Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection

Solage is a lovely, relaxing place to get some respite from the daily grind. Going in December was perfect — so quiet and cozy. The resort offers a lot of options for exercise and wellness, great food, and a very mellow atmosphere. The rooms are spacious and well appointed, which private enclosed patios. Great place to take your dog. Attentive, friendly staff. Can’t wait to go back.

The outdoor spa area that features a sauna, steam, mineral pools, cold plunge was exceptional! We spent 3 hours here on one of our days and both felt SO amazing after. All of the staff from the front desk to the servers and room service crew were all so friendly and warm and were happy to be there and help us whenever we needed it. Will definitely return!

A wonderful, quiet, luxurious, private getaway with great access to vineyards, wineries, restaurants and delightful Calistoga! The concierge put together an awesome itinerary for our 4 days/nights including transportation to wineries and restaurants. Absolutely perfect schedule of events. After fun days of wine tasting and touring it was incredibly relaxing back at the property, we LOVED using our private hot tub and lounging around.

Staff are very friendly and knowledgable. The grounds are beautiful and relaxing, guest room was immaculate, and the service and food at the Sol Bar restaurant were outstanding. This place operates with relaxed efficiency and the staff are attentive to every detail. We will definitely return, and perhaps extend our stay longer. Red Snapper special at Sol Bar was absolutely delicious.

I recently returned from a four-night stay at Solage with my wife and six-month-old daughter, and our stay was wonderful from start to finish. We found Solage to be a serene, well-manicured resort with a wealth of amenities and a universally wonderful staff. It strikes a great balance between being upscale, but still relaxed and comfortable. We visit Napa frequently, and Solage emerged as one of our favorite hotels in the area after this trip. Pre-Arrival Experience: I booked our reservation using Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, which included early check-in and a room upgrade based on availability, late checkout, a $100 resort credit, and a breakfast credit each morning of $90, which could be used in the restaurant or for in-room dining. Prior to our stay, I had some email correspondence with the hotel, and the staff was very responsive and friendly each time. They were helpful in noting room requests and a special occasion. They were also helpful in letting us know of the baby amenities that they had available, which they said would include a crib, baby bathtub, and baby wash kit. They were also happy to provide a gallon of distilled water in the room to make bottles when we asked about that. I also had some email communication the concierge team about winery recommendations and dinner reservations, and they were helpful with both. The resort has a long list of winery partnerships that offer two free tastings per room, so you could easily put together an entire itinerary of free wine tastings to fill a trip. I noticed that the list seemed like a pretty good mix of big names and smaller producers, and even had an option to venture over to Sonoma to Williams Selyem, which is a great option. Arrival Experience: We arrived at the hotel around 4:00 pm to check-in. While there was no one outside to greet guests or guide the way when you drive up (which I somewhat expect at a hotel of this caliber, especially at the standard check-in time), the very friendly staff at the check-in desk more than made up for it with a warm welcome. They wished us a happy anniversary and offered us each a glass of wine, with a selection of red, white or rosé. Check-in also struck a good balance in being efficient, but still informative, which I really appreciated. The agent went over the inclusions in our Amex FHR rate, and gave the good news that we had received a complimentary upgrade to an Orchard Suite. We had booked the most basic room, and Amex typically provides a one category upgrade, so the upgrade multiple levels to a suite was really appreciated. The hotel did not seem busy when we were there, so I love when hotels take opportunities to make guests’ stay extra special when there is the ability to do so. The front desk agent also went over the layout of the resort and where the main amenities are located. There was also a whole packet of information provided at check-in, which included a map of the resort, our itinerary, list of inclusions with our room rate, and a list of activities offered that week, which was all helpful to refer back to later in our stay. After that, they immediately set us up with a bellman to accompany us to our room. He offered to valet park our car or accompany us to the closest self-parking by our room, which is definitely the better option. I’m not sure why anyone would use valet here, since there are parking spots scattered around the large property right by all of the rooms. The bellman drove a golf cart to our room, while we followed