BEST Calisgota Restaurants | Local Wally's Napa Tourist Guide
Where to eat in Calistoga? Local Wally knows the BEST restaurants in Calistoga and Napa, from cheap eats to 5 star dining, eat where the locals do!
Best Places to Eat in Calistoga
Napa's Best Calistoga Dining Guide
There's something charming about Calistoga, a tiny town at the northern tip of Napa Valley. Most famous for its natural hot springs and mud baths, for a long time Calistoga's food scene was frankly not the same caliber as the rest of Napa.
But things have changed and today there are a number of great chefs bringing their game to Calistoga. Dining options run the gamut from some of the best BBQ this side of the Mississippi to gourmet cuisine in trendy dining rooms. It's also home to some of the best picnic spots in the valley, an essential experience when wine tasting in Napa.
And don't worry if you're dining on a budget as Calistoga has a wide range of restaurant options that might not hit the foodie radar but could be exactly what you are looking for after a long day of wine tasting.
AVG. PRICE PER ENTREE: CHEAP EATS $ (<$20), MODERATE $$ ($20 - $30), EXPENSIVE $$$ ($30+), EXTRAVAGANT $$$$ ($50+)
Busters Original Southern Barbeque
Authentic Southern BBQ - Bikers Love It - Cheap Eats $
BBQ fans know that great BBQ is often found in hole in the wall joints where the food, not the decor, is the star. At Busters you'll find the real deal, mouth watering, tender ribs and southern style sides served in a dining room that makes a VFW hall look like a 5 star restaurant. There's nothing fancy here except for the cooking, slow roasted by Buster himself.
Tri-Tip Sandwich is the local favorite but try the pork ribs, smoked to perfection without the "fall off the bone" mistake often praised by less serious BBQ joints. Follow your nose to the smoke, get in line, and get ready to taste the BBQ that easily is the best in Napa and beyond.
Evangeline Napa
Exquisite Napa Dining Experience - Modern French - Moderate $$
A chef focused restaurant serving a mash up of California and French with a touch of New Orleans. The chef has serious kitchen credentials, from cooking at Bouchon, The French Laundry and Solbar. Evangeline Napa elevates Calistoga dining to levels on par with some of Napa's best restaurants. Foodies on a budget take note, this is your stop.
Evangeline is an offshoot from the hip resort Solage and it meets their high standards in every regard. Eclectic menu with everything from burgers to foie gras, a cozy contemporary dining room and welcoming outdoor patio makes Evangeline Napa one of Calistoga's best restaurants.
Sam's Social Club
American Standards in a Contemporary Setting - Moderate $$
Sam Brannan holds a historic place in Calistoga as the man who sought to develop it into a world class resort town. Often noted as California's first millionaire, he died broke years later. Sam's Social Club, an eatery inside the Indian Springs Resort, takes Sam's namesake and delivers a memorable dining experience with well executed American fare.
The inside dining room is spacious and modern but the tree shaded patio with fire pits and a natural geyser-fed fountain outside is the place to be for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Food is solid, perhaps not as inventive as some Napa restaurants but certainly not lacking in quality and execution.
Solbar
Innovative Napa Cuisine - Inside the Solage Resort - Expensive $$$
One of the trendiest restaurants in one of Napa's trendiest resorts, Solbar has become a dining destination that has people driving from all around the valley to experience. Part of the attraction are the dining areas, inside and out, which offer a upscale vibe and a contemporary setting.
Menu is farm fresh and seasonal, divided into two categories - healthy and hearty. Those looking to be part of the scene without the full scale dining experience should head to the bar and lounge where there are pizzas, tacos, burgers, and other upscale bar offerings for an attractive price. Clearly one of the best dining experiences in the valley.
AVG. PRICE PER ENTREE: CHEAP EATS $ (<$20), MODERATE $$ ($20 - $30), EXPENSIVE $$$ ($30+), EXTRAVAGANT $$$$ ($50+)
Calistoga Kitchen
Charming cottage with inviting outdoor patio in prime location. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Food is above average, a good pick when nice ambiance is important. Moderate $$
Hydro Bar & Grill
Nice ambiance in a historic building, Hydro Bar and Grill is a neighborhood watering hole with terrific bar food, from great burgers to top notch ribs. Live music some nights. Cheap Eats $
