Exciting news! Following much anticipation, the Four Seasons has finally opened their property in Calistoga at 400 Silverado Trail, Napa Valley. Run by legendary general manager Mehdi Elfekari, the former general manager of the Four Seasons New York.  This one of a kind resort in California wine country is set within a world class working Elusa winery with views of the Palisade Mountains. It’s surrounded by hundreds of acres of vineyards, forests, mountains and the historic town of Calistoga. This 85 room oasis tucked at the base of Mt. Helena Mountain is a full service resort with two swimming pools, winery, wellness spa, gym, pool side restaurant and ‘Truss Restaurant’ run by chef Shaun Acosta. Truss is overseen by two star Michelin chef Erik Anderson.

The hotel is a serene sanctuary and not for everyone. This area of Calistoga is halfway between Napa and the winding, unlit roads to Sonoma. If you want to go exploring wineries or restaurants in either of these areas, be prepared for long drives. The hotel was yet to provide any car services to go out in the evening and there are no Ubers or taxi service in the area, which I find absurd when wine is prevalent. 

The entrance was striking as we pulled into the resort. We had flutes of sparkling wine presented at check in and were whisked off to our room via golf cart and everything of importance was pointed out to us along the way.

The property is low rise and spread out over a large area, so be prepared to do a lot of walking from check in and to the restaurants from your room. You do have the option to call a golf buggy to collect you and take you to your room throughout your stay, should you prefer not to walk.  Lots of the staff are local and not quite as polished as other Four Season Resorts. However,  every employee we encountered was upbeat and eager to please. I was there during their soft opening and found that the service was not quite up to their expected standard, especially considering the high prices that they charge. Housekeeping was weak and needed improvement. There were not enough staff at the front desk and I didn’t see a concierge throughout my stay. Yet, when I emailed in advance the concierge was helpful, especially for hard to get into wineries. 

The massage treatments were ridiculously high priced and were mediocre at best. They couldn’t do a deep tissue massage but charged a whopping $350 for an 80 minute session. The gym was decent, but not fully equipped for a gym rat like myself and very dark.

Our Villa was stylish, well appointed and quiet which is important to me. I recommend taking one on the second floor. Winery workers can walk by your windows on the main floor otherwise. The room was spacious, with a living  area, dining area, full powder room, and bar. The main bedroom was country chic and the washroom was enormous, with beautiful marble finishes, lots of closet space, a free standing tub, walk in shower and separate WC room. The overall setting was tranquil with full views over the vineyards.

Our dining experience was very positive. From the décor of the massive dining room with picture windows and a large exhibition kitchen, to the quality and inventiveness of the California cuisine, where the produce comes from local farmers and purveyors. We tried it for our daily breakfast and one dinner. Chef Erik Anderson provided a farm fresh, beautifully crafted, contemporary and dynamic dining experience.

A stay here is a one of a kind experience: An inviting hideaway offering a superior level of comfort. I suspect that this property will only improve with time.

Happy travels.

Shanea

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