Nick's Napa Valley Guidebook
Essentials
For most of your grocery needs.
This is where we do most of our shopping. There's a Target, Whole Foods, and other nice places close by.
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Trader Joe's
3654 Bel Aire PlazaThis is where we do most of our shopping. There's a Target, Whole Foods, and other nice places close by.
Whole Foods Market
3682 Bel Aire PlazaGroceries, a bit expensive, but not too far from my property.
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Nob Hill Foods
611 Trancas StGroceries, a bit expensive, but not too far from my property.
Parks & Nature
Just a nice very open, safe place to stroll with great views of the mountains. A short 40-yard walk from my property. Playgrounds for kids too.
O'Brien Park
865 Pueblo AveJust a nice very open, safe place to stroll with great views of the mountains. A short 40-yard walk from my property. Playgrounds for kids too.
Great place to hike for 1 to 4 hours. Well maintained trails. Quiet and safe. Way more crowded during the weekends though.
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Skyline Wilderness Park
2201 Imola AvenueGreat place to hike for 1 to 4 hours. Well maintained trails. Quiet and safe. Way more crowded during the weekends though.
A bit of a drive to get to, but great hiking.
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Robert Louis Stevenson State Park
4824 Lake County HwyA bit of a drive to get to, but great hiking.
Food Scene
I include restaurants that are tried and true. Also included are cheaper, more local places that we like. There are tons more of course.
Best for burgers and especially their ribs. We use their next door take-out service, called "Back Door BBQ." Close to the house.
Red Rock Café
1010 Lincoln AveBest for burgers and especially their ribs. We use their next door take-out service, called "Back Door BBQ." Close to the house.
Really nice local place, offering great Italian food. Great for families. They have the best Baked Rigatoni, IMO.
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Azzurro Pizzeria e Enoteca
1260 Main StReally nice local place, offering great Italian food. Great for families. They have the best Baked Rigatoni, IMO.
Consistently wonderful service and food. Locals and tourists love it. We go at least 3 times a year.
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Bistro Don Giovanni
4110 Howard LnConsistently wonderful service and food. Locals and tourists love it. We go at least 3 times a year.
French. We have gone annually for the last 20+ years. Best Cassoulet I've ever eaten.
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Bistro Jeanty
6510 Washington StFrench. We have gone annually for the last 20+ years. Best Cassoulet I've ever eaten.
Norman Rose Tavern
1401 1st StBusy fun place to eat & drink. Good for families.
Morimoto Napa
610 Main StVery loud, but fun vibe. Great Asian fusion cuisine.
They earned their Michelin Star with some really incredible Italian/American fare. A little pricey, but really worth it. Try the Pigs' Ears. Rezzies required for evenings (try lunch instead? we did).
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Bouchon Bistro
6534 Washington StThey earned their Michelin Star with some really incredible Italian/American fare. A little pricey, but really worth it. Try the Pigs' Ears. Rezzies required for evenings (try lunch instead? we did).
Very good French food. Went back last week and it was deelish. Fresh.
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Angele Restaurant & Bar
540 Main StVery good French food. Went back last week and it was deelish. Fresh.
Hog Island Oyster Co
610 1st StGreat oyster bar. Fabulous seafood stew.
Zuzu
829 Main StExcellent tapas place. Very popular.
Best pizza. But it also has great meals for takeout or delivery that you cook in the oven.
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Foodshed Take Away
3385 Old California WayBest pizza. But it also has great meals for takeout or delivery that you cook in the oven.
Great upscale Mexican (Oaxacan) in Yountville. Best mole I've tasted outside of Mexico. Excellent Margaritas too.
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La Calenda
6518 Washington StGreat upscale Mexican (Oaxacan) in Yountville. Best mole I've tasted outside of Mexico. Excellent Margaritas too.
Great Indian food. Haven't been for a while. But in case you get a craving, it's not far from the house.
Aroma
3012 Jefferson StreetGreat Indian food. Haven't been for a while. But in case you get a craving, it's not far from the house.
Great lunch take out in downtown Napa. All packaging is compostable including the bags.
The Dutch Door
1245 1st StreetGreat lunch take out in downtown Napa. All packaging is compostable including the bags.
Very popular Napa Valley restaurant. Famous for the Korean Chops. I like it a lot.
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Mustards Grill
7399 St Helena HwyVery popular Napa Valley restaurant. Famous for the Korean Chops. I like it a lot.
Las Palmas
1730 Yajome StReally good Mexican food not far from my property.
We love this place with its small shops and restaurants. We love Hog Island Oyster Co. and C-Casa. Nice brewery too. Also, you can buy the best pork (Fatted Calf), fish (Eikos), and cheese for your home-cooked barbecued meals at my house.
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Oxbow Public Market
610 1st StWe love this place with its small shops and restaurants. We love Hog Island Oyster Co. and C-Casa. Nice brewery too. Also, you can buy the best pork (Fatted Calf), fish (Eikos), and cheese for your home-cooked barbecued meals at my house.
