The Madrona

Earlier this month I was planning a surprise get-away and The Madrona was my first choice. I reached out to the Chief Concierge, Rachel, with my idea and she stated she would do some research and come back to me. Luckily, we live in the bay area so driving to Healdsburg is fast-ish, and easy. For the weekend I was planning The Madrona had a 20% Off Spring Getaway special that was perfect. Additionally, Rachel was able to upgrade us to a super nice bungalow near the Palm Terrace (fabo wedding ceremony location!) Upon arrival we had a chilled bottle of Roederer and a delicious seasonal citrus pound cake waiting for us in the room - that was an unexpected delight. We had a lovely romantic dinner in the restaurant inclusive of their exceptional house martini - The Estate Martini. You have to try it - it's the nasturtium oil and sidecar. The next morning we had a lovely wine tasting off-property and were able to use the chauffeur driven house car - comfy Volvo SUV - for the tasting so no need to worry about choosing a DD. Thanks Rachel and hope to see you later this spring for my birthday!

If you're looking at a trip to wine country generally, or Healdsburg specifically, you know there are a lot of options. We've been coming up here from LA a lot over the past 10years and the one place that is our absolute first check (before looking at wineries or restaurants or anything else) is whether we can stay at the Madrona. The property grounds are absolutely gorgeous and you actually feel like you have an oasis to escape to at the end of a day of exploring. We've stayed in most of the rooms at this point, and every single one is special in its own way. If you can get one of the salon rooms, we LOVE those. This isn't just a place to crash at night after a long day of wine tasting. They have e-bikes that you can use in the morning for a ride along Westside road. The complimentary car service - arrange in advance - will ferry you to and from town. We usually make a point of having at least one dinner onsite as both the food and beverage program are great! Finally, the staff really go out of their way to make your stay as special as possible - if it's your first time to the area, be sure to reach out in advance for great suggestions about vineyards, shops, and restaurants to visit in the area.

I can’t say enough good things about the Madrona. They treat you like royalty. The rooms are spacious and well appointed. The continental breakfast is terrific: croissants, delicious fresh squeezed orange or grapefruit juice, good coffee or tea, fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, pineapple slices, all quality stuff), high quality granola, rich yogurt, and an excellent selection of soft and hard cheeses. The setting is gorgeous. It’s on a hill with a scenic outlook. Although it’s only a five minute drive from central Healdsburg, it’s an idyllic, rural setting. If you’re a birder lots of interesting birds to see and hear too. While we were there my wife got sick for one day (through no fault of the Madrona). The staff was extremely accommodating. I drove her to an urgent care center in Windsor to be seen around noon. Although that was past checkout time (it was our last scheduled day there) they said not to worry, either we could extend our stay for another day or just have a late checkout at no charge, depending on what we were told at the urgent care center. In the event we decided to stay another day, during which time my wife recovered. They even waived the increased charge for a Friday, and just charged us at the normal weekly rate. So refreshing to be treated as a human being and not just as a walking wallet! Next time we’re in Sonoma (we live across the country) we will without question look forward to staying at the Madrona again!

Recent reviews of the Madrona on Tripadvisor prove why this site is no longer relevant. People just come on to complain and pretend to be a travel reporter. My stay here was 5*. Nothing short. Beautiful design, amazing food, operated with care.

For 2 Michelin keys, we expected a bit more from what we experienced. We only stay at 5 star hotels and this one stood out to us because of the Michelin stars. But service, hospitality fell short of what a 5 star hotel should be. Rooms were uncomfortable, and was not thoughtfully designed or configured. The entire sitting area was wrapped in this very busy wallpaper including the ceiling . If you are having your guests feel relaxed and have tranquillity, it did'nt work. We booked a cottage one of the more expensive accomodation , not mentioned any where that there's not TV in the room, There is no place to hang your towels only 2 hooks which is for the robes. Coffee machine is hidden in a cabinet and the entire coffee making was not friendly. No room service. This is not a full service hotel, it felt like we went glamping. Snack that is for sale were expired.

The Madrona is a dream stay. The modern reimagining of this historic gem blends with the authentic charm of the property boldly (as the designer owner meant it to be) and seamlessly. The staff are kind, authentic, and on the ball. The food and beverage is divine. Truly, cannot recommend it more and only a stone's throw from Healdsburg center and the Dry Creek wine trail.