When it’s time for the act of wining and dining, we’re immediately booking a trip to Northern California’s iconic Napa Valley. Read below to find out where to stay, eat, drink (wine, of course), and visit while touring this West Coast gem.
Where to Stay:
Carneros Resort and Spa
The modernist, farmhouse-style buildings at Carneros Resort and Spa are a departure from the Tuscan-Prvoençal style common to California wine country. Guests can expect to spend the night in one of the hotel’s adorable cottages, which sport indoor-outdoor showers, private green patios, corrugated metal roofs, and an overall barn-like aesthetic that bodes naturally with the stay’s pastoral surroundings. Seek refuge and relaxation after a day of wine tasting with a treatment at the spa or via snooze on one of the lounge chairs beside the hotel’s long outdoor pool, which has idyllic views of nearby vineyards
White House Napa Valley Inn
White House Napa Valley Inn is a beguiling 17-key stay housed in a historic Victorian-style mansion with a hallmark white-colonnaded porch at its entrance. Its clean and contemporary interior doesn’t steal the spotlight from the building’s postcard-perfect exterior: dark blue carpets with ornate polka dots, white wainscotting, crystal chandeliers, and modern artwork are what you can expect. Its winsome location in Downtown Napa means you have the area’s boutiques, restaurants, and bars at your fingertips.
Where to Eat:
Mustards Grill
This local haunt is a must-visit on your Tour de Napa Valley. Chef/Owner Cindy Pawlcyn serves American cuisine classics with globally-inspired twists. From their Different Soup Every Day, to the Famous Mongolian Pork Chop, to the Housemade Potato Chips with creamy bleu cheese dip, they note at the bottom of their menu that “everything is delicious” — and that’s a fact.
RH Yountville Restaurant
Located on the five-building RH Yountville compound in the heart of Napa Valley, the indoor/outdoor RH Yountville Restaurant brims with elegance. Sipping artisanal wines and snacking on a delicate Prosciutto and Délice Board amidst trickling fountains, heritage olive trees, and glimmering chandeliers is what we’ll be doing before stopping by RH’s historic two-story wine vault.
Where to Drink:
Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar
This rooftop bar atop the Archer Hotel offers idyllic views of Napa Valley. Kick back in one of their comfy chairs or modern rockers, with a glass of wine in hand, amidst a setting of potted olive trees & topiary figurines. Also, up here is a separate reservation-only Whiskey Bar with over 150 pours.
Where to Visit:
Hit the Top Wineries
With its world-famous status as one of the top American Viticultural Areas in the USA, there’s no shortage of breathtaking vineyards scattered throughout Napa Valley’s acclaimed wine country: Cakebread Cellars, V. Sattui Winery, Robert Mondavi Winery, and Silver Oak Cellars are a few of the area’s most prestigious estates to tour. For the history buffs, Chateau Montelena Winery, housed in an original 19th-century chateau, won the white wine section of the historic “Judgment of Paris” competition for its Chardonnay. For the bubbly connoisseurs, heading to the landmark Domaine Carneros for a glass (or two) of sparkling wine should be first on your list.
Visit Downtown Napa
Downtown Napa boasts a slew of Michelin-starred restaurants, fancy tasting rooms, and elevated boutiques. Start your day at the Oxbow Public Market for one of Model Bakery’s legendary English Muffins before heading to First Street Napa’s in-style shops: Honey Whiskey Boutique and Shoppe Twelve sells trendy women’s clothing; Makers Market is a gift shop vending West Coast artisanal goods; and Kalifornia Jean Bar features premium denim for men and women. By night, reserve a table at the Archer Hotel’s industrial-chic Charlie Palmer Steak for a contemporary meal in the heart of downtown. To end the day, a nightcap and some live jazz music at Blue Note Napa is necessary.
Ride the Napa Valley Wine Train
Journey through Napa Valley’s wine country aboard the historically restored Napa Valley Wine Train. The scenic 36-mile round-trip voyage to St. Helena stops at celebrated wineries along the way, while wining and dining its guests onboard with luxurious accommodations and a divine four-course meal.
Donum Estates
Nestled in Carneros, Donum Estate is set on a 200-acre estate that houses 40+ larger-than-life world-class sculptures. Known for its impressive art collection and pinot noir, guests are invited to enjoy wines while exploring the sculpture garden and estate.
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