Check out what’s new in Downtown Napa

Whether you are a Napa Valley veteran or a first-time wine enthusiast, Downtown Napa is sure to captivate anyone with a sense of adventure. From fantastic food and wine to exciting outdoor experiences and incredible arts and culture options, Downtown Napa has it all.  

The weather here is excellent year-round, and that’s especially true during the spring season, making it a perfect time to experience Downtown Napa’s beauty, fun and excitement. New arts and entertainment venues, wine tasting rooms, shops, restaurants and more provide locals and visitors plenty of ways to spend a day, a week or longer in the most walkable wine country destination in California. Following is a small sample of the many new changes you’ll find in the “Wine Tasting Capital of the World.”  

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT

Photo Credit: @BlueNoteNapa

Some of music’s top national acts – as well as local and regional favorites – make sure to stop in Downtown Napa. Jazz club Blue Note Napa will host several spring shows. Ariel Marin will present her tribute to Sade on March 23, followed by Naturally 7 on March 24 and 25, Jose Feliciano on March 31 and April 1, and Mindi Abair on April 7 and 8. 

Photo Credit: @UptownTheatre

You don’t have to be a rich girl to make your dreams come true at a show featuring John Oates (formerly of Hall and Oates) at Uptown Theatre Napa on April 16. Other spring performances at Uptown include blues artist Keb’ Mo’ on April 27 and comedian Paula Poundstone on May 13.  

Enjoy an appealing bouquet of flavors while listening to live performances in April at Levendi Winery’s tasting room. Among the featured performers are Mark Herold, Lindsay Gang, Chance McCauley and JourneyDay. Reservations are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. 

GLOBAL CUISINE

Enjoy the taste of true Argentinian cuisine at Entrecot, a new restaurant located on the Riverfront in Downtown Napa. The restaurant opened on New Year’s Eve to usher in the New Year – and its new taste. Also situated along the Riverfront is Los Agaves Napa, a Mexican restaurant owned by Ricky Gonzalez, who has 20 years of restaurant experience. Opened in 2022, Los Agaves features authentic Mexican food, including special menu items for a limited time throughout the year. Chispa Tequila Bar, from the owners of Cadet Wine and Beer Bar, will be open soon and is expected to include a variety of Mexican food offerings, as well as tequila and mescal cocktails with traditional Mexican ingredients. 

Already showcasing a wide variety of restaurants, Downtown Napa is home to several more new eateries featuring cuisine from various parts of the world. TJ Dim Sum is a new food truck that can be found at Feast it Forward. If you’re craving Chinese, Vietnam, Filipino, Korean or Thai food, TJ Dim Sum is the place to go. For a wonderful balance of Japanese and American flavors, visit Morimoto Napa, which opened in late 2022. Renowned chef and owner Masaharu Morimoto has competed several times on Food Network’s Iron Chef.  

Photo Credit: @ScalaOsteria

Looking for more of a European flair? Scala Osteria features traditional Southern Italian cuisine with Mediterranean and California influences, as well as a strong focus on seafood. The restaurant celebrated its grand opening in January 2023 and lives up to its name; an “osteria” is a type of restaurant found in Italy that offers simple yet unforgettable food and wine in an unpretentious space.  

Photo Credit: @TheMeritage

France is also represented with the recent opening of The Village Bistro at the Grand Reserve, part of the Meritage Resort and Spa. Perfect for family dining, the French-inspired restaurant features food to share, as well as an extensive wine list and a beer list focused on small batch European breweries. 

TASTES GREAT

Any city known as “The Wine Tasting Room Capital of the World” should have plenty of choices for every taste, and Downtown Napa certainly has that. In addition to the dozens of wine tasting rooms available, there are several new or newly renovated stops you’ll want to try.  

Photo Credit: @WineGirlNapa

Wine Girl Napa Valley will hold its official grand opening party on Saturday, April 1, from noon to close. The wine bar’s tasting room is delightfully decorated and is ideal for bachelorette parties, birthday celebrations and more. The wine and music studio at JaM Cellars reopened recently after a renovation that provides more sunshine and a better opportunity for patio guests to enjoy the music. There is a selection of exclusive JaM Cellars Napa wines to try with four different tasting options available.  

For an out-of-this-world experience, try one of the many wine tastings at Outer Space Wines, a wine shop and bar that opened in late 2022. Tastings are held most days of the week, and always on Fridays, so start your weekend off right. And what’s the perfect complement to wine? Cheese, of course. At Winston’s Café and Bakery, Janet Fletcher, author of Cheese and Wine, will hold monthly classes beginning with a reception and followed by a cheese tasting. 

