At the southern end of Napa Valley sits the easily accessible Carneros Resort. Many of my friends have driven right on by it, not knowing what stunning amenities hide behind a modest exterior along Highway 12 in the Carneros Region. So I’ll give you a reason to go visit, and maybe to come back later for longer. I like recommending this day trip because it can be done in any order: starting with breakfast or ending with dinner. Me, I’m a lunch kinda guy. Whichever you choose, you’ll visit the Carneros Resort, the Oxbow Market, and Walt Wines in Downtown Napa. There are many food and activity options within those areas, but here’s my suggestion for this time:
Where to Go: You’ve probably driven by The Carneros Resort a number of times if you’ve visited the area. All you really see from the road on Highway 12 is the Boon Fly Cafe. What you don’t see is the entrance to the Carneros Resort hiding right behind it. If you’re headed east from Napa toward Sonoma on Highway 12, you can pull into the Boon Fly (on your right) to start your day with Breakfast. But that won’t tell you what’s on the other side of those walls you’ll see there.
To get to the Resort while going East, continue past the Boon Fly and take your next right turn, then turn right again. You’ll find the FARM restaurant and some bocce ball courts and a small market. Continue around that, and you’ll come to the reception parking area and front desk of the resort. Park there and enjoy a lunch or dinner at FARM, or cocktails on their terrific patio. Or walk back over and have breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Boon Fly.
What to Eat: For your breakfast at the Boon Fly Cafe, try the fresh made mini donuts or the home made Corn Beef Hash. Or Anything. Frankly, it’s all great. Same goes for the very upscale and date-worthy FARM. But if you’re not hungry, you can do a spa day here or just walk up to the pool are where there is a bar (for later in the day). Check out the amazing farm-cottage style individual rooms spread round this beautiful 27-acre resort. We like to stay here in the roomy private residences and hang out as late as we can at the pool, spa, or the chairs overlooking Napa Valley.
But since this day trip is about the breakfast first, go have a leisurely late breakfast at the Boon Fly Cafe. Then walk around the resort for 20-30 minutes to decide what you’ll do when you come back again. Then head off to a wine tasting at Walt Winery across from the Oxbow Market in Downtown Napa.
What to do: From the Resort, head back West on Highway 12, North on Highway 29 and into the City of Napa. Set your navigation to the Oxbow Market and explore the fun shops and restaurants. If you didn’t have breakfast and you went straight to the market or want lunch before sipping wine, you’ve got some great options under one roof. Gott’s Roadside is a classic and I always get the California Burger. But another go-to is C Casa, with fresh takes on classic Mexican favorites. We often get the Crab Taco or the Carnitas (one taco is a meal, two if you’re hungry enough!). It’s a popular spot, but don’t let the line fool you, they serve up pretty fast! You can have a beer here or grab one from Fieldwork Brewing. Oxbow also houses another location of my favorite Oyster place, Hog Island Oyster Company (featured in another of my Day’ve Trips here)
Adult Beverage Option: Walt Wines has become my number-one go-to supplier to my wine fridge. This is mostly because they make an amazing variety of Pinot Noirs from vineyards all up and down the West Coast. But also because they have great people working there. From the talented winemaker, Megan Gunderson, to every single person in all their tasting rooms. We’ve been to them all and while it’s hard to pick a favorite, the Walt Wines Oxbow location, in the cute blue house directly across from the Oxbow Market, is hard to beat. Great location.
Several of my favorite wine-experience people work there and always make you feel welcome and informed (I’m looking at you, Jeannette Sillett and Angus Chiang). My favorite Pinot Noir here is probably the Clos Pepe or the Sierra Mar, but Bob’s Ranch, The Corners, Shea Vineyard, and Brown Ranch are all part of our standard “rotation” (I mentioned that I like Pinot Noir, right?). Make a reservation!
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