By Kathy Chin Leong
Photo courtesy of Napa River Inn 7qzr4h02
In the 1990s, what people deemed an eyesore , Harry Price regarded as a treasure. The corner lot in the business district of Napa, California was peppered with derelict brick buildings from the 1800s that sat neglected for years. Price, a developer and philanthropist, was convinced something could be done to transform the sagging downtown core, and he believed a luxury boutique hotel surrounded by attractive shops and eateries would be the catalyst for urban renewal.
Even though Price died before he could see its completion, in June 2000 the lavish Napa River Inn opened after years of red tape and building to stringent adaptive reuse standards.
Price’s decision to restore the brick buildings as part of his redevelopment plan paid off. Recently, the Napa River Inn was bestowed the 2025 Historic Hotels of America Award of Excellence. It specifically won under the Best Historic Hotel in the under-75 guest rooms category.
Today, when you stroll up to the entrance of this boutique inn, two bellmen will swing open the wide double doors on queue – just for you. Just call it hospitality with flourish.
Daily, the front desk staff greets guests with bottled water and a smile. Coffee on the side table is on the ready, and a daily newspaper is available for the asking.
This feels like a proverbial homecoming because, in this day and age, courtesy and kindness among strangers is sadly missing. But the Napa River Inn brings it all back in big and small ways.
The staff still provide luggage delivery. This is a gesture that I took for granted until I realized many hotels have dropped this offering.
And the courtesy of having pastries brought to your room each morning is a luxury indeed. This service is standard, and you know the goods are fresh because they come from Sweetie Pies Bakery next door. And if you want to go there to select your own treats, you get a voucher to do so.
History buffs will love the vintage feel of the inn. In the lobby, Victorian lamps, a tapestry wall hanging, photos of the 1800s Napa create the western mood without being cloying. No saloon doors or cowboy hat trees here! Very special is the salmon colored 360-degree circular puffy couch called a Borne Settee. Such pieces represented the crown jewel of Victorian living rooms back in the day. Meanwhile, the flickering fireplace is timeless and a true friend on a chilly day.
The inn sits on the property of the Napa Historic Mill, home to the sophisticated Celadon Restaurant, the hotel spa, and an assortment of other independent enterprises.
As the story goes, this parcel was the site of the Hatt Buildings established in 1884 by Captain Albert Hatt. The first facility, where the hotel sits, used to house a skating rink, then business offices. More buildings were gradually added and attached. The land and real estate stayed in the family until 1912.
By then tycoon Robert Keig snapped up the lot and launched the thriving Napa Milling Company which milled grains for local farmers as animal feed. But sadly, that folded in the 1970s.
It was not until the 1990s that developer Harry Price adopted Keig’s stepchild. With a passion to see his community revived, he took on the project when earlier attempts from developers failed.
It is the darling of downtown Napa at 66 rooms scattered across three buildings. The hotel of the 21st century provides conveniences folks are used to: WiFi, flat screen tvs, bedside tables with support for cables.
Photo courtesy of Napa River Inn
The rooms and suites feature wall-to-wall patterned carpeting. Custom head boards come up to the ceiling with built-in niches for blue and white decorative Asian vases. Room 308 where I am staying features a gas fireplace and a sleek white marble bathroom.
Charm-worthy is the little wood table made from a repurposed wine barrel. The lid is the table top, and slats are legs. It’s a reminder you are in the nation’s most prestigious wine capital.
There is a small workout room on the bottom floor. But if you really want a workout, go running or bicycling along the Harry T. Price riverwalk steps away. The new promenade and improved waterway is a delight for the city where folks can now kayak , stroll, and take in views as they hug mugs of morning coffee. The hotel backs up against the Napa River for grand sun rise and sunset views.
photo credit: Michele Chaplow
For those seeking sanctuary and a solid reset, or a romantic Valentines getaway, the Napa River Inn more than satisfies. Thanks, Mr. Price, for taking the gamble.
- Learn more and book your reservation at Napa River Inn
