carries excellent cheeses, charcuterie, bread,
olives and wine. There are tables outside, but
ask where to picnic nearby.
St Helena 5
5 Farmstead Modern American $$$
(%707-963-9181; http://www.farmsteadnapa.com;
738 Main St; mains $16-26; h11:30am-9pm)
A cavernous open-truss barn with big leather
booths and rocking-chair porch, Farmstead
grows many of its own ingredients – including
grass-fed beef – for its earthy menu that
highlights wood-fired cooking.
5 Gott’s Roadside
(Taylor’s Auto Refresher) Burgers $$
(%707-963-3486; http://www.gottsroadside.com;
933 Main St; dishes $8-15; h10:30am-9pm; c)
Wiggle your toes in the grass and feast on all-
natural burgers, Cobb salads and fried calamari
at this classic roadside drive-in, whose original
name, ‘Taylor’s Auto Refresher,’ is still listed on
the roadside sign. Avoid big weekend waits by
calling in your order.
4 El Bonita Motel Motel $$
(%707-963-3216; http://www.elbonita.com; 195 Main
St; $119-179; aiWs#) Book in advance
to secure a room at this sought-after motel,
with up-to-date rooms (quietest are in back),
attractive grounds, hot tub and sauna.
4 Meadowood Resort $$$
(%707-963-3646; http://www.meadowood.com; 900
Meadowood Lane; r from $600; aiWsc)
Hidden in a wooded dell with towering pines
and miles of hiking, Napa’s grandest resort
has cottages and rooms in satellite buildings
surrounding a croquet lawn. We most like the
hillside fireplace cottages; lawn-view rooms lack
privacy but are good for families, with space
to play outside. The vibe is country club, with
white-clapboard buildings reminiscent of New
England.
Calistoga 6
5 Calistoga Inn & Brewery American $$
(%707-942-4101; http://www.calistogainn.com; 1250
Lincoln Ave; lunch mains $9-13, dinner mains $14-
26; h11:30am-3pm & 5:30-9pm) Locals crowd
the outdoor beer garden on Sundays. Midweek
we prefer the country dining room and its big
oakwood tables, a homey spot for pot roast
and other simple American dishes. There’s live
music on summer weekends.5 Jolé Californian $$
(%707-942-5938; http://www.jolerestaurant.com; 1457
Lincoln Ave; mains $15-20; h5-9pm Sun-Thu,
to 10pm Fri & Sat) The earthy and inventive
farm-to-table small plates at chef-owned Jolé
evolve seasonally, and may include such dishes
as local sole with tangy miniature Napa grapes,
caramelized Brussels sprouts with capers, and
organic Baldwin apple strudel with burnt-
caramel ice cream. Four courses cost $50.
Reservations essential.4 Dr Wilkinson’s Motel
& Hideaway Cottages Motel, Cottage $$
(%707-942-4102; http://www.drwilkinson.com; 1507
Lincoln Ave; r $149-255, cottages $165-270;
aWs) This good-value vintage-1950s
motel has well-kept rooms facing a swimming-
pool courtyard. No hot tub, but three pools
(one indoors) and mud baths. Dr Wilkinson’s
also rents simple stand-alone cottages, with
kitchens, at the affiliated Hideaway Cottages.4 Indian Springs Resort Resort $$$
(%707-942-4913; http://www.indianspringscalistoga.
com; 1712 Lincoln Ave; motel r $229-299,
bungalow $259-349, 2-bedroom bungalow $359-
419; aWsc) The definitive old-school
Calistoga resort, Indian Springs has bungalows
facing a central lawn with palm trees,
shuffleboard, bocce, hammocks and Weber
grills – not unlike a vintage Florida resort. Some
bungalows sleep six. There are also top-end
motel-style rooms and a huge hot-springs-fed
swimming pool.NORTHERN.CALIFORNIA.5
.NAPAVALLEY