Our Favorite Places to Eat, Sleep, and Explore in Napa Valley

It's easy to get overwhelmed by the options when planning a trip to Napa Valley. From where to stay to which wineries to visit and what activities to work in, there are really unlimited opportunities. But we've rounded up a list of some of our favorite places to help you narrow down what to see and do during your stay.

First off, a lay of the land. Napa Valley is widely considered one of the country's top viticultural areas, with hundreds of wineries spread throughout the region. Located about 50 miles north of San Francisco and the Bay area, Napa is home to more than 400 wineries — not including those that make up nearby Sonoma, which has an additional 425. The area comprises five towns, including Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville, Napa, and American Canyon, plus the regions of Rutherford and Oakville, located on the valley floor.

Spanning some 790 square miles, it's important to have at least a rough game plan before visiting Napa Valley. You could easily spend hours in the car, jumping from one spot to the next. A central location is a must. It's imperative to have transportation to get around, and if you're driving, you'll need to integrate some non-wine tasting options to stagger your day. But again, having a centrally-located hotel means less time in the car and more time enjoying your actual vacation.

Without further ado, here's a list of our favorite places to check out the next time you're in Napa Valley.

Where to stay

Napa has a great variety of properties to choose from, whether you're looking for a luxury resort or a quaint bed and breakfast. Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley is a newer addition to the area's luxury offerings, having opened at the end of 2021. The property has 85 rooms and suites, plus 20 private residences, encircling the hotel's vineyards and a central pool. Onsite, guests have a handful of dining options, including its fine dining restaurant Auro, the more casual eatery Truss, and in-room dining.

For unbeatable views, Auberge du Soleil is the choice. Set high atop Rutherford Hill on a 33-acre olive grove with unobstructed views of surrounding wineries. The property opened in 1981 as one of the region's first fine dining options and underwent a full refresh in early 2023.

Back in the town of Napa, The George is a more intimate experience, set in a turn-of-the-century Queen Anne Victorian mansion. The nine-room property celebrates the history and architecture of the building while incorporating plenty of modern amenities and a soon-to-be speakeasy where guests can enjoy wine tastings and movie nights.

For a bit more privacy, Carneros Resort and Spa offers guests quaint cottages with private gardens to enjoy. Set about a 10-minute drive south of Napa, the resort has 100 cottages, suites, residences, and homes, plus a handful of dining options, including the newly-renovated Farm and the casual breakfast spot, Boon Fly Cafe (don't skip the donuts).

Where to eat

Standout restaurants are not hard to come by in Napa, but pairing down the list can be difficult. Press, on the outskirts of St. Helena, holds the world's largest collection of Napa wines and a menu showcasing the best seasonal ingredients. While wine is usually top of mind while exploring Napa, a martini at Press is highly recommended.

Thomas Keller's French Laundry needs no introduction, but with three Michelin stars, it's an experience not to be missed. The restaurant offers two daily tasting menus, the Chef's Tasting Menu and the Taste of Vegetables Menu, each of which is 12 courses and highlights California-centric ingredients.

La Taberna in downtown Napa draws inspiration from the pintxos bars in Spain and specializes in small plates. Chef Armando Ramirez blends Northern California ingredients with Latin flavors, offering a concise menu abounding with flavor.

For more casual options, the Charter Oak is a family-style dining experience with simple, approachable, and seasonal food. The menu includes local wines, grilled meats, and vegetables from its 3.5-acre farm. Forum is the more relaxed dining option at Meadowood, a luxury hotel that was fully rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2020. The restaurant is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and small bites, and the menu consists of simple but expertly crafted dishes like vegetable lasagna, grilled octopus, and a signature burger. Or if you're struggling with making up your mind or are traveling with others who want more of a selection, the Oxbow Public Market has over two dozen vendors serving everything from Argentinian empanadas to live-fired pizzas.

Things to do

Start your morning off by getting a lay of the land with a hot air balloon ride, which takes you high above both Napa and Sonoma, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains at daybreak. You'll see miles of vineyards, wineries, and the small towns that make this place so tempting to visit, and on a clear day, you can see as far as the Bay area. Aloft is one of the many companies that offer rides throughout the week and have several packages to choose from, whether you're looking to join a group outing or for something more intimate with just you and your significant other.

Wine tastings are an obvious must, and there is an endless selection to choose from, but a few personal favorites include B Cellars, Duckhorn Vineyards, and Tres Sabores. Mayacamas Vineyards is another standout that's high in the Mayacamas Mountains but also has a more intimate outpost in downtown Napa. If you have the time, a trip up to the estate is worth it — you'll feel like you're walking through a French estate.

A handful of wineries take tastings further by offering pairings with expertly crafted dishes. Clif Family Winery in St. Helena hosts a stellar brunch pairing, Joseph Phelps Vineyards has a nine-course tasting menu of seasonal dishes, and at Cakebread Cellars, you can tour the properties gardens before sitting down for a meal.

For a more hands-on experience, guests can take an ATV tour of the vineyard at Hess Persson Estates before returning to the property for an elegantly prepared meal with wine pairings.

The small towns have plenty of shops and boutiques perfect for grabbing a (non-wine) souvenir. Woodhouse Chocolate in St. Helena has the ideal gifts for any sweet tooth, Makers Market in Napa has an abundant selection of craft goods, and Compline on First Street in downtown Napa curates an impressive selection of wines for purchase (but don't sleep on Compline's restaurant, which has one of the best lunches in town).