From stylish stays and fantastic food to award winning wines and luxury spas, the small town of St. Helena has just about everything you’d ever want in a Wine Country getaway.
Known as Napa’s “Main Street,” St. Helena is near the heart of the valley, and it played a major role in putting it on the map: The region’s first ever wineries were established here, and today the area has more than 150 of them and its own appellation.
St. Helena is 150 years old this year, and there are going to be plenty of anniversary celebrations, including an epic block party on September 5th and a special homecoming parade in October.
Our modern guide will help you figure out where to stay, what to eat, where to taste, and more when you come to join the party.
Where to Stay in St. Helena
Harvest Inn
(Courtesy of Harvest Inn)
Harvest Inn
Harvest Inn is right next to the highway at the southern end of St. Helena, and the resort’s 320 redwood trees make this spot feel like a sheltered oasis. When you combine that with the timber and brick buildings and gardens, the whole eight-acre property feels like it’s out of a storybook. The 81 rooms are all unique. The aptly named Vineyard View rooms overlook the neighboring vineyards, and many of them have private hot tubs. Many of the rooms also have fireplaces, some of them wood burning, and they all feature the resort’s signature unique brickwork. In each of them, a bottle of Whitehall Lane’s Tre Leoni Red Wine will be waiting for you when you check in..
Harvest Inn’s lobby and the Harvest Table restaurant got renovated this spring, and there are two pools, including one that’s just for adults, as well as a bocce court and fire pits. They’ve got a driver in the afternoons and early evenings who can drop you off and pick you up around town—ideal if you’re planning multiple wine tastings. // 1 Main St., harvestinn.com
Alila Napa Valley
What was once Las Alcobas Napa Valley became Alila Napa Valley in 2021. On the grounds of the Beringer Estate, the hotel is all about quiet luxury; kids aren’t technically banned, but the resort bills itself as “tailored to adult guests.” Some of the 64 rooms and suites can be found in the historic Acacia House, which dates to 1905. Others have views of Beringer Vineyards or the tree-lined York Creek from floor to ceiling windows. All the rooms have marble bathrooms, and some feature outdoor bathtubs and fire pits. A soak with a view is the perfect way to unwind after a long day of wine country explorations. // 1915 Main St., hyatt.com/alila-hotels-and-resorts
Wydown Hotel
Wydown Hotel is in the heart of Main Street; you can’t miss the large oak tree mural that takes up the entire side of the two-story building. Each morning, guests at this 12-bedroom hotel get a complimentary continental breakfast in the Tea Room, and each afternoon, there’s fresh baked cookies. It’s a stylish getaway for adults with a curated art collection put together by the owner Mark Hoffmeister, which includes works by San Francisco-based artist Gary E. Blum. // 1424 Main St., wydownhotel.com
Meadowood Napa Valley
Tucked up in the oak forested hills to the north of St. Helena, Meadowood Napa Valley opened as a private country club in the 1960s. This picturesque 250-acre estate now has 36 rooms, suites, and cottages, many of which have private patios and porches, and some with soaking tubs and wood burning fireplaces. The Glass Fire of 2020 hit the estate and surrounding area hard, but the resort rebuilt and reclaimed its position as one of Napa Valley’s most idyllic.
Meadowood is a true destination resort that you don’t have to leave to have a good time. It has three swimming pools, including one specifically for families, and one for adults. There are five tennis courts and two tennis pros available to help you up your game, and they have bikes that you can borrow to explore the area. The resort also has miles of trails with great views of the valley and a stone labyrinth on the southernmost. Tasting classes are held at the Wine Center for guests and members to help you better appreciate the region’s complexities. // 900 Meadowood Ln., meadowood.com
Where to Eat in St. Helena
Model Bakery
(Courtesy of @modelbakery)
Since the A&W on Main Street—which had been in operation since 1966—closed its doors at the end of March, there are no longer any national chain restaurants in St. Helena. What you can find are a number of small but incredible eateries, many of which take advantage of the abundance of the valley’s farms, ranches, and gardens. With the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone right in town, it makes sense there’s so much good food in a town of only around 6,000 people.
