A Guide to Your Next Weekend in Napa

When in Napa

 Guest Blogger: Eddie of www.imhungryinla.com
Weekend in Napa 
Me and the Mrs. love getting away to Napa for a few days. In LA, we’re lucky enough to be a one hour flight (or a 6 hour road trip) away from one of the most famous “wine country” regions in the world. We’ve been a couple times now, and we always enjoy the food, sights, and of course, the wine. With so many things to see and places to try,  it’s hard to decide on where you should stay and what you should do. So let us recommend a few of our favorite places to stay, play and most importantly – eat! Be prepared this is a long post, but how could it not be? We’re telling you about our favorite Napa spots so of course, there’s a ton!

Weekend in Napa

Where to Stay

Hotel Yountville

Aside from visiting wineries, if there is one thing you have to do in Napa, it would be to experience the famous Napa Valley Wine Train. The fully restored antique train, takes you through the vineyards of Napa Valley as you dine on fine cuisine from Executive Chef Kelly Macdonald. It’s one of the most unique dining experiences because you get to relive what it was like to dine on a luxury dining car like people did in the early 1900’s.
 Weekend in Napa
We boarded the Vista Dome Premier, an elegant, 1952 dining car that’s elevated with a glass dome – giving amazing views of the vineyards passing by. We were greeted with a glass of champagne as we pulled away from the Oxbow district in Napa and headed North towards St. Helena.
The menu is seasonal and features only the freshest ingredients. Our menu choices were delicious! From the flourless yam ravioli and smoked salmon crepe with American caviar appetizers to the wide variety of entrees that featured fresh beef, fish and a vegetable risotto that would make any meat lover like myself happy to order a vegetarian dish! The desserts were equally delicious including the chocolate pot pie.
The Paris love lock bridge has become a staple but since the Mrs. and I haven’t made it to Paris yet, we were able to engrave a lock and hang it right on the bridge at the Napa Wine Train Station.
 Weekend in Napa
The Napa Wine Train is a great experience and a definite must on your next trip!
1275 McKinstry St
Napa, CA 94559
 Weekend in Napa

Domaine Carneros

The Domaine Carneros chateau is one of the most beautiful sights and landmarks in the area. Founded by the family behind Champagne Taittinger in France, Domaine Carneros is the premier sparkling winery that impresses on all levels.
 Weekend in Napa
The chateau is inspired by the classic 18th century Château de la Marquetterie in Champagne, France – home of Champagne Taittinger. It’s no wonder, when you pull up past the gates, you feel like you may as well be in a scenic French town. The views from the property are incredible as you enjoy sparkling wines and pinot noir from the terrace overlooking the valley. The estate vineyard is certified organic, so it’s nice to know that the luxury Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs came from an organic vineyard.
 Weekend in Napa
When we visited the winery, lead wine consultant, Michelle, gave us a great tour of the property, explaining in detail how their sparkling wines are made. We were given the opportunity to try different styles perfected by winemaker Eileen Crane, and I can honestly say it was one of the best sparkling wines we’ve had.
1240 Duhig Rd
Napa, CA 94559
Weekend in Napa

The Baths At Roman Spa

Calistoga is a small and quaint town located at the Northern side of the valley. There you can find the world famous mud baths, and if you want a private room experience, the Baths At Roman Spa is the place to go.
Weekend in Napa
The Mrs. and I started our treatment with a mud bath. The combination of Calistoga volcanic ash, natural peat, and geothermal mineral water from nearby springs is what removes toxins and relaxes the muscles. The mud bath is warm/slightly hot and you feel as if you are floating on air. After rinsing off, we soaked in our private mineral baths relaxing away. We cooled down in a relaxation room, where we chilled with cucumbers on our eyes (yes, feel free to take my “Man-Card” away for that) and laid around until our massage therapists came to escort us to our massage rooms.
Weekend in Napa
The Baths at Roman Spa is a great way to relax and enjoy the natural elements of Calistoga.
1300 Washington St
Calistoga, CA 94515
 Weekend in Napa 