Shopping
Walmart Supercenter
681 Lincoln AveIf you need to... It's about a quarter mile away.
Williamson & Co
1144 Main StMostly a men's store. Great shirts.
Great local coffee shop in downtown Napa. I've been buying my coffee here for the last 25 years.
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Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Co
710 Main StGreat local coffee shop in downtown Napa. I've been buying my coffee here for the last 25 years.
Drinks & Nightlife
We highly recommend this wine store and wine bar, both for its tastings (every Friday eve.) & the purchase of quality wines; and, for getting great Napa winery info from the very helpful staff. Also, they never fail in helping us choose the right wine to go with our meals. Highly recommended. Tell them Nick sent you and you could get a 10% discount.
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Back Room Wines - Wine Store & Bar
1000 Main StWe highly recommend this wine store and wine bar, both for its tastings (every Friday eve.) & the purchase of quality wines; and, for getting great Napa winery info from the very helpful staff. Also, they never fail in helping us choose the right wine to go with our meals. Highly recommended. Tell them Nick sent you and you could get a 10% discount.
Very fun place for dinner and great jazz. Check out their website.
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Blue Note Napa
1030 Main StreetVery fun place for dinner and great jazz. Check out their website.
NapaSport Steakhouse and Sports Lounge
145 Gasser DrSports bar with good food.
Napa Palisades Saloon
1000 Main StGood sports bar and brewery. Decent food too.
The Fink
They're supposed to have great cocktails. It's locally run. Haven't been yet darn it.
ArBARetum
Great (expensive) cocktails. This was a fun place.
Tiki Bar in Napa? Right across the street from my favorite wine shop. Went once and it was fun.
Wilfred's Lounge
Tiki Bar in Napa? Right across the street from my favorite wine shop. Went once and it was fun.
Outer Space Wines
Dan the Man runs a great wine shop. Knows his wines like the back of his hand.
Arts & Culture
Very well worth the 90 minute tour. Very good art collection on a beautiful property within the Carneros Wine District. Only about a 10 min. drive. Look up the details at their website.
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di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art
5200 Sonoma HwyVery well worth the 90 minute tour. Very good art collection on a beautiful property within the Carneros Wine District. Only about a 10 min. drive. Look up the details at their website.
This is a good winery, but it also has a very cool art museum. You don't need a reservation.
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The Hess Collection Winery & Art Museum
4411 Redwood RdThis is a good winery, but it also has a very cool art museum. You don't need a reservation.
Wineries/Sightseeing
These are several wineries that stand out. Check their websites for prices and if reservations are needed (most do). Also, let me know which ones I should include from your own favorites.
A very interesting winery in the Carneros District.
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Artesa Vineyards & Winery
1345 Henry RdA very interesting winery in the Carneros District.
ZD Wines
8383 Silverado TrailFriends of ours love their wine. And so do we.
Very interesting winery. A castle brought from Europe, stone by stone. Get reservations in advance.
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Castello di Amorosa
4045 St Helena HwyVery interesting winery. A castle brought from Europe, stone by stone. Get reservations in advance.
Great views. You get to ride a tram up to the winery.
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Sterling Vineyards
1111 W Dunaweal Ln Great views. You get to ride a tram up to the winery.
A stylish winery run by stylish people, this valley floor, family operation is the largest contiguous single-owner vineyard in Napa Valley—a sprawling 600 acres centered on the 19th-century Eschol estate in the Oak Knoll District.
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Trefethen Vineyards
1160 Oak Knoll AveA stylish winery run by stylish people, this valley floor, family operation is the largest contiguous single-owner vineyard in Napa Valley—a sprawling 600 acres centered on the 19th-century Eschol estate in the Oak Knoll District.
Beginning 1971, Stag's Leap poured samples of its fantastic Cabernets in a tasting room down the road from the vineyards that produce the wine. But in 2014 the winery opened a new building and visitor center, designed by Barcelona architect Javier Barba, with floor-to-ceiling views of its vineyards as the centerpiece.
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Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
5766 Silverado TrailBeginning 1971, Stag's Leap poured samples of its fantastic Cabernets in a tasting room down the road from the vineyards that produce the wine. But in 2014 the winery opened a new building and visitor center, designed by Barcelona architect Javier Barba, with floor-to-ceiling views of its vineyards as the centerpiece.
A visit here includes a sampling of four sparkling wines (served at the White House on numerous occasions), a tour of the 125-year-old caves and a lesson in Champagne's méthode traditionelle.
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Schramsberg Vineyards
1400 Schramsberg RdA visit here includes a sampling of four sparkling wines (served at the White House on numerous occasions), a tour of the 125-year-old caves and a lesson in Champagne's méthode traditionelle.
To visit Napa without a stop at Robert Mondavi's mission-style winery in Oakville is to miss a significant piece of wine history. To celebrate Robert Mondavi's 100th birthday in 2013, the winery installed a tasting bar in its Vineyard Room, which also acts as a gallery for guest artists.