Cook St. Helena
It’s not very often that a restaurant is closed on the weekends, but that’s the case with Cook St. Helena. This small bistro is dedicated to feeding the community, serving Northern Italian-inspired dishes like mussels and housemade pasta for lunch and dinner, Monday to Friday. With its focus on fresh ingredients and flavors, Cook has firmly established itself as a popular spot with locals. When you’re as good as they are, you don’t need the weekend crowd. // 1310 Main St., cooksthelena.com
Model Bakery
Oprah has given Model Bakery her seal of approval: their English muffins have made her annual “Favorite Things” list multiple times. The flagship store in St. Helena has been in business since 1908, and it still has ovens from the 1920s where they make 5,000 English muffins every day along with cookies, pies, breads, and more. Don’t miss the breakfast sandwich, the famous English muffin filled with scrambled eggs, Canadian bacon, and cheddar cheese. // 1315 N Main St., themodelbakery.com
Harvest Table at Harvest Inn
You don’t have to be a guest at the Harvest Inn to stop by for breakfast, dinner, or the weekend brunch at Harvest Table. Dine indoors or outside on the patio on a menu made up of elevated comfort food, like campfire trout and chicken schnitzel; on Sunday evenings, there’s a prime rib dinner special. The inn has a series of special dining events throughout the year, including a popular Cigar Dinner series that runs each month from March to November, as well as dinners with local chefs and winemakers where you’ll sample some of the best they have to offer in a bucolic setting out amidst the vines. // 1 Main St., harvesttablenapa.com
Press
Press is currently the only Michelin-starred restaurant in St. Helena. (The Restaurant at Meadowood, which had three stars, hasn’t yet reopened after the Glass Fire.) Press is open for dinner throughout the week, and you can choose from a chef’s tasting menu ($195/person), a four-course prix fixe menu ($150/person), or a la carte options in the lounge. It’s one of those places that gets a lot of hype and truly delivers, with inventive and refined dishes like oxheart carrot with abalone XO sauce, sweet and sour pig ears, and American wagyu steak tartare with sunchoke chili crisp. Plus, it has the most extensive restaurant wine list in Napa Valley with 10,000 bottles in its collection. // 587 St. Helena Hwy, pressnapavalley.com
The Charter Oak
Another often lauded Napa Valley restaurant is The Charter Oak. Co-owned by Michelin-starred chef Christopher Kostow, the restaurant has a chic farmhouse vibe, and it’s all about seasonal, local ingredients. It takes what would seem like a simple dish like bread and butter, for example, and makes it into something special with locally sourced and milled flour. // 1050 Charter Oak Ave., thecharteroak.com
Gott’s Roadside
The St. Helena restaurant scene isn’t entirely focused on fine dining. The burger stand along Main Street that’s now Gott’s Roadside first opened as Taylor’s Refresher in 1949, and the sign still stands. While you can now find Gott’s locations around the Bay Area, this was the first. It serves a variety of gourmet burgers, sandwiches, sides, and homespun shakes, well as craft beer and local wines. As a testament to the quality, there’s often a line to order, but things move quickly, and it won’t be long before you’re enjoying your meal out on one of their red picnic tables. // 933 Main St., gotts.com
Charlie’s
Locally sourced, globally-inspired Charlie’s is an incredible recent addition to St. Helena’s food scene. Chef-owner Elliot Bell has a way of making comfort foods feel one of a kind. Seafood is one of many bright spots on the menu and you can try several timely delicacies in the aptly named seafood party. Tasty cocktails—mostly uncomplicated drinks with crowd-pleasing flavors like passionfruit, poblano, and burnt cinnamon—accompany a strong wine list full of both local and Old World vintages. // 1327 Railroad Ave., charliesnv.com
Violetto and Salvia Terrace & Bar at Alila Napa Valley
The fine dining restaurant at Alila Napa Valley is Violetto. Inside a renovated mansion from 1907, it’s open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday with four- and eight-course tasting menus with French and Italian flavors. For something a bit more casual but still elevated, Salvia Terrace & Bar is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s the ideal place for happy hour with small bites like oysters, aged duck ragu, and housemade pickles. // 1915 Main St., hyatt.com/alila-hotels-and-resorts
Where to Taste Wine in St. Helena
Beringer Vineyards
(Courtesy of @beringervyds)
