Meadowood Napa Valley Review
Relaxing Retreat at Meadowood: A Travel Advisor's Personal Perspective
My stay at Meadowood in January of 2025 was heavenly and it instantly shot to the top of my list for one of my favorite properties in the Napa Valley. Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley close to downtown St Helena, Meadowood offers a personalized and charming experience. As a travel advisor, I recently had the pleasure of staying at this resort and I'm excited to share my insights, tips, and tricks for making the most of your visit.
First things first, I can add the below perks at Meadowood for my Bessties:
Daily Full breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant and via in-room dining
$100 hotel credit
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Location
Only 2 miles from downtown St Helena, Meadowood is well-positioned within the vines and hills of Napa Valley but close enough to town to offer lots of dining and shopping options. The hotel offers complimentary car service for hotel guests to downtown St. Helena and Yountville based on availability and bicycles to borrow for on- and off-estate exploring.
St Helena is often referred to as the Beverly Hills of Northern California and everyone from The Kardashians to the Beckhams have been spotted shopping downtown in St. Helena over the years. The extremely fertile soil and unique microclimate of Napa Valley makes it one of the most prestigious wine producing areas in the United States, with a winemaking heritage dating back to the 19th century, and there are fantastic wineries in the surrounding areas.
An Icon in Napa Valley
Meadowood has been around since 1961. Past guests have included President George W. Bush, John Legend, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kate Upton, Courtney Cox, Dennis Quaid, and Julia Child. Meadowood has long been a private escape for Hollywood celebrities and their families and also operated as a private country club for years, which is why it has extensive amenities on the 250 acre grounds.
Prior to the fires, Meadowood was one of only 12 resorts worldwide that had received 15 stars from Forbes Travel Guide. The property still is a Forbes Five Star Hotel and Spa. It’s also a Relais & Chateaux member and has received 3 Michelin Keys - an impressive list of recognitions for a hotel!
The Glass Fire
On Sept. 28, 2020, the devastating Glass Fire engulfed Meadowood and burned 50 percent of the buildings, including 42 guest rooms, the conference space, the 3 Michelin star restaurant, the golf shop, the kitchens, the tennis shop, and about 50 acres of the resort’s woodlands and landscaped areas. The resort is actively working on a comprehensive rebuilding plan, including a reimagined Restaurant, rebuilt cottages and lodges to bring the total room count back up to 106, and enhanced facilities. Currently, 36 rooms and suites, in addition to the Hill House, have been re-opened to guests, in addition to most guest facilities.
The Rooms
Meadowood offers a range of accommodations, from charming rooms to spacious lodges.
Rooms have thoughtful touches, including wood-burning fireplaces, Flamingo Estate bath products, deep soaking tubs, in-room Nespresso machines, and a minibar full of complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.
Rooms vary from 285 - 460 square feet, depending on room type, with open floor plans. Some have sitting areas or private patios or balconies. Suites are 500 square feet, with separate living rooms and private porches. Hill House, an expansive one-bedroom house with over 1,700 square feet of indoor/outdoor living space and two furnished terraces complete with fire pits, an alfresco soaking tub, and an outdoor shower, is perfect for those seeking the ultimate in privacy and is typically where the celebrities stay.
Note that, in the fire, the accessible rooms burned down. The hotel does have plans to build new ones as they rebuild from the fire. Currently, all rooms, with the exception of the Hill House, have at least a few stairs to access the room. The rooms with the best views have numerous flights of stairs to access the front door. When we book your room, I will ask your preference regarding views versus number of stairs so I can request the ideal room placement.
Dining
Meadowood is most well known for its 3 Michelin Star restaurant, The Restaurant at Meadowood. Unfortunately, it was one of the structures that burned down in the fire. The hotel does plan to rebuild the restaurant. In the meantime, you can experience Chef Christopher Kostow’s cuisine at The Charter Oak restaurant in St. Helena.
Other options on property include Forum, a farm-to-table all day restaurant, Terrace Café, the poolside cafe during the summer months, and in-room dining. With the hotel being only a short drive away from downtown St Helena and the rest of Napa Valley, endless restaurant options are also available in the surrounding area and the Estate Host concierge team will help you secure your dining and wine tasting reservations.
Amenities
Meadowood is more than just a hotel; it's a destination in itself given that it was originally a country club. The property spans 250 acres and features a golf course, five tennis courts, hiking trails, three pools, a newly renovated fitness center with class programming, a hiking trail, a spa, a restaurant, and a cafe.
The extensive amenities at Meadowood include:
Three Pools: A Fitness morning laps and quiet relaxation, a Family Activities Pool, designed for guests with children aged 15 and under, and The Cabana Pool, meant for guests aged 21 and older. Pools are only accessible to Meadowood guests and members and poolside service is available at all three pools.
State-of-the-Art Fitness Center: Includes the latest weight-training and cardio equipment, two Peloton bikes, Concept 2 SkiErg, a TRX station, and a Stairmaster StepMill. Daily fitness classes are complimentary for hotel guests and include everything from yoga and cardio weight training to aqua aerobics and pilates. Separate men’s and women’s locker rooms offer saunas and steam rooms.
Five Tennis Courts: The use of tennis courts, as well as rackets and balls, is complimentary for members and hotel guests. Pros are also available on site for private instruction to teach players of all levels.
Private Hiking Trail: The property offers a three mile maintained trail that is only accessible to hotel guests and members. A Labyrinth is also available, designed by the acclaimed Master Labyrinth designer Lars Howlett.
The Wine Center: Exclusive to Meadowood guests and members, The Wine Center allows visitors to learn more about wine with a curriculum designed by Kelli A. White, author of “Napa Valley Then and Now and named one of the top sommeliers in the country by Food & Wine Magazine. There’s a huge variety of experiences available - enjoy vertical or blind tastings, learn about how the war influenced winemaking, even bring a wine expert with you on winery tours.
Spa
The Forbes 5 Star spa, accessible only to Meadowood guests and members, is incredible. The spa offers a variety of treatments designed to rejuvenate. The spa facilities are also designed to allow you to relax and stay while - fireplaces, lounge areas, snacks and tea, a hot tub, and a sauna.
What’s really unique about the spa is The Tree House Retreat, my absolute new favorite spa experience. The Tree House Retreat is a private room in the spa that is partially outdoor. Partly open to the elements and underneath the beautiful trees, the room includes a fireplace and a hand-hammered copper tub for custom baths. The bath offerings are super unique and include a pure sea salt bath, a mustard bath, a milk bath, or a CBD shea butter bath. I chose the mustard bath as it was the first time I had ever seen it offered and I had a fantastic experience.I highly recommend adding extra time because it went by SO fast and I was heartbroken to leave this incredible paradise. You can even order snacks and drinks to your Tree House Retreat to enjoy.
Takeaways
Meadowood excels at anticipating guests' needs and providing thoughtful amenities. One of the staff members overheard how much I loved their (housemade) salted caramels that they had in the room and, later, I literally had a staff member chase me down while I was in my car to give me more salted caramels AND there was more of them left in my room. What’s more, they actually read my client preference card and had all the pillows I requested in my room before I arrived, without me having to call and ask for them after I checked in. Talk about making me feel special!
I love the lack of extra costs here. There is no resort fee, nor a nightly parking fee, and the spa prices already include gratuities.
Certain rooms, as well as certain amenities - like the Labyrinth - have a lot of stairs to access them. As such, until the property fully rebuilds, it is not a good option for those who need an accessible option and you will need to request certain rooms for those that are mobility-limited.
Until their signature restaurant is rebuilt, there is no fine dining option on the property. However, there are numerous restaurant options in the surrounding area.
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