Jun 28

Jun 28 The Summer Guide to Napa: Best Spots to Eat, Sleep and Drink in Downtown Napa

Hey friends, let’s go to Napa! Crazy enough, one of the best parts of living in San Francisco is often leaving San Francisco. We are surrounded by so many beautiful and amazing places, with Napa definitely standing out as one of the BEST. This post I’ve partnered with our friends at DoNapa to give you ALL THE TIPS AND TRICKS on getting the most out of your next Napa experience. Here we go!

Harper and I went out to Napa a couple weekends ago and had the most relaxing little wine country getaway. Just look at how beautiful this place is!

I've given some tips on wine country on the blog before, check out HERE and HERE, but can you believe this was my first time actually exploring Downtown Napa?! It was the cutest/most adorable little wine town.

Here were some of my favorites tips from our weekend away in DOWNTOWN NAPA!

Where to Eat

Oxbow Public Market

We are suckers for a good market/food hall, and Oxbow knows how to do it REALLY WELL. Located right on the Napa River, this Ferry Building-esque market is full of delicious places to eat, grab a coffee, and buy some local crafts. We had lunch at Hog Island and it did not disappoint. The oysters we ate were all local from nearby Tamales Bay and very fresh and delicious. We paired them with a refreshing rose’ and a super gooey grilled cheese sandwich. AAAMAZING.

Anette’s Chocolate Ice Cream

After lunch we wandered downtown looking for some sweets, as always. We found the cutest little chocolate/ice cream shop called Anette’s. Just look at how tasty this cone looked!

Sky and Vine

For dinner we recommend the Sky and Vine restaurant. This spot is located on top of the Archer hotel, and has spectacular views of the entire Napa Valley. Not only do they have delicious food, but they also have the best spot to watch the sunset. We both ordered the fried chicken sandwiches, and I’m drooling just thinking about them. The views were well worth checking out, even if you just want to head up for a cocktail or glass of wine. You won’t regret it!

Where to Sleep

The River Terrace Inn

We had the most amazing time at the River Terrace Inn. Located right on the Napa River, you really can’t find a more beautiful and convenient location. Our room was cozy and had a perfect balcony view of the Napa River. I loved being able to wake up and enjoy the peaceful sounds of the river as I enjoyed my cup of coffee. The hotel lobby and bar have a very hip vibe, and I loved the aesthetic of their all white bookcase. We also had a delicious brunch at their restaurant Alba, where we sat outside and enjoyed the river by a warm fire pit. We absolutely loved our experience at the River Terrace Inn and would stay there again in a heartbeat.

Where to Drink

Downtown Browns

You really can’t go wrong when searching for a place to drink in Napa. Every bar and restaurant is filled with great local wines that are considered some of the best in the world. If you’re looking for a downtown tasting experience, I would definitely recommend checking out Downtown Brown’s Tasting Room. Brown Estate Vineyards is the first Black-owned estate winery in California, which is super awesome in its own right, BUT, they are also known for having some of the best Zinfandel in the country. We spent an hour tasting their reds and couldn’t find one we didn’t love. The tasting room also had a very upscale and trendy vibe, full of exposed brick, mid century furniture, and an awesome James Turrell-like skylight.

We LOVED our time in Downtown Napa and definitely recommend it for a romantic weekend away with your loved one. Hope you all enjoyed this post, and comment below if we missed anything awesome that we need to try next time!