Just over an hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge awaits Hôtel Les Mars, a member of Relais & Châteaux. It’s a gem of a hôtel in downtown Healdsburg and brings the romance of French living to Northern California. Its architecture is reminiscent of a historic French maison and the interiors are adorned with traditional 17th and 18th century antiques adding a Parisian-style charm.
Meticulous attention to detail sets Hôtel Les Mars apart. I was offering chilled Champagne upon check-in and then made my way upstairs to a Grand King room that exudes old-world elegance and features 20-foot-high beamed ceilings. The four-poster canopy bed is fit for a king and atop the fine Italian linens I found a charming two piece box of Le Belge Chocolates, handcrafted in neighboring Napa Valley.
There’s a sitting area with a fireplace that turns on with the flip of a switch and on the coffee table, I found a bottle of Banshee wine waiting for me. It paired oh so perfectly with the Le Belge Chocolates!
Each morning a simple and delicious continental breakfast was delivered to my room and it included seasonal fruit, yogurt, and a freshly baked pastry. In the evening after turndown, there was a menu hanging on my door handle so I could select my breakfast choice and desired delivery time.
For dinner, we made our way downstairs to Chalkboard located in the Hôtel Les Mars lobby. It’s a casual, contemporary yet classic restaurant that offers ever-changing small plates. Its menus are defined by Executive Chef Forest Lee Kellogg’s access to quality seasonal ingredients and it celebrates the best of what Sonoma County has to offer.
In the bathroom, there were luxurious Bulgari soaps and a hydrotherapy jet soaking tub complete with a variety of aromatherapy bath salts that give reason to linger.
We started our meal with a shot of chilled corn soup and focaccia bread that was melt in your mouth delicious! It came with olive oil and rosemary butter on the side.
The wine list is excellent and features many local wines as well as international options. We settled on a bottle of Sancerre.
As for mains, we passed around a variety of pasta dishes, clams with toasted baguette, and of course we couldn’t pass up the fried chicken! Overall, the food, service, and wine were excellent!
A special perk for Hôtel Les Mars guests is receiving a complimentary tasting at any of their partner wineries such as Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, Chalk Hill Estates & Winery and Lancaster Estate.
Hôtel Les Mars is just one block from Healdsburg’s historic town square and features art galleries, boutiques, tasting rooms, cafes, and restaurants with excellent cuisine! It’s one of my favorite towns in California as its quaint, charming, and offers the best of the best!
Whether you’re visiting to taste fine wines, to savor world-class cuisine, or experience the beauty of Sonoma, you will delight in everything… except for when you have to leave at the end of your stay!