Isabella B.
Yelp
On my two CA Central Coast road trips I visited Paso Robles twice. The first visit was well-planned and I got to experience the beauty that is Hotel Cheval, but my second visit was quite impromptu all because of a chance to eat at the famous Somm's Kitchen. The Cheval was booked solid yet I wanted a comparable experience. Thank goodness for the Chase UR portal - booked this for 46,963 points and $8.57 for 2 days.
The Piccolo is the swanky, millennial-friendly version of the sister property Paso Robles Inn. As such you can also park closer to the Paso Robles Inn or if you're lucky, park right in front of the hotel without worrying about a time limit. For EV car owners there is at least 1 working charging station that offers fast charging.
Service and hospitality were top-notch. Everyone ensured that I had a wonderful stay. Since I booked with credit card points (as opposed to booking directly) they couldn't get me the cake + champagne promo. They did make up for it by booking me a last-minute bar table at the nearby Il Cortile.
The room is one of the most unique rooms I've stayed in. Two particular things stood out: the presence of a steamer and a WINE FRIDGE. Yes, a *dual zone* wine fridge. Considering that Paso Robles is comparable to Napa in terms of wine country prestige (the bottle prices also reflect this), it makes sense to protect your investment. This was much appreciated as this helped store the wine I got during the second half of my trip.
The bed was as comfy but the bed at the Cheval does beat it slightly in terms of comfort. Although their branded pillow was a nice touch as it contained terms that essentially defined the Paso Robles region (also on sale for $100). Bathroom was also lovely with a separate toilet/shower area and a detached sink.
The amenities for your stay include a token good for 1 mini bottle from their Moët & Chandon vending machine. You read that right, a *champagne vending machine*. Without the token it would be $25/bottle with a contactless feature for payment. There are two flavors: brut and rose. I redeemed mine but haven't found an opportunity to crack my bottle yet.
A modified amenity due to COVID is their breakfast service, which is served at the Paso Robles Inn. It is available daily from 7-11 and you get a choice of 5 items. The breakfast served is average (Cheval's offerings are a bit better) but considering that Paso can get pricey if you're not mindful of a budget one should take full advantage of this.
My experience is 5-star worthy and subsequent stays I'll have to decide between this hotel and the Cheval as both stand out for different reasons.
PS: My only gripe is the prices listed on the rooftop bar and the hotel's wine bar. Cocktail prices, though not cheap, are typical of any popular tourist attraction city. The major concern are the prices of a glass of wine, which can start for about $20 for a lower-tiered winery and cost almost $40 for wineries considered "cult status" (Linne Colado/L'Aventure/Clos Solene). This is ridiculous. For about the same amount or less for a glass of wine I can go to the winery itself and do a tasting menu of 5-6 wines. Not only do you get more wine that way, you'd also be directly supporting the business, which is always much appreciated during the covid days... Should you want you drink in Paso, there are plenty of businesses just in downtown that can give you a comparable experience for the same amount or cheaper.