Wine Country USA. Napa Valley is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in America. The rolling mountains, the endless roses, bottomless wine every direction you turn. Keep reading for a comprehensive guide on where to eat, drink & stay on your trip to Napa Valley!
This was Jacob and I’s second trip to Napa Valley. Both trips were taken with friends which I would highly recommend doing when planning your trip to Napa Valley. It would be romantic to do it alone as a couple but being with friends and experiencing each of the wineries with a small crowd is just SO fun.
Getting to Napa (Yountville, St. Helena & Calistoga)
The best way to get into Napa is to fly into SFO, Oakland, or Sacramento and drive in (you cannot fly directly into Napa Valley). You could rent a car, but you won’t want to do much driving yourself (if you plan on drinking) so I would suggest catching an Uber, LYFT, or taxi up to the Valley.
Flying into San Francisco and spending a night in the Bay before heading to wine country isn’t a bad idea which is what we did on our first trip!
Getting around Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga
I would 100% recommend a car service when planning your wine tasting tour of Napa Valley and the surrounding areas. Unless you have your own car (which I can’t recommend in good faith), getting from winery to winery with a driver is the best way to experience Napa.
Where to Stay
Hotel Villagio - Yountville
The Setting Inn - Yountville
Andaz - Napa
Archer Hotel - Napa
The George - Napa
R Inn - Napa
Check out AirBnB
How to Dress
Unless you visit in the summer months (June – August) prepare for the weather to be on the cooler side. April Napa was pretty chilly and jackets were definitely needed. June Napa was warm and tank tops & sun dresses were perfect. Napa is very understated and very casual chic. Keep it simple and you’ll fit in perfectly!
Wine: Bailie's Top Picks
Peju
Amizetta
Del Dotto
Pride
Fisher
Progeny
Ovid
Rombauer
Stags Leap
Caymus
V. Sattui – fun market with great picnic seating
Kapcsandy
The Prisoner Wine Company
Opus One
Where to Eat
Oxbow Public Market – food hall with lots of choices (Napa)
Mustards Grill – amazing bistro food (Yountville/Oakville)
Bouchon Bakery – prepare to wait in line for Thomas Keller’s French pastries (Yountville)
Ad Hoc – Thomas Keller’s (slightly less expensive) prefix menu known for fried chicken (Yountville)
French Laundry – THE Thomas Keller exclusive, almost impossible to get a table (Yountville)
Bistro Jeanty - The best French food in America (Yountville)
Boonfly Café – Up in the mountains in St. Helena
The Bounty Hunter – BBQ with a high-end wine bar
Charter Oak – farm to table (St. Helena)
Farmstead – farm to table
Pizzeria Tra Vigne – out of this world Neapolitan style pizza (St. Helena)
The Model Bakery – divine treats (St. Helena)
Gotts Roadside – BBQ (St. Helena/Oxbow Market Napa)
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