Napa Valley Restaurants

Wold Class amongst them, you can easily count the thermal activity that makes for so many excellent spas. Let’s not forget the vineyards that make world-renowned wines. Perhaps most of all, however, Napa Valley is the culinary heart of California.

Restaurants in the Napa Valley are well-known for a lot more than their wine. Below, we’re going to look at some of the best eateries in the county. From small specialist locations to some of the most popular and highly-awarded brands, we will look at them all. Here are some of the first places to start looking when you want a fantastic evening’s meal.

FRENCH LAUNDRY

The original Napa Valley restaurant established by the multi-award winning chef, cookbook writer, and restaurateur Thomas Keller. To say that French Laundry has become a landmark of Napa Valley would not be an understatement. However, this three Michelin star-bearing restaurant isn’t just a tourist attraction.

It is a gastronomic experience with a lavish 16-course tasting menu ensuring you’re always experiencing something new and delicious. It’s also one of the best places in Napa Valley to keep coming back to, given how regularly the menu updates. Furthermore, the culinary gardens across the street make for a lovely spot to walk off the meal when you’re done.

PRESS NAPA VALLEY RESTAURANT

Love nothing more than a good chop house? Another Napa Valley restaurant takes the steakhouse to a whole new level with Press in St. Helena. Simply put, this is steakhouse food at its highest quality. It includes free-range poultry, plenty of fresh seafood, and lamb sources from the Sonoma Coast. Add to that cuts of prime beef that’s grilled over almond wood and just thinking about it is enough to start salivating. If you’re looking for a taste of the real Napa Valley, you will find it here, too. Press has the single largest collection of wines from the region in the whole world.

AUBERGE DU SOLEIL

Another landmark name in Napa Valley, Auberge du Soleil is an award-winning resort known for its decor, spas, and food. The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil is a gorgeous spot, keeping up with the Southern French inspiration found throughout the hotel. From a balcony offering a phenomenal panoramic view over the neighboring vineyards, you can enjoy some truly great cuisine. This is high-end dining at its purest, with selections such as duck, veal, and wagyu all paired with award-winning wine selection. Auberge du Soleil has over 15,000 bottles on offer, so finding a match for your meal is never difficult.

THE RESTAURANT AT THE MEADOWOOD

Another high-end dining experience, only outdone in expense by Press. However, the bill will be the furthest thing from your mind when trying award-winning chef Christopher Kostow’s tasting menus. Flavors range from rural produce to international discoveries to fusions that have become fast favorites. All of it is presented in a gorgeous luxury eatery that’s surrounded by redwood forests and olive groves. Furthermore, the atmosphere is refreshingly casual compared to other similarly priced restaurants. This is a place to relax, take your time, and even wear a pair of jeans if you feel like it.

LA TABERNA NAPA VALLEY RESTAURANT DOWNTOWN

Many Napa Valley Restaurants have a European flair to them. However, few commit to authenticity in the way La Taberna does. From the handwritten chalkboard menus to craft beers, it feels precisely like a real Spanish tavern. Of course, the food is all authentic Spanish, as well. The delicious fresh octopus dish, pulpo ,is a local favorite. There are also clams romesco, Jamon Iberico, and much more on the ever-rotating menu. If you want to get into the Mediterranean spirit, then the romance and liveliness of La Tabern are going to be very welcome indeed.

ZUZU TAPAS NAPA VALLEY RESTAURANT

Becoming a favorite of the historic district in downtown Napa, ZuZu Napa has a very loyal local customer base. As such, it’s one of the spots that doesn’t feel quite as crowded by tourists. The cuisine here is a mix of Spanish and South American, with their tapas dishes being the clear attraction of the menu. However, what ZuZu Napa might be most famous for is their wine selection. While not as extensive as Press, the wine list here takes from some of the best known local vineyards. ZuZu Napa ensures a good pair for any meal on the menu.

BOON FLY CAFE

If you want to get from all the pomp of the many high-end Napa Valley restaurants, look no further. The bright red building, rustic stylings, and easy going atmosphere of Boon Fly Cafe can be quite the refresher indeed. This is the perfect eatery to refuel after a day of exploring. It’s all soil of the earth, homey eating here. Whether it’s eggs and ham or chicken and waffles, however, Boon Fly adds its own spin. For instance, those waffles are instead likely to be their very famous house-made donuts.

SAM’S SOCIAL CLUB

Located on the Indian Springs Resort & Spa, this cafe offers some of the best views you can find at Napa Valley Restaurants. The surrounding grounds are full of gardens, palm trees, and olive groves. However, it’s the up-market approach to spa food that makes the Social Club such a hit. Here you will find the best examples of some widely-loved dishes, such as Pork chops and thin crust pizzas. The decor keeps things nice and relaxed, too, bringing a mix of vintage and natural materials. The perfect place to relax and enjoy a bite after a good, thorough pampering

GOOSE AND GANDER NAPA VALLEY

Elevating the ordinary to something truly sumptuous is very much a theme of restaurants in the Napa Valley. Perhaps the best example of that is St. Helena gastropub, the Goose and Gander. Here, you can dig into some genuine article wine country favorites, including perhaps the finest cheese board in the county.

Add to that the truly indulgent G&G burger (which includes a duck egg), and you have a truly unique experience. The outdoor courtyard is a lovely, rustic space oftrellises and cozy old-fashioned garden furniture, too. If you are a little sick of wine, you will enjoy the 35 signature cocktails on the drinks menu, too.

TORQ

This Napa Valley restaurant, you might have a little trouble finding the mid-budget bistros that other cities offer. However, Torc is the perfect example of just that. Seasonal ingredients are very much the name of the game here. The rotating menu of asparagus salad, freshly-made pasta, and New York steak are all very reasonably priced and perfectly filling. Stick around until happy hour and watch the place turn into one of the more lively and welcoming spots, too. A lovely place to spend a relaxing evening.

MORIMOTO NAPA VALLEY RESTAURANT

Named for Iron Chef Morimoto, himself, this is one of the best Napa Valley restaurants for those who enjoy a night out. The iron decor is all rough and hand-carved, such as wrought-iron light fixtures and carved ornaments. The drinks include plenty of local wines, as well as other options. But the highlights are the gastronomic approach to snacks. From Morimoto tuna pizza to hamachi tacos, everything is designed to be casual and explosively flavorful at the same time. Whether you dine at a table or take it out onto the terrace by the river, it offers an excellent atmosphere.

AD-HOC YOUNTVILLE NAPA VALLEY

Want to see what the locals call comfort food? This is another spot owned and run by Thomas Keller (French Laundry). However, it’s a much more relaxed spot, with a menu built around nostalgic family style meals. Of course, Keller still brings his dedication to fresh, house-made produce, so simpler does not mean lower quality by any stretch. Enjoy more affordable wines, cozier atmosphere, and understated design. An excellent place to try out if you’re quite done with the more gastronomic experiences of restaurants in the Napa Valley. You could call it

Americana at its very finest.

Are you looking to try some of the region’s finest local foods paired with world-class Napa Valley wines? Or perhaps you’re looking for a gastronomic experience you simply won’t find elsewhere? From cozy, local favourites to world-class Napa Valley restaurants run the whole gamut. Hopefully, with the above recommendations, you’re not going to have much trouble finding a place to eat. You might, however, have more trouble deciding which one you want to hit up first.