in our car. He showed us the best place to park, and then was helpful in assisting with all of the luggage and showing us some key items in the room. I think this is also a good time to point out the general layout of the hotel. The internal road of the property runs through the middle, sort of dividing it roughly into two sides. The lobby, pool, and both restaurants are all clustered together on one side, with the pool as the focal point. The rooms on that side of the property are categorized as being in either the “Pool Neighborhood” or the “Orchard Neighborhood”. The other side contains the spa, gym, and pickleball courts, along with rooms in the “Creek Neighborhood” and the “Oak Neighborhood”. From walking around the property, the spa side of the resort feels less convenient, and it would definitely be a longer walk to most of the facilities you’d be using often, especially from the farthest end of the Oak Neighborhood. We really appreciated being in the Orchard Neighborhood, where it was basically a two-minute walk to both restaurants and the pool area. The property is large and well-landscaped, with a focus on outdoor spaces and outdoor activities. The front desk is in a small building on its own with nothing other than the front desk in it, so there’s no real lobby per se. However, the beautiful grounds and outdoor seating areas provide plenty of places to relax with a peaceful feel. Guest rooms are scattered throughout the property in small separate buildings that have a lot of privacy, and are clustered down different pathways and plazas around the resort. From the exterior, the buildings most have a sort of a quaint, farmhouse look, while on the inside, things are definitely more modern, with a more earthy look and cool, neutral colors. Room: The Orchard Suite that we were upgraded to was wonderful. The suite was incredibly private, serene, and well appointed, and really made for a perfect stay. The whole room was decorated in calm, natural tones, with furnishings that felt earthy and spa-like for a relaxing stay. It gave us a perfect amount of indoor and outdoor space, and served as a restful homebase for our trip to the Napa Valley. We appreciated that upon our arrival, the room was stocked with all of the baby amenities we had requested, including a crib, baby bathtub, set of baby bath products, and distilled water. There was also a diaper pail that we were not expecting, but were really glad to have, plus some very cute gifts left for our daughter, including a kids’ book themed around grapes (a great fit for the destination), along with a small stuffed animal dog. They also included a picture of our family in the room, which showed great attention to detail. Since we were celebrating our anniversary on the trip, they also included a bottle of sparkling wine, some snacks, balloons, and a card for the occasion, which was all very much appreciated. The staff at Solage did a wonderful job of simultaneously making us feel welcome with our infant and providing amenities to recognize a special occasion for us. The suite was cozy, with a separate living room and bedroom with pocket doors in between. The living room featured a gas fireplace, seating area, and dining table with two chairs, while the bedroom had a very comfortable four-poster king bed and walk-in closet with good space for all of our luggage. Everything was in great condition and kept impeccably clean throughout our trip by the housekeeping staff. They also did a really nice job of going above and beyond to organize our nightstands, bathroom vanity, and baby items, which was helpful. The large bathroom was a standout feature of the room, featuring a freestanding tub and large and functional vanity with two sinks and good storage space. The shower was really the best part, and was indoor/outdoor. There was a very large indoor shower with a stone floor and choice of rainfall or regular shower heads, which had a door leading to a separate outdoor shower. Both showers were great, and we found that the outdoor shower had the best water pressure. The real highlight of the suite was the very private outdoor space. There was a large fenced-in backyard that was nicely landscaped. It featured a large covered patio with a dining table for four and two armchairs, as well as a separate gas fire pit with even more seating. On top of that, there was an outdoor tub, which added to the spa-like bath features. We really loved this outdoor space. It was ideal to have such a comfortable private space to relax, which we used every day, especially when our daughter was napping in the room. We even cancelled one dinner reservation in favor of getting takeout and enjoying it on the patio. The room was also well-stocked with various amenities, including umbrellas, robes, and even a kit of items in case of a power outage. Two jugs of complimentary water were provided in the mini-fridge, and were replaced daily, in addition to another jug of water with mint that was provided each night during turndown. A coffee and tea station was provided, and a full mini-bar of items for purchase was available (although we wished those items