Featured image: Samantha Labrecque Semle
Located in Northern California, just fifty miles from San Francisco, is the famed Napa Valley region (Hello, Nick and Hallie Parker!). Known as the United States’ premier wine-producing region, Napa Valley is made up of five towns including Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville, Napa, and American Canyon, and features more than 400 wineries, fifteen MICHELIN Star restaurants, and luxe accommodations.
Nestled in the beautiful countryside with near-perfect weather year-round, Napa Valley is the ideal place to spend a weekend sipping delicious varietals under the warm California sun.
Where to Eat
There’s no shortage of delicious dining options in Napa Valley. Whether you’re looking for no-frills fare or prestigious MICHELIN Star cuisine, there’s something for every tastebud.
The French Laundry | Yountville
Widely considered one of the best restaurants in the world, renowned Chef Thomas Keller’s flagship restaurant is a highly-regarded and sought-after culinary destination. Flanked with three MICHELIN Stars among many other accolades, The French Laundry is known for its rotating, nine-course daily tasting menu.
Speaking from personal experience, the beginning course of oysters and pearls is just the start of taking your tastebuds on an indescribable journey—It’s a rich, creamy combination of sabayon of pearl tapioca with Island Creek oysters and Regiis Ova caviar—but really, all of the courses are to die for.
While each plate is a small portion size, don’t be fooled: you’ll leave feeling full after arguably the best meal of your life. And with such prestigious dining, comes impeccable service. While reservations are nearly impossible to secure, fear not: you can try your hand at snagging a res on the first of each month for the month following. Just a note: dining at The French Laundry will set you back a minimum of $425 per person… but dining at one of the world’s best restaurants? Priceless, if you ask us.
RO Restaurant & Lounge | Yountville
A newly-opened destination from Chef Thomas Keller and Chef de Cuisine Jeffery Hayashi, RO Restaurant & Lounge offers Asian-inspired cuisine with a California twist. Take a seat in the lush outdoor garden or pull up a chair in the moody yet eclectic dining space, and snack on bites while sipping a creative cocktail. You might be in Wine Country, but don’t dismiss the “oysters and pearls” libation—Made with butter-washed Beluga vodka and roasted oyster shell, infused with Chazalettes dry vermouth, sea bean tincture, and three grams of royal caviar—a unique riff on The French Laundry’s famous dish.
Bouchon Bistro | Yountville
Another Thomas Keller concept, Bouchon Bistro is a French-style restaurant offering authentic French bistro fare. The menu changes with seasonal offerings, but diners can expect dishes like steak frites, escargots de Bourgogne, and poulet rôti (roasted chicken), plus a raw bar with select oysters on the half shell and other fruits de mer. The inside is quaint with a Parisian feel, featuring a French zinc bar, a stunning mosaic floor, antique light fixtures, and an intricate mural hand painted by French artist, Paulin Paris.
Bouchon Bakery | Yountville
Nestled next door to Bouchon Bistro, Chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery is a walk-up classic French boulangerie, with a wide selection of artisanal breads and classic desserts inspired by the chef’s memories of life in France as well as his childhood in the United States. Choose from breads, sandwiches, and delectable pastries, plus have your pick of the ultimate pick-me-up from their full range of espresso drinks and coffee. Pro tip: get there early, because the line gets long in the morning!
Gott’s Roadside | St. Helena
Founded in 1999, Gott’s Roadside is a must-try side-of-the-road burger joint slinging out California-inspired dishes using locally-sourced ingredients. There’s a plethora of burgers to choose from, plus sandwiches, salads, fries, and more. And what’s a burger joint without milkshakes? Sip a hand-spun shake made with organic ice cream and milk while hanging out in the expansive outdoor yard.
Charlie’s | St. Helena
Looking for Lowcountry vibes but on the West Coast? Add Charlie’s to your list. A family-run, community-focused neighborhood restaurant by Chef Elliot Bell, Charlie’s is a bright and airy spot serving up briny bivalves, plus other mouth-watering dishes. We recommend the hearth-roasted “beer can” chicken, the house made spinach bucatini, and their version of Hawaiian rolls.
Erosion Tap House | St. Helena
Part brewery, part ice cream shop, Erosion is the perfect place for adults and kids alike. Find your favorite pour among the large selection of locally-crafted brews, then take the kids (and the kids at heart!) to the ice cream parlor for a sweet treat. For those 21 and older, try a beer or wine float—a combination of your choice of a scoop of ice cream and wine or one of Erosion’s beers on draft.
