arrived at the…read morepeak of dinner time so it was quite a wait for our food. We went with the venetian shrimp as an appetizer and the roasted half chicken which was the special for the day. The venetian shrimp was okay... the shrimp was cooked well but the polenta was too greasy and buttery and we just picked off the shrimp before we were done with it. The chicken was delicious - roasted perfectly sitting on bed of mashed potatoes, artichoke hearts and tomatoes.

Just stayed at the Occidental Inn and we were craving a cozy pasta bite. And...Negris in was…read moreabsolutely calling our name! The fettuccini Alfredo to-go hit the spot. Such a huge serving and perfect for two. The noodles "wow"and the sauce was deliciously creamy and authentic. Loved the warm, family-friendly vibe and the friendly service that made us feel right at home. Definitely a little vacation dining destination for anyone looking for a relaxing, delicious escape. Can't wait to return!

Our favorite place in the world! We were so fortunate to be married at one of the Occidental…read moreGuesthouses (The Trees) in October 2019. The setting is absolutely magical. Each of the Guesthouses is impeccably decorated, cozy, and welcoming. From the beautiful redwood grove at The Trees to the incredible outdoor dining table at The Hills. Each house is uniquely dreamy, nestled in the picturesque town of Occidental. Barbara is truly the most wonderful, kind, and welcoming host. She attended to every single detail to ensure that our wedding day was perfect (even down to wiping off benches after the beautiful morning mist cleared). She is a dear friend and really makes every visit extraordinary. We know we will continue visiting for years to come. While you stay in Occidental, you MUST get food from the Union Hotel. Between visits, my husband and I dream about Garlic Gold pizza, carrot cake, and the best minestrone around. The pizza crust is to die for- fluffy and just the right balance of perfectly browned. The slice of carrot cake is literally larger than my hand and maybe even forearm! Super rich and velvety cream cheese frosting- amazing! We have visited Occidental once during COVID and the Union has an excellent picnic style menu. The food is ordered outside and nicely packaged for take-out or eating at a table in their distanced outdoor area. As someone who has strictly adhered to distancing and other protocols, I felt safe and comfortable! Highest praise for the Occidental Guesthouses and Union Hotel! A must visit for anyone who loves cozy accommodations, excellent food, and the most welcoming environment.

Beautiful homes for guests, especially the Trees, all with amazingly comfortable beds and classy…read moretouches such as pianos in The Trees and the Farmhouse, and a clawfoot tub with redwood views at the Trees. Booked all of them as part of an amazing wedding service with the Union Hotel, and all of our guests were very impressed!

Love the ambiance and the service! We come here with family ammonia get here early it's quiet and…read morethey never rush service!! We wish the food was better quality. We ordered pepperoni pizza for my grandson and it was served with a pool of grease on top. I had a piece and got sick and so did he. The next time we went I forgot and ordered my grandsons go to pepperoni pizza and again it was swimming in grease! He did t eat any of it., We didn't mention it, I took it home and threw it out.

This place does not get better with time and that's a fact…read more We came here as a party of 6. The first thing we noticed was that the lighting in the restaurant was so dim that we couldn't read the menu without using the flashlight on our phones. My husband got chicken parmesan and barely even touched the chicken. He said the chicken was extremely dry, so dry that it was inedible. There was no marinara sauce on the chicken, and the pasta was barely ok. My Garlic Gold pizza was super greasy, the dough was not good, and overall it was very bland. Out of 6 people not a single person finished their food. That definitely says something. I do not recommend the Union Hotel Restaurant!

We have a very traditional and delicious meal. The decor was absolutely delightful. The staff was…read morewarm, attentive and very efficient. The restaurant was buzzing with people but we never felt neglected. I only wish we lived close enough to frequent Dinucci's on a regular basis. Definitely worth a trip!

Looking for a traditional, old time, multi course meal? Look no further. Absolutely wonderful…read morefood, vintage ambiance and wonderful service. We live close enough to get take out, this weekend ordered their minestrone soup and a wedge salad...it was PERFECT!!!!! When we have company we take them here for the "experience." You order your main dish and are served multiple courses before that main dish. Anti pasta, soup, salad, bread, pasta (if you didn't order pasta as your main dish), and then your main dish. Don't fill up on the smaller courses because you are going to want to have room for the main meal. Fun to watch all of the courses being brought out on rolling carts. This is one of those places you remember going to as a child, it is fun, casual and an "experience."

