The BottleRock 2023 lineup brings headliners like Post Malone, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, and Duran Duran. Go ahead and press play on this BottleRock 2023 Spotify playlist, and read on for our best tips for navigating the weekend beyond the fairgrounds.
BottleRock brings all kinds of diversions from the music to the wine and all the afterparties in between. When you’re ready for a break from the excitement, take a short stroll from the fairgrounds over to Downtown Napa to recharge and refresh.
Unlike formal up-valley wineries, many downtown tasting rooms welcome walk-ins and don’t require reservations. If you need it, the Napa Valley Welcome Center, located right next to the Archer Hotel, can help with same-day reservations and direct you to the tasting rooms with availability. During BottleRock, lots of tasting rooms shift their hours to stay open late and offer by-the-glass instead of a full traditional tasting.
Start Off With Brunch
If you’re doing BottleRock right, then you’re out late and sleeping in, which makes brunch a perfect fit. Get fueled up for the day with a hearty breakfast before walking over to the festival.
Over on their Village Lawn, Meritage has a full brunch spread complete with a breakfast corner, omelet and avocado toast stations, and a mimosa and bloody mary bar. It’s just $35 and is open from 8:30 am – 1 pm, May 27-29 with live music on all three days. Meritage also offers shuttle service on the hour to Downtown Napa!
Happening every Saturday from 8 am–noon, the Napa Farmers Market is a feast of fresh produce, baked goods, food trucks, and more. Fill up and grab some snacks for later before heading into the festival.
This brunch spot is right on the Napa Riverfront and serves favorites like their Main Lobster Omelet and the Surf and Turf Quiche. It’s served from 10 am – 2:30 pm for late risers.
If Banana Foster French Toast sounds as good to you as it does to us, then head over to Napkins. Their Chorizo Omelet is excellent, as is their bright and flavorful Citrus Habanero Organic Chicken.
The trifecta of Downtown Napa, the Napa General Store is equal parts store/café/wine bar. They serve an incredible brunch from 8 am to 3 pm with dishes like nuevos huevos rancheros and chocolate-filled beignets. It’s also a great spot to grab snacks for the festival.
This is just the beginning of brunch choices in Downtown Napa. Check out more of our brunch picks here.
Getting Around During the Festival
Walking is the most common choice since everything is so close between the fairgrounds and Downtown Napa. You can also rent a bike from Fat Tire Bike Rentals for even more convenience. They’ll deliver right to your hotel or B&B, or you can leave from one of the trailheads on the Napa Valley Vine Trail. Whether you walk or ride, we highly recommend hopping on the Vine Trail to see all the murals in the Rail Arts District.
Party & Pedal
Downtown Napa’s newest attraction, the Napa Pedal Crusher, is a 15-person pedal cruiser that will take you and your festival pals on a bar tour, wine tasting tour, or custom tour of your own creation. Perfect for a mid-day festival retreat!
Explore the Napa ArtWalk
Take a break from the tunes and head out to explore the Napa ArtWalk, a rotating exhibit of public art scattered around Downtown. The theme for the seventh Napa Art Walk Exhibition is ‘Play!’. Using kinetic art, movement and/ or light to define dimensions and interaction in space, these 10 sculptures from Western artists feature symbolic movement or require motion for their effects.
Shop Around
Downtown Napa is the perfect place for some retail therapy. Our suggestion is to head to First Street Napa, where you can find all kinds of treasures. There are other colorful spots around town, too. During BottleRock weekend, there are a few deals including:
- State and First: Two trunk shows featuring Lera Jewels and Edwin Jeans. Both will feature champagne pouring.
- Psychic Crystal Art Gallery: From Friday May 26 until Sunday, May 28, enjoy a 20% discount for everything in the store, 20% off all readings offered and a free quartz crystal with purchase.
- Jeffries General Store: Open regular hours and will have plenty of SURVIVAL supplies on hand for Bottlerockers including: clear backpacks, turkish picnic blankets, endless snacks and refreshments, canned wine and bubbles, sparkling CBD beverages, endless first aid items, Liquid IV, band and concert tees, flannels and sweatshirts, Napa hats and hep bucket hats.
Grab a Drink After the Festival
Although much of Downtown Napa closes down at 10 pm, there are a handful of bars that stay open late. Downtown Joe’s Brewery is one of those. They’re big on creating their own craft brew with six of their own recipes and they create seasonal brews too. Napkins Bar & Grill stays open to roughly 2 am and offers a special late-night menu as well. And over at Sky & Vine rooftop bar atop Archer Hotel, snag a firepit spot and enjoy delicious craft cocktails paired with killer views of Downtown Napa.
All About the After Shows
Grab a seat for more from your favorite bands at these official after shows. Be sure to grab tickets for the closest one in Downtown Napa:
BottleRock Afterdark @ JaM Cellars Ballroom
- Thursday, May 25th – Smashing Pumpkins
- Friday, May 26th – Yung Gravy
- Saturday, May 27th – The Struts
Get in the festival spirit and snag festival attire before gates even open with JaM Cellars wines that ROCK! Limited edition JaM Cellars rockstar Ts will be ON SALE while you sip Napa exclusive and Platinum release wines. May 1st through May 25th at JaM Cellars Wine & Music Studio. JaM Cellars is bringing the bubbly and fun to BoHo at their festival fashion open house May 12th from 5pm-8pm 1012 1st Street, Napa. Sip, shop and JaM out while you get ready for festival season!
BottleRock Afterdark @ Be Bubbly
- Friday, May 26th & Saturday, May 27th – Bailey Callahan
- Saturday, May 27th & Sunday, May 28th – Oke Junior
Make Time to Recharge
It’s best to come in early and stay late for the BottleRock Festival. You’ll enjoy a more relaxed pace and it’ll give you a chance to explore all the things to do in Downtown Napa.
