Provencal hillside citadel
French Riviera-style maisons cascade down a Rutherford hillside, looking out over heritage olive groves and the Napa Valley floor.
“The design ethos of the rooms (and resort, generally) can best be described as "Mediterranean meets California."”
What it’s good at
Exceptional
Staff arrange private valley tastings and anticipate preferences across secluded hillside suites.
Remarkable
Suzanne Tucker updated Michael Taylor’s hillside maisons with custom steel doors and spiral chandeliers.
Remarkable
Open-air courtyard soaks and spa therapies infused with grapeseed and estate herbs.
What they say
Three Michelin Keys
Michelin
Forbes Five-Star
Forbes Travel Guide
2026
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
The original Napa Valley luxury boutique hotel, Auberge du Soleil, three decades on, is still going strong — so strong that, for many repeat guests, there simply isn’t anywhere else.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
The hillside estate sits above the Silverado Trail, secluded from valley traffic with Rutherford wineries just down the road.
The rooms
French doors open onto private hillside terraces, with an indoor fireplace and an oversized soaking tub in every room.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Daybeds and cabanas line the terraced pool deck, looking out past olive trees across the valley floor.
The soaking pools
Three temperate outdoor soaking pools sit in a private courtyard, surrounded by stone walls and garden greenery.
The spa
Sunlit treatment rooms open to the trees, with therapies incorporating local olive oil and grapeseed extracts.
Dogs stay too.
The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil
Seasonal French-California dishes are served on the open-air terrace, backed by a 15,000-bottle wine cellar.
The boutique resort’s Mediterranean-inspired design and relaxed, contemporary style are meant to reflect the character of the Napa Valley.
At the table
The Bar pours dozens of wines by the glass beside a curved marble counter and iron chandelier.
How it began
Restaurateur Claude Rouas opened the restaurant in 1981, adding guest cottages five years later when diners demanded overnight stays.
“The hospitality experts at Auberge obliged, dotting the 33 acres of vineyard and olive groves with elegant, French Riviera–inspired maisons.”
Good to know
Stay here
Auberge du Soleil
Choose your dates to see every room and rate, and book in a few steps.
Add dates to see the price for your stay.
Or book with
Booking.com ExpediaWe may earn a commission when you book through Booking.com or Expedia. It never decides which hotels we include or how we rate them.
Napa Valley
More like this
Bardessono Hotel and Spa
“Rammed-earth vineyard hideaway”
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley
“Working vineyard haven”
Meadowood Napa Valley
“Woodland estate retreat”
Carneros Resort and Spa
“Agrarian cottage hideaway”
Solage
“Vineyard wellness haven”
Le Petit Pali
“Playful vineyard hideaway”
Alila Napa Valley
“Restorative vineyard sanctum”
North Block Hotel
“Courtyard villa lodgings”
The app
Like this one? There are so many more.
Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.