Top 5 Things to Do in Napa, According to Silverado’s Concierge
In the heart of Napa Valley, Silverado Resort welcomes you to an unforgettable experience in wine country. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned Napa enthusiast, our concierge is here to ensure you make the most of your stay. From world-class vineyards to hidden culinary gems, Napa offers an unmatched epicurean adventure.
As our concierge puts it, “You can’t talk about Napa without eating and drinking.” With that in mind, we've curated a list of five must-try destinations and activities that perfectly capture the beauty, bounty, and spirit of Napa.
With these recommendations, you’re invited to savor the finest wines, indulge in the region’s most delectable cuisine, and soak in the valley’s breathtaking views. Our concierge knows where to guide you so that you enjoy the best of what Napa has to offer.
1. Goose & Gander
Explore the charm of St. Helena’s Spring Street and step into the social and stylish atmosphere of Goose & Gander—one of the city’s standout culinary and mixology destinations, residing within the historic Martini House. Guided by Executive Chef Ignacio Beltrán’s seasonally driven menu, and complemented by Scott Beattie’s retro-fresh libations, the restaurant and bar celebrates its unique history.
Built in the 1920s, the craftsman-style bungalow played home to local opera singer Walter Martini and wife Dionisia for nearly 50 years. Renowned for their entertaining skills, the Martinis’ love of gourmet food, fine wine, and festive gatherings lives on at Goose & Gander, from its pub-like dining room to its lush garden.
In fact, remnants of the Martinis' Prohibition-era bootlegging operation can be found in what is now the beloved cellar bar, welcoming you with a speakeasy vibe. Thus, it’s only fitting for the eatery and drinkery to boast a remarkable, award-winning wine list and an extensive selection of whiskeys and bourbons.
Per our concierge, be sure to order at least one of the bar’s specialty Manhattans, whether it’s the Walter’s Manhattan or the extra-special Michter’s Manhattan (crafted with Michter’s 10-Year). An insider tip here is that the cocktail pairs well with one of the valley’s best burgers—The G&G Burger, served with duck fat fries and adorned in gruyère, bacon, and remoulade, as well as additions of duck egg or bone marrow.
Many of the ingredients shaping up the enticing menu come from the restaurant’s two-acre farm, located across the street from the Culinary Institute in Downtown Napa and managed by Master Gardener Shelley Kusch and her team at Garden Junkie.
2. The Fink
You'll find one of the valley's premier cocktail destinations quite literally on Napa's Main Street. Housed in what was once The Napa River Inn's old boathouse, The Fink is a buzzy, happening cocktail bar named after its beloved owner and unofficial mascot, Judd Finkelstein (aka "Mr. Hospitality").
The Fink gained its reputation almost entirely by word of mouth. For years, the bar had zero signage and hardly any advertising. A dimly lit, sailor-themed favorite for locals and visitors alike, The Fink welcomes you with open arms to enjoy one of the valley’s most memorable cocktail menus—as drinking here makes you something of a world traveler.
Delight in California-inspired cocktails found on the "LA to the Bay" menu; New York City drinks on the "Gotham City" menu; the flavors and tastes of New Orleans on "The Big Easy" menu; and a score of other favorites that pay homage to the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe. At the bar's helm, you'll find Andrew Salazar, known around town as "The Professor,” hailing from James Beard Award-winning and Michelin-starred teams.
While The Fink is open every day, certain nights will give you a more sensational experience than others. Catch a rotating lineup of live music acts that range from jazz standards and Hawaiian slack-key guitar to western swing and Cuban salsa. You'll even find weekly bingo at The Fink on Tuesday nights—of course, it’s referred to as “Finko” here—with 100% of the evening's proceeds going to a different Napa County-based nonprofit each time.
3. The Charter Oak
In one of the valley’s most alluring destinations, The Charter Oak brings you and yours in to share a celebratory, family-dining experience in a refined atmosphere of pristine brickwork, complemented by the interior’s striking, rug-adorned hardwood floors and the courtyard’s lush, vibrant greenery.
Boasting a menu of simple, approachable, and seasonal cuisine, The Charter Oak is co-owned by husband-and-wife team Chef Christopher Kostow and Martina Kostow. If the Kostow name rings a bell, it’s likely because of Chef Kostow’s Michelin three-starred valley icon, The Restaurant at Meadowood.
Our concierge recommends ordering the crudité, on the menu as “Raw Vegetables From Our Farm,” served with a fermented soy dip and sourced, true to name, from the restaurant’s sprawling 3.5-acre farm.
As for drinks, any selection would prove winning, says our concierge. The wine list is several dozen pages long, the cocktails are made by “one of the best bartenders in the valley,” and the TCO Frozé is perhaps the coldest frozé you could ever hope to have.
4. Cook St. Helena
Drive by Cook St. Helena Monday through Friday and you may just catch Chef Jude Wilmoth making fresh pasta in the window. Wilmoth runs the petite eatery renowned for its Northern Italian cuisine with wife Meagan Rounds. If you drive by on a Saturday or Sunday, you’ll only see the lights are off. That’s because the renowned restaurant is family-owned, and the weekends are for family.
The couple's impeccable work-life balance has made Cook St. Helena a strong and reputable operation for going on 20 years now. Ask any local who’s repeatedly stepped into the eatery’s warm, welcoming, and cozy atmosphere and they’ll tell you that you can practically taste the passion and love for cooking that’s gone into each dish.
While it's hard to choose a favorite, our concierge has declared their Cavatelli all'Arrabbiata to be simply unbeatable—further enhanced with a bottle from the restaurant’s superb and locally sourced wine list.
5. “The Perfect Day”
Good days start in Napa. Great days start with a Napa wine tour. Perfect days start with a Napa wine tour and end with a picnic at Oxbow Public Market.
Contact our concierge to arrange a private wine tour with one of the remarkable wine tour companies we partner with in the valley. A private wine tour would cater to your preference of wines and the kind of experience you and your party would want. From start to finish, you’ll be tasting some of Napa’s finest wines, from the elegant flavors of Ellman Wines to the iconic single-vineyard wines of Heitz Cellars.
Once you’ve toured and tasted your way through the valley, it’s time to cap off the day in the heart of Downtown Napa's Oxbow District at Oxbow Public Market, a 40,000-sq-ft indoor marketplace featuring more than 20 local and regional artisan food and wine vendors and restaurants. As there’s so much to choose from, our concierge recommends what has been referred to as "The Holy Trinity."
The first step is to drop by Fatted Calf Charcuterie for your preferred selections of meat, ranging from salumi and sausages to roasts and pâtés. If you're a big fan of meat, this shop may just be your new favorite fragrance. The savory aroma is as immediate as it is inviting.
From there, head to Model Bakery, an institution of Napa Valley's culinary scene for close to 90 years. A baguette will best serve your charcuterie board, but the bakery also boasts sourdough cultivated from its own wine-grape-based starter, along with offerings like focaccia, harvest wheat, and walnut bread.
Then it’s onto Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant, where you’ll find a thoughtful curation of fine wines, beers, and artisan cheeses. The wines here range from what are essentially cult classics to one of the region’s largest selections of wines from Diamond Creek Vineyards. Be sure to check in with Michael Meyers, who runs the shop’s wine program, as he can recommend some of the best pairings in town.
Finally, it’s time to eat, drink, and be merry. Take all your delicious goods and head to the picnic tables found on the market’s back patio. Toast your perfect day while sharing in the good meal to follow.
—Jake Kilroy