In downtown Napa (or just outside downtown, by the river), there’s a food hall called Oxbow, which might be ideal for lunch or (super-casual) dinner with a crowd, because everyone can just choose their own meal and sit in common areas. Limited seating inside, but there are larger seating areas on a covered patio outside.
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Very casual and outside picnic table seating - two locations are available for Gotts. Burgers, ahi, big salads etc - think of upscale, high quality ingredients fast food. Everyone can order and pay on their own.
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Thanks. I really appreciate all of the suggestions.
The original location for Gott’s (Taylor’s) is perfect for folks in the midst of a wine-tasting day, but only if there are no lines!
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If you go to Gott’s, note that they have a “cold line” and a “full-service line” and everyone just lines up at the full-service line, but if all you want is a milkshake you can save like 30 minutes of your day. 30 minutes more for wine and/or milkshakes! (Oh; If you do want burgers, etc., you can order online ahead of time. Even if it’s just on your way over there, do yourself a favor and skip the line.)
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Recently went to Sonoma. Stayed at An Inn 2 Remember. Easy walk to the plaza. Ate at the girl and the fig. I have to look up another place we ate a few times, sitting outside.
We had a wine tour that picked us up at hotel.
I realize our inn only has a few rooms, each with a private backyard. They brought coffee and croissants or pastries each morning.
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If you want one “splurge” go to Morimoto in Napa for a meal. Great atmosphere and excellent high-end Japanese food. It’s fun to go with a group.
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I second Morimoto. Also, not too far from it, on the same street, there is a French restaurant called Angele’s with a river view patio. Great food and amazing selection of wines, too. Quilt Wines has a tasting room downtown Napa. Usually not that busy because expensive but great wine and awesome folks who work there. We once stayed at the Westin across the river from downtown Napa. It was an easy walk everywhere! We also stayed at the downtown Andaz which was a bit too lively for our taste with rooftop parties but newer building and lots to explore right next to it.
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I have this idea for if my husband and I go there on our own, but won’t be happening this trip.
Any recommendations for wine tours?
Suggestions for whether Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley is better?
We will be a group of 10, so probably have to do a “private” tour.
Doesn’t have to be “the best” wineries, but want somewhat upscale, or fun to visit kind of places.
A few wineries that would be fun to visit for a group. Some will do vineyard and/or winery tours, others offer tastings, some also offer food:
- Hess (lovely spot, also includes a very good art museum – small but well-curated)
- Domaine Carneros (bubblies, beautiful large terrace for tasting flights, great views, right between Napa and Sonoma)
- Round Pond Estate (another spot with a large terrace/enclosed space for tasting and small bites)
- Chimney Rock (a little out of the main tourist traffic bc it’s on the Silverado Trail and not Hwy 29 – can accommodate large groups for tours and tastings)
- Mumm (another place for bubblies, also on Silverado Trail – the terrace is a relaxing spot)
- Trefethen (The most recent significant earthquake in the region significantly damaged their historic building, but I think they’ve been back and running for a few years now. Interesting architecture, vineyard tours, and a fun tasting room.)
I would avoid some of the big-name wineries like Mondavi, which tend to draw huge crowds, and especially Coppola, which tends to be a bit of a tourist trap.
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Very helpful - thanks. We will likely have to book a private tour, but helps to have some ideas of wineries to go to.
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Another alternative is to hire a private bus that can take you to the wineries of your choice.
That’s what we want to do - hire a small bus or van to take us around. I’m looking for recommendations for companies that do that.
Thanks
Also a big fan of Healdsburg. Has a kinda Starrs Hollow look for Gilmore Girls fans.
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No recommendations for vans as the ones we’ve been on were hired for corporate shebangs, sorry, but maybe you can look into the wine train tours. Our kids did a lunch tour on it and liked it a lot. Could be expensive though.
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Some of the stands out from our visit were Ferrari Carano (gorgeous Italian villa-esque) and Chateau Souverain (they did a cool tasting with snacks).
If it were just my husband and me, we would do the wine train. It looks like fun.
We enjoyed the wine train!
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OP here - Thanks for all the suggestions/advice.
The plan is coming together -
We have a wine tour booked (the wineries won’t be ones I would choose, but they will be fine).
We have multiple good restaurant choices (that I would/did pick, and was able to get reservations at).
We’ve decided we will cook in a couple of nights (not my choice, but I can certainly live with it)
We (I) have identified a place we can take a group hike, that is walking distance from our place.
That’s enough of a plan for me, and it’s all flexible up to 48 hours ahead of each thing.
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