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Robert Mondavi Winery
7801 St Helena HwyTo visit Napa without a stop at Robert Mondavi's mission-style winery in Oakville is to miss a significant piece of wine history. To celebrate Robert Mondavi's 100th birthday in 2013, the winery installed a tasting bar in its Vineyard Room, which also acts as a gallery for guest artists.
Ambitious pioneers David Graves and Dick Ward helped prove that the Carneros region above San Francisco Bay wasn’t just sheep grazing land: With its warm afternoons and cool breezes, it was ideal territory for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Their winery off Route 121, Saintsbury (named for a legendary English connoisseur) is an ideal place to experience the Carneros, a few miles but sometimes seemingly a world away from central Napa. Book a reservation (required) and enjoy the seated, $35 five-wine tasting in the gardens or—depending on the weather—in the cellar.
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Saintsbury LLC
1500 Los Carneros AveAmbitious pioneers David Graves and Dick Ward helped prove that the Carneros region above San Francisco Bay wasn’t just sheep grazing land: With its warm afternoons and cool breezes, it was ideal territory for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Their winery off Route 121, Saintsbury (named for a legendary English connoisseur) is an ideal place to experience the Carneros, a few miles but sometimes seemingly a world away from central Napa. Book a reservation (required) and enjoy the seated, $35 five-wine tasting in the gardens or—depending on the weather—in the cellar.
Chandon is one of the few wineries in Napa Valley with a food menu to complement its sparkling wine list. Purchase wine buy the flight, glass or bottle then settle into the festive patio or find a quiet spot in an Adirondack on the expansive lawn under the oak trees.
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Domaine Chandon
1 California DrChandon is one of the few wineries in Napa Valley with a food menu to complement its sparkling wine list. Purchase wine buy the flight, glass or bottle then settle into the festive patio or find a quiet spot in an Adirondack on the expansive lawn under the oak trees.
One of the top large wineries in the world, Beringer has long done an exceptional job of producing a substantial volume of reliably high-quality wine, from the entry level bottlings to the often extraordinary Private Reserves. Its impressive, 1884 fieldstone Rhine House, housing the tasting room, is a Napa Valley landmark. There are various tasting and tour options; try the $55 Taste of Beringer Tour, which includes a barrel sampling in the old, hand-dug caves and a guided, sit-down tasting.
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Beringer Vineyards
2000 Main StOne of the top large wineries in the world, Beringer has long done an exceptional job of producing a substantial volume of reliably high-quality wine, from the entry level bottlings to the often extraordinary Private Reserves. Its impressive, 1884 fieldstone Rhine House, housing the tasting room, is a Napa Valley landmark. There are various tasting and tour options; try the $55 Taste of Beringer Tour, which includes a barrel sampling in the old, hand-dug caves and a guided, sit-down tasting.
One of the oldest producers in the valley, BV offers tours of the original winery building, which dates back to 1885. These are followed by barrel samples of Cabernet and a stop in the new Heritage Room, which chronicles the history of wine in Napa.
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Beaulieu Vineyard
1960 St Helena HwyOne of the oldest producers in the valley, BV offers tours of the original winery building, which dates back to 1885. These are followed by barrel samples of Cabernet and a stop in the new Heritage Room, which chronicles the history of wine in Napa.
Duckhorn, one of the pioneers of Napa’s modern era, first struck gold with Merlot, notably its famous luxury bottling from Three Palms Vineyard, which remains its flagship. The winery also has a following for palate-flattering Cabs and Sauvignon Blancs. Though the main portfolio tends toward the expensive, there are more affordable wines well worth enjoying under the Decoy and Canvasback labels. Reserve ahead and taste five current releases for $35, or opt for various limited bottle tastings.
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Duckhorn Vineyards
1000 Lodi LnDuckhorn, one of the pioneers of Napa’s modern era, first struck gold with Merlot, notably its famous luxury bottling from Three Palms Vineyard, which remains its flagship. The winery also has a following for palate-flattering Cabs and Sauvignon Blancs. Though the main portfolio tends toward the expensive, there are more affordable wines well worth enjoying under the Decoy and Canvasback labels. Reserve ahead and taste five current releases for $35, or opt for various limited bottle tastings.
Etude's deck is idyllic, with bright white umbrellas and tastings of excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs.
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Etude Wines
1250 Cuttings Wharf RdEtude's deck is idyllic, with bright white umbrellas and tastings of excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs.
Razi Winery
3108 Silverado TrailHighly recommended smaller type winery with a delicious cab. Do put it on your list.
The winemaker is a friend. Very nice place, and good wines.
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Cuvaison Estate Wines
1221 Duhig RdThe winemaker is a friend. Very nice place, and good wines.
Napa Valley isn't the only wine game in the area. A guest said this winery over in Sonoma was great.
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Repris Wines
1700 Moon Mountain RdNapa Valley isn't the only wine game in the area. A guest said this winery over in Sonoma was great.
Amizetta Estate Winery
1099 Greenfield RdA guest raved about this place.