< Top 10 of Everything

Top 10Places to Eat



View map

1Market

Stone walls and a polished dark-wood bar that came from the Palace Hotel in San Francisco set a sophisticated tone at this moderately priced pub-restaurant in the heart of St. Helena. Chef-owner Eduardo Martínez conjures up delicious comfort food from market-fresh products.

  • 1347 Main St., St. Helena, 94574
  • 707 963 3799
  • Open 11:30am–9pm Mon–Thu, 11:30am–10pm Fri & Sat, 10am–9pm Sun
  • $55–$80

2Zin Restaurant & Wine Bar

TopTen

Interior, Zin Restaurant & Wine Bar

Zin is a favorite for casual fine dining, thanks to its eclectic seasonal menu of American classic dishes focusing on local fresh ingredients, many pulled straight from the restaurant’s own garden. Hearty Zin wines accompany meatloaf, grilled lamb chops, and heaps of garlic mashed potatoes, enjoyed in minimalist surrounds (For further details see Zin Restaurant & Wine Bar).

3Angèle

TopTen

Angèle restaurant

In the historic 1890 ship’s chandlery on the Napa riverfront, Angèle’s bar-brick walls and timber beamed roof evoke the traditional ambience of a French country brasserie. Opt for the main dining room, bar, or riverside terrace to enjoy French bistro fare such as pâtés and bœuf bourguignon, plus seasonal salads.

4Estate

A restaurant with soul, Estate (formerly called The General’s Daughter) serves up Italian-inspired dishes. Located in the historic Victorian home of General Mariano Vallejo’s daughter on Sonoma Plaza, this restaurant offers a rewarding dining experience.

5Mustards Grill

A stone’s throw north of Yountville, Mustards Grill has been a Napa Valley institution for three decades. Billing itself as an upscale truckstop diner, it serves sophisticated globe-spanning dishes including classic American fare and such specialities as seared ahi tuna, and BBQ baby-back ribs.

6The French Laundry

Housed in a 19th-century former saloon, this French-California restaurant is considered one of the top restaurants in the country thanks to owner-chef Thomas Keller’s creative genius and sublime execution. Diners get a choice of two nine-course tasting menus costing $240 per person; sittings can last for 4 hours (For further details see The French Laundry).

7ZuZu

Small and cozy, this tapas restaurant in Napa’s revitalized downtown district has an atmospheric feel, enhanced by the décor: exposed red-brick walls, aged wood beams, faded colonial floor tiles, and a weathered Mexican tin ceiling. Its menu features Mediterranean and Californian tapas made using organic and sustainable produce, seafood and meats (For further details see ZuZu).

8Cyrus

Patrons dress up to eat at this fine-dining fusion restaurant, a favorite of the local celebrity A-list. Superstar owner-chef Douglas Keane oversees impeccable attentive service, and orchestrates his tasting menu like a symphony. It builds, dish by tiny dish, to a dramatic crescendo that guarantees a magical meal (For further details see Cyrus).

9Petite Syrah

This elegant “industrial”-style restaurant in the charming historic Railroad Square district has gained national stature for its soul-satisfying comfort food that celebrates the best of Sonoma County. The monthly menu might include Sonoma County foie gras with caramelized rhubarb, or grilled T-bone steak with fried crayfish and truffled baked potato (For further details see Petite Syrah).

10Applewood Inn

Tucked upstairs at the secluded Applewood Inn, this cozy and romantic Michelin starred restaurant recalls a French farmhouse, where diners look down on to a courtyard. The cuisine weds French influences with California ingredients, such as halibut with braised artichoke and wild mushroom ragout. Applewood also hosts special event dinners.

  • 13555 California 116, Guerneville, 95446
  • 707 869 9093
  • Open 5:30–8:30pm Wed–Sun
  • $40–$55