MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa

The standout was Ed at the Porch coffee shop. We’d had to put our dog down unexpectedly just days before we arrived, and he showed so much empathy and support. He went out of his way to check in on us. We can’t thank him enough, or the rest of the staff. He truly deserves five stars. The MacArthur place is a fabulous boutique hotel, only a short walk from downtown Sonoma’s square. Our room was beautiful, full of details, and the heated bathroom floors were a nice feature. The fireplace under the TV was the perfect way to end a day of wine tasting. There’s also Layla, a nice restaurant on the property, and the Porch coffee shop.

The Juniper accommodations were top-notch, and the 82-degree pool was awesome. I liked the strong shower flow. The bed wasn’t exceptionally comfortable. My boyfriend’s massage was excellent, though not quite as good as at osmosis. Layla was the real letdown. We gave the restaurant another chance after a disappointing first dinner, but the food still wasn’t good. The burger was undercooked and tasted bad, though the beet salad was good. On the second night, the apple salad, ravioli, and petroli soul didn’t work for us either. The soul had way too much pepper and came in a white, flavorless sauce. It looked like a raw, uncooked all-white fillet, and tasted no better than it looked. The salad had a cilantro flavor that wasn’t mentioned in its description, and I didn’t enjoy it. The five ravioli were good and a nice size, but they were topped with twice as many chewy, rubbery mushrooms and heaps of gramma stewed tomatoes. The waiter was another disappointment, with no couth. He had the same feel as the petroli, and wasn’t even good at being pretentious. I’d never eat here unless I were staying here. For a restaurant using MacArthurs Place’s name, this was a seriously sad excuse for a classy place.

The beds were plush, and I finally got some real rest away from the toddlers. We enjoyed the Saturday yoga class and rode the electric bikes into town for meals and LAYLA, where the food was incredible. Every staff member was kind and helpful, which made everything easy. From the sparkling wine when we arrived to the pristine grounds and warm, luxurious rooms, this was such a dreamy spot for our anniversary. I only wish we could’ve stayed longer. We hope to come back someday.

We spent most of our stay with the heated pool and hot tub to ourselves. The gas fire pits around the grounds were lovely, too. We had breakfast at Layla and ate dinner at the bar. Layla is closed for dinner Monday and Tuesday, but the bar has a great menu. Everything we ordered was delicious. I’m vegetarian and usually don’t expect much, but the artichoke and lemon ricotta ravioli were amazing. My husband loved his steak, which was cooked perfectly. Our room was in the Burris house, with a really comfy bed, nice decor, and just the right temperature. The bathroom floor had radiant heat, and the warm robes were made of quality materials. Everything was clean and welcoming. Valet took the car when we arrived, and the complimentary sparkling wine at check-in set a great mood. The staff were friendly and helpful. We had a wonderful time and will definitely return.