Bardessono Hotel and Spa

The one thing we weren’t thrilled with was the bed and bedding, which weren’t especially comfortable. Everything else made for a lovely stay: our room had a beautiful outdoor stone tub and shower, and the food was delicious. The rooftop pool was great for lounging and stayed empty even on gorgeous days. We also loved being able to walk around downtown, and we took advantage of the fun Lexus cars they lend out, including a convertible. The staff were incredibly friendly and went out of their way to make the experience feel special. Beto and Scott were fun, fantastic valets, and Nick at the front desk was especially helpful.

We celebrated our anniversary here, and the staff made it feel special. A card, champagne, and a board of treats arrived for us, and everyone was happy to help. There was also a fleet of complimentary Lexuses to take us to local wineries, which I highly recommend since you may not be in a state to drive afterward. Our room had a steam shower, and now we want one at home. The property also has a spa, rooftop pool and jacuzzi, plus a small gym. We ate very well at both the breakfast bar and the on-site restaurant.

We’re posting this here as well as on our review of Lucy because the restaurant is on the property, and management still hasn’t responded to our attempts to discuss what happened. The restaurant itself was pleasant, with a nice interior and good food, but the service fell short. We were seldom checked on and waited a long time at several points in the meal. For just two of us, dinner took a couple of hours. Other tables that arrived around the same time or later had finished before we did. Our biggest concern is the pet menu. We ordered grass-fed beef and carrots for our dog. A few days later she developed indigestion and started vomiting, and a few days after that a vet visit costing $1,000 confirmed pancreatitis. Her usual food hadn’t changed and she was never left unwatched, so the beef and carrots were the only unusual food she’d had before becoming ill. Based on what we learned about pancreatitis, we think the beef may have had too much fat for a dog’s digestive system, or that it may have been cross-contaminated with spices or food poisonous to dogs. We planned to review the blood work with our vet at a follow-up to confirm our theory. Without timely treatment, or the ability to pay for it, our dog could have died because untreated pancreatitis is fatal. Since then, our vet has confirmed that the food from this pet menu caused her pancreatitis. The property still hasn’t replied to any of our attempts to discuss it.

We had a wonderful stay. The town is very cute, and the hotel was close to great restaurants and wineries. We rented a car, but the local shuttle was a nice extra, and it was actually a brand-new Lexus. We also took one of their bikes out for a morning ride and had a great massage. Check-in was easy, and our room was clean whenever we came back.