Food · Napa Valley · United States
What to eat in Napa Valley
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Napa Valley, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Taco · Photo: Larry Miller, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Carneros sparkling wine and Chardonnay and Tasting menus. Most wineries now offer seated tastings by reservation, often with a tour of the vineyards or caves and food pairings. Book tastings and dinners in advance; many wineries operate by appointment only.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- Tipping follows US norms: about 18–20% in restaurants, a few dollars per drink in bars…
- Food experiences
- 4
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9 foods to try
Drink · Vegetarian
1.Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The valley's signature wine: rich, structured Cabernet from benchland sites in Oakville and Rutherford and mountain vineyards such as Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain.
Where: Estate tasting rooms along Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail, and downtown Napa tasting rooms.
Drink · Vegetarian
2.Carneros sparkling wine and Chardonnay
The cool Carneros district produces crisp Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and méthode champenoise sparkling wines.
Where: Domaine Carneros and other Carneros estates, and tasting rooms across the valley.
Dish
3.Tasting menus
Napa's top restaurants serve multi-course tasting menus built around local farm produce, from Yountville's The French Laundry to restaurants in St Helena and Napa.
Where: Yountville, St Helena and downtown Napa; reservations at the best-known restaurants open weeks or months ahead.
Dish
4.Oysters
Fresh oysters from Tomales Bay and the Marin County coast, served raw or barbecued, are a popular lunch in the valley.
Where: Oyster bars in Oxbow Public Market and seafood restaurants in Napa.
Street food
5.Tacos
Napa's large Mexican community, many of whom work in the vineyards, supports taquerias and taco trucks selling carnitas, al pastor and birria.
Where: Taquerias and taco trucks in the city of Napa, St Helena and Calistoga.
Snack · Vegetarian
6.Olive oil
Several Napa estates press olive oil from their own groves, and tastings of oils and vinegars are popular between wineries.
Where: Olive oil shops in St Helena and Napa, and estates offering oil tastings in Rutherford.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
7.Bakery pastries
French-style croissants, macarons and breads, plus English muffins and fruit pastries, from the valley's well-known bakeries.
Where: Bouchon Bakery in Yountville and long-established bakeries in St Helena and Napa.
Dish
8.Picnic cheese and charcuterie
Artisan cheeses from Sonoma and Marin, plus salumi and fresh bread, form the classic winery picnic.
Where: Delis and grocers in Oakville, St Helena and Oxbow Public Market; check which wineries allow picnics.
Dish
9.Burgers and roadside classics
A roadside burger stand with a lawn in St Helena is a valley institution, serving burgers, fish tacos and milkshakes with local wine on tap.
Where: Roadside diners along Highway 29 in St Helena and at Oxbow Public Market.
Travelling around United States? What to eat in United States covers the dishes to try in each of our 44 destinations there.
Food experiences
Seated estate tasting
Most wineries now offer seated tastings by reservation, often with a tour of the vineyards or caves and food pairings.
Winery picnic
A few wineries with picnic permits let visitors eat on their grounds; pick up supplies at a deli in Oakville or St Helena.
Cooking class at the CIA
The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone runs cooking demonstrations and classes for the public.
Yountville dinner
Book a meal in Yountville, from casual bistros to multi-course tasting menus.
Quick bites and street food
- Tacos — Taquerias and taco trucks in the city of Napa, St Helena and Calistoga.
- Olive oil — Olive oil shops in St Helena and Napa, and estates offering oil tastings in Rutherford.
- Bakery pastries — Bouchon Bakery in Yountville and long-established bakeries in St Helena and Napa.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Carneros sparkling wine and Chardonnay, Olive oil and Bakery pastries. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Book tastings and dinners in advance; many wineries operate by appointment only.
- Plan two or three tastings a day at most, with lunch in between.
- Tasting fees are often waived or reduced with a bottle purchase or wine club membership.
- Use a driver, tour or the Wine Train; California's drink-driving laws are strictly enforced.
- Restaurants are busiest during harvest (late August to October) and on summer weekends.
Tipping
Tipping follows US norms: about 18–20% in restaurants, a few dollars per drink in bars, and 15–20% for drivers and tour guides. Tipping tasting-room staff is not required, but some guests leave a few dollars for excellent service.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cab | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Crush | The grape harvest and pressing season |
| Up-valley | North of Yountville, towards St Helena and Calistoga |
| AVA | American Viticultural Area, a defined wine region |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Napa Valley famous for?
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Carneros sparkling wine and Chardonnay, Tasting menus and Oysters. The valley's signature wine: rich, structured Cabernet from benchland sites in Oakville and Rutherford and mountain vineyards such as Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain.
+Is Napa Valley good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Carneros sparkling wine and Chardonnay and Olive oil.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Napa Valley?
Tipping follows US norms: about 18–20% in restaurants, a few dollars per drink in bars, and 15–20% for drivers and tour guides. Tipping tasting-room staff is not required, but some guests leave a few dollars for excellent service.