Grape Leaf Inn: Healdsburg Hotel Review

Are you looking for a pet-friendly hotel in Healdsburg? The adult-only Grape Leaf Inn is walking distance to historic downtown Healdsburg Plaza and is the ideal base for visiting Healdsburg wineries in Sonoma County, California.

Grape Leaf Inn parlor is a cozy gathering places with chairs, sofa and holiday Christmas tree in Healdsburg, California
Healdsburg hotels like the Grape Leaf Inn are ideal for visiting Sonoma wine country. Photo © Nancy D. Brown

 

Checking into the Grape Leaf Inn Healdsburg

Located in the heart of Northern Sonoma wine country, the 13-room Grape Leaf Inn is a unique luxury bed and breakfast. As we live in the San Francisco Bay Area, it’s an easy drive to Sonoma Valley. The lovely Queen Anne Victorian features 2 queen rooms, 9 king hotel rooms and 2 king suites in Northern California wine country.

We enjoy traveling with our dog and are always on the lookout for a pet-friendly Healdsburg hotel. Our room, the Sangiovese Room, was on the ground floor and featured a very comfortable king bed and a gas fireplace. The combination shower/bathtub included eco-friendly bath amenities with the shampoo, conditioner and shower gel mounted on the bathroom wall.

Two white cotton robes hung on the interior of the bathroom door and a hair dryer rested on the counter.

 

King size bed, framed by two lamps in the Sangiovese Room at the Grape Leaf Inn, Healdsburg, California.
The pet-friendly Sangiovese Room includes a gas fireplace. Photo © Nancy D. Brown

Healdsburg wine country dining options

We arrived at Grape Leaf Inn in the afternoon, just in time for fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. Our friendly innkeeper gave us a tour of the 1905 Queen Anne Victorian and noted that a complimentary glass of wine and cheese and charcuterie board would be available for guests during the welcome wine hour.

We didn’t want to miss a glass (or two) of Mazzocco Sonoma, as these single vineyard Zinfandels are a fine example of Sonoma County wines with a sense of place. Of course, it wouldn’t have been a problem if we’d missed wine hour as Grape Leaf Inn is owned by Wilson Artisan Wines. With 10 wineries in their portfolio, one of the perks of staying at the family-owned bed and breakfast is that guests are able to enjoy complimentary wine tasting at each of these wineries. Also of note, every single Wilson Artisan Wineries is pet-friendly!

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Mazzocco Sonoma Zinfandel bottle & wine glass, with cheese & charcuterie platter for Grape Leaf Inn wine hour.
Wine hour with Mazzocco Sonoma Zinfandel. Charcuterie platter photo © Nancy D. Brown

There are plenty of things to see and do in Healdsburg, including an endless amount of drinking and dining options. If you are like me, and don’t like to drink a lot, I wrote 5 Sober Things to Do in Healdsburg for 7×7 magazine. Another bonus for the downtown location of Grape Leaf Inn, this 100 year old Victorian Inn is walkable to Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen inside Hotel Healdsburg and Healdsburg Plaza.

 

Mushroom and garlic frittata with bacon, salad and fresh juice served at Grape Leaf Inn.
Gourmet breakfast photo © Nancy D. Brown

Breakfast at Grape Leap Inn

A gourmet breakfast is included with your stay at Grape Leaf Inn. Chef Will, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) starts the breakfast with house-made granola sprinkled over vanilla yogurt and paired with fresh fruit. Fresh squeezed orange juice, Wolf Coffee or tea follows, in addition to a hot entree for meat lovers or vegans – he’ll make custom orders, too. I liked the vegetable frittata with bacon on the side, while my husband loved the Japanese souffle pancake with maple syrup.

Winemaker Diane Wilson holds a bottle of Wilson Winery Zinfandel at her winery in Healdsburg, California.
Winemaker Diane Wilson holds a bottle of Wilson Winery Zinfandel at her Healdsburg, California tasting room. Photo © Nancy D. Brown

Healdsburg Wineries 

While there are an infinite amount of wineries in the Sonoma Valley, the fact that Wilson Artisan Wineries owns 10 of them makes Sonoma wine tasting easy and affordable. As I mentioned, if you are a guest of Grape Leaf Inn, or their sister property, Calderwood Inn, the cost of wine tasting is free. Wilson Artisan Winery club members receive 20% discounts on purchases.

I recommend that you start your day of wine tasting at Wilson Winery, located in the heart of Dry Creek Valley, in Healdsburg, California. Owner Diane Wilson is the winemaker of these estate grown wines. Try the Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon.

If you are a Pinot Noir fan, head over to Matrix Winery, located in the Russian River Valley. This artisan winery makes award-winning Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel and is also located in Healdsburg.

Most wineries open at 11:00 a.m. so you’ll have time to arrange for a spa treatment in one of two treatment rooms or take a dip in the heated pool before you head out to wine country.

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Grape Leaf Inn spa pool is heated and open year-round at the Healdsburg hotel in California.
The spa pool is heated year-round. Photo © Nancy D. Brown

 

Need to know:

Prices at the adult-only hotel range from $200 – $500 depending on the time of year. Our king room listed for $285 on a Monday night in December. Always check the website for package deals and specials.

Cruiser bikes are available at the inn.

Grape Leaf Inn is dog-friendly with an additional fee of $50.

In addition to complimentary WiFi there is ample on site and street parking.

Check in: 4:00- 6:00 p.m.

Check out: 11:00 a.m

Book your stay at the Grape Leaf Inn here. 

The secret speakeasy below the main floor of Grape Leaf Inn includes a bar and private wine tasting room.
Speakeasy Bar photo © Nancy D. Brown

Insider Tips:

Are you interested in a romantic dinner in Healdsburg or a special place to celebrate in Sonoma County wine country? Ask about the secret Speakeasy behind the bookcase at Grape Leaf Inn. This is a great place for a private wine tasting!

Request the Champagne Suite with private patio and indoor/outdoor shower. This would be an ideal hotel room for a girlfriend getaway or bridal party, as the suite opens to a private patio and the spa pool, too.

For additional insider tips follow luxury travel writer @Nancydbrown on Twitter or Instagram @Nancydbrown and Grape Leaf Inn on Instagram.

 

Grape Leaf Inn stained glass front door with holiday wreaths decked out for Christmas.
Healdsburg lodging ready for holiday guests. Photo © Nancy D. Brown

If You Go:

Grape Leaf Inn (866) 433-8140

539 Johnson Street

Healdsburg,  California 95448

 

Grape Leaf Inn Healdsburg Hotel Review and all photography by travel writer Nancy D. Brown. I was a guest of Grape Leaf Inn while gathering material for articles in Sonoma County.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I earn a commission on any hotels you may book through my custom links.