Kenwood Inn & Spa

Fashioned after an Italian villa, Kenwood is a destination getaway for couples.

• Lunching al fresco in the courtyard
• The feel of an elaborate Italian villa, without being kitsch
• Three salt water pools

The bad news first: Kenwood Inn is located right off of Sonoma Highway, and some car noise infiltrates the property, and even some of the rooms. That said, thanks to its unique design scheme and gracious staff, this resort is still one of the most romantic places to stay in Sonoma and has a loyal following of return guests. Kenwood’s original owners, who likened the surrounding countryside to Umbria, modeled their wine-country folly on an Italian one. It has a central courtyard, based on the one in front of Amalfi’s Duomo, a mill house with a rotating wooden wheel, and lofty second-story rooms that come with flower- and plant-framed balconies Juliet would have adored.

Of the twenty-nine rooms, the best are on the second and third floors and farthest from the street. Interiors exude a Renaissance lavishness, with antiques, gold-framed oil paintings, fabric-covered headboards, working stone fireplaces and large French doors that open onto private patios or terraces, which some guests use as private dining areas for the entirety of their stays. One thing rooms don’t have is television sets. The property makes the most of its meandering, lushly planted common grounds; there’s a lovely pool lined with day beds and bordered at one end by a cascading stream that splashes into it, helping to dampen much of the noise from the street. The restaurant’s tables are scattered throughout the sun-dappled courtyard, making daytime meals a special joy. The acclaimed intimate spa specializes in destination-specific treatments and vinotherapy.

Couples. The resort doesn’t accept kids under the age of eighteen and the whole vibe is geared toward romantics and honeymooners.