Historic Wine Lodge
Location: Paso Robles, California
Style: Quaint small town inn with wine themed rooms
Budget: ££
Previously somewhat overshadowed by the more well known wine regions of Napa and Sonoma, the southerly Paso Robles is heating up in the wine world, with those in the know seeking out this sun-filled yet secluded part of California. And where better to stay in wine country than a hotel that celebrates wine at its heart? With many wine themed quirks around the property, exclusive wine themed spa rooms, and a great downtown location, Paso Robles Inn is definitely one of the best places to stay when exploring Paso.
Staying at Paso Robles Inn
The Paso Robles Inn is etched into the history of the area, having been established the very same year as the town itself in 1889. Although much has changed since then, over a century ago, Paso Robles Inn is proud of their significant past and still retains the historic ballroom as the only original building.
Nowadays, Paso Robles Inn is home to 98 rooms dotted around the property, located in several buildings that surround the tranquil gardens. Offering a range of room types for all budgets, many of the rooms overlook the gardens and celebrate the striking features of its original construction.
The most unique rooms you can find are Paso Robles Inn’s selection of winery themed spa rooms, each of which is designed in partnership with one of the many fabulous wineries found in the Paso Robles AVA. As well as containing quirky art and furnishings that celebrate the wineries, whilst staying in a winery themed room you can treat yourself to a complimentary tasting at the vineyard too!
The piece de resistance of these rooms, however is the magnificent private spa tub located on the balcony of each winery spa room. After a day of wine tasting in the Paso heat, this is the perfect way to relax, by chilling out and soaking in the tub, perhaps with a glass of something that you picked up along the way (and there’s room for two!).
Seafolly Water Garden swimsuit from Coco Bay
Outside of the rooms, the beautiful gardens provides you with an array of spots to explore and relax in. With multiple instagrammable spots (literally, the hotel provide a map!), you can take your morning coffee outside and enjoy the sun rise above the town from one of the super comfy swing chairs. Paso Robles Inn also has a pool and hot tub, another popular spot to relax in or cool off in during the heat of the day.
Dining at Paso Robles Inn
The Paso Robles Inn has its own on site restaurant, The Steakhouse, offering food throughout the day from breakfast all the way through to dinner. Alongside the quirkily named Cattlemen’s Lounge, as the name suggests the big offering at the Steakhouse is beef! You can get stuck into a hearty breakfast of steak and eggs, or save the beef for dinnertime, with the slow roast prime rib a signature favourite on the menu.
If you’re keen to explore the rest of the town, Paso Robles has a great array of dinner options. Options vary from The Hatch, a super popular place that serves tasty comfort food, most famously chicken, cooked on their wood fire rotisserie, to Thomas Hill Organics, offering delicious modern farm to table dishes.
Day Trips from Paso Robles Inn
In the evenings, be sure to head to Sensorio, where internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro has installed a mesmerising piece of art. Only a 10 minute drive from Paso Robles Inn, his piece named ‘A Field of Light’, comprises over 58,000 stemmed spheres that carpet the undulating landscape. Lit by fibre optics this hypnotising display provides a colourful sea to explore.
Another romantic spot to check out is the hot springs which used to feed into the spa tubs at Paso Robles Inn (until the smell of sulphur became a bit too strong!). River Oaks has a lovely spa located on the outskirts of the town, where you can relax, take a treatment and enjoy the thermal mineral waters and the health benefits they offer.
Key Information about Paso Robles Inn
What are the Paso Robles Inn rates?
Paso Robles Inn offers a range of rooms dependent on your needs. Entry level double rooms with a garden view start at around US $160 per night and luxury wine-themed spa suites cost around US $240 per night. All rates include full use of the garden and pool facilities, as well as complimentary wifi and parking.
What’s the best way to get to Paso Robles Inn?
Paso Robles is easiest to reach by car being located in the heart of California with good road links in all directions. The 101 runs straight past Paso, giving you easy access to Los Angeles in the south and San Francisco in the north. Heading north along the 101 from Paso Robles Inn you can explore the famous Big Sur and some of the most breathtaking driving views in the world.
There are some small regional airports nearby which service commercial flights from other cities around the USA, including San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria. For international connections, head to San Jose, Oakland, LAX and San Francisco from where you can easily pick up a car to drive onwards to Paso.
What’s the best time of year to visit Paso Robles Inn?
Inland from the Californian coastline, the area around Paso Robles Inn enjoys pretty good weather all year round, making it possible to visit at any time. The warmest and driest months are between June and September, with temperatures regularly getting above 30C. This also coincides with the perfect time to visit wineries as you should be able to see lots of fruit on the vines just before harvest starts.
If you aren’t a massive fan of the heat, spring and fall are great options, with a minimal chance of rain and some beautiful sunny weather.
Our final thoughts on... Paso Robles Inn
Paso Robles is a great alternative to some of the more hectic wine regions of California, and the Paso Robles Inn offers a great base from which to explore the region. Of course there is much more to the area than wine, and from Paso Robles Inn, with its sleek comfortable rooms, quaint garden and historic setting, you are perfectly placed to explore everything that it has to offer.
Find Out More…
Paso Robles Inn – https://www.pasoroblesinn.com/
Toast Tours – https://toasttours.com/
Many thanks to Paso Robles Inn for hosting us during our time in California. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely our own, we wouldn’t recommend something if we didn’t love it!
