Best Restaurants in Wine Country
If you’re visiting California wine country, take some time to enjoy some of the best restaurants on wine country. The restaurants listed below are a cut above the rest, be it for their vineyard views, their championing of producers both local and global, or their creative renditions of all types of cuisine.
To see more dinning options, visit Wine Spectator’s nearly 3,800 Restaurant Award–winning picks, including the full list of our winners in Napa and Sonoma wine country.
6476 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 944-2487
Informal, comfortable eatery serving American fare with a set menu, created by chef Thomas Keller.
Ad Hoc provides casual dining venue for showcasing the American comfort food of his childhood. The name Ad Hoc, literally meaning “for this purpose,” derives from the restaurant’s original purpose: to temporarily fill a space while Chef Keller’s team developed a different restaurant concept.
The daily-changing four-course menu, featuring classic American dishes like fried chicken, pot roast and barbeque, is handwritten nightly on chalkboards throughout the restaurant. All courses are served family-style to increase both the conviviality of the Ad Hoc experience and to further recreate the casual comfort of home.
1429 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574 (707) 968-9200
Locally farmed American meals are the draw at this stylish neighborhood eatery with outdoor seating.
In an architect-designed dining room that breaks the Wine Country mold, Archetype effortlessly melds Asian and Mediterranean techniques with the best of California farms and foraging. Savor anything from the oak wood-burning oven and grill, or show up for sweet weekend brunch on the sunny back patio. Happy-hour drinks and bites are a steal (from just $5).
Archetype exudes the passion and love from owners Ann and Howard Backen who relish the relationship between design, community and exquisite cuisine.
Formerly French Blue Restaurant by Backen Gillam Architects, named one of the “10 Most Beautifully Designed Restaurants” by Architectural Digest, it was transformed into Archetype by Howard’s wife and co-founder Ann Ernish-Backen. Rebranded with a new chef and an elevated menu, Archetype exemplifies the belief that thoughtful design and the power of a shared meal can elevate the human spirit.
Barndiva Restaurant & Gallery Bar
231 Center St., Healdsburg, Calif.
Telephone (707) 431-0100
For lunch on the patio or a late-night drink, Barndiva is a fashionable destination in the Sonoma town of Healdsburg.
Situated in a chic cedar barn and featuring a sleek mahogany bar, the establishment has serious food-and-wine chops. Wine director Chappy Cottrell’s 670-selection, moderately priced list earns a Best of Award of Excellence for its local picks balanced with California and French bottles, while chef Mark Hopper’s creations make use of plenty of seafood, roasted meats and produce from the Barndiva farm. Among the gems on the list, guests will find a vertical of Chateau Montelena Calistoga Cabernet, as well as a large selection of sparkling wines and Champagnes.
6525 Washington Street, Yountville. Tel. (707) 945-1050
Chef Michael Chiarello is back in the kitchen at this venture in Yountville. He focuses on Italian regional dishes and relies on carefully sourced ingredients, with pasta, cured meats, fresh cheeses and cured olives all made in-house.
Starters include: grilled short-rib-and-pinenut meatballs in Sicilian tomato sauce with sweet Italian peppers in agrodolce, fresh ricotta and coal-roasted eggplant; pastas like the veal-and-pork Bolognese with porcini mushroom sugo, rosemary and Parmigiano-Reggiano on tagliarini; and main courses that might include grilled acorn-fed pork shoulder loin with Tuscan beans and grilled stone fruit.
6534 Washington St., Yountville, Calif.
Telephone (707) 944-8037
Another favorite from Thomas Keller, Bouchon brings the chef’s famed French bistro fare to Yountville. The Napa County outpost offers a list of 500 selections with strengths in Californian and French bottles (especially Burgundy). When it comes to the cuisine, chef David Hodson’s menu channels Keller’s French classics, including steak frites, roast chicken and croque madame.
3111 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, CA 94574, (707) 302-5101
Oysters, pastas & sophisticated Californian dishes for dinner in a cozy, elegant space at a winery.
Executive Chef David Nuno is in his element at Brasswood Bar + Kitchen with beautiful, high-quality produce grown alongside the world’s best grapes makes his flavors come alive. Delicious food and a warm and welcoming space where guests can relax, slow down and enjoy the finer things in life
7377 St Helena Hwy, Napa, CA 94558, USA (707) 944-2749
Brix – a very special and intimate wine tasting set in our garden with a lunch pairing created by our Executive Chef.