were complimentary like they are at one of the Napa Valley’s other Auberge Resorts, Auberge du Soleil). Our only minor suggestions regarding the room are: -There was a small carafe of half and half in the fridge that was meant to go with the in-room coffee. However, we found it a little confusing that it was unmarked, and the one in our room was curdled. We didn’t need it, but making sure this is replaced frequently and is better marked would be helpful. -I thought turndown service could be expanded a little bit. While the basics were all done, it would be nice if chocolates or a small food item was provided, and I always like if calming music is playing to welcome us back to the room. -The patio had an electronic keypad that appeared that it may control a heated floor. However, it was totally unclear what it did, and even when we tried to set it, we didn’t notice that anything would happen. I’m not sure if it was broken, or we simply needed more directions on how to control it. Resort Fee: Solage does charge a $60 per night resort fee, which is unfortunately common in Napa. I hate having to pay a resort fee on top of already high room rates. The resort fee at Solage purports to include some basics that I would think should be included regardless (parking, internet, the welcome glass of wine at check-in), and then a variety of leisure amenities that are nice extras. First, use of a house car is included. There is one option where the staff will drive you anywhere in Calistoga, and then a second option to rent out a variety of Mercedes cars to drive yourself for up to four hours on a first-come, first-served basis. I appreciated that there were several cars available, so it seemed plausible that it would actually be available if we were interested. We almost tried the Mercedes house car one day, but we had our own rental car, so it seemed easiest to stick with that. There are also a variety of leisure activities included, which, if you spend a lot of time at the hotel, could be a good value. In addition to use of the gym, bikes, and pickleball courts, hotel guests receive access to the facilities of the spa, which includes a variety of geothermal pools. There was also a calendar provided with a variety of classes that were included, which were a mix of fitness/yoga classes and others, such as salsa making and essential oil blending. Since we were often out during the day, we didn’t get to try any of these, but I would be interested in doing so in the future. The only negative with these was that some of the classes (typically the food and beverage related ones) had an extra fee to participate, which seems totally unnecessary on top of an already high $60 per night resort fee. We also appreciated that there were sometimes little extras offered that weren’t advertised, but were very nice, such as a variety of cut fresh flowers available by the lobby each morning. We were encouraged to make our own bouquet and take it back to our room, which was fun. Pool & Spa: The pool and spa are the key amenities at this hotel. The main pool is really lovely and very large, with plenty of space and lots of seating all around it. We didn’t use the pool, since it was a bit chilly out when we visited in November, although it was heated and definitely open for service, along with the hot tub. We’d love to come back when it’s a bit warmer and plan a resort day. Similarly, we didn’t have a chance to visit the spa, but I like that hotel guests can use the amenities anytime, and I’ve also always heard great things about the treatments. Spa Solage offers interesting treatments that are a nod to the heritage of Calistoga, including mud and mineral water treatments that have been a draw of the area for hundreds of years. Dining: We were able to try all of the Solage dining options multiple times. The main restaurant is Solbar, which serves every meal and has a bar/lounge as well. Solbar offers both a nice interior option for dining, and a large outdoor area overlooking the pool, with plenty of heaters and a fire pit outside. We had breakfast at Solbar every morning, and one dinner. Every meal was excellent, and the service was universally friendly and attentive. We almost always chose to sit outside, even when it was a bit chilly, and the staff was always happy to accommodate us and make sure we were comfortable and warm enough out there. The breakfasts at Solbar were all really good. We appreciated that there was a breakfast cocktail menu, which was a fun way to start the day in wine country, and the menu in general was just really nice in being varied and large. I like having a lot of breakfast options, and they really nailed that here. Favorite items of ours included the cinnamon sugar donut holes, the Silverado breakfast (eggs, potatoes, and a choice of breakfast meat), and the chilaquiles. The only thing we didn’t love was the lobster omelet, which tasted a little too fishy and didn’t really come together well. Dinner was excellent at Solbar too. We had been there for dinner on a previous trip and enjoyed it, and this time was just as nice, with excellent service. The chips and dip with caviar