Welcome to Napa
So much wine, (and good food), so little time! There are many other attractions in the Valley. Here is a sampling of some of our favorites.
Advice at your fingertips anytime
donapa.com - for great recommendations and interactive maps
Visit Napa Valley App - a nifty app
Convenient Downtown Tasting Rooms
St. Clair Brown Winery - Cool little urban winery and garden, small production, a short walk from the hotels. Offering small plates for snacks. Also adding a micro-brewery that should be done by September 1st.
1313 Main and LuLu's Kitchen - Wine Bar and small plates with outdoor lounge in back. Weekend hot spot.
Gustavo - Our friend, neighbor and winemaker for some of the valley’s best known brands. Some of the wedding wines! On McKinistry near the Westin, across from Model Bakery – YUM! Great story!
There are multiple downtown tasting rooms around the Oxbow Market right near the Westin Verasa and The River Terrace Inn, (no charge at Mason Cellars on First Street!), and more all over downtown. Walk, don’t drive!
Breweries
Napa Smith Brewery - south of town near airport.
Carneros Brewing Co. - 20 minutes west of Downtown. Started by the Ceja family of Ceja Vineyards.
Downtown Joe's - right downtown on the river.
Art
di Rosa Collection - Among our favorites in the area! An unusual, amusing, thought-provoking collection of painting and sculpture in breathtaking Carneros surroundings. Open Wed-Sun. Advance reservations needed for entire collection. If I could recommend anything, it would be this.
Hess Collection - Another wonderful way to see an amazing art collection. West Napa on beautiful Mt Veeder. Art and wine in one place!
Open Studios - Good timing! Artists of Napa will open their studio doors all over the valley on September 20-21 and the following weekend.
Napa Art Walk - Self guided tour of outdoor sculpture around the downtown district on rotation from western US artists. Download a brochure and use your smartphone at each piece to link with the artist’s audio statement.
Artists of the Valley - First Street, Downtown.
Jessel Gallery and Gordan Heuther Art Matters - both in Northeast part of Napa. Very short drive, worth a trip.
Napa Valley Museum - In Yountville on the grounds of the Veteran’s Home. Permanent collection and rotating exhibitions.
Eat
Oxbow Public Market - adjacent to the hotels (1/2 block) on First St. at McKinistry. Variety of casual offerings for all meals. A major attraction in the downtown area and very convenient.
ABC Bakery - (breakfast, lunch). Downtown.
Model Bakery - (breakfast, lunch) also convenient to hotels by the Oxbow Market.
Burger Fi - (lunch) Newer to the neighborhood.
Norman Rose - (pub food – lunch dinner)
Oenotri - (lunch, dinner- reservations! $$$) fab authentic Italian.
Angele - (lunch, dinner weekend brunch – reservations!) French, riverside patio.
Azzurro Pizzeria Enoteca - (lunch, dinner) A Cooperson Family staple.
Carpe Diem – (lunch, dinner) Food and wine bar.
Pearl - (lunch, dinner, closed Sun) Home cookin’, great ambiance.
Mini Mango - (lunch, dinner) Thai, small, quiet.
Pear - (lunch, dinner) In the new Riverfront shopping district downtown. Southern food.
Cole”s Chophouse - (lunch, dinner, reservations $$$) Downtown.
Torc - (lunch, dinner, reservations $$$) New American.
Bistro Don Giovanni – (lunch, dinner, patio dining, reservations $$$) North Napa on Hwy 29. Italian. Our very favorite spot for 20 years and counting. Among the vineyards.
Much more Upvalley too!
Shop
Our downtown shopping (not eating!) suffered a setback in the downturn but is undergoing quite a transformation. A bit of construction underway. Stroll the Riverfront area for some great boutique shopping but don’t skip First Street.
Great shopping available in Yountville and St. Helena
Groceries:
Raley’s Supermarket on the south end of town at So. Napa Marketplace on Soscol Ave.
Trader Joe’s & Whole Foods – north end of town. Bel Air Plaza, Trancas St. near Hwy 29
Kids
Playground Fantastico – Great place for the kids to burn some energy, if little hard to find. Next to River School on Old Sonoma Road.