Ciccio | Yountville
Housed in a century-old Italian grocery store building, Ciccio has stayed true to its roots with a menu full of California-Italian-inspired cuisine. Think: fresh pasta, wood-fired pizza, and other tasty bites. Our favorites include the focaccia and local olives to start, followed by a shared meal of bucatini, tomato pizza, and meatball-stuffed peppers for the table.
RH Restaurant at RH Yountville | Yountville
Exquisitely designed, Restoration Hardware’s onsite restaurant is a lovely integration of food, wine, art, and design. Bright and elegant during the day, the restaurant turns moody and sophisticated at night. If opting for a morning or mid-day reservation, our menu selects include the whole smashed avocado or the roasted chicken club. For the ideal dinner setup, order the charred ribeye with a side of truffle fries and a crisp glass of sauvy b.
Oakville Grocery | Oakville
If there’s only one stop you make in Napa Valley, let it be this. Founded in 1881, Oakville Grocery is a cute, roadside grocer complete with artisan sandwiches, wood-fired pizza, wine, and other picnic-friendly fare. Grab-and-go or sip-and-sit on their sunny, outdoor patio. We still dream about the prosciutto and brie sandwich… so order one and then another, and then thank us later.
Angele Restaurant and Bar | Napa
Could this be Napa town’s most charming restaurant? We certainly think so! Tucked away in the historic Hatt Building along the Napa River, Angele is serving up French fare alongside both French and American wines. A quaint gem, the restaurant offers interior seating in a rustic yet refined boathouse and outdoor dining on a spacious covered patio. While you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, the escargot, house made brioche, tagliatelle with Normandy butter, and boeuf bourguignon were standouts to us.
Where to Stay
After a long day of exploring Napa Valley and likely ending the day in a sleepy wine-induced state, you’ll want a comfortable and relaxing place to rest your head and gear up for another day of wine tasting ahead.
Napa Valley Lodge | Yountville
This tranquil, Tuscan-style retreat is set in an idyllic vineyard within the heart of Yountville. Not only is it a great location in the valley itself, the Napa Valley Lodge is walking distance to everything in town, which makes it easy to enjoy the splendor of Yountville and all that it has to offer. The family-owned boutique hotel is sophisticated and luxe, with spacious bedrooms and private verandas.
It’s easy to feel like you’re in the Tuscan countryside when soaking up the sun by the pool or lounging in the lushly landscaped courtyard. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, hotel guests can enjoy poolside service (think: refreshing beverages, wines by the glass, local brews, and handmade snacks). When the sun dips below the horizon, cozy on up to the courtyard fire pits with your favorite glass of vino before winding down and doing it all over again tomorrow.
Where to Play
Napa Valley isn’t called Wine Country for nothing. While the region features hundreds of fantastic wine producers, it can be overwhelming to determine which places are worth the visit. So, we’re rounding up only some of our favorites.
Mayacamas Vineyards | Napa
A mix of old and new world charm, experience the estate’s mountain terrain and tasty wines. Mayacamas is best known for producing classically-styled cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and merlot. For $135 per person, enjoy a private guided tour of the historic winery and taste their featured current vintage wines. Weather permitting, you may be taken around the property in an off-road vehicle to get a closer look at the estate. Mayacamas Vineyards is accessible by reservation only.
Amizetta | St. Helena
Situated on a steep, south-facing spot at the base of Howell Mountain, the estate boasts panoramic views of the surrounding region with great wine to match. Soak in the sunshine and kick back on the perfectly shaded patio with a glass of their 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, take a tour, and then learn about the in-progress cave being built on-site. Tastings cost $100 per person and are available with advance registration only.
CADE | Angwin
Experience Napa Valley from a new perspective. Perched high above the valley floor, this LEED Gold Certified estate pays tribute to the land both aesthetically and ecologically…everything here is organically farmed. Blending in with the land, CADE is both organic and contemporary in design. For $100 per person, you can sip their mountain-grown cabernet sauvignon and the crisp, refreshing taste of their valley-floor sauvignon blanc.
Far Niente Winery | Oakville
Established in 1885 and nestled on a hilltop in the heart of Oakville, Far Niente truly captures the charm of il dolce far niente—the sweetness of doing nothing—at their 19th century stone winery. Step into a fairytale-esque setting, from the cascading gardens and estate vineyards to the underground wine caves. Reservations cost $130 per person and are by appointment only.
Domaine Carneros | Napa
Well-known and loved for their sparkling wine selections, Domaine Carneros is a picturesque, French-inspired chateau that serves distinctive styles of the classic vintage-dated brut cuvée to their luxury Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs. Tastings start at $45 person and can be enjoyed on the chateau’s grand veranda.
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