I took my fiancé on a surprise trip to Napa to celebrate our engagement, and our stay at Lavender was definitely one of the highlights. We were greeted by the ever popular Marion, who gave us a quick tour of the grounds and our room. We were also given cards redeemable for free wine tastings at local tasting rooms (which are ~$15 per person in value). We went to, and recommend, Jessup and Hope and Grace. Our room was one of the courtyard cottages. It came with a king size bed, gas fireplace, and a wonderful bathroom with stone floor, 2 sinks, and a large bath tub. We also had a private little sitting area with a fountain outside of the room which would be perfect when the weather is nice (we were there in December).

We had breakfast in bed our first morning (part of the celebration package), and skipped it the second morning, since we had to leave early for the airport. They do serve it a little bit later than other B+Bs, but I think things move a bit slower in Napa. The breakfast was good, consisting of a frittata, some muffins, and fresh fruit. Nothing mind blowing, but still very nice. The location of the Inn is wonderful, walking distance to a number of great restaurants, bakeries, and wine tasting rooms. I would definitely stay there again, and recommend it to anyone visiting Napa.

My husband and I stayed at the Lavender Inn for a few days during our honeymoon in Wine Country. We stayed in one of the newer rooms on the property, one of eight. The room was huge and the bathroom was equally as spacious. We had a private outdoor sitting area as well. The staff, though friendly, were a little too laid back for me. I had a package delivered to the property that ended up "missing" though the delivery service had the innkeeper's signature on record. A day later, the package appeared in the inn's refrigerator (it was a perishable gift). Though I was grateful to finally have this package in my possession, I was unhappy that the innkeepers didn't seem concerned with locating my package when I inquired about it. Other than that, the inn was fine. Breakfasts are uneventful but there are some excellent restaurants within walking distance. Definitely try Bouchon.

For my wife's birthday, I reserved room #2 on Oct. 17 for two nights. The room itself was in a new section of the inn (8 years old), while the other rooms were part of the 100 years+ complex. Certainly the room itself was quite nice with bright furnishings, double sink, and a very comfortable bed. The ever popular Marian conducted us on a tour of our room and the premises, often repeating the same directions several times, as if she had forgotten where she left off. Drinks and snacks are scheduled at 4:30 as are cookies and spice cake. I suppose some one could snack on these items alone and call it a meal. Instead of a representative from the Hesse winery to pour wines, the hostess served perfectly acceptable wines from the inn itself. These were served in a carafe. (Apparently the inn has had difficulties in the past with Hesse.) When we returned from dinner at 7:45, no turn-down had been made and no chocolates were offered. Upon enquiring the following day, the highly embaarrassed hostess gave us a bowl filled with chocolates and told us that since we had our lights out, we were probably asleep. From 5:45 to 7:45 PM?? (What were we supposed to do when dining in town?) The breakfast the following morning consisted of cereal, juiice, coffee, melon, muffins, toast, and a poached egg dish mixed with heavy cream atop scalloped potatoes. A very rich dish. The following morning there appeared a magnificent fritatta and roasted potatoes but with so much salt added to both dishes, that we had to leave almost all of it. It is obvious that mistakes happen and that little things might not be anything to complain about, and there are certainly many fine qualities about the inn. But at $250 a night + 12% tax, I do expect a better value and that means finer attention to details.

We recently stayed for three delightful nights at Lavender with two other couples. We loved it! It was perfect in that we all had gorgeous rooms in the cottages with our own private courtyards, and the backyard was perfect for us to gather in to have breakfast and/or wine at night. Marion was wonderful and greatly added to our visit in that she is personable, helpful and efficient. We also enjoyed the private wine tasting that they had at the inn while we were there. The breakfasts were lovely – always a quiche and fruit and yogurt, along with potatoes and toast. There is always a fresh-baked cake and a cookie jar stocked with treats. And, the wine and cheese every afternoon is a nice touch – the cheeses were above average and very good. I would highly recommend this place and hope to visit it again or stay at one of the other inns in the chain. We have nothing but good to say about Lavender and our experience in Napa.