Photo Credit: @ComplineWineShop

The new tasting room and vinyl lounge at Benevolent Neglect Wines features the opportunity to enjoy their vintages while listening to relaxing music, making for a comfortable atmosphere. Guests are encouraged to BYOV (Bring Your Own Vinyl) to share your favorite tunes while sipping the vino. Open in October 2022, Compline Wine Shop offers hundreds of handpicked bottles and guest favorites, all kept at a brisk cellar temperature. The tasting bar features new varieties, and Kim Oshiro leads a guided, one-hour blind tasting class every Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. 

COME ON, GET HAPPY

Everybody deserves the chance to unwind and spend time with friends, and that means Happy Hour! You’ll find discounts on drinks and/or food at a number of Napa restaurants, bars and wine tastings (a few are featured below), so come on and get happy! 

Photo: @bebubbly.napa

Cadet Wine and Beer Bar on Franklin Street in Downtown Napa offers half off all wines by the glass and draft beers from 5 to 6 p.m. every day (except Wednesday). One of the only champagne and sparkling wine lounges in Napa Valley, Be Bubbly features half-off select champagne, beer and sparkling spritzers from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Osha Thai offers both food and drink specials from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Selected wine and beer is $9, with featured appetizers ranging from $9 to $11, or try all the appetizers with the Osha Happy Platter, priced at $42. 

A friendly atmosphere and discount food and drinks is what you’ll find during Downtown Joe’s Happy Hour. From 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, enjoy half-priced appetizers, house beers and wine by the glass. During Kitchen Door’s Happy Hour – held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday – you’ll find $2 off draft beer and wines on tap, as well as $10 house margaritas and $10 Paula Kornell sparkling wine, all of which go well with the specials on appetizers. 

Photo: @napapalisadessaloon

Featuring gourmet pub selections, Napa Palisades offers a different special each weekday, such as street tacos ($2.50), tequila shots ($6) and house margaritas ($8) on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. Wine, beer and more are available at a discounted price. During Waterfront Seafood Grill’s “Between the Tides” Happy Hour from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, you can partake in Conundrum red or white wines by the glass for $7, beers on tap for $6 and other selected drinks for only $8. And The Grove at COPIA recently launched a 4 to 6:30 p.m. Happy Hour on Wednesday through Sunday, featuring $8 specialty cocktails and $5 draft pints and more, as well as a variety of small bites. 

ISN’T THAT SPECIAL?

Springtime is a wonderful time of year if you want to enjoy Downtown Napa special events, such as the Spring JaMBash from 6 to 9 p.m. on April 29 at JaM Cellars. Sip delicious JaM Cellars wines, try the gourmet festival bites and listen to the music of Bourbon Street Brass Band live. 

Photo Credit: @Bottle.Rock

As spring winds down, make plans to attend BottleRock Napa Valley, a three-day music event from May 26 to 28 featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers, Post Malone, Lizzo, Duran Duran and others. There will also be local wineries and restaurants with some of the best food and wine in the region. BottleRock After Dark shows will be held at the JaM Cellars ballroom and Uptown Theatre from May 25 to 27. Among the artists performing are The Smashing Pumpkins, Yung Gravy, The Struts, Thievery Corporation, Lucius and more. 

Photo: @Meritage.Resort

The third annual Chardonnay Pinot Classic will be held from June 9 to 11 at Meritage Resort & Spa and Grand Reserve at The Meritage. A celebration of both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, guests can learn from experts while savoring gourmet meals and extraordinary wine tastings. 

SIMPLY UNIQUE 

CIA (Culinary Institute of America) at Copia is the place to be not only for food and beverages, but also for hands-on classes, shopping and museum artifacts. Culinary enthusiasts from beginner to experienced will delight in the programs and events featured at this Napa Valley adventure. 

Photo Credit: @WineTrolley

Take a casual tour of the region on the Napa Valley Wine Trolley, a replica of a California street cable car. Experienced guides will provide an entertaining history of the area, and you’ll get the chance to taste some incredible wines and – depending on the tour – grab a bite to eat 

Photo Credit: @WineTrain

Another way to tour the wineries and tasting rooms is to hop aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train. Ride in an early 20th-century Pullman train car and experience the remarkable scenery and incredible wineries of the area. Two-hour rides to all-day tours are available, and depending which one you choose, may include gourmet meals, a murder mystery and, of course, delicious Napa Valley wine.  

Did you know there’s a newly opened business dedicated to stretching? StretchLab offers the benefits of a professional assisted stretching routine, an important step for those who want to improve their sports performance, decrease joint pain, reduce stress, improve posture or a number of other reasons. 

There’s so much to do in Downtown Napa, and most of it is within walking distance of the many lodging options available, from budget-friendly inns to luxury resorts. Plan your vacation today and spend the springtime enjoying the fun and adventure of Downtown Napa.