Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, Sonoma

The esteemed Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is a combination of old-world charm and sleek furnishings, with beautiful ivy-covered walls providing an enchanting entrance to the hotel’s heritage rooms and suites, decorated in a typical provincial style and inviting in the rural charm of Sonoma wine country. The hotel is sprawling but its open plan layout with rooms tucked in alleys and among gardens means it never feels overwhelming. Inside, all rooms feature carefully restored tile bathrooms and marble baths, and the newly-renovated Vineyard Suites boast fireplaces and balconies. The outstanding signature Mission Suites have a free-standing bath for two in the centre, four-poster beds and patios that look out over the courtyard or the foliage of the hotel’s surrounds.

The Inn’s premier dining room, the Santé Restaurant, has a nationwide reputation for outstanding food; the recipient of Michelin designations and an AAA Four Diamond Award, it serves only the freshest local produce. Elegantly simple dishes are designed to let the natural flavours of Californian meat and seafood shine through, with the risotto, salmon and roast duck being particularly noteworthy, all complemented by, of course, a wine list of over 500 Sonoma and Napa wines. For a more relaxed environment, The 38º North Lounge serves hearty country breakfasts and American bistro food while the poolside Water Tower Bar rounds off the hotel’s restaurant collection and is perfect for a casual al fresco lunch and cocktail.

The spa here is one of the country's most coveted, and features a sprawling steam room and sauna, two Jacuzzi pools, a cold bucket shower, outdoor Watsu pool with underwater music – hosting daily aqua yoga – and a heated outdoor pool. Guests pay a fee to use the spa all day, or it's free when you book a treatment. Or, simply enjoy the heated main pool by the lobby, featuring deck chairs, bar service and cabanas for hire. Another standout performer at the Fairmont Sonoma is its golf course, set on 177 acres of idyllic wine country landscape, dotted with ancient oaks and lakes, with the Mayacamas Mountains an imposing backdrop. Unpretentious Sonoma’s slow pace and easy-going charm are, unsurprisingly, starting to lure wine tasters from Napa Valley, with Sonoma County playing host to more than 400 wineries. With the hotel just outside of town, it’s a perfect jumping off point for a tour to any number of these world-class vineyards. After a day of wine tasting, hiking in the countryside surrounds, or cycling with free bike rental, relax by the hotel's inviting outdoor fireplaces, sofas and cosy bars.