The Francis House — Hotel in Calistoga

This was a great experience and I almost never assign 5 stars for a review because, to me, this would mean that nothing could be improved and there is always something that can be improved. As a matter of fact, my wife and I stayed 3 nights at the new Four Seasons Hotel in Calistoga immediately preceding our 3 night stay at the Francis house and we would chose to stay at the Francis house every day and twice on Sunday given the choice between the two.

My wife and I are seasoned and privileged travelers who are accustomed to the convenience and service that is expected by luxury travelers. We typically do not stay at bed and breakfast accommodations but found this experience worth the detour to our normal routine. The house construction, bed quality, bed linens, bathroom, decor and food were what you would expect from some of the most expensive luxury hotels in the world. Secondly, the location is perfect for exploring the town of Calistoga on foot and experiencing the charming restaurants and bars in town. Thirdly, the food quality was fresh, healthy and extremely tasty but the presentation was worthy of a Michelin star chef. This was a real bonus.

1000 thread count sheets, sumptuous goose down pillows and memory foam beds with supple pillow topper are staples at Uber luxury resorts but the service staff is routinely hired help who execute their service objectives professionally and efficiently. The Francis house experience is similar but is enhanced because the owners make you feel like you are family guests in their home. They have an inviting style that services your every need but encourages a deeper connection with their guests that eventually turns into a friendship.

If you are searching for a luxury stay in Calistoga, within easy walking distance to downtown Calistoga provided by charming people who you will eventually call friends, look no further than the...

We spent a weekend in January at the Francis House. Overall a very pleasant experience but the management needs to focus on a few improvements if it is to remain as a luxury hotel in Napa/Calistoga area where many other similar properties exist. Here are some suggestions for the new owners who have recently bought the property: Reservations: When we booked our stay online, we never received any email confirmations. Our emails and calls went unanswered, and only after trying for a week, we were able to reach Robert the property manager who then confirmed our reservation. This experience needs to improve. Service: Robert the property manager was very helpful once we got on site, showed us around and welcomed us to the property. However, he leaves after business hours and there is no one remaining in the property to handle our questions and service requests. There are water, coffee, tea options available in the main lounge area but with only 5 rooms full, all the dirty dishes and plates ended up piling around the lounge during the evening with no one to service the customers. This is absolutely not acceptable for a place that charges $700 per night. There has to be someone staying on property 24/7 and available to manage all service requests. Breakfast: The property only serves breakfast which is included in the room fees. However, the breakfast was minimal with limited options and ingredients both days. While there is a cook that prepares the breakfast dishes, you only get either an egg dish and oatmeal or fruit. Again for these price ranges, many other hotels offer a much wider variety of ingredients, menu items and dishes for their customers. In summary, it is a nice place for a weekend getaway in Napa/Calistoga. However, until the service improvements are made, I do not believe it is value...

2 star review averaged from 1 star for pre-trip stress and 3 stars for stay.

Pre-trip experience: I have a confirmed stay booked for early March for my honeymoon. I booked the hotel due to its consistent 5 star reviews. However, I am already disappointed in the customer service. I have been trying to contact the house to confirm our stay and book a couples massage for over 3 months. The phone number on the website is disconnected and my multiple emails and Instagram message have gone unanswered. I see from other reviews that they are still in business and have had an ownership change, but I am dreading my stay and wish I had booked elsewhere, especially for the price and such an important milestone trip.

Post-trip update: We completed our stay in early March 2025. I can confirm that the property is operational, still in business, and is being maintained. A few days after my first review, the Francis House updated the phone number on google maps & instagram. A few days before our stay, we were put in contact with a property manager who welcomed us onsite with a brief tour. Beyond the welcome tour, contact with an onsite manager was minimal and it wasn't clear if/when someone was available. My e-mails and messages were still never answered. It felt very much like we were on our own. For the pros: the rooms were nice, the location was exactly what we wanted, and the freshly prepared breakfast by a hired chef was delicious.

Overall thoughts: After our 3-night stay at Francis House, we stayed at another small B&B in the area which was the same price for 4 nights, on-site concierge, and a full on-site spa. I would explore all options when booking a Napa/Sonoma trip. Overall, I would classify Francis House as acceptable and a...