We stayed 12/20/25 in a deluxe queen room. The room is not large enough for two queen beds and…read more have occupants be able to get out of one of them on both sides. There were two chairs in the room that didn't quite fit. The room looks as if it may have been recently remodeled but they forgot to decorate it, so they threw a couple of sadly outdated prints up and a horrible image of a sheep's face against a wallpaper print wall. The heater needs work because it makes a noise resembling concrete being swept- all night long. The room had no visible power outlets near beds, where we expected to be able to recharge phones and multiple devices. In order to turn on the lamp between the two beds you need get down on the floor under the desk to find the switch, which was plugged into an extension cord under the desk. The room needs at least one reachable outlet per wall outside of the bathroom countertop which is too wet to act as a charging area. An outlet with four plugs needs to be installed between the beds at top-of-desk level. The bedside lamps are ancient and need replacing. We were very disappointed and found the room unacceptable. Don't stay here.

FAMILIES STAY AWAY!! Had a fairly pleasant experience night one, but new guests checked in to the…read moreroom next us night two and completely ruined our experience. They spent the entire time smoking weed inside their room and outside their room in front of their/our door. The smoke drifted directly into our room. It was brutal. The hotel has signs posted everywhere about not smoking in rooms and that guests should move 25 feet away outside. My wife and I were traveling with our 9 year old and were really frustrated they couldn't walk from their room a bit and smoke. I don't care if people wanna smoke, you do you, but show some respect for the rules and for other guests, especially children, around smoking. I asked them very politely to move elsewhere and they acknowledged we had a kid with us (they themselves had kids but not with them) and that they would stop. I then informed the front desk worker and he said he smelled it and people are not allowed to smoke in their rooms or in the corridor and to let them know if they kept doing it. He was nice but they were already breaking the rules so some intervention or enforcement of the rules would have been nice. They continued smoking again early the next morning, so we decided to just pack up and leave. I informed a different front desk worker of the situation as we checked out and he also acknowledged he smelled it and they're not supposed to smoke and they should be more considerate of other guests. I let him know it ruined our stay and we wouldn't return, but still didn't really do anything about it. Guessing this happens a lot and the staff has given up on trying to enforce anything or just don't want to. The staff was friendly, but it was clear they weren't gonna doing anything about it. This is a roadside motel and very serviceable for people looking for a cheap stay, but if you're traveling with children, or don't want your room hot-boxed, DON'T STAY HERE as there's plenty of nicer options.

Room: Beach Primrose, 3rd floor. (I wish more people…read moreidentified their room.) I stayed here last year for a long weekend. I love this hotel, but it's not without its quirks. I gave it as many as four stars because everything was clean and I love the character, including the marginally-dilapidated atmosphere, the ancient "lift" (can't really call it an elevator). If you want a slick, polished experience, choose a different lodging. Maybe the "Inn at Benicia Bay" down the street; I had breakfast there one morning and it looked very posh. But if you want a piece of history, I am passionate about the Union Hotel. Things to note before you take it on: The management is notoriously hard to get in touch with before your stay. While you're here, there's someone at the desk during the day within limited hours. But don't expect any contact or action at night. Don't expect calls back. Their late-check-in process was a little nebulous in terms of explanation before the fact, but worked out really well. I came up with adult children and needed an extra bed, but never got any closure on my requests. Not to worry, there were a couple of rollaways in the corner of the hallway with the housekeeping materials so everything worked out well. We tried the jacuzzi tub, and although it started up OK, we immediately regretted it because it sounded like you were right next to a 747 taking off. Then we discovered it wouldn't shut off! I called the after-hours number but didn't get a response. Finally we found a GFI outlet opposite the sink and if we tripped it with the Test button, it shut off the Jacuzzi! That was the only real problem we had. The room was nice and roomy, and even though it was one of cheapest rooms, it had a nice couch and coffee table for meals and activities. Great view from the 3rd floor overlooking the side street and the bay over to the side. The bed is so plush in the Beach Primrose (as of 2025), they have a little stepstool at the foot for you to climb up. If you're marginally athletic you can hop up on it from the side. All in all, very comfy. The town is great. Lots of good food, including the bar/restaurant on the ground floor. Doordash and Ubers available in town, too. Very restful weekend. Read the history on a section of their web site and other accounts of Benicia and Vallejo. Amazing stories, including the fact that it was the site of the State Capitol for a year or so. Lots of ghosts in this town, including in this hotel. You can feel her in the walls and halls. I'm coming back soon to get to know it more.

Originally established as a railroad saloon and boarding house in 1879, the Union Hotel is one of…read moreSonoma County's truly iconic spots, where history surrounds you the moment you step inside. Sitting at the bar, I couldn't help but imagine the hardworking railroad crews resting their weary heads here long ago, alongside the glamorous, lively parties that once filled the space. Knowing it's recognized as part of the Occidental Historic District only adds to the magic. Very worth a stop to wet your whistle at the historic Union Hotel Saloon. The sweet bartender even gave us a complimentary tour of the public areas.

