Local Hotel Named ‘Best in the World’ by Condé Nast Traveler

Travel site Condé Nast Traveler just released its Readers’ Choice Awards for 2024, which included a roundup of the 50 best hotels in the world. The Lodge at Bodega Bay came in at No. 1.

Condé Nast tallied 575,048 votes cast in its 37th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, released Oct. 1. Voters ranked hotels around the globe based on their design, food and immersive experiences.

This is the fifth readers’ choice award since 2017 for The Lodge at Bodega Bay — which also ranked No. 1 on Condé Nast’s top 20 hotels in Northern California. The hotel was chiefly noted for its laid-back vibe, proximity to beaches and vineyards, and breathtaking sunset views of the Pacific Ocean.

The Accommodations

The waterfront lodge features 83 cream and blue-accented guest rooms that offer a modern nautical feel. Most rooms include a fireplace, private balcony or patio, in-room jacuzzi, Nespresso coffee maker, sound machine and 42-inch LCD TV.

Other hotel amenities include a spa, sauna, heated pool, infinity edge hot tub, bocce ball court and outdoor fire pits. The lodge also has two restaurants: the upscale Drakes Sonoma Coast and the cozy-casual Drakes Fireside Lounge.

Drakes Sonoma Coast focuses on local, seasonal produce and sustainably caught seafood. The menu includes the likes of smoked salmon benedict, Tomales Bay manila clams, mussel cacio e pepe and oven-roasted black cod. Drakes Fireside Lounge boasts oceanfront views with its outdoor fire pit seating, perfect for sunset drinks and nibbles. The bar fare includes chilled and baked oysters, cheeseburgers, charcuterie boards with Valley Ford cheeses, Hamachi crudo and other snacks.

The Lodge at Bodega Bay also offers complimentary fare for its guests. Guests can roast marshmallows and enjoy s’mores from 7-9 p.m. every Sunday and Monday in the lobby. Additionally, guests can taste wines and bites during the wine receptions from 3-5 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the den by the lobby.

103 Coast Highway One, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3525, lodgeatbodegabay.com