The Most Exciting New Hotels, Restaurants, and Tastings in Napa Valley

Welcome to Napa Valley: a realm of exquisite vineyards and upscale wines. Known as an “adult Disneyland,” it continues to thrill as new luxurious hotels, tasting adventures, and eateries have emerged over the past year. Napa Valley boldly declares, “Pandemic? What’s that?” The following venues illustrate the transformation that just a year or two can bring, regardless of the pandemic.

New Hotels to Experience in Napa Valley

Four Seasons Resort & Residences

Calistoga has welcomed a new Four Seasons resort, which opened quietly just over a year ago in true Napa style. While renowned for its impeccable service, it’s the rooms that truly impress. This Calistoga location boasts 85 guest rooms (or perhaps more aptly termed individual units) equipped with gas fireplaces and terraces that overlook the expansive 4.7-acre vineyard. At the on-site winery, esteemed winemakers Thomas Rivers Brown and Jonathan Walden create exquisite cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petite sirah, and sauvignon blanc wines for the Elusa brand.

For dining, visit Truss, the Seasons’ elegant yet relaxed farm-to-table restaurant, or indulge in Auro, the fine dining establishment where dishes like wild mushroom bucatini and Kagoshima A5 wagyu with garlic confit, walnut puree, and black trumpet mushrooms await.

Stanly Ranch

Known globally for their extravagant accommodations, often featuring Michelin-starred dining and top-tier amenities—such as late-model Mercedes-Benz rentals—Auberge Resorts have long been a staple in Napa Valley. With existing locations like Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford and Solage in Calistoga, the addition of Stanly Ranch in 2022 solidifies their elite status on the Napa Valley side of the Carneros region.

The hotel is set within a collection of barn-inspired structures crafted by Overland Partners, an architectural firm known for projects like Fierce Whiskers Distillery in Austin, Texas, and the luxurious Imanta Resort & Spa in Nayarit, Mexico. The focus here is on wellness and lavish experiences, including helicopter tours to local public art installations. The Michelin-worthy Bear restaurant features an extensive wine list, showcasing selections like Lang & Reed’s cabernet franc, alongside an impressive champagne menu. Its upscale Cal-Med cuisine utilizes the fresh produce from Stanly Ranch’s on-site garden, offering dishes like raw and pickled vegetables served with a cashew-miso dip, and tagliatelle paired with watercress pesto, foraged mushrooms, Bellwether pecorino, and pistachios.

Spanning 700 acres of active ranch land, the hotel invites guests to unwind in freestanding villa suites or elegantly designed monochromatic guest rooms, complete with soaking tubs. As night falls, you can contemplate the adventures that lie ahead for the next day.

New and exciting restaurant openings

Mangia Mi

You might easily miss Mangia Mi restaurant in Calistoga, as it’s nestled on a side street just off the bustling main road, positioned near an alley and opposite the fire station. The only hint that you’re in the right place is the striking, multi-colored wood panels that stand out on this otherwise quiet street. However, behind this unassuming exterior lies a culinary gem. The menu changes with each visit, but classics like beef and pork meatballs, lemon-garlic-shrimp fettuccine, and homemade bolognese over pappardelle remain constants. Under the skilled hands of chef Rebecca White, the open kitchen and communal dining setup foster a sense of convivialità.

Winston’s Bakery & Cafe

The pandemic sparked a craving for many things: connection, wine, comfort food, and desserts. Winston’s Bakery & Cafe, now located in the former Alexis Baking Company spot just outside downtown Napa, satisfies all these desires. Named after owners Alex and Cassan’s pitbull mix, this revamped café offers indulgent, locally-sourced breakfast and brunch delights, such as an enormous sourdough cream roll filled with brown sugar citrus and topped with cream cheese frosting, alongside an avocado bagel featuring arugula pesto and sunflower gremolata.

Regiis Ova Caviar & Champagne Lounge

Who can resist champagne? Renowned chef Thomas Keller understands that the answer is “no one,” which is why he established his sixth culinary venture in Yountville, the Regiis Ova Caviar & Champagne Lounge. This pop-up has transitioned into a permanent establishment, taking over the former Redd space, which still retains its familiar ambiance—until you glance at the menu.

Indeed, Regiis Ova specializes exclusively in caviar, caviar-infused dishes, and exquisite French pastries (think: macarons and palmiers). It also boasts an impressive wine list featuring champagnes from Krug, Vilmart et Cie, Salon, Egly-Ouriet, Ruinart, and more, alongside a selection of premium whites, reds, and rosés from around the world. While Napa Valley is known for its elegance, this spot is truly upscale yet maintains a surprisingly approachable vibe.

Unforgettable wine tasting experiences

New Frontier Wine Co.

Napa Valley boasts a plethora of tasting rooms and venues for Napa wine, but what if you're in the mood for something more international? Enter the New Frontier Wine Company. This cozy new tasting room in downtown Napa showcases 44 wine brands from across the globe, reaching destinations like Australia, Argentina, and Bordeaux, as well as nearby Sonoma’s Russian River Valley and, of course, Napa. The winemakers featured here are also globally minded: Michel Rolland from France, Matt Sands from New Zealand, Alberto Antonini from Argentina, and Maayan Koschitzky in Napa. With its overstuffed leather chairs, tin ceiling, and brick walls, tasting here offers a refreshing departure from the typical Napa atmosphere. New Frontier is ideal for those looking to spice things up a bit.

Vineyard 29 Tasting Lounge

You can still savor Vineyard 29’s exquisite wines (alongside chef-prepared bites) at its St. Helena winery, but its new downtown Napa tasting room presents a more stylish vibe. Here, you can explore both its “Estate” and “Cru” wines. The décor moves away from the usual wood and glass farmhouse aesthetic in favor of luxurious velvet, marble, and shiny gold. The outcome is a chic yet welcoming environment that resembles a dream home. Individual seating areas feel more like cozy living rooms than a typical stand-up tasting bar.

Of course, these aren’t the only exciting openings in the past year. Napa Valley has also embraced the tiki bar trend with Wilfred’s Lounge; welcomed Christopher Kostow’s new Loveski Deli and its popular Tribute sandwich; and broadened its wine selection with Compline Wine Shop, an expanded tasting lounge by the sommelier-owners of Compline restaurant, Matt Stamp and Ryan Stetins. Additionally, it continues its charitable efforts with the new OneHope Winery, which donates 10 percent of all sales to a cause of your choice. Many existing hotels, including Meadowood Resort, Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs, and McClelland House Bed & Breakfast, have also undergone renovations, as the county strives to elevate itself at every opportunity.