Downtown Napa strolls into holiday fun and winter adventures

Wine country’s most walkable destination

Napa, Calif. – Downtown Napa, which was dubbed “The Wine Tasting Room Capital of the World” this year, is the premier Napa Valley experience.

This winter, discover new entertainment, shopping, restaurants and more in wine country’s most walkable destination. Here’s what’s new in the City of Napa this winter.

New Wine Tasting Rooms

• Benevolent Neglect Wines opened a new Downtown Napa tasting room and vinyl lounge that allows guests to enjoy wine in a comfortable and relaxed setting with great music. Benevolent Neglect’s wine making philosophy utilizes minimal intervention to highlight the superior fruit that comes from the vineyards.
• Outer Space Wines is a new wine shop, wine bar and event space in Downtown Napa that specializes in selling tin-production wines from Northern California and Europe. The wine bar offers a well-priced tasting of local wines every day as well as special Friday night tasting events as well as wine-friendly snacks like deviled eggs and cheese plates.
• Wine Girl Napa has opened next to Anette’s Chocolates in Downtown Napa. Wine Girl Napa features rotating wines on tap, a reserved bottle list, beers plus a changing array of food options including bar snacks and flat breads.

New Arts & Entertainment:

• The Meritage Resort and Spa annual Merry Meritage Holiday Ice Rink is open daily through Jan. 8 for guests and locals. Every Tuesday, the resort will host Giving Tuesday Skate Night, where a portion of the ticket sales will be donated to local non-profit organizations. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at meritageresort.com.
• The third annual Archer Hotel Napa holiday pop-up, Up on the Rooftop with Archer, at Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar will take place through Jan. 6. This event will feature a specially curated collection of holiday-themed cocktails, small plates and sweets created by Chef Elizabeth Espirtu, kid-friendly treats, holiday photo-ops and so much more.
• The Napa Valley Wine Train’s 2023 Santa Train will run through Dec. 23. Guests can choose from three new experiences, including Santa’s Cookie Car, Gourmet Holiday Express and the Very Merry Vista Dome. Santa Train experiences start at $75 for children at winetrain.com. Groups of 21 or more people can make a reservation by calling 707-253-0920.
• The Downtown Napa Association will sponsor the first annual Christmas tree decorating contest, Wanderland of Trees, that will run from Dec. 3 to 24. Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite holiday tree while strolling, shopping and sipping around Downtown Napa, and each vote counts as an entry to win a pack of gift cards to Downtown businesses.
• First Street Napa will host a Santa Claus Meet and Greet on Dec. 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to enjoy hot cocoa and drop off a letter to Santa at the Visit Napa Valley Welcome Center. Location is weather dependent.
• From Dec. 30 to Dec. 31, join Les Claypool’s Bastard Jazz with Vinnie Colaiuta, Skerik and Mike Dillon at JaM Cellars Ballroom. Tickets are $65 to $99 on Dec. 30 and $89 to $155 on New Year’s Eve.
• After a two-year hiatus, the 11th Napa Truffle Festival will return Jan. 13 to 16. Attendees will learn firsthand how to cook with truffles from Michelin star and master chefs. Full schedule of events, along with where to purchase tickets can be found at napatrufflefestival.com.
• Celebrate Napa Valley’s agricultural bounty with talented chefs and world class cuisine during Napa Valley Restaurant Week, happening January 20 through January 29.
• The annual Napa Lighted Arts Festival will take place on Jan. 21 to Feb. 19. Walk the streets of Downtown Napa and enjoy a creative arts experience like no other. The Napa Lighted Arts Festival features art from artists around the world and is free to experience.

New Shopping:

• Mustafa Kara opened Marashli Fashion on First Street as the first and only men’s shoe store in Downtown Napa, featuring handmade leather shoes from Turkey. It is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

New Food & Drink:

• Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto opened Morimoto Asia Napa. Located half a block away from Morimoto Napa, Morimoto Asia Napa places more emphasis on Chinese dishes than Morimoto Napa, featuring a range of Asian dishes served alongside cocktails, sake flights and a wine and beer list.
• Pietisserie Holiday Pie Shop is open through Dec. 24 and will offer 15 pies at a seven-week-long brick and mortar pop-up. The menu, developed by Jaynelle St. Jean, aims to satisfy her undying curiosity and craving for pie, merging tase with design.
• Napa Yard’s Miracle Cocktail Bar, a pop-up Christmas cocktail bar, will take place through Dec. 31. Reserve a table for family and friends or gather your team and experience the most joy-filled event in Napa this season.

For more information about Downtown Napa, including lodging, dining, wine tastings, shopping and things to do, visit donapa.com.