Base: downtown Napa, both nights. Drive north from San Francisco, about 1¼ hours, and park once; everything today is on foot. The river walk and the town streets are free. Pace: easy: a market morning, a flat river walk and a downtown evening, with time to check in and rest in the afternoon.
The drive up and breakfast at the Oxbow
Leave San Francisco in the morning and drive north over the Golden Gate Bridge or the Bay Bridge; either way you reach downtown Napa in about an hour and a quarter. Park near the Oxbow Public Market at the east end of First Street.
Where to eat: start at The Model Bakery inside the Oxbow Public Market for a pastry and coffee. The bakery is known for its English muffins, and the market hall is a good first look at the valley’s food.
The Oxbow Public Market
Spend the late morning in the Oxbow Public Market, downtown Napa’s food hall, with stalls for cheese, spices, olive oil, oysters, chocolate and local produce. It is an easy place to wander together and pick up snacks to share.
Where to eat: lunch at Gott’s Roadside at the Oxbow, a casual burger and fish-taco stand with picnic tables outside, an easy lunch for two.
Expert tip: buy picnic supplies at the Oxbow today for tomorrow in Yountville. The market is busiest at weekend lunchtime, so shop before noon.
A walk on the Napa River
Walk across the river on the First Street Bridge into downtown, then follow the Napa River Trail along the water. The riverfront has been rebuilt with paths, terraces and restaurants, and herons often fish below the banks.
Loop back through downtown past the Napa Valley Opera House on Main Street, a restored 1880 theater, and the old stone and brick buildings around it. Downtown also has tasting rooms within a few blocks of each other, an option if you would rather walk than drive to wineries.
If you taste wine, one of you drives and does not drink, or you book a car; tasting is for adults 21 and over.
Check in and dinner downtown
Check in at your hotel and give yourselves an hour off before dinner.
Where to eat: dinner at Torc in downtown Napa, walkable from a downtown base, for a relaxed dinner for two. Book a table ahead for a weekend night.
After dinner, walk back along the river, where the riverfront is lit at night.
Where to eat and stop
- Breakfast · The Model Bakery — A pastry or an English muffin and coffee at the Oxbow. Why here: At the Oxbow Public Market in downtown Napa, a pastry and coffee before a walk along the river.
- Lunch · Gott’s Roadside — Burgers or fish tacos at the picnic tables. Why here: At the Oxbow in downtown Napa, an easy, casual lunch for two. Generally well reviewed.
- Dinner · Torc — A relaxed dinner for two downtown. Why here: Downtown Napa, walkable from a downtown base, for a relaxed dinner for two. Well reviewed by visitors.
- Quick stop (snack): Oxbow Public Market — Cheese, olive oil and chocolate to share or take home. Why here: Downtown Napa's food hall, for picking up snacks and local treats to share. Consistently strong reviews from visitors.
San Francisco → downtown Napa by car: about 1¼ hours. The Oxbow Public Market → the First Street Bridge: about 5 minutes on foot. The river walk loop: about 1 hour on foot. Downtown → Torc: about 10 minutes on foot.
Where to stay
- A hotel in downtown Napa — a hotel in the center of town, walkable to the river and the restaurants.
- An inn near the Napa River — or an inn near the Napa River, a short walk from First Street.
Dinner: at Torc in downtown Napa; book ahead.
Tomorrow: Yountville, about 15 minutes by car.
Bad-weather plan
In rain, spend longer under cover at the Oxbow Public Market, then visit the downtown tasting rooms or the shops in the Napa Valley Opera House block instead of the river walk.
Stay: downtown Napa base · Anchor: the Oxbow Public Market · book Torc ahead
Good to know: Downtown Napa has paid and free public parking; check the posted limits.
