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Paso Robles on California's central coast is home to over 200 wineries, including award winners like DAOU and Justin. Whether you are visiting to enjoy the incredible wine scene or looking for a scenic California destination to explore, the town is an excellent choice for a wellness getaway.

Angel statue and sitting area at the entrance to Allegretto

If your goal is total relaxation without ever getting in a car, a stay at the enchanting Allegretto Vineyard Resort is in order.

Allegretto is the project of Douglas Ayres of the Ayres Hotels Family, a family business that owns 24 hotels in Southern California. Ayres, who grew up in Newport Beach, California, studied religion and music at USC. After experiencing family tragedy, he travelled the world searching for healing and spirituality. Ayres created Allegretto as a destination to celebrate connection, joy, and life.

A large amethyst geode and sitting area in the Sequoia Room at Allegretto Vineyard Resort

The hotel's style influences come from all over the world, and it's filled with intriguing art. Much of the art is inspired by world religions – it's very inclusive in a way that honors spirituality of all kinds. Other art is inspired by and made from natural materials – like a cross-section from a giant Sequoia tree with rings marked by a timeline to give you life perspective.

There's also a mystical metaphysical energy to the resort. You'll notice enormous crystals and geodes all over the grounds. The style is very eclectic, yet still cohesive.

I highly recommend taking a guided art tour which I found fascinating and a highlight of my stay. I just happened to stumble into the tour while I was hanging out in the Sequoia Room when I was about to check out, and I'm so glad I didn't miss this.

A tuning fork in the garden offers the opportunity to play with sound during your garden exploration.

Of course, there are plenty of musical elements. Afterall, the name of the property is Allegretto which in musical terms is an upbeat cheerful tempo. Sound is carefully considered in the design of the resort. For instance, you can experience sound healing meditations in the hotel’s acoustically-designed chapel and walk through a unique sonic labyrinth. The name of the resort's restaurant is Cello. And it's no surprise that the hotel hosts live music performances.

Allegretto guests can enjoy sound baths and yoga in the chapel.

When you arrive at Allegretto you feel like you're pulling up to a Tuscan villa. The grounds are stunning and purposeful. I found the most magical aspect of the resort to be the star garden path, a walking trail with intentional stops for meditation for each astrological sign.

Here's a peek into my stay at Allegretto Vineyard Resort:

Accommodations at Allegretto Vineyard Resort:

Allegretto Vineyard views from my two queen room.

The resort's 171 rooms and suites feature European-inspired accommodations. The room palette includes golds and warm rich colors. I stayed in a Prelude Two Queen Room with a view of the pool and vineyards. The large room was comfy and stocked with slippers and robes. Paso Robles can get very hot in the summer, and the room provided a cool retreat from the heat.

Dining at Cello

At Cello you'll find Northern Italian fare, creative cocktails, beers, and an extensive wine list. I dined outdoors at Cello at sunset (with my mom who joined me on the getaway), and the beautiful setting was as dreamy as it gets. It was nice to be able to enjoy delicious cuisine made from regional ingredients and a glass of wine, without having to drive to town. Menu items include salads, pizza, pasta, and entrees like New York Steak or Chicken Piccata.

Dishes we enjoyed at Cello included Pesto Linguine and Kale and Mushroom Ravioli. I also loved the Panzanella Salad made with sourdough croutons, fresh burrata, and seasonal squash.

I was too full to try dessert, but took a peaceful stroll at twilight after dinner and saw many guests enjoying wine around the property. The energy was calm and joyful.

Spa Allegretto

The resort offers plenty of spaces for quiet and self-reflection, and Spa Allegretto is an intimate nook where you can focus on getting a little extra me-time. The spa has lovely indoor and outdoor lounging spaces and a few treatment rooms. My morning deep tissue massage was just what I needed.

Indoor relaxation area at Spa Allegretto

While the spa is small, it's a very nice space for relaxation. And you don't need a large spa when the whole property is like one expansive wellness space.

You can read more about Spa Allegretto in our Spa Allegretto Profile.

Swimming Pool

The sparkling swimming pool offers a refreshing retreat from the Paso Robles heat. With the backdrop of the resort's vineyard, and a full poolside menu of food and beverages, you may want to hang out here all day. My mom certainly did!

If you do, cabana rentals are available for a more plush and luxurious poolside experience.

Wine at Allegretto

Allegretto has its own vineyard and a charming tasting room with indoor and outdoor spaces. Vineyard tours and tastings are available. (Tastings are $30 and vineyard tours are $40 for resort guests.)

Outdoor tasting area at Allegretto Tasting Room

There's also an Allegretto Wine Club with generous benefits including complimentary tours/tastings, room discounts, spa discounts, and more.

What not to miss at Allegretto

The Star Garden Trail

As I mentioned earlier, one of my favorite aspects of the property was the Star Garden Trail. This trail offers a walk through 12 stations for meditation and movement, each inspired by a zodiac sign, surrounded by flowers, art, and vineyards.

Ayres, the visionary behind the resort, spent years meticulously curating the 12 locations included. The path is captivating, and it felt magical to walk it under the bright full moon. It was fun to try to find my own star sign while walking the trail.

Exploring Allegretto Vineyard Resort at night

Tip: You can pick up a map of the trail at the front desk if you want a self-guided experience with more details about where to find each zodiac sign and the recommended reflections for each location. Be sure to walk through the sonic labyrinth while wandering the trail.

