Madeira House Boutique Hotel Opens in Sonoma

Madeira House, an 11-room boutique hotel in west Sonoma County, California, opened this summer with sweeping views of the Russian River Valley and rugged coastal bluffs. Located less than 80 miles from San Francisco in the small riverside town of Jenner, the hotel comprises three houses, a lush garden, and a waterfront deck.

Madeira House’s history dates back to 1916, when the first building was constructed as a fisherman’s cabin. Over the following decades, the property expanded to become the Jenner Inn. In 2021, Jacqueline Gonçalves, founder of design firm Moksa Studio and a former designer for Soho House, partnered with co-owners Arthur Moretti, Ryan Shore, and Jeffrey Yamashiroya to purchase and transform the inn.

Gonçalves recalls being instantly captivated during her first visit to scout the hotel, particularly the drive down Route 116 to Jenner.

“It was big nature, unbound,” she tells Travel + Leisure. “Big Sur without the traffic. A single lane highway carved through nature—redwood forests, old camps, vast pastures—then you pop out onto the Pacific Coast Highway with a clear view of a river, cows grazing, rolling hills, and the horizon stretched out in front of you. It felt like a discovery.”

The original Jenner Inn presented both challenges and opportunities. Gonçalves describes finding “hobbled-together architecture with motel vibes throughout: heavy Victorian furniture, stained wall-to-wall carpet, cracked tile, and vinyl bathrooms.” But she saw the potential. “Even though the rooms’ furnishings were dismal, they all shared one thing: large windows with front-row views of nature.”

The renovation prioritized understated, high-quality materials like wood, wool, stone, and ceramics. Rooms feature locally sourced antiques, upholstered furniture, and chemical-free Keetsa mattresses. For chillier months, most accommodations include gas stoves and heated tile floors. All bathrooms are stocked with lavender-scented bath products from a local company.

Rooms also come with camp kits packed with all the essentials for a nature-focused stay: provisions, drinks, blankets, picnic baskets, books, games, and flashlights for evening walks. There’s one thing guests won’t find, though. “We ripped all the TVs off the walls,” Gonçalves says. “A visit to Madeira House is about unplugging. If you’re not out in nature, you’re getting quiet in your room, watching wildlife from the window, stargazing on the balcony, breaking bread, or enjoying a bottle with friends.” (Complimentary Wi-Fi is available.)

The waterfront hotel features a communal deck with a small dining area, while the Madeira Garden has outdoor seating, dining space, and a gas firepit for evening gatherings. A forthcoming on-site market will carry local provisions, regional specialties, and gifts.

The hotel’s location affords quick access to a plethora of outdoor activities and local attractions. Visitors can hike scenic trails and picnic at the nearby Jenner Headlands Preserve, explore the Russian River Estuary, golf among the redwoods, or kayak to Penny Island for walks to Goat Rock Beach.

“What is so incredible about west Sonoma and Jenner is that it’s quiet; there aren’t herds of people on trails or at the beach,” Gonçalves says. “We hope to steward the land as an escape, as it has been for centuries.”

Nightly rates at Madeira House start from $300, and you can book your stay at themadeirahouse.com.