HotelChatter - Yountville

The NYT Loves Hotel Luca's Service, But Its Restaurant Not so Much

Jennifer Kester — 2011-04-11T10:01:56-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/34094/hotel_luca_bed.jpg" class="top"> The New York Times recently reviewed <a href="http://www.hotellucanapa.com/">Hotel Luca</a> in Yountville, California, and while it did give the Napa Valley hotel props for its prime location and great staff, the paper <a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/travel/10checkin-luca.html?ref=travel">didn't exactly give the Tuscan-like spot a ringing endorsement</a>. On the plus side, the 20-room hotel is off of a road filled with vineyards, offers quick access to the wineries along the Silverado Trail and is a short stroll from restaurants and shops. But even more important, the staff came to the rescue of the reviewer who was hitting some dud wineries. The reporter called the hotel concierge from the road to ask for recommendations, and within a half hour she had made him an

Inside the Hotel Yountville, in the Thick of Napa Valley

EricRosen — 2011-03-08T10:36:37-05:00

<![CDATA[ <object id="flashObj" width="486" height="412" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="@videoPlayer=816430338001&playerID=4862856001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAE7CVnI~,RUihgoZlRJi9tuTl58qaAut8tr6OMl2M&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="@videoPlayer=816430338001&playerID=4862856001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAE7CVnI~,RUihgoZlRJi9tuTl58qaAut8tr6OMl2M&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object> Its been a while since we hit the Valley. <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotels/city/us/CA/Napa">Napa Valley</a>, that is. But we had a hankering for great wine and fine food last month, so we headed up to NorCal for a little bit of epicurean living, and while there, happened to stay at the newest hotel in the Valley: the <a href="http://www.hotelyountville.com">Hotel Yountville</a>. Of course you're invited in to take a look at our exclusive photo gallery and walk-through video of

'Dive Bar' Wednesdays at The Bardessono Pool

EricRosen — 2009-11-04T09:29:21-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/Bardessono_Pool.JPG" class="top"> Cant afford even the low-season $300 a night rate at Yountvilles new eco-resort, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Bardessono/local/1499">Bardessono Hotel</a>? Fear not. The exclusive resort opens up its guests-only rooftop pool to non-guests on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-9:00pm for its punny Dive Bar, so even Napa townies can enjoy the stunning mountain and vineyard views while enjoying a dip and a drink while DJ's spin tunes near the bar. The secluded pool is usually open only to resort guests, who come to lie in piece and quiet in one of the screened off day-bed cabanas. Come Wednesday evening, though, anyone can stop by the rooftop cement pond, and they're encouraged to come in their bathing suits to take a dip between

Inside Napa's Bardessono Hotel

EricRosen — 2009-11-03T09:34:21-05:00

<![CDATA[<embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1321361467" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=47696643001&playerId=1321361467&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed>Last week, we had the good fortune to spend a glorious fall day amongst the sun-warmed vines and valleys of Napa. Between wine-tasting rendezvous, we managed to invoke the tiniest bit of professionalism and took a tour of <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/MTM%20Luxury%20Lodging">MTM Luxury Lodgings</a> new <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Bardessono/local/1499">Bardessono Hotel</a> in Yountville, which aims to be the greenest hotel in America. By the looks of it, theyre well on their way, but judge for yourself based on our video tour of one of their rooms. Besides conventional eco-resort initiatives like LEED certification, controls that turn off the electrical systems when guests leave a room, and an organic garden that provides produce for

Hotel Luca Will Open in Yountville Later This Fall

globetrotting gourmet — 2009-07-14T16:45:36-05:00

We apologize in advance for any hurt feelings. Living on the Monterey Peninsula (aptly dubbed the land of the newlywed and nearly dead) seemed like a grand idea, but was ultimately a mind-numbingly boring exercise nwhich we ended up enduring for nearly five years in the name of love. (Visiting is a whole different scenario.) We despise golf, dig live music and culture, appreciate diversity and don’t have a trust fund.

We also like to eat out past 9 p.m., which was a difficult feat until restaurateur/hotelier David Fink opened instant restaurant hit, Cantinetta Luca. That single smart business decision played a major part in making our social life on the Monterey Peninsula more tolerable.