Arrival/Check-In: My friend Megan and I arrived at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa after a long, flavorful day: touring Alcatraz, driving from San Francisco in a heavy rainstorm, enjoying lunch at Long Meadow Ranch and a tasting at Peju. It was late November and already dark when we pulled in. Parking is complimentary but requires a short walk to the check-in area. We were in town for Flavor! Napa Valley, and Silverado—an expansive resort, spa and golf course set on 1,200 acres—was one of the festival host hotels. Despite the busy evening, staff processed our check-in quickly and a team member drove us to our one-bedroom suite in a golf cart.
Guest Quarters: Our suite occupied a corner of the building and felt spacious and comfortable. There was a gated patio off to the side, though it was too chilly to use it during our stay. The resort’s accommodations are organized into four distinct communities; ours offered easy walking access to the lobby and nearby amenities while remaining tucked away in a quiet area.
The suite opened into a living room with a fireplace, couch, coffee table, TV and seating. A faint smokey scent lingered in the room throughout our stay, which was mildly off-putting. Off the living room was a full kitchen, though we didn’t make much use of it while on vacation. The bedroom included two double beds, a dresser, TV and desk. The bathroom, adjacent to the bedroom, featured an open closet and vanity area; the toilet and shower were located behind a sliding door.
Services/Amenities: Napa Valley is home to hundreds of wineries, but Silverado offers many on-site activities when you want a break from tastings. The resort features a pool, tennis courts, golf and a full-service spa. The fitness center, while not open 24 hours, provides modern equipment and group classes.
We didn’t dine at the resort’s restaurants, The Grill or The Mansion Lounge, but did enjoy drinks in the lobby bar on both evenings. The staff there were friendly and the area was lively. Room service is offered during limited hours.
The Experience: With a packed itinerary and too few days in Napa, Silverado served well as a comfortable home base. Napa is more spread out than we expected, but most destinations were relatively easy to reach from the resort. On a return visit I’d like to spend more time enjoying the on-site amenities, particularly the spa.
GT CHECKLIST
[checklist]
[item check=yes]Doorman/valet[/item]
[item check=yes]Less than 10 minutes for check-in[/item]
[item]Separate tub and shower[/item]
[item check=yes]Large vanity[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality towels[/item]
[item check=yes]Powerful, unattached hair dryer[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality bed linens[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, flat-screen television[/item]
[item check=yes]Large desk with convenient outlets[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, complimentary laptop safe[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary in-room WiFi[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary bottled water[/item]
[item]Stocked minibar[/item]
[item check=yes]Ample lighting[/item]
[item check=yes]In-room coffeemaker[/item]
[item check=yes]Iron and ironing board[/item]
[item check=yes]On-site restaurant[/item]
[item]24-hour room service[/item]
[item]24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center[/item]
[item check=yes]Turn-down service[/item]
[/checklist]
Silverado Resort and Spa
1600 Atlas Peak Road
Napa Valley, CA 94558
tel 707 257 0200
silveradoresort.com