Review: Archer Hotel Napa

Why book?

It's Napa Valley without the pretension. Think of it as a central landing pad for exploring Downtown Napa and beyond.

Set the scene

Right away, there's a sense of arrival reminiscent of a city chic hotel with a grand lobby entry distinguished by a long, arched colonnade comprised of iron ceiling panels with a grapevine-like pattern. An atrium ceiling, an intricate branch chandelier, wood siding, and stone-lined columns set the tone for a cozy-meets-mountain modern aesthetic. In the lobby living room, corporate execs type away on laptops while wine enthusiasts compare notes from a crop of nearby tasting rooms. On weekends, you might see a mix of bridal parties, girls' getaways (cue the felt hats and flowy dresses), families, and couples. At Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar, the 11,000-square-foot open-air rooftop bar and eatery, catch a panoramic view of Downtown Napa and the Valley beyond. It's a local hot spot for sunset-viewing and reverse happy hour (Sundays, 8 p.m. to close) and a Whiskey Bar with more than 150 whiskeys (Mondays-Saturdays 4-10 p.m.; reservations only.)

The backstory

Initially opened in 2017, the property—housed in the former Merrill's Building, a defunct drug store—is owned by LodgeWorks Partners, L.P. (the company behind Archer Hotels in eight cities, including Austin and New York). Once dotted with dark furnishings and upholstery, the two-story lobby replete with a large fireplace and realistic potted olive trees just underwent a refresh by Wichita, Kansas–based design firm LK Architecture (the firm has designed other Archer Hotels including Virginia, Texas, Washington, and New Jersey) with cream- and caramel-colored barrel chairs; rich, plum-hued leather ottomans; and global-inspired area rugs. Before heading upstairs to the room or rooftop, get the lay of the land with the help of a large-scale 3D topological map depicting the valley, lakes, mountains, and 16 American Viticultural Areas (or AVAs.)

The rooms

There's a room type for just about every type of traveler, with six floor plans. There are 54 Classic King guest rooms for couples and solo travelers, and eight Double King guest rooms for families or traveling groups of friends. There are 71 Deluxe King guest rooms with approximately 365 square feet of space, and 11 Deluxe King balcony guest rooms with small private balconies. I stayed in an Archer King suite with a large outdoor balcony and gas-burning fireplace (there are 27 of these rooms). The spacious 547-square-foot rooms feature a seating area with a sectional sofa; an armchair with a throw blanket; four-poster beds with an ultra-calming accent wall featuring a black-and-white landscape photo mural entitled After The Rain by California artist Robert Buelteman; and a side wall and edge-lit transparent mural for the soaking tub glass siding with another Buelteman photo, Clearing Fog. There's also a cabinet with a Nespresso coffee station and mini fridge; an in-room safe; a minibar with two complimentary Fiji waters, plus wine and gourmet snacks for purchase (think pistachios from Petaluma-based Torn Ranch and milk chocolate sea salt almonds by Marich). Roomy bathrooms are equipped with a large soaking tub; a magnifying mirror; Malin+Goetz bath amenities; Frette bathrobes; slippers; a walk-in shower; and a spa-themed rubber ducky with cucumber-covered eyes and a spa robe. My favorite room feature was the oversized, open-air terrace with outdoor furniture, a privacy wall lined with greenery, and a gas fireplace. There are also little touches such as a copy of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and turndown treats spanning dark chocolate salted caramels from local chocolatier, Anette's Chocolates and chocolate-dipped fortune cookies by Fancy Fortune Cookie Co. Families and traveling couples will want to book one of 12 Archer's Den suites with a roomy 723 square feet. The one-bedroom suites are appointed with four-poster beds; a living room area with a wet bar and pull-out sofa; and an expansive balcony with a gas-burning fireplace.

Food and drink

With a plethora of dining options, you won't go hungry. Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar serves up cocktails and wine by the glass alongside casual fare like patatas bravas and lobster corn dogs. Just be sure to get there on the early side in the evenings to secure a prime spot next to a firepit. For Sunday brunch, offerings consist of chicken and waffles drizzled with maple syrup, mini frittatas, and bottomless bloody marys and mimosas. The upscale lobby restaurant, Charlie Palmer Steak, is open for breakfast, dinner, and happy hour (Monday–Thursday.) Starters include lamb lollipops and baked oysters, while entrées range from scallops with saffron risotto and olive tapenade to an 18-ounce ribeye topped with sauces including béarnaise or apple-horseradish cream.

The spa

The Rooftop Spa at Archer offers massages, facials, and body treatments such as the Lavish Me Lavender, a four-part experience with dry brushing, a full body massage, foot reflexology, and a scalp ritual. (My favorite spa therapist is Hope.) Post-treatment, lounge by the Water Deck, a shallow, six-inch pool lined with curvy in-water lounge chairs and semi-private cabanas with fireplaces.

The neighborhood/area

The hotel is located in the heart of Downtown Napa within First Street Napa, a mixed-use development consisting of more than 40 specialty boutiques, tasting rooms, galleries, bookstores, pet stores, restaurants, and office tenants. It's a seven-minute walk from the infamous Oxbow Public Market, a 40,000-square-foot emporium with two dozen purveyors including Ritual Coffee, The Model Bakery, and Loveski.

The service

The friendly bellmen outside will always welcome guests with a smile and a friendly greeting. There's a dedicated concierge in the lobby living room next to the fireplace. They can arrange everything from wine tasting appointments to hot-air balloon rides.

Eco effort

The hotel provides Fiji Water in 100-percent recycled plastic bottles, and all guest bathrooms have wall-mounted shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in recyclable bottles by Malin+Goetz. Archer Hotel also works with One Tree Planted, a non-profit organization dedicated to global reforestation.

Accessibility

The hotel features elevators and wide spaces throughout. Each room type offers both hearing-accessible options with visual alarms and notification devices and mobility-accessible rooms with roll-in showers; doorways with 32 inches of clear width; a lowered desk, light switches, hooks, security latch, door viewer, and thermostat; motorized drapes and sheers; HDTVs with closed captioning or closed caption decoders; and toilets with grab bars and a lowered vanity.

For families

Kids will love the Kid-in-Archer gift upon arrival with curiosities, toys, and games ranging from yo-yos and Slinkys to Mad Libs, while pups (which require a $150 non-refundable deposit per stay) will feel pampered with complimentary in-room treats, and dog beds and accessories for use during the stay.

Anything left to mention?

The hotel houses an extensive art collection, curated by notable New York-based art advisor Deborah Goodman Davis, highlighting local and regional artists including works by Amber Jean Young, Caetlynn Booth, Bob McClenahan, and Lewis deSoto. Cruise between floors to see works by different artists. Up for a workout? There's a fitness studio (located next to the Water Deck) replete with free weights, benches, a Peloton bike, and Matrix cardio equipment, or opt for yoga on the adjacent alfresco yoga deck.