The daily-changing, farm-to-table menu draws inspiration from the restaurant’s extensive gardens and traditions of the winemaking region of Northern California, accented by international technique.
Brix focuses on providing a farm-to-table dining experience. More than two acres of gardens and orchards provide ingredients for a new menu inspired by the culinary traditions of Northern California, accented by international technique.
Owned by the Kelleher family, the restaurant’s name reflects the measurement of sugar levels at which the grapes for the Kelleher Family Vineyard’s Cabernet Sauvignon are harvested.
1310 Main Street, St Helena, CA 94574, (707) 963-7088
Petite eatery draws locals with its locally sourced Northern Italian cuisine & elegant atmosphere.
The cozy space has two seating options: a gleaming marble counter up front, as well as tables that stretch from front to back (the ones up front are lighter, airier and preferable).
The food is thoughtful and refined with a daily rotating risotto, house-stretched mozzarella and burrata and glorious pastas like ricotta fazzoletti with a deeply flavored Bolognese. Grilled octopus salad with potatoes, olives and tomato dressing is boosted by prime ingredients and careful seasoning.
The wine list tempts at dinner, but Bloody Marys are all the rage at brunch, served at Cook Tavern next door.
Hotel Healdsburg, 317 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, Calif.
Telephone (707) 431-0330
In the Hotel Healdsburg, just off the town plaza, Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen champions its Sonoma surroundings on both its menu and its wine list.
Wine director Jeff Creamer’s 610-bottle list highlights both up-and-coming producers from the region and rare local gems, including a vertical of A. Rafanelli’s Terrace Select Cabernet and another of Morlet Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley Mon Chevalier.
Palmer’s contemporary American menu is inspired by local farmers; after dinner, an array of California cheeses are available to pair with the selection of local dessert wines.
1245 Spring Street, St. Helena, CA 94574, (707) 967-8779
Gastropub offering craft cocktails & wines galore in rustic digs with a patio & basement bar. Executive Chef Nic Jones creates rustic American food and bar bites all served in our pub-like dining room, basement bar or lush garden. The menu is seasonally. Award-winning wine list.
Harvest Inn, 1 Main St., St. Helena
Telephone (707) 967-4695
With five culinary gardens adjacent to the restaurant, Harvest Table at the Harvest Inn lives up to its name. Divided into snacks, starters, salads and mains, chef Spencer Wolff’s menu makes full use of the restaurant’s fresh produce, as well as products from nearby farms and ranches.
The wine list includes bottles from California, France, Italy and Germany on the 200-selection Award of Excellence–winning wine list managed by wine director Shawn Chilvers.
Alfresco dining terraces overlook the property’s green spaces, an evening here is an immersive experience in Northern California dining.
The Westin Verasa Napa, 1314 McKinstry St., Napa, Calif.
Telephone (707) 257-5157
Located just off the Napa River, La Toque is a downtown Napa wine paradise. Chef Ken Frank’s contemporary French cuisine can be enjoyed in four to nine courses, with optional wine pairings, while a six-course vegetable tasting menu is also available. The 2,220-selection wine list, captained by wine director Richard Matuszczak, pays homage to both its California surroundings and French culinary influences. The list contains more than 400 Napa Cabernets alone. The food covers a wide range of styles and cuisines and cultures, and so does our wine program for the pairings.
1347 Main Street St. Helena,CA 94574 Tel 707-963-3799
Located in the charming town of St. Helena, Market Restaurant offers an elegant, yet comfortable dining experience, focusing on American classics with a fresh seasonal approach. The refined atmosphere, warm genuine service and commitment to the highest quality food from local organic farms, creates an inviting environment that makes dining out a pure treat.
Market raises the bar for the fine art of dining casually. The menu takes its cues from seasonal ingredients and what looks and tastes good for Chef Martinez home grown organic garden. It’s a simple neighborhood restaurant. Utilizing the freshest seasonal produce, Market’s cuisine is flavor forward, visually stunning, and simply delicious.
7399 St Helena Hwy, Napa, CA 94558 Napa, California (707) 944-2424
Chef-owner Cindy Pawlcyn has been known to refer to this wonderful restaurant as a “deluxe truck stop.” Delicious food, a lively mix that includes ahi tuna crackers, wasabi crème fraîche and a san bai su sauce; and Dungeness crab cakes with espelette aioli, garden greens and sherry vinaigrette. From the wood-burning grill and oven, look for main courses such as the beloved Mongolian pork chop with sweet-and-sour red cabbage and house-made mustard.
