3 Hidden Haunts in Calistoga

Calistoga, oft seen as the stepsister to Napa, stretches beyond its cowboy and mud bath mecca roots, so wake up California, this town is no longer just for cowpokes. Check out some of our favorite hidden haunts.

The Mount View Hotel Lobby

The Mount View Hotel’s Art Deco digs are notably out of place on Calistoga’s main drag, with edgy design made all the more sleek with the old Hollywood-style lounge and pool. The lobby will make you go grrr with its animalistic-chic style, designed by co-owner Stephanie Woods. Mount View (above) celebrates the art of relaxation, with winery suites and artist cottages replete with easels, paints and canvases to spark the artist within. Each Woods-designed guestroom is uniquely appointed to show off a different snap of style. Make sure to snag a slice of the coconut cream pie at the hotel’s adjoining restaurant, JoLe, it’s easily one of the best desserts in all of Wine Country.

The Chanric Inn; Courtesy of the company.

The Chanric Inn, nestled in the hillside just north of downtown Calistoga, honors the architectural style of the original eighteenth-century Victorian, while advancing the interior into the twenty-first-century with swanky décor. Former owners Ric and Chan deliberately contrast aesthetics with visually arresting common areas countered by spa treatment and guest rooms that are restful with more muted designs and color palettes. Pair that with the restaurant-worthy three-course breakfast and you’ll never want for more.

Date Night Winery; courtesy of the company.

Date Night Winery; courtesy of the company.

Date Night Winery After a sound night’s sleep, wine tasting awaits. Barnyard-chic comes to life at this quaint, off-the-grid winery that serves a side dish of southern charm with its vino. But hoe-down lovers beware, the only hay you’ll find is tucked into lounge-worthy bales that serve as seats on the second floor tasting room. The bones of this classic vernacular-style barn were comprised from remains of a 100-year old redwood barn. Eye-candy abounds, from the vintage 1947 Farm All tractor to custom light fixtures crafted from olive tree baskets and hay bale wire twisted into eclectic formations around Edison bulbs. Sink into gunny-sack seats as you sip an über -crisp Sauvignon Blanc. It’s hard not to gape at the suspended, free-flowing table and barn walls crafted from reclaimed snow fencing from Wyoming. Make sure to tip your hat at the life-size tin cowgirl as you hit the trail back home.