Brannan Cottage Inn

If you’re too relaxed to drive back to Napa or Yountville, stay the night at the Historic Brannan Cottage Inn. The iconic property, built in 1860 and fully renovated to modern comforts, is an intimate and luxurious inn located in Calistoga.
109 Wappo Ave
Calistoga, CA 94515
 Weekend in Napa

Where to Eat

Gott’s Roadside

I’m a Dodger fan, and in the last 5 years I’ve had to watch our rivals, the San Francisco Giants, win 3 World Series while the Dodgers sit at home during the month of October. You would think as a Los Angeleno I would be jealous of that, but I’m not. I’m jealous of San Francisco Giant fans having a Gott’s Roadside near them!
 Weekend in Napa
Gott’s Roadside is one of my favorite burger stands. With four locations in Northern California, the original location, and my personal favorite, is located in St. Helena, just 20 minutes North of downtown Napa. Weekend in Napa
Weekend in Napa
The service is outstanding at Gott’s in St Helena. Cody and Albert helped us out a couple times and made us and others feel right at home. The vibe of this Gott’s location is very cool and looks like a throwback to a 1950’s hamburger stand where truckers and drivers would stop for lunch. There’s no indoor seating, rather their distinct red picnic tables line the grassy field in the back of the restaurant. It has character!
Weekend in Napa
What about the food? I told you I was jealous of Northern Californians, and it’s because Gott’s has the most incredible burgers and fries. The beef patties are 1/3 lb, coarsely ground and cooked to perfection. The special sauce (which tastes better than thousand island and has no relish) is the perfect condiment on the burger. The garlic fries are truly the best garlic fries I’ve had, and that’s because they are tossed in garlic butter and parsley after they have been cooked. Everything is locally sourced, including the offerings of California wines and breweries. Their shakes are even made with Three Twins Ice Cream, located in Petaluma – just an hour away. If you’re not all that into burgers, Gott’s also offers an incredible chicken sandwich, grilled or fried, and an amazing renowned Ahi Tuna burger, as well as salads and tacos.
933 Main St
St. Helena, CA 94574
 Weekend in Napa

A Few More of Our Favorites

Dean & Deluca

Purveyors of fine food and wine is written on the outside of Dean & Deluca for good reason. It’s the perfect place to grab a made-to-order sandwich or salad for a picnic on a vineyard. Their coffee bar is one of the best in Napa, pulling perfect shots of espresso. This location is like a Whole Foods-meets-Williams Sonoma and then elevated above that!
607 S. St Helena Hwy
St. Helena, CA 94574
www.deandeluca.com
 Weekend in Napa

Bouchon

One of our favorite places to dine, there’s no question that Thomas Keller is a culinary genius and superstar. The deviled eggs, steak frites, and croque madame are solid choices.
6534 Washington St
Yountville, CA 94599
www.thomaskeller.com
 Weekend in Napa

Bistro Jeanty

To this day, Bistro Jeanty has the best Coq au Vin I’ve ever had. Their famous Crême de Tomate en Croute (a tomato soup covered in a puff pastry) is worth the visit.
6510 Washington St
Yountville, CA 94599
www.bistrojeanty.comWeeke
 Weekend in Napa
nd in Napa

Model Bakery

Their famous English Muffin is the thing to get here. Enjoy it with a cup of Blue Bottle coffee.
1357 Main St
St. Helena, CA 94574
www.themodelbakery.com
 Weekend in Napa

V. Sattui Winery

This winery has a deli where you can purchase food and a bottle of one of their exclusive wines to enjoy at their tables by the vineyard.
1111 White Ln
St Helena, CA 94574
www.vsattui.com
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Eddie is a proud native of Los Angeles and one of LA's top food bloggers. His knowledge about food, travel and photography come together as founder and editor for the blog Hungry In LA (www.imhungryinla.com). You can find him exploring the city and sharing drool-worthy food pictures on his Instagram feed under the handle @hungryinla.

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