River Lodge
1955 Theatre Dr
Paso Robles, CA
The wine country motor lodge Paso Robles has been waiting for.
About River Lodge
Nomada Hotel Group found a 1947 motor lodge at the intersection of Highway 101 and 46 and opened it as River Lodge in summer 2024. The mid-century bones are preserved: single-story, rooms opening directly onto three acres of rose-lined pathways, hand-woven hammocks, and communal fire pits. The neon sign facing the highway is original and unchanged. The Michelin Guide included it that same year. Paso Robles has been becoming something for a decade. The Tin City warehouse district, the central square, and a wine region now producing internationally noticed bottles have drawn the kind of food and hospitality people who make a destination cohere. River Lodge arrived at the right moment: a property from one era, thoughtfully remade for a different kind of traveler, without erasing what made the original worth keeping.
What River Lodge Is Known For
Nomada Hotel Group has made a practice of finding mid-century motor lodges and restoring them without stripping what made them interesting. River Lodge is the latest, and the Michelin Guide recognition reflects what that kind of careful attention produces when the location is also right. Guests describe it in consistent terms: a gem, a find, exactly what it should be. That consistency is not accidental.
Amenities
- Pets Welcome
- Breakfast Included
- WiFi
- Adults-only heated pool and hot tub
- Ciao Papi poolside restaurant and bar
- Complimentary Linus bikes
- Complimentary coffee and croissants daily
- Welcome rose on weekend check-ins
- Rose gardens and communal hammocks
- Communal fire pits
- Dog-friendly grounds
What Guests Love
- The adults-only pool and Ciao Papi's poolside bar create an outdoor destination that earns River Lodge a visit even if Paso Robles was not originally on the itinerary.
- Every room opens directly onto rose-lined grounds with a private yard or patio, giving a motor lodge the feel of a much more intimate property.
- Coffee and croissants are included every morning, and a welcome glass of rose arrives on weekend check-ins: small gestures that signal the level of care behind the whole property.
Worth Knowing
- The pool and Ciao Papi are adults only (21+), and Ciao Papi operates seasonally with varying hours. Confirm current schedules if you are visiting in shoulder months or planning around dinner specifically.
- The property sits just off Highway 101, and rooms on the highway-facing side carry some road noise. Worth requesting a courtyard-facing room at booking.
- Ciao Papi is closed on Tuesdays. Plan accordingly if you are arriving mid-week and counting on it for dinner.
- Pets are welcome. A pet fee applies; contact the property directly to confirm current amounts and any restrictions before booking.
The Room
Rooms open directly onto the grounds. No interior corridors, no lobby to navigate. Each room has a private yard or patio, with hammocks at most. Some have fireplaces; some have dedicated fire pits. The furnishings are bespoke and the linens are well-considered. Complimentary coffee and croissants arrive every morning. On weekend check-ins, a welcome glass of rose is waiting.
The Grounds
Three acres of managed landscape with rose-lined paths, communal hammocks, and fire pits tucked throughout. At the center, a heated adults-only pool and hot tub surrounded by daybeds and chaise loungers. Ciao Papi, the on-site poolside restaurant and bar, serves Cal-Italian food and craft cocktails from a shaded patio overlooking the water. The pool hosts a weekend music series through the warmer months. Linus bikes are available for guest use at no charge.
The Experience
The Paso Robles version of a full day: coffee in the courtyard in the morning, a bike ride to Tin City for afternoon tastings, back to the pool before dark, dinner at Ciao Papi, a fire pit to close it out. River Lodge is built for that sequence. Guests who come for one night consistently extend to two. The property makes it genuinely easy to stay, and the town makes it easy to leave when you're ready.
Details
Paso Robles, CA 93446
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does River Lodge have EV charging?
No, River Lodge does not have EV charging.
Does River Lodge have WiFi?
Yes, River Lodge has WiFi.
What is there to do near River Lodge?
Tin City: 1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Tablas Creek Vineyard: 8 miles, about a 15 minute drive. Morro Rock and Morro Bay: 25 miles, about a 50 minute drive.
How far is River Lodge from Tin City?
1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is River Lodge from Tablas Creek Vineyard?
8 miles, about a 15 minute drive.
How far is River Lodge from Morro Rock and Morro Bay?
25 miles, about a 50 minute drive.
Is River Lodge pet friendly?
Yes. River Lodge welcomes pets. A pet fee applies; contact the property directly to confirm current amounts and any restrictions before booking.
Is the River Lodge pool open to all guests?
No. The heated pool and hot tub are exclusively for guests 21 and older.
Does River Lodge have a restaurant?
Yes. Ciao Papi is a Cal-Italian restaurant and bar serving food and cocktails from a poolside patio. It is open to guests and the public, operates seasonally, and is closed on Tuesdays.
Does River Lodge include breakfast?
River Lodge includes complimentary local coffee and croissants every morning. It is not a full breakfast service, but it handles the morning well.
How far is River Lodge from downtown Paso Robles?
River Lodge is about a mile from the central square in downtown Paso Robles, a 15-minute bike ride on the complimentary Linus bikes or a 5-minute drive.
Does River Lodge have free parking?
Yes, complimentary on-site parking is always included.
Is River Lodge listed in the Michelin Guide?
Yes. River Lodge is a Michelin-selected property in California, recognized as part of the Guide's curated lodging recommendations. It is one of several Nomada Hotel Group properties across the Central Coast to receive consistent editorial recognition.
What is included with a River Lodge stay?
Every stay includes complimentary coffee and croissants each morning, a welcome glass of rose on weekend check-ins, Linus bikes for guest use, and access to the pool, hot tub, and grounds.
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Things to Do Near Paso Robles
Tin City
1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
Paso Robles's warehouse wine district, with a concentration of craft tasting rooms, the BarrelHouse Brewing taproom, and Tin Canteen for food. A 15-minute bike ride on the complimentary Linus bikes or a 5-minute drive from River Lodge.
Tablas Creek Vineyard
8 miles, about a 15 minute drive.
The California outpost of the Perrin family from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and one of the most consequential producers in the Paso Robles wine story. Estate tastings and vineyard walks available.
Morro Rock and Morro Bay
25 miles, about a 50 minute drive.
A 581-foot volcanic plug rising from the Pacific, with an estuary that ranks among the richest birding habitats on the California coast. The drive down Highway 1 from Paso takes under an hour.