1425 First Street, Napa, CA 94559, (707) 252-1022
Artisanal pizza, house-made salumi & Southern Italian fare are served in an industrial-chic setting.
There’s a Neapolitan pizza oven, sunny textiles and exposed brick. Oenotri—comes from an ancient Italian word for “wine cultivator”—looks as good as it smells.
Chef/owner Tyler Rodde’s Southern Italy inspired cooking meets a a dash of Californian spirit. From the pasta to the herbs, nearly everything is made from scratch or from the garden. Bountiful salads top every table, but those seeking meatier eats should start with the charcuterie, cured in-house. Options change seasonally, but pizza is a must. Torchio, or torch-shaped pasta, with diced roasted winter squash, toasted pine nuts, fried sage and a drizzle of brown butter is a close second.
587 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, CA 94574, (707) 967-0550
Chophouse offering wood-grilled meats & Napa wines in farmhouse-chic digs with a fireplace & patio.
The culinary team at PRESS proudly presents modern steakhouse cuisine with a distinctly Napa Valley flair. In addition to sourcing its dry-aged, USDA prime beef and other proteins from local purveyors, the numerous vegetable-based dishes prominently featured on the menu give PRESS a true sense of place. The cuisine at PRESS, like the wine, is rooted in its terroir, letting the ingredients speak for themselves.
6755 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 299-5030
Wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta & local wines are offered at this stylish, casual osteria.
Famed chef Richard Reddington’s Redd Wood is an Italian-inspired eatery – a polished, chic restaurant with a voguish vibe and hip playlist coupled with an osteria-styled menu and Napa/Sonoma favored wine list.
Wood-fired pizzas, house-made pastas with locally sourced ingredients, in-house charcuterie, including terrines, pates and cured meats, and roasted mains like quail and ribeye are only a few of the menu items.
Address: 6795 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599
Phone: (707) 945-0920
The newest addition to the R+D Kitchen family, located on the north end of Yountville just off Highway 29. Experience stunning vineyard views from this airy modern building. Featuring outdoor seating with relaxing adirondack chairs clustered around fire pits. R+D Kitchen brings sophisticated and fresh cuisine to a smart and convivial crowd. With a strong local following in each neighborhood, R+D is inspired by California’s indoor/outdoor culture with spaces that are light filled and intimate in feel.
Sit at the outdoor bar and enjoy the perfect Napa Valley weather while sipping on a glass of sauvignon blanc and sharing a dip duo with friends. If you are looking for a simple place to have one of the best margaritas in town look no further. R+D Kitchen’s menu features fresh season ingredients and a little something for everyone.
6725 Washington St
Yountville, CA 94599-1310
(707) 339-4654
Situated along Washington Street, Yountville’s impeccably manicured main thoroughfare, the 9,000-square-foot compound is a world unto itself. RH Yountville includes a tasting room in the stone-clad 1904 Wine Vault, a series of outdoor living rooms offering coffee and wine flights from early until late, and a beautifully appointed RH Cafe serving easy but sophisticated plates all day long. Oh, and around back is a series of eight showrooms (called “lifestyle galleries”) featuring those Belgian linen sofas and a curated selection of covetables from the Source Book catalog where you can imagine yourself living like this all the time.
RH Cafe serves this elevated comfort food under a clear glass roof adorned with crystal chandeliers, olive trees and a trickling fountain. It’s an indoor-outdoor, high-low, fancy-casual experience that is a deliberate respite from too many Michelin-starred meals. And it’s consistent with how the brand wants to convey its particular juxtaposition of livable luxury.
1180 Rutherford Rd, Rutherford, CA 94573 (707) 963-1792
Lively restaurant offering American comfort foods & a robust wine list in stylish digs with a patio.
Delicious and consistent, this reasonably priced Napa Valley restaurant is a favorite for honest Californian cuisine delivered by attentive yet not overbearing servers amid mid-20th century roadhouse decor and outdoor seating. Rutherford Grill has an extensive wine list and no-cost corkage are added reasons it’s busy so be prepared for a wait.
131 North St., Healdsburg, Calif.
Telephone (707) 723-4646
SingleThread Farms creates a memorable, almost immersive Sonoma dining experience. The property includes a luxurious boutique inn, a farm that produces flowers, eggs, honey, olive oil, produce and more, and a restaurant that carefully honors those ingredients.
apanese influences are evident on the $275, 11-course tasting menu from chef-owner Kyle Connaughton, which is available with optional wine pairings for $270 each. Wine director Evan Hufford oversees the extensive list. The 1,500 selections feature a plethora of California and French wines, especially Burgundy, which Hufford finds particularly interesting to compare to its New World counterparts.
