Napa Valley is dotted with five distinct cities and towns. Among them, Yountville is widely acknowledged as the culinary heart of the valley. For food lovers, the town is the epicenter of culinary excellence – both for fine dining and at a more casual level. Culinary luminaries such as Thomas Keller, Philippe Jeanty, Cindy Pawlcyn, and the late Michael Chiarello all selected Yountville for their flagship restaurants. Spend three nights in Yountville and you can’t help but discover what makes this small town the ultimate food lovers’ hub.
Day 1: Arrive in Napa Valley, the epicenter of fine food, wine, and hospitality in the U.S.
Check In to Your Home Away from Home
- Hotel Yountville, for example, is situated at the edge of town on five secluded acres. The 80-room boutique resort property is exclusive to guests, giving it a private vibe. Take a walk around the property, unpack, and relax. On the opposite end of town, try the family-owned Napa Valley Lodge, which was named one of Travel + Leisure’s top 500 hotels of 2024.
Explore & Cocktail
- Yountville is imminently walkable. Stretch your legs and stroll through town. Take in the public art walk sculptures and stop for a glass of wine, cocktail, or zero proof options at one of Yountville’s favorite spots. Suggestions: R&D Kitchen, Ciccio, The Restaurant at North Block, RH Yountville, or Bottega.
A Classic Yountville Dinner
- Start your visit off by dining at one of Yountville’s restaurants with maximum staying power for your first night. Mustards Grill has delighted locals and visitors alike for more than four decades with elevated American faire. Since 1998, Philippe Jeanty’s Bistro Jeanty and Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro have taken the quintessential French bistro to a new level.
Day 2: Wine, Dine, Indulge
Food and wine discoveries are what Napa Valley dreams are made of.
A Delicious Morning, Your Way
- Breakfast in Yountville can be as simple as a perfectly executed scone and coffee or a more elaborate affair. You decide, but on this food tour, don’t skip this most important meal of the day! Read more about breakfast options in Yountville.
Book a Leisurely Culinary Experience
- Legendary wine estates such as Chandon, Cakebread Cellars, St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery, and Trefethen Family Vineyards complement many of their wine tasting experiences through a culinary lens. Wine and food are made to go together and no one knows this better than Napa Valley’s winemakers.
Add a Light Lunch
- Since 1996, Brix Restaurant & Gardens has defined the ultimate farm-to-table experience. Take in a light lunch and enjoy a stroll their culinary gardens. Or drop into Honor Market for one of their famous hotdogs.
Lounge at Your Accommodations
- Part of what makes a 72-hour visit so relaxing is being able to build in downtime. Yountville’s resorts offer hidden perks and surprises. At the Estate Yountville, for example, enjoy complimentary wine tastings at the estate’s Hotel Villagio lobby on Thursdays through Saturdays.
Afternoon Pick Me Up
- Yountville is home to myriad places to get a sweet treat. Don’t miss Kollar Chocolates, Madeleine’s Macarons, or Bouchon Bakery.
Takes a Lot of Beer to Make Wine
- Beer is a favorite beverage of winemakers throughout Napa Valley, including the crafters of Mad Fritz Beer, a uniquely brewed beer. Stop into their Yountville Tap Room for a taste of something completely different.
Dinner
- If night one was about the classic restaurants, night two affords you the opportunity to check out newer entries in town. The Restaurant at North Block, The Restaurant at RH, and Ciccio are three names shaping Yountville’s modern dining scene.
And for a Nightcap…
- As a small agricultural community, Napa Valley restaurants tend to close around 9 p.m., but Yountville’s RO Restaurant & Lounge is open late with music, caviar and cocktails, and small bites to wind down this epic day.
Day 3: Add a Wellness Day
After a few days of indulgence, add a day of wellness with a dash of great food to your itinerary.
Move in the Morning, Get Outside
- Play a round of golf right in the town of Yountville or take a run or bike ride on the Napa Valley Vine Trail.
Recharge with a Nourishing Brunch or Lunch
- Napa Valley restaurants are known for their use of fresh, local, and organic ingredients, and Yountville’s favorites are no exception. Try: Lucy at Bardessono Hotel & Spa, which has its own onsite gardens, or on the weekends, dip into La Calenda for their brunch offered all day.
Relax and Pamper
- Alongside a food fueled visit to Napa Valley, reconnect with yourself with a spa afternoon. Soak in a pool, indulge in a massage treatment or facial treatment. Tip: Book your spa experiences when you book your hotel rooms.
Walk to a Shared Dinner
Day 4: Depart, but Before You Do….
One last croissant from Bouchon Bakery, and a sandwich for the road. Stop into Finesse the Store by Thomas Keller for last minute gifts and reminders of your ultimate culinary visit.