Must-see restaurants in Napa Valley

  • Restaurant at Meadowood

    Napa Valley

    If you couldn’t score reservations at French Laundry, fear not: Meadowood – the valley’s only other three-Michelin-star restaurant – has a slightly more…

  • French Laundry

    Napa Valley

    The pinnacle of California dining, Thomas Keller’s three-Michelin-star rated French Laundry is epic, a high-wattage culinary experience on par with the…

  • Oxbow Public Market

    Napa

    Graze at this gourmet market and plug into the Northern California food scene. Standouts: Hog Island Oyster Co; comfort cooking at celeb-chef Todd…

  • Ciccio

    Napa Valley

    The small, frequently changing menu at this family-owned Italian place is dependent on the season and likely to include just a couple of veggies, pastas,…

  • Lovina

    Calistoga

    A sparsely decorated cottage surrounded by a white picket fence, Lovina is especially good for lunch in the garden. The menu changes frequently, featuring…

  • Ottimo

    Napa Valley

    Chef Michael Chiarello opened this Italian market, cafe and mozzeria in Yountville's V Marketplace across from his popular farm-to-table establishment…

  • Ad Hoc

    Napa Valley

    A winning formula by Thomas Keller, Yountville’s culinary patriarch, Ad Hoc serves the master’s favorite American home cooking in four family-style…

  • Torc

    Napa

    Wildly popular Torc plays off the seasons with dynamic combinations of farm-fresh ingredients such as pork belly with satsuma-imo potato and choy raab, or…

  • Bouchon

    Napa Valley

    Details at celeb-chef Thomas Keller’s French brasserie are so impeccable – zinc bar to white-aproned waiters – you’d swear you were in Paris. Only the…

  • Angèle

    Napa

    Stalwart Angèle serves reliable provincial-French cooking – French onion soup, Nicoise salads and croques monsieur (gourmet toasted ham-and-cheese…

  • Napa Valley Olive Oil Mfg Co

    Napa Valley

    Before the advent of fancy-food stores, this ramshackle market introduced Napa to Italian delicacies: real prosciutto and salami, meaty olives, fresh…

  • Solbar

    Calistoga

    We like the Spartan ag-chic look of this Michelin-starred resort restaurant. The menu maximizes seasonal produce in elegant dishes, playfully composed,…

  • Cook St Helena

    Napa Valley

    Locals crowd this tiny storefront bistro, beloved for its earthy Cal-Italian cooking: homemade pasta and risotto, crispy sole and soft polenta. Expect a…

  • Oenotri

    Napa

    Housemade salumi (cured meat) and pastas, and wood-fired Naples-style pizzas are the stars at always-busy Oenotri, which draws crowds for daily-changing,…

  • Farmstead

    Napa Valley

    An enormous open-truss barn with big leather booths and rocking-chair porch, Farmstead draws an all-ages crowd and farms many of its own ingredients –…

  • Bistro Don Giovanni

    Napa

    This long-running favorite roadhouse serves modern-Italian pastas, crispy pizzas and wood-roasted meats. Weekends get packed – and loud. Request a…

  • Redd Wood

    Napa Valley

    Celeb-chef Richard Reddington's casual Italian trattoria serves outstanding homemade pastas, salumi and tender-to-the-tooth pizzas from a wood-fired oven.

  • Bouchon Bakery

    Napa Valley

    Bouchon makes as-good-as-in-Paris French pastries and strong coffee. There's always a line and rarely a seat: get it to go.

  • Miminashi

    Napa

    It's easy to tire of California cuisine, and this fresh-take izakaya joint (Japanese pub serving small-plate dishes) gives a welcome relief with a hip…

  • Sam's Social Club

    Calistoga

    Housed in the Indian Springs Resort, this is Calistoga's fancy American restaurant that also brews its own beer. Colorful and expertly prepared dishes…

  • Archetype

    Napa Valley

    In an architect-designed dining room that breaks the Wine Country mold, Archetype effortlessly melds Asian and Mediterranean techniques with the best of…

  • Goose & Gander

    Napa Valley

    Inside a converted arts-and-crafts house with cathedral ceiling and gorgeous woodwork, Goose & Gander has a clubby vibe conducive to drinking, excellent…

  • Tacos Garcia

    Napa Valley

    This beloved taco truck operates out of the parking lot in front of the dive bar Pancha's, offering delicious tacos with fillings such as beef cheeks,…

  • Market

    Napa Valley

    We love Market's big portions of simple, fresh American cooking, including hearty salads of local produce and soul-satisfying mains such as buttermilk…

  • Gott's Roadside

    Napa Valley

    Wiggle your toes in the grass and feast on quality burgers – beef, turkey, ahi or veggie – plus Cobb salads and fish tacos at this classic roadside drive…

  • Bistro Jeanty

    Napa Valley

    French bistros by classical definition serve comfort food to weary travelers and that’s what French-born chef-owner Philippe Jeanty does here, with…

  • Gatehouse Restaurant

    Napa Valley

    Testing skills and knowledge they've picked up in culinary school, students serve prix-fixe meals at this elegant restaurant on the Culinary Institute of…

  • Addendum

    Napa Valley

    An offspring of parent restaurant Ad Hoc, Thomas Keller's Addendum provides boxed lunches of finger-lickin' buttermilk-fried chicken, BBQ pork ribs and…

  • Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ

    Napa

    Inside an 1888 grocery store, Bounty Hunter has an Old West vibe and superb barbecue, made with house-smoked meats. The standout 'beer-can chicken' is a…

  • Rutherford Grill

    Napa Valley

    Yes, it’s part of a chain (Houston’s), but its bar at lunchtime provides a chance to rub shoulders with winemakers. The food is consistent – ribs,…

  • Carpe Diem Wine Bar

    Napa

    This busy storefront wine bar and restaurant makes inventive, flavorful small plates, from simple skewers and flatbreads to elaborate ostrich burgers,…

  • All Seasons Bistro

    Calistoga

    It looks like a white-tablecloth soda fountain, but All Seasons makes very fine meals, from a simple lasagna to composed dishes such as scallop, prawn,…

  • Mustards Grill

    Napa Valley

    The valley’s original and always-packed roadhouse makes platters of crowd-pleasing, wood-fired, California comfort food: roasted meats, lamb shanks, pork…

  • Calistoga Inn & Brewery

    Calistoga

    Locals crowd the outdoor beer garden on Sundays. Midweek we prefer the country dining room's big oakwood tables – a homey spot for simple American cooking…

  • Buster’s Southern BBQ

    Calistoga

    The sheriff dines at this indoor-outdoor barbecue joint, which serves smoky ribs, chicken, tri-tip steak and burgers, plus beer and wine. It closes early…

  • Norman Rose Tavern

    Napa

    This lively gastropub, styled with reclaimed wood and tufted-leather banquettes, is good for a burger and beer. Great fries and plenty of seasonal…

  • Pizza Azzuro

    Napa

    This Napa classic gets deafeningly loud, but it's worth bearing for tender-crusted pizzas, salad-topped 'manciata' bread, good Caesar salads and pastas.

  • Alexis Baking Company & Cafe

    Napa

    Our fave spot for quality egg scrambles, granola, focaccia sandwiches, big cups of joe and boxed lunches to go.

  • Model Bakery

    Napa Valley

    Good bakery with scones, muffins, salads, pizzas, sandwiches and exceptional coffee.

  • Taqueria Maria

    Napa

    Reliably good Mexican cooking that won't break the bank. Also serves breakfast.