Finds Travel By Erin Rottman
PASO ROBLES INN’S LITTLE SIS
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WINTER 2020 / 805LIVING.COM
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t’s hard to resist taking a selfie by the gold Moët & Chandon Champagne vending machine in the reception area at the new Piccolo hotel in Paso Robles. Dispensing chilled 187 ml bottles and flutes, it may make a guest’s first decision upon entering be: regular or rosé? A sister property to the Paso Robles Inn, which was constructed in 1889 when the city was founded, The Piccolo (thepiccolo.com; from $399) provides a modern lodging option. Its 24 guest rooms feel fashionably chic with exposedbrick accent walls, wood floors, crystal chandeliers customcreated by a local artisan, and soft blush-pink throws at the foot of the beds. A wine refrigerator and cocktail table with two chairs beg visitors to
keep the laptops packed. “What we’ve seen grow are plans for what we consider to be higher-end lodging, and The Piccolo definitely fits that mold,” says Paso Robles Mayor Steven W. Martin, who describes how he has watched Paso develop from an agricultural community focused on grain and cattle to a nationally recognized wine region. The Piccolo stands across the street from local hangout Spearhead Coffee and a block away from Downtown City Park. It’s a short drive to Tin City, the industrial park that’s home to some two dozen tasting rooms where winemakers are likely to be pouring their own wines, as well as Tin Canteen, known for house-made pasta, and
Negranti Creamery, a maker of sheep’s milk ice cream in flavors like cinnamon-andapricot crisp. After exploring the region, guests can recharge in one of several gathering areas back at The Piccolo. The small library room has a leather Chesterfield-style sofa and fireplace along with a chess table. The reception area opens onto a courtyard with outdoor couches, firepits, and a 76-foot mural of plants and grasses that reflects the local landscape. But the hotel’s most noteworthy public space is Tetto, the only rooftop bar in town. The Tetto & Tonic, made with Krobär Craft Distillery gin, Fever-Tree tonic, fresh herbs, and fruit, is a great way to sample another locally made beverage.
MATT WIER
High notes at The Piccolo (clockwise from left): The hottest new trend in luxury hotel amenities, a Moët & Chandon Champagne vending machine dispenses its wares in the lobby. Tetto is the only rooftop bar in Paso Robles. A cozy fireplace setting entices guests to convene in the library. Accommodations feature a kingsize bed, a wine fridge, and a balcony or patio.