6. Wooden Oven Pizza at Oenotri
Is there anything better than wood-oven pizza (well, okay, besides the aforementioned sushi!)? The place to get it in Napa is Italian restaurant Oenotri where the large ovens are in full display. Watch as Sicilian tradition is celebrated with hand-crafted pies. Bring empty stomach.
7. Splurge: La Toque
Chef Ken Frank is one of my favorites. Then again, the Michelin Star his restaurant La Toque (located in the Westin Hotel) has received indicates I’m not alone in appreciating his fine, inspired dishes. There are a lot of great restaurants in town, and while it’s a close call, I think La Toque leads the pack.
8. Carpe Diem Wine Bar
Less than a year old, this modern bar/restaurant is the perfect place to drop by for a quick bite, some appetizers, or just a glass of wine. I’ll leave it to you to discover the meaning of the name of the restaurant. There is a story there, of course. It involves New York, cross-country dreams, and maybe even… a tattoo. Be sure to ask owner Steve about that!
9. Make your stay historic: Churchill Manor and Cedar Gables Inn
The Napa River Inn and Westin Hotel are a couple of good choices around town. But if you want to notch up the luxury B&B factor, and add a dollop of history, then these two places should be high on your list. Both the Churchill Manor (1889) and Cedar Gables Inn (1891) absolutely coddle! Churchill Manor was the first residence in Napa Valley to be listed on the Nation Register of Historic Places – tour the place and you’ll quickly see why: leaded, beveled glass doors; grand parlors; magnficient fireplaces; ornate redwood detailing; Corinthian columns.
10. Morimoto and the “Yellow Chair Social Media Experience”
Iron Chef Morimoto’s $5 million restaurant is cause for celebration in so many different ways. It’s yet another in a long-list of high-end restaurants (Bottega, French Laundy, La Toque) that call Napa and Napa Valley home. From the outside this new hot-spot deceives with its rather understated facade. Inside, however, is a world waiting to be discovered. The rockin’ sushi chefs are a sight to behold, and well positioned as if on stage performing for us starry-eyed sushi lovers. Later, the music thumps, and the place is the place, baby.
Tip: If you go, you must partake in the famous “Yellow Chair Social Media Experience” – be sure to sit one of the sumptuous yellow chairs in the dining area. Snap a photo or two (or heck an iPhone video!) and post it to Facebook and Twitter. Apparently it’s the in thing to do… and if you go to Napa why not go all the way!
Bonus: Wine Train
Okay, here’s one more to add to your list, especially if you’re here on a multi-day stay. This one takes about half a day, but it’s the perfect way to sit back, relax, and take in the beauty of wine country. The Napa Wine train departs from town, and during the three hour run you’ll be served a gourmet lunch, and, of course, wine pairings. All aboard!
