By Melanni Leary, Escape Artists Travel Designer
Recently, I stayed at Appellation Healdsburg, the brand new flagship hotel from the Appellation brand, and it felt like discovering something truly special. It’s more than a place to rest: this property is a full immersion into Sonoma County’s offerings of food, wine and craft.
Exciting news for travelers: My clients can enjoy 25% off rates at Appellation Healdsburg through 2025 when booking with me! This brand new property is already making waves in Sonoma County, and I’m thrilled to share my personal experience.
Arrival & Ambience
Driving into Appellation Healdsburg, the first thing I noticed was how the property is gently spread across 8.5 acres, divided into two distinct “villages” or neighborhoods.
There are several garden courtyards. You feel invited to walk, pause and discover on your way to your room.
When I checked in, I was greeted at a butcher block style desk that felt more like a kitchen counter than a front desk, and they offered a simple seasonal fig and cheese amuse bouche for me to try. That small touch told me: this is a place where sensory experience matters.The lobby reinforces that sense of place: it feels like a cozy gathering room, with hand crafted furniture, open fire cooking glimpsed from the kitchen, and an atmosphere that encourages lingering.
The Culinary Vision
Folia Bar & Kitchen
At the heart of Appellation Healdsburg is Folia Bar & Kitchen, helmed by Charlie Palmer’s culinary team. This signature restaurant leans into live oak ember cooking, meaning many plates are grilled over oak wood, charcoal, even grapevine cuttings, so the smoke and heat lend a layered, rich flavor to everything from vegetables to seafood and meat.
The menu changes with the seasons, deeply rooted in Sonoma’s bounty. They partner with local producers like Hog Island Oyster Co., Mary’s Organic Chicken, and Feed Sonoma, so you’re tasting the region in a way that feels incredibly authentic. There are both intimate live action cooking stations where chefs work in real time, and larger tables made from redwood harvest wood, giving it a communal, farm-to-table feel.
A few signature highlights stood out to me: a grilled chili pepper rockfish served with salsa verde, a savory Manchego bread pudding made with house milled quail sourdough, and house extruded pasta shaped in summer squash. They also feature a charcuterie station, a roving bread & butter cart, and a well curated wine cellar. The entire dining experience feels like a celebration of craft, not just a meal.
Andy’s Beeline Rooftop
Perched above the hotel, Andy’s Beeline Rooftop is a striking contrast: breezy, social, and vibrantly designed. The design draws inspiration from bees in flight. You’ll notice gold accents, pendant lights shaped like lanterns, and an onyx bar that feels elegant but warm.
The menu here leans into shareable bites and elevated bar fare: things that pair beautifully with cocktails or zero proof creations made with garden infused syrups, citrus vinegars, and fresh herbs. Cocktails are playful but refined. I tried one with burnt honey syrup and Meyer lemon, layered with Sonoma Bros Bourbon, and it felt like an edible postcard from the region.
I also enjoyed a complimentary wine tasting of Knights Bridge Winery chardonnay and pinot noirs with other guests in the olive grove.
Whether you want to watch the sunset over vineyard draped hills or take in the night sky with friends, it’s designed for connection.
Experiences & Workshops
The Crafted at Appellation workshop series is a cornerstone of this hotel. They run more than 50 immersive classes yearly, all led by local makers, artisans, and the Appellation culinary team.
Here are some real examples:
• Autumn Wreath Workshop: Led by Samantha Veader of Peony & Pineapple, this session uses locally grown seasonal flowers and foliage. Guests learned design fundamentals, how to construct and secure a wreath, and even techniques for bow tying.
• Terrarium Crafting: In this class, guests built a small glass terrarium using plants native to the region, soil mixes informed by the hotel’s gardens, and natural elements like moss and dried botanicals. The instructor walked us through how to layer the plants for drainage, how to care for it going forward, and how to keep it as a living piece of art once home.
• Tasting Classes: Recently, they offered a Coffee & Seasonal Pie Pairing: Wolf Coffee founder guided guests through different roast profiles, while the pastry chef gave us three pies tied to the season, each pairing was intentionally layered, teaching why certain roasts match particular flavors and textures in pastry.
• Cheesemaking & Baking: There are workshops where you can make cheese with a Sonoma dairyman or bake sourdough with a Healdsburg baker: the process is hands on, you actually mix, ferment, and form, and you leave with both memories and something you made.
• Botanical Cocktails / Mixology: Another class I loved was about using herbs from the hotel gardens to craft botanical cocktails. Guests muddled, infused syrups, and created a short drink recipe, guided step-by-step.
