Sign InRegister

Napa's dream

A river-centered revival in the heart of Wine Country

By Lisa Taggart
Sunset magazine

Wine tasting rooms and new restaurants have popped up along Napa's riverfront.

• Napa Valley tourism

• Napa Riverfront District

YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS

(Sunset) -- River floods leave fertile soil in their wake, the silver lining to the havoc wrought. But instead of cropland, the Napa River is repaying its namesake city with a revitalized downtown scene.

Though a long-term restoration project is still years from completion, local riverfront culture has already bloomed.

The new gallery-cum-nightclub in the overhauled 1884 Napa Mill complex epitomizes the city's focus on the arts. By day, the space exhibits regional and contemporary artists as MJ Schäer Gallery (9-6 daily; 500 Main St.; 707/251-3726); by night, it jumps as a jazz club, DG's (closed Monday-Wednesday; admission varies; 707/253-8474).

"There's a lot going on here," says Michael Schäer, the gallery's owner. "The whole face of the downtown and riverfront is changing."

Sleek Celadon (lunch Monday-Friday; dinner daily; 500 Main St.; 707/254-9690), with its Mediterranean cuisine, relocated to the Napa Mill in September 2002.

In fact, the business district teems with good choices:

Pilar (lunch Tuesday-Saturday; dinner Monday-Saturday; 807 Main St.; 707/252-4474) has delicious California cuisine with French and Spanish influences; the menu at elegant new Restaurant Budo (lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday; 1650 Soscol Ave.; 707/224-2330) features Asian-accented dishes. Plus, don't miss the gorgeous and extravagantly good cakes at Sweetie Pies (520 Main St.; 707/257-7280).

Of course, all rivers in this valley flow somehow into wine, and tasting rooms have quickly popped up.

Bounty Hunter Rare Wine & Provisions (975 First St.; 707/255-0622) is an old favorite, specializing in uncommon bottles. And the free Napa Downtown Trolley (707/255-7631) means visitors don't have to drive.

Food and wine museum Copia (closed Tuesday; $13; 500 First St.; 707/259-1600) remains the town's anchor; another classic draw is the lovely 1879 Napa Valley Opera House (1030 Main St.; 707/226-7372), which reopened in 2003.

But the place hasn't gone too upscale. A new $15 wine-tasting card promotes savings. With the card, you get 10-cent pours at 10 locations as well as admission to Copia. That's a deal in Napa's resurgent downtown.

Try 2 FREE TRIAL issues of Sunset- CLICK HERE!

Story Tools

Subscribe to Time for $1.99

Home Page

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN

CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

Home Page

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN

CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.