Dine, Taste and Stay in Calistoga

With this unofficial motto, the small town of Calistoga, located at the base of Mount Saint Helena in the northern most tip of the Valley, invites visitors to enjoy the soothing and curative properties of its famed natural hot springs and volcanic mud baths.

These quintessential Calistoga treatments can be enjoyed at spas both casual and chic. Similarly, local restaurants and accommodations range from modest to decadent. In spite of modern transformations, unpretentious Calistoga (a favored spot for hikers and cyclists) retains a rustic charm and offers a glimpse into the wine country of old.

STAY:

Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection: Standalone studios and suites, each with their own furnished patios, are sprinkled throughout the resort’s 22 beautifully and sustainably landscaped gardens. The resort is anchored by its stellar spa and outstanding Solbar restaurant with its twinkle-lit terrace that overlooks the resort’s Insta-worthy Olympic-sized pool, the largest in the Napa Valley.

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Be sure to utilize the complimentary cruiser bikes parked outside your room; pedal your way along Calistoga’s many pathways and charming side streets. 

DINE:

Calistoga Inn & Brewery: Cozy and inviting in the cooler months and a convivial gathering spot during warmer weather, this restaurant and brewery are housed in historic, late 1800’s structures. The vast menu features locally sourced wine country cuisine such as wood fire grilled steaks and seafood.

The wine list features popular labels such as Duckhorn, Shafer, Rombauer, and Frank Family.

Sam’s Social Club: Sam’s serves crowd-pleasing, upscale American fare at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The clubby bar is a popular gathering spot for both visitors and locals. Check-out the nightly specials such as Fried-Chicken Monday and Cioppino Friday. 

Evangeline: This stylish French bistro exudes Creole soul. Transport yourself to New Orleans with bistro favorites like the shrimp étouffée and the gumbo ya-ya. The flavors here are big and bold, and the perfect accompaniment to the list of crafted cocktails, sudsy beers, and enticing wines.

TASTE:

Theorem Vineyards: Perched on the northern slope of Diamond Mountain at 1100 feet above sea level with sweeping views of Mount St. Helena, Theorem offers stylish, by-appointment-only tastings including an outstanding customized VIP wine pairing/gourmet lunch prepared by the winery’s in-house chef Josh Mitchell.

LOLA: At LOLA, bohemian vintner Seth Cripe crafts a classic collection of varietals, including a Sonoma Coast Chardonnay for which Robert Parker awarded 91 points and a ‘Best Buy’ designation. Sample the entire line-up within LOLA’s cozy and quaint tasting cottage, a small brick home on the edge of town. 

Chateau Montelena: This is the winery that put Napa on the map. Its Chardonnay beat out French wines at the 1976 Judgment of Paris where CA wines were pitted against French in a blind tasting. The whole story is captured (somewhat farcically) in the movie “Bottle Shock.” 

DO:

Book a spa treatment at Indian Springs Resort & Spa to receive the full benefits of the region’s storied restorative geothermal waters and volcanic ash.

An Indian Springs Spa mud bath provides total immersion in layers of this ash, followed by a mineral bath soak, a steam (organically created by the geysers), and cool down. This is mud play unlike anything experienced in childhood. Further relax after your treatment at the Spa’s Buddha Pond, a serene refuge encircled by stately palms. 

Whether indulging decadently or modestly, a visit to Calistoga is always sure to relax and revive.