Appellation Petaluma

The Appellation Petaluma Hotel is seated in the heart of Petaluma’s Historic Downtown, at the intersection of Petaluma Boulevard and B Street. Here, guests and locals alike will be welcomed into an iconic hotel that blends seamlessly into the fabric of the neighborhood, embracing the past and present culture that is Petaluma. The ground floor is home to an epicurean delight led by a local icon, Charlie Palmer. This corner restaurant and bar will boast a carefully curated menu using locally sourced ingredients, making it an instant favorite for the community.

Deeply woven into our fabric, we proudly provide space to foster creativity, connection, and enjoyment. Our programming offers a unique blend of engaging cultural and culinary experiences for our guests and community members to take part in. Hosting events, speakers and classes throughout the year, we contribute to the offerings made available in Petaluma and create a safe space for people to gather. An integral feature to our hotel, the rooftop space will be used to host events, enjoy a glass of wine or just to take a moment to enjoy the sweeping views of the city, river and surrounding hills. Welcoming to anyone wishing to visit, serving as the perfect space to unwind, play or socialize.

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PROJECT DETAILS

Square Feet

Keys

Stories with Occupiable Rooftop Element

On-Site Parking Stalls

2,350 sq ft

Interior Dining Space on the first floor

9,000 sq ft

Charlie Palmer Signature Restaurant

7,000 sq ft

Rooftop Event Space

1,685 sq ft

Interior Event Space

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Rooted in genuine hospitality, Appellation Petaluma will be a gathering place where locals, travelers, and kindred spirits come together.

Paying homage to Petaluma’s agricultural heritage while contributing to its ever-evolving story, Appellation will support local farmers, winemakers, artisans, and makers who continue to shape the city’s creative and agricultural identity.

Honoring Petaluma’s rich history, the hotel will celebrate the region’s bounty with chef-driven experiences and a kitchen showcasing local ingredients, all led by iconic local chef Charlie Palmer.

Appellation Petaluma is a natural extension of the city’s legacy, where culinary innovation, artisanal craftsmanship, and deep agricultural roots intertwine. Here, history isn’t just preserved, it’s woven into something new, honoring the region’s enduring character and craftsmanship while writing its next chapter.

Project Resources and FAQs

How many parking stalls does the project have?

58 stalls on site, meeting the parking requirements as determined by the City of Petaluma, and exploring additional off-site parking. There will additionally be bicycle parking (street level) and bicycle valet in the parking garage. The Project Team is adding mechanical parking (costly) to allow for 58 stalls, the code required amount, and will be valet only.

Is there designated public space on the rooftop?

A portion of the rooftop is designated as public space even during private events. The rooftop is designed to have the best views in town and will take advantage of the surrounding landscape.

How many stories is the project?

The project is five stories with an occupiable rooftop element. The fifth floor is intentionally stepped back from the fourth floor, substantially minimizing the visual impact and making the building appear as a four-story building. The occupiable rooftop structure is set back 25 feet from the property line, making it invisible from the street below.

What will the public art installation be?

The Project Team is in the process of determining both the type of art installation and the local artisans that will commission the various art pieces. The project will invest at least half a million dollars in public facing art.

What brand will the hotel be?

After an substantial amount of community input we have chosen the project to be an Appellation Hotel, a local, food and beverage-centric brand founded by Charlie Palmer and Chris Hunsberger – based in Sonoma County.

How much traffic will the project add to downtown?

The project team is currently working to update their Traffic Study and will post its findings when finalized. Although the project will add traffic from its current use (vacant land) it will be substantially less than its previous use as a Chevron gas station. The project is currently building a program that both encourages and rewards guests to take advantage of alternative transportation, such as The SMART train, into Petaluma.

Why doesn’t the project look like a historical project?

While the project is a new building and takes advantage of the latest green building technologies and design, much thought and care was put into creating a hotel which has many historic features found in Petaluman architecture. Diana Painter is a key project team member, who worked hand-in-hand with the architect to implement and incorporate historic features found in Petaluma’s historic downtown.

Will the project be LEED Certified?

The Project will qualify as a LEED-certified building through the sustainable features included throughout the project’s design, however it will not be officially LEED Certified.