Charles Krug
Founded in 1861, Charles Krug was the first winery in Napa Valley. Rows of olive trees and vines lead you to the Redwood Cellar tasting room, where there’s a range of appointment-only tasting and food pairing experiences, from the $50 Estate Tasting that features four limited-production cabernets to the $150 Caviar and Wine Pairing. Thursday through Sunday, you can get a wood-fired pizza to go with your tasting. // 2800 Main St., charleskrug.com
Beringer Vineyards
While Charles Krug may have opened first, Beringer Vineyards lays claim to being Napa Valley’s longest continuously operating winery. It opened in 1876—the same year that St. Helena was founded. Beringer made wine for the Catholic Church during Prohibition and shipped grape juice that came with instructions for making it into wine. It’s got several different tours tailored to a variety of tastes. If you’re more of a wine connoisseur, the Collectors’ Experience lets you sample some of their rare cabernet sauvignon in the historic Rhine House, the stunning 17-room Victorian mansion built for Frederick Beringer in the 1870s. The Estate Tour & Tasting is perfect for anyone who loves history, taking you through hand-dug wine caves and estate grounds filled with impressive gardens. // 2000 Main St., beringer.com
Hall St. Helena
One of the most recognizable features of St. Helena is the 15-foot-tall and 35-foot-long “Bunny Foo Foo” statue made out of stainless steel near the southern end of town. It’s just one of the pieces of art on the 33-acre Hall Wines property at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains. Craig and Kathryn Hall are as in love with it as they are with wine, and you can find all kinds of sculptures and installations around the winery. While reservations are recommended, you can also walk in for a tasting of their award-winning cabernet sauvignon or grab a glass at the bar. // 401 St Helena Hwy South, hallwines.com
Clif Family Winery
The Clif family doesn’t just make Clif Bars, they also make easy-drinking, food-friendly, organic reds, whites, and rosés. The tasting room on Main Street has a bar and an outdoor patio where you can get a flight or a glass or two, and is stocked with other Clif treats like the savory nut mixes, organic jams, and honey. All the wine tastings include a food pairing from the Clif Family Bruschetteria food truck right outside. It’s open Wednesday to Sunday and serves tasty dishes like fungi bruschetta and polenta tots—which are practically addictive, especially when you add their homemade ranch. Wednesdays, they serve a special themed menu that changes each week and really lets the chef and staff show off their skills. // 709 Main St., cliffamily.com
Benessere Vineyards
As you drive north from St. Helena towards Calistoga, you’ll notice the iconic 1949 red Chevy truck on the east side of the road. It’s outside the appointment-only tasting room at Benessere Vineyards, a 43-acre winery that specializes in Italian wines, like sangiovese and varieties like sagrantino and aglianico that you can’t really find anywhere else in Napa Valley. They pair delightfully with the cheese plate, which you can add to your tasting and enjoy out on the patio overlooking the vines. Benessere is currently owned by the Benish family, who bought it from Charles Shaw (of Trader Joe’s “Two Buck Chuck”) in 1994. The winery is going up for auction in May, though the family hopes that the new owner will keep the focus on award-winning Italian wines. // 1010 Big Tree Rd., benesserevineyards.com
V. Sattui Winery
V. Sattui Winery is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Vittorio Sattui first founded it in 1885, and his great-grandson Dario Sattui reopened it in 1976. The renovated Mercato Del Gusto, a combination marketplace and tasting room, opened last September. Inspired by Italian food halls, it has a 26-foot-long cheese wall as well as house-cured salami, custom chocolates, and deli sandwiches to enjoy out at their picnic tables. V. Sattui is open daily for tastings, and you can also get wines by the glass. // 1111 White Lane, vsattui.com
Where to Get Outdoors in St. Helena
Moore Creek Park
(Courtesy of Visit Napa Valley)
Biking
To explore Napa Valley on two wheels, you can rent a bike from St. Helena Cyclery (1156 Main St.). They have both hybrid and e-bikes available, and can drop them off for you wherever you’re staying. Napa Valley Bike Tours has a rental location at Charles Krug Winery with cruiser bikes and e-bikes. They’ve also got packages in partnership with Napa Valley Balloons out of Yountville, so you can get an up in the air, bucket list view of Wine Country.
