Just checked out yesterady from Lavender after a 2-night stay. We stayed in San Fran for one night then headed to Lavender for 2 nights on Fri and Sat. Let me preface this by sayiing that we stayed at Maison Fleurie on our honeymoon 10 yrs ago and wanted to replicate that trip....but at a different inn. How ideal that Four Sisters group added another inn in Yountville. Lavender Inn is absolutely perfect. We stayed in room 4 with a private courtyard, trickling fountain that served as our alarm clock, fireplace, very large bathroom with deep tub and concrete floors (with heater below the vanity), and 15 ft ceilings. It looked like room 5 had the same set up. We ate breakfast outside our room on the grassy knoll under a shady tree. Checked out bikes and rode around Yountville neighborhoods (loved it) and 10 min to Domaine Chandon for sparkling wine tasting. (really loved that). The inn is only one block from French Laundry and it looked intimate, special, and lush. Only 15 tables. Instead we chose to eat at Redd and Bistro Jeanty. Redd is definitely fashionable and a "be seen" spot but with food to match. Jeanty is a sentimental favorite from our honeymoon and excellent French bistro fare.
Overall, would highly recommend Lavender. We paid $275 but with the breakfast and afternoon wine hour it seems worth it. Villagio across the street (i think that's the name) seemed too new and sterile. Vintage Inn across the street did look interesting and worth a second look.
Yountville is a great location...central to Napa Valley and all the restaurants are on Washington St so you can walk home at night. That is critical if you are doing Redd's tasting menu.