are a favorite of ours, and the rockfish with a coconut-lemongrass broth and shishito peppers was fresh and delicious. I also appreciated that there was a nice variety of wine options by the glass at Solbar. The more casual dining option is Picobar, which is alongside the pool. The food served at the pool is from Picobar, and the restaurant itself is also open everyday for lunch, plus dinner on weekends. We went for dinner one night and had a really pleasant experience. The service was attentive and friendly in line with everywhere else at Solage, and it offered simple, good Mexican cuisine in a pleasant open-air environment. The whipped avocado dip was especially excellent, and the tacos we had were solidly good too. Staff Service: As previously mentioned, staff service at Solage was really strong. Virtually everyone we met hit that sweet spot of being friendly and warm, but still professional. I stopped in at the front desk a couple times to ask quick questions when we happened to be nearby, and everyone was always so nice. I also stopped by the front desk on our departure morning pretty early as we were leaving, to look over our final folio and make sure it was correct. There was one mistake on the bill that they acknowledged needed to be corrected. I would have loved to have it taken care of immediately, but it was taking longer than expected to finalize, so they offered to make the change on their end and email me the updated copy as soon as it was done so we wouldn’t get held up. The new copy was emailed to me just a little while later, and it was correct. The number of hotels we stay at that have errors on room bills and take significant effort after the stay to fix them is surprising, so I was appreciative that it was handled correctly and professionally here. It wasn’t a big deal, but we did have mixed success with requests we made during our stay being completed promptly. In one instance, we called and asked if a wine bucket with ice could be delivered to our room, and they said it would come shortly, but 45 minutes later, it still hadn’t arrived. I called back to follow-up, and it seemed the request had just been lost. At that point, it came within 10 minutes, but it was now about an hour since we had first asked for it. However, on another day, when I called to see if they had any larger wine glasses available for red wine, since the ones in the room were really small, they understood the request, found exactly what we needed, and had them there in just a few minutes. I would suggest that Solage offer guests a way to easily contact hotel staff to make requests or ask questions outside of calling on the room phone. I really love luxury properties that offer an app or a phone number you can text with requests. Especially since Solage is a large property and things are spread out, or you may think of a request when you’re not on property, an option like that makes things even more seamless as a guest. In the situation I mentioned above, it would also have been an easier way to track down the missing ice bucket. Location: Solage is located in Calistoga, which is a historic town at the northern end of the Napa Valley. It has a more laid-back, western feel than some of the other towns in the area. You can probably walk to the main street of Calistoga from Solage, but it would be about a mile walk, and might be easier to bike or drive. Either way, it’s not far. There are also some walking and biking trails right by the hotel to see the area, and the Four Seasons is located directly across the road from Solage with a dedicated crosswalk, so that’s another place to walk to and check out. While we liked Solage very much and would return, I don’t love the location. Calistoga is certainly nice, but we didn’t fall in love with it in the way we have with other towns in the area, like Yountville and St. Helena. Also, by being at the northern end of the valley, you can end up doing a lot more driving than if staying somewhere more centrally located. We found ourselves driving 45 minutes each way to Napa or 30 minutes each way to Yountville at times, which felt like a lot of driving. Granted, there are many great wineries and restaurants within a short drive of Solage, and it was our choice to go further to other locations in the valley. However, in general, we would prefer the more central location of places like Auberge du Soleil, Meadowood, or other hotels in Yountville and St. Helena. Overall: Overall, we definitely enjoyed our four nights at Solage. It’s a lovely resort with calm, earthy vibes that made for a relaxing stay. We appreciated a great room upgrade and nice attention to detail when traveling with our young daughter. Really nice dining options at the hotel and a friendly staff sealed the deal on a great stay. We’ve stayed at several of Solage’s competitors in the area in the past (such as Auberge du Soleil, Alila, Villagio, and Vintage House), and only Auberge du Soleil clearly beat this one, and not even by much. Both resorts in the Auberge Resorts Collection are excellent choices, and our recent choice of Solage is one we look forward to repeating in the future.