Calistoga is an enchanting little spot. Hot springs bubble with mud, oaks grow amid petrified wood forests, and fast food chains are banned by law in this quaint corner of Napa County. Of course, there are dozens of wineries, but many flock to Calistoga for its pastoral beauty and small town Americana aura. Many others seek respite at the area’s top resort Solage Calistoga, an expansive property with 83 cozy studios and six one-bedroom suites.
The rolling, lush hillsides of Calistoga are worthy of a drive in whatever vehicle, but a flashy Mercedes-Benz sure adds modern class to the stunning scenery. Solage Calistoga is one of the luxury car brand’s four hotel partners in California. The partnership offers current Mercedes-Benz owners notable perks upon check-in, but non-Benz owners get a more enticing deal: four complimentary hours in one of five new Benz’ kept on property. I borrowed the SL-Class Roadster and enjoyed curving fastidiously around the countryside.
For a slower appreciation of the bucolic area, my travel companion and I hopped on the bike cruisers which were parked in front of our studio upon arrival. Every guest is provided a complimentary bike with any stay, and even staff members use bikes as a green alternative to get around the 22-acre property. A few afternoons I also rode to the 130-foot long pool, which was flanked by massive palm trees, cream-colored cabanas, and a hillside of vineyards. Although the temperatures are crisp in the winter, the pool stays at 84 degrees during the winter.
One of Solage Calistoga's prominent attractions is its 20,000-square-foot spa. Though the fitness center, Yoga & Movement studio, and his and her relaxation rooms are notably spacious and refined, the stand-out assets of the spa is the mud bar and bathhouse. The property boasts a modern twist to the traditional mud bath, offering the Solage Signature Mudslide, a three-part experience that promises to detoxify and restore bodies in about an hour. The one-hour or so treatment is novel and playful, an ideal option particularly for novice spa-goers or less spa-enthused male companions.
The first part starts at the mud bar where an attendant mixes a custom essential oil-infused mud bowl. Once caked in the concoction, you're escorted to the lounge, otherwise referred to as massive dry sauna with fitted showers, where the mud dries and tightens the skin. The waters portion of the treatment is a blissful soak in a private tub, filled with geo-thermal mineral waters. The crowning third part of the mudslide is a sonic nap in vibrating zero-gravity chairs. Our attendant admitted that he usually has to gently shake people from their deep slumbers. An enticing nocturnal experience, the Starlight in the Bathhouse, allows guests to book the entire facility and its grounds after hours. Shared dessert, sparkling wine, and unlimited soaks and steams are features of this moon-lit indulgence.
The five-time Michelin Star-rated restaurant, Solbar, is another attraction of the hotel. The open floor plan and lofty white-wood paneling give Solbar a casual appeal, and many guests opt for al fresco dining on the massive patio under cascading vines and a shimmering star-filled sky. Like many other dining establishments in the Napa region, the food is rich in freshness and artfully accessible. The restaurant’s Chef de Cuisine is Brandon Sharp who trained at Thomas Keller’s legendary French Laundry. He devises dinner menus into hearty and healthy options to balance his soulful Southern palate with California ethos. The luscious first course, autumn squash velouté, for instance, is balanced by heirloom beet salad from nearby Coke Farms. We also enjoyed a black truffle poached egg with seared duck confit and the savory Tuscan black kale and ricotta agnolotti.
With its relaxing aura, exquisite cuisine and therapeutic spa treatments, I’ll surely be returning to Solage Calistoga. And of course, I’ll be trying out another Mercedes-Benz model. Rates start at $500 a night on the weekdays.
