I Spent a Dreamy Night in a Danish-Inspired Hotel in the Town of Solvang, California

If you have ever watched the classic 2004 movie Sideways starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Hayden Church, Sandra Oh, and Virginia Madsen, then you may be familiar with the town of Solvang, even if you haven't visited before. After seeing this movie way back when I lived in Southern California, I was inspired to take a day trip here. Less than a two-hour drive from my place in the Valley (yes, that Valley) was the most charming European-style town I've ever been to, at least in the U.S. I was smitten, yet I only returned once after that trip.

Fast-forward to 2025, when I was invited on a hosted stay to check out an incredibly unique boutique hotel housed inside a Danish-inspired building. Set in the very heart of Solvang, The Winston wasn't just visually interesting on the outside, but inside as well. And within walking distance to nearly everything you'd want to see in town, the location cannot be beat.

Per journalistic integrity, we disclose that the creator of this content was invited to this location by 360view and Highway West Vacations, and some expenses were covered. However, all opinions and thoughts expressed in this content are their own.

What to Expect at The Winston

I say, expect the unexpected at The Winston, at least in terms of color and design. Each of the 14 rooms is unique, with its own custom color palette, furnishings, and character. This was one of the most visually interesting hotels I have ever stayed in, and I was completely entranced by the design.

If you're just walking past The Winston, its unassuming Danish exterior (that I love, for the record) blends in with the rest of Solvang. Walk into the lobby, and you'll find a bold use of color, an eclectic circular chaise that reminded me of furniture I saw in Morocco years ago, and decor that made me wish my home looked like this. I was inspired and taking mental notes on decorating as I walked around.

Rooms at The Winston

With splashes of bold colors on the walls and decor that will transport you elsewhere, The Winston is, by far, one of the most beautiful hotels I've spent the night in. We were able to tour six of the 14 rooms, and each one had its own color scheme, custom furniture, and decor. Some even had vibrant textured wallpaper on the accent wall behind the bed. It was all so glorious to me.

This boutique hotel has seven room types that include a King Suite (with or without a balcony), a King Suite with Sitting Room (ADA-accessible is available), a Queen Suite, a Two King Suite, and the Clocktower Suite. Entering The Winston's Clocktower Suite was like entering a museum or a church, or a combination of the two. With a separate bedroom with a king bed and custom navy blue walls and a living room area with high ceilings and several rounded windows letting in the gorgeous afternoon light, there's something so magical about this room. No wonder it's one of the most popular ones at The Winston.

Other popular rooms include the ones pictured above. Can you guess why? The wallpaper of the first photo is just stunning against the green of the walls and headboard, while the bright turquoise accent wall and the orange accents work well together in the second photo. While I didn't stay in either of those rooms, I had a King Suite painted in a beautiful blue-gray with a separate living room, two large windows with window seats big enough to be beds, and a massive spa-like bathroom.

Amenities at The Winston

At The Winston, you can enjoy several subtle amenities. First, just before your visit, you'll receive an email with a code to enter the building and your room. Entry is keyless, and you don't have to check into the hotel at a front desk—there is no front desk. It's kind of like checking into a vacation rental but with all the perks of a hotel. This is what the hotel calls "Invisible Service."

Parking on the property is free, and the hotel's location in the heart of Solvang means you're within walking distance of restaurants, shops, tasting rooms, bakeries, museums, and more.

On the second floor of The Winston is the Honor Bar, where you can take a card with all the snacks and drinks listed, including wine and beer. You'll then take what you want, mark it on the card, and leave it in your room. After checkout, your credit card on file will be charged. There's no need to talk to anyone! There's also a beautiful sitting room where you can relax, read a book, or work.

The rooms have robes and slippers, luxurious bath and skin products, a sound machine, WiFi, and a Nespresso machine for your morning caffeine fix. There's also a small fridge and wine glasses for your convenience.

Things to Do in Solvang

Solvang was settled by Danish immigrants in 1911, and the town certainly has a small-town Danish feel similar to Vejle, Denmark, where I visited last year with my kids. Around town, you'll see Danish architecture, windmills, a Little Mermaid Fountain (like the one in Copenhagen), a large wooden shoe on the sidewalk, and other odes to Denmark.

You could spend days in Solvang exploring the town, dining, shopping, and wine tasting. There's quite a lot to do here! One of the best ways to experience this Danish town is through its food scene, and there's no better place to go than to one of the Danish bakeries. Whether it's kringle, aebelskivers, or kanelsnegles you're after, you can find them at Mortensen's, Olsen's Danish Village Bakery, Solvang Bakery, or Danish Mill Bakery.

You can spend a few hours shopping at all the souvenir and boutique shops around town. My favorite boutique was Skinderella, a handmade soap shop on Copenhagen Drive. Entering the store, we were greeted with bright pink walls and soaps in shapes like macarons, cupcakes, flowers, popsicles, and more. Everything in here is so cute!

Aside from dining and shopping, you can go wine tasting at any number of tasting rooms around town. After all, Solvang was one of the shooting locations for Sideways! I suggest stopping by The Hans Christian Andersen Museum as well as the California Art Nature Center, if only to see the Thomas Dambo Troll. And if you feel like taking a drive, to me, there's nothing better than feeding giant birds at Ostrichland USA.

If you're planning a visit to Solvang, you should stay at The Winston and check out the nearby town of Buellton. In Buellton, you'll find many of the Sideways filming locations, including the hotel they stayed at (now the Sideways Inn) and the Hitching Post II, where Virginia Madsen's character worked.