Dining:
French Laundry: Chef Thomas Keller draws food lovers from all over the world to dine at French Laundry. The restaurant is highly deserving of its three-star Michelin rating. Everything from the grounds, to the service, to the superb food quality will impress beyond belief. The fixed menu is $270 per person, but well worth the vacation splurge.
Hog Island Oyster Company: Sustainable oysters and seafood from San Fransisco and Napa, California. Full service bar, restaurant and retail outlet located inside the Ox Bow Public Market in Downtown Napa.
Heritage Eats: Fast-casual dining with flair, this is the perfect spot to pickup a quick bite on your way into Napa Valley. Heritage serves some of the best grain bowls, and allows you to customize all of the ingredients when ordering at the counter. Eat up, you are going to need a good amount of food to soak up all of the wine.
Gott’s Roadside Diner: Arguably the best burger in Napa Valley. A modern version of the American classic roadside diner with french fries, shakes a burgers to satisfy. This is also located in Downtown Napa, outside the Ox Bow Public Market.
Oakville Grocery: Historical spot that opened in 1881 in Oakville, serving sandwiches, salads, wines and gourmet, picnic-friendly fare that you can take to-go. The coca-cola mural out front is super instagram-worthy too.
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch: The cutest spot for brunch, serving sustainable farm-to-table fare in a renovated barn owned by Cattle and Ranch Winery.
Charlie Palmer Steak Napa: The premier steakhouse in the new Archer Hotel offers wagyu, porterhouse for two, bone-on strip, bone-on tomohawk, and 5 dot coulotte cuts, as well as seafood starters and mains. This is the fifth Charlie Palmer Steakhosue to open across the nation with other outposts in NYC’s Archer Hotel, Washington DC, and Las Vegas.
Vineyards:
Venge Vineyards: A 17-acre vineyard in the Oakville District purchased by the Venge family in 1976, has come to harvest and produce top-selling Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines. Make a reservation for the best private tasting experience.
Beringer Vineyards: Founded in 1876, Beringer Vineyards is the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley, and is listed as a California historical landmark. The property features a sprawling estate with cave tours, private tasting rooms, and the Reserve Bar at Rhine House.
Sterling Vineyard: This vineyard is perched 300 feet above Calistoga and offers astonishing views of the Napa Valley. Take the aerial tram to the top of the property to visit the tasting room. You can choose from the Silver, Sparkling or Platinum experiences.
Artesa Vineyards and Winery: Spanish winemaking family, Codorníu Raventós, moved to Napa Valley to plant new roots and thus created Artesa Winery. The property features amazing view, wine tastings, as well as food pairings. This vineyard tends to attract a younger, millennial crowd and had amazing photo opportunities outside overlooking the valley.
Castello di Amorosa: This castle will have you feel like you’ve entered mid-century times. The Tuscan castle serves Italian inspired wines, and is certainly a different take from other vineyards in Napa. Tours and tastings can be purchased in advance or at the property.
Beaulieu Vineyard: Beaulieu Vineyard is one of the oldest, most historical wineries in Napa Valley with over a 100 year legacy of winemaking. Enjoy personalized wine tours and tastings, while sampling wines valued at anywhere from $50-$500/bottle.
Staying:
Auberge du Soleil Resort: Showcasing breathtaking views, Auberge du Soleil is the dream of French restaurateur, Claude Rouas.
Archer Hotel: Archer Hotel opened its third property in Downtown Napa Valley in December of 2017. The boutique hotel features 183 rooms, and can book out pretty far in advance during high season. The rooftop features live music, a full menu of wine, cocktails and snacks, plus a fire pit.
Air Bnb: On a budget or with a larger group? Air Bnb is the best option, hands-down. Hotels can be very pricey in Napa, and there are plenty of options within the valley available to guests.
