Top picks in the Napa Valley’s premier dining town.
No need to wade through thousands of user reviews to find Yountville’s best restaurants. From haute cuisine to comfort food, narrow your search with this handy cheat sheet.
Truly Special
Bistro Jeanty
The country-French facade hints at the classics served within: tomato soup in a puff pastry, sole meunière, coq au vin, croques madame, steak au poivre, mussels (not always with frites), and much more. French $$$
Bouchon
Bistro cuisine à la Thomas Keller, presented with California flair in a lively setting. French $$$
Ciccio
Chef Christopher Kostow, formerly of The Restaurant at Meadowood and currently St. Helena’s The Charter Oak and Napa’s Loveski Deli, was a regular at this longtime locals’ hangout he revived in 2023 after a lengthy closure. Italian $$$
The French Laundry
Thomas Keller’s temple to haute cuisine (as of mid-2023, $390 per person to start, not counting add-ons and wine) remains a Napa Valley bucket-list staple; reserve a table well ahead (find bookings-release info here). French $$$$
Among Yountville’s Best
Coqueta Napa Valley
Pintxos (bar bites), tapas cold and hot, and paella and wood-fired meat and fish dishes for pairing with specialty cocktails, sangria, and other perky libations. Spanish $$–$$$
Mustards Grill
At nearly four decades old, Cindy Pawlcyn’s roadside ode to American cuisine still packs them in, and for good reason: the food and drinks are terrific, and the ambience is convivial. American $$$
The Restaurant at North Block
The cuisine at the North Block Hotel’s storefront dining spot entices with its intricacy and deft presentation. Modern American $$$
RO Restaurant & Lounge
Chef Thomas Keller and Shaoching Bishop’s showcase for their company’s Regiis Ova caviar added pan-Asian cuisine to the mix in 2024, with Champagne still the featured pairing (along with live jazz most nights) and caviar still on the menu. Asian/Caviar $$$
Worth Checking Out
Ad Hoc + Addendum
Fried chicken, barbecue, and meatloaf are among the staples at Thomas Keller’s casual restaurant serving a family-style four-course prix-fixe menu; from Thursday through Saturday except in winter, pick up fried chicken to go at Addendum. American $$$
Bottega
Soft lighting and redbrick interior set a romantic tone for seasonal, farm-to-table, Italy’s-greatest-hits cuisine. Italian $$$
Brix Napa Valley
The Mayacamas Mountains, a rose garden, and 10 acres of Cabernet provide a scenic backdrop for diners enjoying well-executed seasonal cuisine and year-round favorites like the Brix burger. American $$$
The Kitchen at Priest Ranch
“Simple foods done exceptionally well,” the goal of this restaurant next to the Priest Ranch tasting room, translates into smashburgers, BLTs, and crispy chicken sandwiches, with breakfast all day a boon for late risers. American $$
La Calenda
Oaxacan cuisine inspired this Thomas Keller restaurant with a street-side patio good for watching and being watched. Mexican $$
Lucy
Bardessono’s culinary garden supplies ingredients for dishes and cocktails at Lucy, the luxury hotel’s sleek restaurant and bar. Modern American $$$
R+D Kitchen
The airy restaurant’s varied menu tilts American (rotisserie chicken, Carolina-style beef ribs, pan-seared salmon) but also incorporates sushi, Thai noodles, and a carnitas sandwich. American $$
RH Yountville
Part of a Restoration Hardware complex that includes gallerylike showrooms and a tasting room, the restaurant here serves up a hefty side of glam along with varied haute comfort fare. Modern American $$$
Coffee and Baked Goods
Bouchon Bakery
Excellent stop for pastries, croissants, cookies, and other baked goods. Bakery $
Madeleine’s Macarons
Family-run café sells multihued macarons to go or enjoy indoors or out; reserve a 30-minute coffee and four-macaron flight online. Bakery $
Mini Model
Pick up baked goods from St. Helena’s Model Bakery at its Yountville outpost. Bakery $
Napa Valley Itineraries
Downtown Napa in a Day
48 Perfect Hours in Calistoga
10 Foolproof Napa Valley Cabernet Tasting Experiences
3 Historic Napa Valley Wineries Day Trip
3 St. Helena Wineries with a Personal Touch
2 Splendid Days in Walkable Yountville
Pingback: 2 Splendid Days in Walkable Yountville – Daniel Mangin