These workshops happen in dedicated “Maker Spaces,” the Artisan and Maker rooms in the Main House, both outfitted with farmhouse sinks, kitchen tools, AV systems, and flexible layouts so you can fully immerse yourself.
What’s special is the sense of community: many classes are open to locals, which means you’re not just learning in isolation, instead, you’re collaborating with people who actually live, work, and make in Healdsburg. The energy is genuine, not touristy.
Spa, Pools & Wellness
After a day filled with creativity and exploration, I found Appellation’s wellness offerings to be the perfect counterpoint.
• Terroir Spa: Inspired by the land, the spa concept is rooted in the idea of terroir, not just for wine, but for well being. It reflects the Sonoma spirit through its use of botanical treatments and a pre-treatment ritual. When guests arrive for treatment, they are invited to start in the Serenity Pool hot tub, then alternate between a steam room and a cold shower (a contrast therapy ritual) to awaken the senses.
• In the relaxation lounge, guests sink into a magnesium foot bath infused with herbs grown onsite, listen to soft tones of a sound bowl, and feel completely grounded.
• The treatment itself was deeply sensory. They use botanical and organic skincare products. Each product felt intentional; it was less “spa fluff” and more “wellness art.”
• There are five treatment rooms, including a couple’s suite with an outdoor terrace.
• For movement, the fitness center is indoor-outdoor, light filled, and designed to feel integrated into the landscape.
- I enjoyed a complimentary morning yoga practice on the lawn.
• Pools: There are two very different ones:
◦ Foss Pool: Social and vibrant, with day use cabanas and a culinary hub called the Water Shed, an Airstream style trailer by the pool that serves seasonal snacks and drinks.
◦ Serenity Pool: Quiet, adjacent to the spa, perfect for floating, relaxing, or simply taking in the calm.
Spending time here feels like a full reset: creative day in the morning, spa in the afternoon, a rooftop cocktail at dusk, and lingering conversation under the stars.
Why I’m Excited for My Clients
As a travel designer I love properties that don’t just “look pretty”… the ones built around experiences, authenticity, and craft. Appellation Healdsburg is exactly that.
Here’s why I’m especially excited to send clients here:
Design meets depth: From the architecture to the food to the wellness, every part of the hotel feels like an intentional expression of Sonoma County’s creative and agricultural heartbeat.
Meaningful experiences: This is not your run-of-the-mill luxury hotel. You can learn, taste, create, and connect here.
Community + local craftsmanship: Because the crafted classes welcome locals, guests are participating in a real, living creative ecosystem, not just a staged hotel “experience.”
Practical Details
• Location: 101 Dovetail Lane, Healdsburg, CA 95448
• Accommodations: 108 rooms and suites designed in an agrarian style, from 320 to 1,160 sq ft; many with private patios/balconies, floor-to-ceiling doors, and views over vineyards or the gardens.
• Room Amenities: Locally inspired pantry essentials (organic coffee, small-batch teas), 300 thread count linens, and a complimentary bottle of Sonoma wine in certain room types.
• Pet Policy: Selected rooms are dog friendly. It’s best to check when booking to reserve pet friendly inventory.
• Resort Fee: $60/night + tax; covers filtered water, in-room coffee/tea, WiFi, pool & fitness access, and some garden amenities.
• Workshops (Crafted): Over 50 classes annually in arts & crafts, baking, cooking, gardening, tastings, and wellness, taught by local artisans in two Maker Rooms (Artisan & Maker) on site.
• Event Spaces: 11 distinct venues including The Grange (a barn inspired indoor-outdoor space with demonstration kitchen), The Lawn (outdoor grounds for up to 500 guests), private dining under olive trees, and more.
Final Thoughts
Staying at Appellation Healdsburg felt like joining a story… one rooted in Sonoma’s land, its people, and its seasons. Between the culinary depth, the creative workshops, the spa rituals, and the beautifully designed spaces, it’s not just a place to stay, it’s a place to become part of.
As someone who builds travel experiences, I can’t help but see how much this property has to offer: for couples, solo travelers, creatives, food lovers, or anyone who wants to connect with a place deeply. And because I can offer my clients 25% off through 2025, this isn’t just a bucket list stay, it’s a real, accessible, deeply enriching option.
If you feel that pull toward creativity, cuisine, and calm, let’s chat. I’d love to help you plan your Appellation Healdsburg escape.