One popular place to ride is along the Napa Valley Vine Trail. This wide, paved trail will eventually run 47 miles all the way from the Vallejo Ferry Terminal up to Calistoga. Thirty-three miles are completed, including the approximately eight-and-a-half miles from St. Helena to Calistoga through the vineyards, a particularly picturesque journey.
Moore Creek Park (2602 Chiles Pope Valley Rd.) is in the hills east of downtown St. Helena near Lake Hennessy. This 2,100 acre park has more than 20 miles of trails through a mix of oak woodlands, grasslands, and forest. For some of the best views out over the valley that still leaves time for wine tastings, try the approximately 4.5-mile loop from the Valentine Vista Trail to the Moore Creek Trail. It’s especially lovely in spring when the wildflowers are in bloom.
Where to Get a Spa Treatment in St. Helena
Spa at Meadowood
(Courtesy of @meadowoodnapavalley)
Spa Alila
This luxe spa offers an impressive range of massages, body treatments, and facials, including seasonal options like the vineyard rose scrub and a lavender and honey couple’s treatment. Additional experiences, from forest bathing amidst the redwoods to blending your own custom scent with local botanicals, really help make this spa into a standout wellness destination. Plus, many of the products are bespoke and/or made locally, like the self-care ritual packages put together by Be Here Farm + Nature and Flwr Napa Valley perfumes. // 1915 Main St., hyatt.com/alila-hotels-and-resorts
Spa at Meadowood
One of the best features of the Spa at Meadowood is that every treatment room is a full suite with its own steam shower and lounge area. There are also specialty baths in the Tree House Retreat that have fireplaces and hand hammered copper tubs. Try the mustard bath if you’re looking for a detox or feeling under the weather, or the milk bath if you want your skin to feel silky and smooth. // 900 Meadowood Lane, meadowood.com/spa
Health Spa Napa Valley
Right in the heart of downtown, Health Spa Napa Valley has a lap pool, eucalyptus steam rooms, and a fitness center. Book a body treatment, massage, or facial to feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Guests at the Southbridge Napa Valley hotel next door can use some of the amenities for free. // 1030 Main St., healthspanapavalley.com
Where to Shop in St. Helena
Olivier Napa Valley
(Kristin Conard)
Wild Plum Books
Wild Plum Books is a small but mighty independent bookstore that has something for readers of every age and taste, including a nice selection of cookbooks. This charming spot also has toys and games for kids. // 1315 Main St., wildplumbooks.com
Hartford House
From earrings made with invasive lionfish leather by Brackish out of South Carolina to high-end safari luggage by Melvill and Moon from South Africa, Hartford House (formerly Pennyweight) has an impressively curated collection of items. Owners Helen and John Thompson are world travelers, and they’ve brought their impeccable taste and style to this eclectic, colorful shop stocked with everything you didn’t know you needed, but have always wanted. // 1337 Main St., hartfordhouse.com
Woodhouse Chocolate
The heady scent of quality chocolate washes over you as you walk into Woodhouse Chocolate. They make small batch European-style chocolates; the truffles are a classic and the peanut butter cups are some of the best you’ll ever taste. They also host hands-on classes where you can make custom chocolate bars or filled truffles. // 1367 Main St., woodhousechocolate.com
Olivier Napa Valley
Olivier Napa Valley has been a mainstay on Main Street since 1999. This beloved spot has a French inspired collection of high-end culinary and bath products. Try the olive oil before you buy from the large copper tins along one wall, and stock up on locally-made snacks, savory and sweet sauces, and dips. // 1375 Main St., oliviernapavalley.com
St. Helena Farmers’ Market
Find everything from fresh cut flowers and free-range beef to local raw natural honey and glass art at the St. Helena Farmers’ Market in Crane Park. There’s also prepared food from around the world, including Filipino pastries, Chinese street food, French macarons, and Austin-style breakfast tacos. The market’s been a tradition since 1986, and it’s held on Fridays from May to October. // 360 Crane Ave., sthelenafarmersmkt.org