George the Alpaca

Not only is Allegretto a pet-friendly resort, but it also has its own resident animals including George the Alpaca. Be sure to say hello – he's adorable!

The Art Tour

Thursday through Sunday the resort offers a complimentary tour of the impressive collection of art around the property. This was fantastic and gave me a deeper level of understanding and appreciation for the property.

Activities to try

Allegretto Vineyard Resort Courtyard at night

There is so much to take in at Allegretto that you can truly keep yourself busy at the property and still not experience all that Allegretto has to offer. While I didn't get to experience everything, here are some of the activities offered that are on my list for a future visit:

Olive oil tasting
Weekend yoga session
Soundbath in the chapel
Vineyard tour and wine tasting
Live music with Serenades on the Staircase

Tip: Be sure to ask the front desk for the weekly itinerary, so you know what activities and opportunities are available during your stay.

Exploring Paso Robles

There's lots see in Paso Robles, but if you're looking for a few top picks for a wellness weekend, here's a great place to start:

DAOU Vineyards

DAOU Life is Beautiful sign with a view from DAOU Mountain

DAOU Vineyards was founded by two brothers, Georges and Daniel Daou, who fell in love with the vineyards in the south of France. The brothers immigrated from Lebanon to France in the 1970s after their family made the difficult decision to leave their home and successful business behind due to the civil war. In the 1980s, they moved to San Diego to study computer and electrical engineering at UCSD. Coming from an entrepreneurial family, the brothers started their own networking technology company, DAOU Systems, which was pivotal in hospital computer systems. After selling their company in 1998, Georges and Daniel pursued their dream of becoming winemakers, buying a property in Paso Robles – and DAOU Vineyards was born.

Enjoying a refreshing DAOU Rosé and views from DAOU Vineyards.

I've enjoyed drinking DAOU's award-winning wines during many of my travel adventures around the country, so when in Paso Robles I knew I needed to see the vineyard for myself. DAOU Vineyards is breathtaking. The tasting room and expansive outdoor tasting area sit on the top of DAOU Mountain with views of the beautiful rolling vineyards that surround it. When you arrive at the vineyard, you're welcomed with a refreshing DAOU Rosé as you get your first glimpse of the stunning property.

My mom and I began our journey with the Discover DAOU Tasting, a great introduction to DAOU wines. Sommelier William Becker guided us through the tasting, sharing insight into the wines and anecdotes about the winery and region. We sampled varieties including a 2023 Pinot Noir and DAOU's famous Patrimony Cabernet Sauvignon (2021), a must-try.

DAOU offers a fresh, seasonal menu to compliment your tasting and wine selection.

DAOU also offers a fresh, seasonal menu to compliment your tasting and wine selection. We started with DAOU's crave-worthy Chopped Salad, followed by a Margherita Pizza, and ended with a Chocolate Cremieux in a Jar. It was a fabulous afternoon of incredible wine and cuisine in a jaw-drop gorgeous setting. If you can only make it to one winery when in Paso Robles, consider DAOU.

Tip: Be sure to book your tasting ahead of time — reservations can fill up weeks in advance. Options include the Discover DAOU Tasting Experience ($50) and the Patrimony Immersion ($275) which features a vineyard tour and custom culinary pairings with caviar.

Hambly Farms

There's just about nothing more calming than the scent of lavender, so imagine pulling up to Hambly Farms where you're surrounded by fields of nine different varieties as you breathe in the lavender breeze. Hambly Farms was founded by Milton and Gina Hambly, along with their three children. Their family has lived in Paso Robles for over five generations, and the Hamblys decided to return to their farming roots, but took a unique direction when they began planting lavender in 2019.

The tranquil regenerative lavender farm offers guided tours, U-Pick lavender experiences, and reservations for golden hour sunsets where you can bring your own picnic. There are also opportunities for lavender-themed workshops like essential oil making, paint and sips, and photography classes.

The farm makes most of their own products and partners with other local businesses to provide lavender goods. For example, they partner with Sierra Honey Farm for their Lavender Infused Honey and Life Elements to make a lavender lotion. You can shop some of the farm's hand-crafted lavender products on Hamblyfarms.com.

I visited Hambly Farms for a tour of the property, and when I heard there was a full moon i-Phone photography class the night of my visit, I knew I had to stick around to take the class. Enjoying the lavender farm through sunset and watching the full moon rise while surrounded by the tranquil purple fields was an experience to remember.

Attempting to capture the full moon rising over the lavender field with my i-Phone.

Downtown Paso Robles Square

In downtown Paso Robles, you'll find a walkable square around Downtown City Park filled with boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and tasting rooms. Here are three gems to check out:

Studios on the Park: This gallery offers the opportunity to browse works from local artists, along with the opportunity to take in seasonal shows and classes.

Spare Time Books: This cute bookstore sells a wide variety of used and new books and offers free events like a chess club and literature club. Their "Blind Date" surprise book packages make great gifts or pick one up for yourself to read by the pool with a glass of wine.
Brown Butter Cookie Company: If you have a sweet tooth, stop by Brown Butter Cookie Company to sample their Brown Butter Sea Salt cookies. They are a favorite, and I can't visit San Luis Obispo County without bringing some home.

Whether you're exploring the town and wineries, or want to check-in and relax away without ever leaving your resort, you're sure to find the wellness weekend your mind, body, and soul craves in Paso Robles.

Wellness Weekend in Paso Robles: Exploring Sound, Stars, and the Spiritual at Allegretto Vineyard Resort