Honeymooning in Napa

Description:

Dine amidst stone walls in this elegant, romantic setting. The cuisine is a cross between French, Italian and Californian infused with Asian flavors. The restaurant was awarded a Mondavi Award of Culinary Excellence. The wine list is extraordinary, offering a huge variety of local wines and topping out at USD350 for the most expensive bottle. It is a great place for a splendid romantic dinner with impeccable service. In 2007, the inaugural year of the Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country, Terra was awarded a Michelin Star.

Our Local Expert Says:

Most memorable view of the Napa Valley

Description:

A hot air balloon ride over the Napa Valley is an unforgettable way to commemorate your visit...and the Facebook photos will certainly be memorable! A typical adventure includes an hour-long balloon ride followed by a garden Champagne brunch, but several packages are available. The pilots are well-informed locals who tell you all about the history and culture of the Napa Valley while you soar above it. Launches begin at sunrise. Enjoy incredible aerial views of Napa vineyards. Wind conditions are a factor; if it's too windy balloons can't take off, but that's fairly rare.

Description:

Established in 1979, Mumm Napa is a partnership between France's Mumm champagne family and American bourbon moguls Seagram & Sons. Visit the spacious tasting room, which features a glass wall overlooking acres of vineyards and an outdoor terrace. In addition to rotating exhibitions by some of America's most famous photographers, the place houses a permanent photo gallery. Visit the website for details on complementary tours and tastings.

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Darioush, a winery noted for its Bordeaux style estate wines, implements old world labor-intensive, micro-vineyard management and new world state-of-the-art technology to craft fine wines from its estates located in the appellations of Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder and Oak Knoll. Under the direction of Darioush Khaledi and winemaker Steve Devitt, precision and quality are of the utmost importance at the winery.

Description:

Set in the beautiful wine country of St Helena, dine indoors or on the outdoor patio around the fountain. Inspired by Napa Valley's Native American and wine-making history, Martini House is a classic, comfortable and elegant place to taste local traditional cuisine and sip on rare and delicious wines. Enjoy lunch or dinner made from farm-raised meats and organic produce. Mushroom lovers can choose from a specialty mushroom tasting menu. Lunch selections include items like Sauteed Prawns with Saffron Gnocchi and the Grilled Kobe Beef Cheeseburger. Choose from dinner entrees such as the Sonoma Duck Breast and Butter Basted Local Halibut. The wine bar downstairs features a 600-bottle international wine list with selections from Napa Valley and areas around the world.

Description:

A proud recipient of one Michelin star, Ken Frank's La Toque draws raves for its contemporary seasonal cuisine and exceptional wine pairing program. The restaurant relocated in 2008, setting up house in the Westin Verasa Napa in the heart of downtown Napa. Diners choose from a nightly five-course Chef's Tasting Menu, or design their own three-course meal from the "Options" menu--think Maine lobster salad with Manila mango and lemongrass (paired with a 2007 S.A. Prüt Riesling Kabinett); ricotta and chick-pea ravioli with Parmesan and wild mushroom broth (2007 Archery Summit Pinot Noir), and lamb loin with cumin-scented carrot puree (2006 Lagier Meredith Syrah). The on-point picks wine pairing are the work of sommelier Yoon Ha and wine director Scott Tracy.

Description:

This bright, bustling, cheery Italian restaurant is one of my favorites in Napa Valley. The menu features pastas, risottos, pizzas (baked in a wood-burning oven), and a half-dozen other main courses. Every time I grab a menu, I can't get past the pasta with duck Bolognese and beet and green bean salad (although the latter is woefully skimpy). On the rare occasion that I venture from my favorite dishes here, I am equally smitten. The thin-crust pizzas fresh from the wood-burning oven, the seared salmon filet on buttermilk mashed potatoes, and the steak frites are excellent. On warm sunny days, I highly recommend dining alfresco on the patio. And no matter what, order the trifle for dessert. Seriously. Note: Service ranges from inattentive to great.

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Hospitality? You don't know what hospitality is until you've visited the Bayleaf Restaurant in Napa. The warmth and welcoming atmosphere of the restaurant and the sheer generosity of owner Mounir Fahmy must be experienced to be believed. Fahmy calls the Bayleaf his "gingerbread cottage." With its low, peaked roofline, multi-paned windows and surrounding English country garden, the Bayleaf does resemble a house straight out of a fairy tale. But the illusion of make-believe ends there: inside the restaurant, Mounir, his friendly staff, and their luscious California/Continental cuisine are all deliciously real.

Description:

Italian food and Good ambience. What more does one need while dining out? This place is known for its friendly service, perfect pastas and divine Tiramisu. Go on there with family; or if you're with a date, seat yourself outside to the view of the Napa River. It's romantic and idealistic and the perfect way to spend an evening out.

Description:

Inside is a museum dedicated to educating visitors about winemaking history and technique--a great way to juice your wine knowledge. Open since 1991, Artesa specializes in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The courtyard, reminiscent of an Italian manor home, features a reflecting pool, sculpture, and fountains.