Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Napa River Inn


After having dinner at the Oxbow Public Market, our group walked back to one of our host hotels, the Napa River Inn. I had not yet been up to my room to check it out, because I was a little late arriving to Napa. So after a little too much wine (welcome to Napa!), I grabbed my bags (a little heavier at this late and foggy hour) out of my car and made my way up to my room. But first, some outside shots and a little about the Napa River Inn and the Mill.



This is the Historic Napa Mill building, which houses the Napa River Inn. The Mill building is a National Registered Landmark built in 1884 and situated along the Napa River Walk.

At one time, the warehouse stored fertilizers, feed, supplies, and Napa Valley wines for local vineyards. During the 1990s, the Napa River Inn was constructed inside the Historic Napa Mill and warehouse by Napa Mill LLC. Designs for all interiors of the hotel were inspired by noted designer Sandra Blake. Many rooms and suites were designed to reflect the original building and feel of historic downtown Napa.


This is a mosaic fountain done by Alan Shepp. The work of art seeks to capture the essence of the whole Napa Valley story, its glories and its tragedies. The piece spreads from the fountain onto the walkway, and includes the mosaic at the opening of this post and a depiction of the Napa River, including the Oxbow.





Also taken behind the building, this is some of the greenery alongside Angèle Restaurant and the General Store.



This is a snap of the absolutely gorgeous backdrop of the riverwalk as the sun was going down. I might be easily impressed, but I doubt it. I remember feeling awestruck and in love with Napa the entire time I was there. This feeling is what made me come to California from Ohio in the first place...


When I made it up to my room, I was greeted with this:


A big, lovely, velvety, canopy bed! The rooms with canopies are also fashioned with overstuffed furniture, fireplaces, clawfoot tubs, and walk-in showers.





The rooms are also equipped with a spectacular coffee maker (a Keurig model). I am not exaggerating. It was some really righteous coffee, (especially when I had to get up at 5am the next morning!) It brews one or two cups at a time. Did you know Emeril Lagasse has a line of coffee? He does. And that is the brand the Napa River Inn stocks in your room. There is also an electric teapot and an assortment of Tillerman Teas. Remember them from the last post?




Other amenities available at the the Napa River Inn include:
• A personalized California breakfast, delivered to your room
• Evening wine tasting showcasing a featured winery
• 48" color TV with remote control and pay-per-view first run movies, games and in-room check out,
• Complimentary Wireless high-speed Internet access
• Voicemail and data ports
• Two direct-dial telephones with voicemail and two-line data and voice ports
• Selection of "Napa Valley Spa" bath products
• In-room locally brewed gourmet coffee and tea, complimentary daily newspaper
• Refrigerator with complimentary water
• Plush terry robes
• Irons, ironing boards, hair dryers, nightlights and make-up mirrors
• Down pillows, extra cotton blankets, non-allergenic pillows
• CD clock radios and MP3 players with iPod docking station

Here are some photos and descriptions of the other rooms available in the Napa River Inn.

The Napa River Inn is just one of the tenants in the Historic Napa Mill complex. The Historic Napa Mill also houses the aforementioned Angèle (French Provencal cuisine), Napa General Store (also a place to dine and features a café area serving breakfast and Pan-Asian style small plates), Sweetie Pies Bakery (they provide breakfast for the Napa River Inn and serve lunch daily. They also serve desserts and wine during evening hours), Silo's Jazz Club (features fine wines, local micro-brewery draft beer from Napa Smith Brewery, and a small food menu to accompany them. There is live music Wednesdays to Saturdays), La Pelle Skin Spa & Boutique (a 1,120 square foot facility with four treatment rooms, 2 couples rooms, & extensive spa menu), and Celadon (a restaurant with a seasonally influenced menu featuring flavors from the Mediterranean, Asia, and the Americas.)

You can follow the Historic Napa Mill on twitter here, and find them on Facebook here.

Also, if you happen to live in the area, check out this contest put on by several local businesses in the downtown Napa district!

No comments: