My Stay at El Dorado Hotel + Kitchen

Sonoma proper serves as a great escape for anyone seeking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It’s small, quaint and has all the feels of a friendly town nestled among vineyards. And with it only being an hour drive away from San Francisco, it’s perfect for a last minute escape, whether you want to go just for a quick day trip or a weekend stay. If you’re hoping to stay for a night or two, there’s no other hotel I’d recommend than the El Dorado Hotel and Kitchen.

Looking to have a relaxing getaway, my friend Kara and I checked into El Dorado Hotel for a one night stay. Once I pulled up to the hotel I immediately noticed the location. El Dorado is located right on the Sonoma Plaza, which is the epicenter for wine, shopping and dining. Sonoma’s most renowned restaurants and wine rooms are just steps away! As soon as you enter the hotel you’ll see a cascading staircase on the left and their on-site restaurant on the right, which keeps beckoning you in to come a take a seat.

But before I could get whisked away into the dining area, I made sure to check-in. Upon checking in, we were graciously greeted by Brian, the hotel manager, and the staff, who made our stay very comfortable. Once I got my key, I couldn’t wait to see my room. With the help of the staff, I grabbed my luggage, went up the staircase, and stepped into my room.

The room spoke Californian-contemporary to me from the shutter headboard and the side lamps made from driftwood, to the clean, simplistic design of the french doors and the bathroom. Although the room decor was fantastic, nothing prepared me for the lovely balcony overlooking the entire plaza. Step through the french doors and you’ll be face-to-face with historic Sonoma Plaza. After seeing the balcony, I knew what I was going to be doing the following morning. I was going to wake up and sit out on the balcony with a cup of hot espresso, which is conveniently offered in each room.

After showering and freshening up, I went downstairs to have dinner at their on-site restaurant, El Dorado Kitchen. When we sat down, my eyes were immediately drawn to the cocktail list. What can I say?! I had a rough week, so this girl needed a drink! El Dorado Kitchen has a solid cocktail list. So solid that I kept jumping between three different drinks. But knowing the Bourbon enthusiast in me, I narrowed it down to the Beet Down, a lovely mixture of bourbon, beet simply syrup, lemon, and coconut. The beet simply syrup may sound questionable, but trust me, you’ll love it!

We started our meal with a plate of scallops, truffle fries, and butternut squash soup. The butternut squash soup was perfectly drizzled with balsamic and creme, and sprinkled with sunflower seeds. If the butternut squash is the daily soup when you visit EDK, please order it! Besides the soup, I was eager to try the truffle fries, which has been raved about by past customers. And I see why these fries have the highest praise. The fries were crispy and the truffle flavor was present in the most desirable way. The generous offering of fresh shredded parmesan and chives along the top created additive flavor. Our waiter Ethan was right. The fries are so full-flavored that condiments are not needed.

And, lastly, I need to rave about the New York steak that I had. I’ve had several New York steaks in my life. And every time I’ve requested it be Medium-well. Many restaurants have cooked it to my liking, others have failed. El Dorado did not fail. I can’t seem to remember the last time I had a steak cooked that perfectly. It was tender, flavorful, and literally melted in my mouth. Kudos to Executive Chef Armando Navarro for putting together an impeccable menu and dinner service.

As I’ve mentioned before, El Dorado Hotel is a short walk to several wine rooms and restaurants. The following morning, Kara and I walked next door to have breakfast at The Sunflower Cafe. Afterwards, we walked to the opposite side of the plaza and had a food and wine pairing afternoon at Pangloss Cellars. I’d recommend trying both of these places out.

 -The Sunflower Cafe-