Inn St Helena is a Victorian-style bed-and-breakfast that was once the home of humorist and writer Ambrose Bierce. A white picket fence encloses the front yard and garden, with a brick walkway that leads to the front door underneath an overhanging second-floor porch. Inside the main building, known as the Ambrose Bierce House, there's a contemporary living room and reception area, and a second-floor porch with a cute wicker swing and a pair of chairs. There's also a pleasant and spacious backyard patio. Most guests are couples, though there's a studio in a neighboring annex facing the parking lot that can cater to families. 

The inn is on Main Street, surrounded by houses of the same style, near shops, restaurants, and wine tasting rooms. St. Helena is known for its beautiful 19th-century-style architecture, upscale boutiques, and excellent dining. Home to the West Coast headquarters of the Culinary Institute of America, the small town has become a popular foodie destination, but also remains a quiet place with access to great hiking and bicycling trails, as well as Napa’s famed wineries. It's a 10-minute walk from the hotel to Beringer Vineyards, and a seven-minute walk to the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. Expect two hours in the car to reach San Francisco International Airport or Sacramento International Airport, depending on traffic. 

Inn St Helena has eight guest rooms in all, each unique in layout and individually decorated with a mix of contemporary decor and antique furniture. All rooms have king or queen beds, some with carved oak headboards, or four-poster, or vintage metal frames. Neutral walls with white trim are decorated with artwork and gilded mirrors. There's a variety of oak dressers, wardrobes, and seating areas with upholstered chairs. Some rooms have gas fireplaces, and a few ground-floor rooms open to private furnished patios. An annex next door, called the Cottage House, has three additional guest rooms and an apartment with a full modern kitchen, dining room, furnished balcony, and washer/dryer. Free Wi-Fi comes standard, along with flat-screen TVs. The bathrooms vary widely, with walk-in showers or shower/tub combos, but some are a tight squeeze. A few have whirlpool tubs with handheld showerheads. All contain high-quality bathrobes, towels, and toiletries. 

The majority of guests give Inn St Helena's free and generous homemade breakfast high marks. The spread features eggs, waffles with toppings, freshly baked muffins, bacon, and a range of other hot and cold items. The menu changes every morning during a given week. The cozy breakfast room dining table is reserved for guests staying in the main house only, but there are several other common spaces here including a living room lounge and a large backyard patio with a communal table and comfortable lounge furniture. There's also a second-floor porch with wicker chairs and a wicker swing. Free wine and cheese is served in the early evening with a variety of snacks, and on-site parking and Wi-Fi throughout are included.