The Bordeaux collection stands out as well, with showstoppers like a 47-vintage vertical of Château Latour going back to the 1940s and a 35-vintage vertical of Château Mouton-Rothschild going back to the 1970s.
755 Silverado Trail, Calistoga, CA 94515, (707) 226-0850
Solbar at Auberge Resorts. Local wines & elevated Californian fare in stylish, modern quarters with outdoor poolside seating.
You will find area vintners gathered after hours over craft cocktails, friends unwind over leisurely dinners, and couples letting time slip away under the glow of a 20-foot fire pit.
Solbar divides its menu into light, delicate flavors to stimulate your palate, and bold, savory dishes to comfort your soul, all with ingredients that showcase the best of what’s fresh and seasonal in the Napa Valley.
6640 Washington St., Yountville, Calif.
Telephone (707) 944-2380
The French Laundry, chef Thomas Keller’s lauded shrine for Californian fine dining. The $325, French-infused tasting menu of 12 courses is executed by chef David Breeden, and there’s also a vegetarian version—both are heavily seasonal and change daily. Run by head sommelier Erik Johnson, the wine program has held a Grand Award for more than a decade, with 2,400 selections supported by a 15,000-bottle cellar. The offerings excel in regions across the globe, primarily California, as well as Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhône, Italy and Germany.
500 First Street, Napa, CA 94559, (707) 967-2555
Seasonal New American cuisine pairs with wines & craft cocktails in a handsome setting with a patio.
Inspired by the Napa Valley and The Culinary Institute of America’s California farms and gardens, The Restaurant at CIA Copia offers a distinctive dining experience where simple, seasonally-inspired dishes are paired with a curated selection of wines, beers, and handcrafted cocktails.
Interact with chefs in the beautiful open kitchen and experience true hospitality from our staff. The restaurant’s sleek and comfortable atmosphere is perfect for a celebratory evening or as a go-to hang out.
Meadowood Napa Valley, 900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena, Calif.
Telephone (707) 967-1205
The Restaurant at Meadowood is a particularly wine-focused tasting-menu destination, with a 2,915-selection, Grand Award winning list. Wine director Micah Clark’s program comes with a mission: to tell the history of Napa Valley’s evolution into a premier wine region by showcasing labels through a range of decades.
Choose from chef Christopher Kostow’s tasting menu of nine courses for $330 or the chef’s counter menu for $500. Both make use of the property’s 2.5-acre Culinary Farm and have wine pairings available for an additional $250 per person.
4048 Sonoma Highway, Napa, CA 94559, (707) 299-4870
The Boon Fly Café serves modern rustic cuisine in a contemporary roadhouse atmosphere. Casual Californian dining option with a lively vibe & modern roadhouse feel, at the Carneros Inn. Located in the Carneros Resort and Spa. In this red barn weekend brunch is a major thing, both for visitors and locals, thanks to diner favorites like.
1050 Charter Oak Avenue, St. Helena, CA 94574, (707) 302-6996
Seasonal, family-style Californian fare served in luxe, brick-walled quarters with an outdoor patio.
The Charter Oak is centered on family-style dining experience, with simple, approachable, and seasonal food – grilled meats, beautiful vegetables from our farm, local wines and unparalleled cocktails. The menu reflects the products of the Napa Valley through an elemental cooking style, with a hearth at its center, and by highlighting one or two ingredients at a time.
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA 94559, (707) 252-3292
Global farm-to-table dishes & wines delivered in an airy room with stone walls & an open kitchen.
In an airy space with lots of natural light streaming in from the floor-to-ceiling front windows, TORC has both a hip, buzzy vibe and a relaxed atmosphere with friendly, unpretentious service.
The energy emanates from the open kitchen, where Chef Sean O’Toole and his team prepare fresh, farm-to-table fare with a global influence. O’Toole builds his dishes around one key ingredient, like the vegan chilled pea soup with Bellwether Farms ricotta cheese, croutons, and goa black spice, which was as delicious as it was beautifully plated.
344 Center Street, Healdsburg. Tel. (707) 473-0946
Ensconced in a corner space just opposite SingleThread Farms, the handsome restaurant with a brick interior and white tablecloths serves a menu of locally sourced ingredients. We enjoyed a starter of house-made prosciutto with burrata cheese and a delicious main of arugula-crusted halibut with candied-onion vinaigrette, smoked Duroc coppa and pea shoots.