Such a wonderful experience! The guides were so attentive and funny, which really helped keep any…read morenerves at ease. The views were beautiful, and everything felt well-paced from start to finish. The whole experience lasted about 2.5 hours and included 7 zip lines, which was such a fun adventure. The location can be a bit tricky to find, so I'd recommend giving yourself extra time and arriving at least 30 minutes before your scheduled tour, as they suggest.

OMG!! This was such an amazing experience. We came here for my bachelorette and had the most…read moremagical time. I can't 100% remember our tour guide names but I believe it was Aiden and Yivek (and I probably spelt those wrong). They were so funny and so knowledgeable. I loved learning about the trees and different birds while we were up on the line. The views were absolutely gorgeous and I was so grateful we got fantastic weather.

We recently came for our second RV trip here this past week and loved it as much as the first time…read more For our first time, we stayed at 60E for dry camping. It was nicely located with good shade during peak heat hours. No matter where you stay, the river is walking accessible and there is day parking if you need to transport bigger things like your canopy and water toys, etc. This time around, we chose to stay at E since our trip was longer and we wanted the full hookups and have a fenced area for our dogs. It's a great site if you have kids since it is right across from a playground. Since E wasn't available for our whole trip, we moved over to a standard RV site (water, electric, no sewage) for our last night. We were originally assigned A but staff were super helpful and flexible in allowing us to change to C1 which had better shade for the 92 degree forecast of the day. We also set up a tent for the evening and slept under the stars. It was perfect! Our in-laws also came for part of the trip and stayed in a cute cottage (beds only). Casini is awesome because there are so many different options for lodging that you can definitely find what works best for you and your family. The river is so refreshing on a hot day. Keep in mind the floor is gravelly/pebbly, so I would recommend water shoes for the best comfort. They also have golf carts and other water play things to rent. The general store is stocked very well so if you forget something, it's highly likely to be available there. They also have events scheduled through the week. Not sure if it changes, but I noticed Tuesday was pretty full of events - ice cream social, tractor ride, and movie night.

Casini Ranch Family Campground is a very clean, well-maintained campground with plenty of…read moreactivities for families, and the Russian River is just a short walk away. We stayed in an RV site and had an enjoyable time overall. One thing to note is that pricing trends on the higher side, especially if you have more than the standard four people in your group. However, there are several convenient amenities available, including on-site propane fills, firewood delivery, and four EV charging stations. The EV chargers were particularly convenient and cost about $30 for an 8-hour charging session. The campground does an excellent job creating activities for younger children. Between the jump pad, animals to feed, movie nights, ice cream socials, river access, basketball courts, and open spaces to play, it's easy to see why families come here in big numbers. Teenagers may find there are fewer activities specifically geared toward their age group, but there is still plenty to keep them occupied. My two teenage children had never kayaked before, and renting kayaks on the Russian River ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. The shower and restroom facilities were also very clean and well-maintained. We only used the shower facility near the beach access area, but it was in excellent condition. Showers are coin-operated and cost four quarters for six minutes, with each additional quarter adding 1.5 minutes of shower time. The general store was well-stocked with camping essentials, and the staff we interacted with were friendly and helpful. One thing I appreciated was the variety of camping options available. Whether you're looking for a simple tent site, a full-hookup RV site, a group area, or a more upgraded setup with amenities like gazebos and BBQs, there seems to be something for just about every style of camper and budget. Our site had full hookups, and everything worked as expected. For those staying in sites without sewer connections, there are convenient dump stations on the property. River access is one of the campground's strongest features. Getting down to the Russian River is easy, and the shoreline has a very gradual, shallow entry that makes it especially appealing for families with younger children. As always, parents should supervise their kids around water, but there is plenty of room for children to play and explore safely. AT&T cell service was excellent throughout our stay. The campground also offers free Wi-Fi, although we never needed to use it. This is definitely a family-oriented campground. Thursday night was peaceful, quiet, and relaxing. Once the weekend crowd arrived on Friday, the atmosphere became much more active. One thing future visitors should be aware of is the large number of children riding bikes and moving throughout the campground. Drivers and pedestrians alike should stay alert, as kids frequently dart across roads and campsites. We also found that quiet hours were not enforced as strictly as advertised. Beginning around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, groups of children were already riding bikes and making enough noise to wake nearby campers. Sunday morning was somewhat better--perhaps everyone was a little more tired after a busy weekend--but it was still noticeably louder than what we expected during posted quiet hours. Overall, Casini Ranch knows exactly what it is: a family campground. If you're looking for a quiet, adults-focused camping experience, a busy summer weekend may not be the best fit. If you're bringing children and want easy river access, clean facilities, plenty of activities, and a campground that caters to families, it's easy to see why so many people return year after year. Despite a few frustrations with early morning noise, we had a great stay and would happily come back. I would still rate it 5 out of 5 stars.