Mixing up cocktails for the Napa scene
By Eduardo Dingler
Long gone are the days when Downtown Napa was a quaint spot where locals went to replenish provisions, do business at the post office or watch a movie. In my 20 years of living here the city has reinvented itself and invigorated the heart of the county with a buzzing appeal that attracts visitors from all parts of the world.
Who remembers Nick Cervone from Cervone and Son Tailors shop, a staple on Second Street; the grand post office; or when McCloud’s on the First Street Plaza was the place to shop for clothes? Or when Giovannoni’s Market on Brown Street was where everyone went for meats and produce and Henry’s was the late-night spot?
Since then the landscape downtown has transitioned. Restaurants including Angèle, Celadon and Morimoto Napa and hotels such as Andaz Napa and the Westin paved the way for shifting the energy away from Yountville and St. Helena.
Then slowly we saw the growth of the wine bars and tasting rooms. The two that led the pack were Cadet and Compline, which have managed to capture the attention of locals and tourists alike as places for those in the know. Be Bubbly on Second Street, with a firm focus on the sparkling wines of the world, and more recently Outer Space Wines with Dan Dawson’s expertise behind it add to the possibilities.
At the same time a boom of wineries setting up shop downtown quickly grew to more than 30 tasting rooms blanketing the main arteries in the heart of town. They include John Anthony Vineyards, Alpha Omega Collective, Keplinger Wines and Gambling & McDuck as well as newcomers Benevolent Neglect on Second Street and the upcoming Folklore Napa on the horizon among others.
Celebrating cocktails
A decade ago it was nearly impossible to find elevated mixology at many establishments. Now that has changed, too, and a number of spots celebrate this cocktail culture. Recognizing the need for variety and in an effort to solidify and celebrate Downtown Napa as a world-class destination, many places have opened and more are to come.
There were some iterations that could have been just a tad ahead of their time. These places worth remembering include Fagiani’s, NineBark, Gran Electrica and Miminashi They left us too soon, and I miss them.
Classic downtown restaurants with cocktail programs now include these:
Andaz Mercantile, old-school and innovative drinks, not your average hotel-lobby bar
Angèle, French-inspired with fresh ingredients
Bounty Hunter, a brown-spirit-centric focus to match the atmosphere
Carpe Diem, a wide and ever-changing seasonal mixology selection
Celadon, a continental menu with the excitement in the cocktails to match
Charlie Palmer Steakhouse, located inside the Archer Hotel and serving whiskey- driven original cocktails
Cole’s Chop House, a classic steakhouse lineup with all the nostalgic drinks from Manhattan to gin martini
Don Perico, margaritas and micheladas that hit the spot
Downtown Joe’s, if there’s a time and place for shots, you’ve found it
Eiko’s, imaginative twists on classics with Japanese ingredients
Morimoto Napa, whimsical mix of Asian and seasonal ingredients
Norman Rose Tavern, all the spirits you would expect to go with the hearty fare
Oenotri, thoughtfully Southern Italian
Torc, classic spirited cocktails such as Paper Planes and Boulevardier properly done
Ristorante Allegria, classic Italian with a California twist
Opened recently
Some have opened recently and are already enjoying a loyal following.
ArBaretum, the place to see and be seen, meticulously curated cocktails with layers of ingredients and impressive visuals
C Casa, elevated margaritas and a deep agave selection
Hank’s an inspiring collection of elaborate cocktails with global ingredients
Kitchen Door, Americana cocktails to complement the worldly fare
La Taberna/Zuzu, a gin-centric program with an undeniable Spanish feel and celebratory atmosphere
Los Agaves Napa, a breathtaking bar that captures the imagination with a deep agave list and fruit-forward cocktails to match
Morimoto Asia Napa, whimsical Asian-inspired concoctions
Napa Palisades Saloon, an homage to the old-school saloon with plenty of TVs to watch games and a variety of thoughtful cocktails
Ox and the Fox, a lively locals’ spot in the heart of downtown
Scala Osteria, a trip to the Amalfi coast via the fare and drink list that includes the Sorrento Smile and the Capo Spritz
Sky and Vine, at the Archer Hotel, sip a variety of classics and original mixes of agave, whiskey and vodka creations with a view
Tarla Mediterranean Grill offers a mix of Greek brandy cocktails as well as tequila and local whiskey cocktails
The Fink, in the hands of man-about-town Judd Finklestein (Judd’s Hill Winery, FOAM) along with celebrated mixologist, baker and historian Andrew Salazar taking over the spot at the former Silo’s Bar
The Q, a selection of classic cocktails to accompany the Southern barbecue
Waterfront Seafood Grill, a haven for locals with classic spirit-forward drinks
Wilfred’s Lounge, tiki-inspired with balance and fresh ingredients
Upcoming openings
Upcoming and highly anticipated openings happening soon include:
Chispa, with the powerful team behind the Cadet Wine Bar, headed by Aubrey Bailey and Taylor Kindred, opening on First Street where Exertec Fitness once lived
The Haven, a speakeasy at CIA Copia with details to come
Eduardo Dingler is a Napa Valley-based wine writer, wine judge and sake aficionado. Follow Dingler’s sake journey @sakedrinker.
Sad times when we don't even remember the names. The department store on First St. was McCullough's!
In many ways I long for the old downtown Napa.