St. Helena

Nicknamed “Napa Valley’s Main Street,” the downtown area of the charming wine-country town of St. Helena (map) brims with lovely little shops, art galleries, and precious cafés set in historic buildings. It’s all nicely walkable within its primary half-mile-long core, so you can browse gourmet food emporiums, fashion boutiques, and candy stores (try the mendiants, tiny discs of chocolates studded with nuts and dried fruits, at Woodhouse Chocolate). You’ll find free parking, public restrooms and tourist information at the welcome center. 

Where to Go Wine Tasting in St. Helena

Downtown St. Helena is ringed with wineries, including one of the locations where it all began: Charles Krug Winery, which opened for public tastings in 1882, and is home to California's very first tasting room. Another must-visit is the iconic Merryvale Vineyards, which was the first winery in the valley to open after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. The Clif Family Winery—yes, the same owners of the energy bar company—offers tastings of small-production wines, as well as wine-and-food pairings and the more casual option of the Clif Family Bruschetteria Food Truck. Another good stop is Hall Wines, which showcases spectacular edgy art, sculptures, and a “glass house” tasting room. (Be sure to greet mascot Bunny Foo Foo, a 35-foot-tall stainless-steel rabbit at the winery entry.) The St. Helena area is also brimming with grape-harvest events and vineyard activities, such as grape stompings, estate tours, and more. Check the events calendar, too, when planning your trip.

Where to Stay and Eat in St. Helena

The compact downtown also includes the Harvest Inn, of which the renowned contemporary Harvest Table restaurant is a part, as well as the Alila Napa Valley Hotel & Spa. The expansive yet intimate 250-acre Meadowood Napa Valley features 36 elegant suites and rooms, with an award-winning spa and Wine Center where you can learn about the area’s viticulture history. Start your visit with a welcome glass of wine at the Terrace Café and don’t miss the onsite restaurant, Forum, which sources its seasonal dishes from the Meadowood gardens and surrounding communities. For more on these and other exceptional lodging options, check out this article from the local St. Helena Blog.

Get a front-row seat to the making of the next generation of top chefs at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. The school invites visitors to explore its historic 19th-century building and grounds (don’t miss the fascinating collection of corkscrews on permanent display). After, sit down to an evening meal from the hands of the school’s future culinary masters at the on-site restaurant, Gatehouse Restaurant. If you prefer a meal from a team with a proven track record, look no further than Charlie’s, which is owned by former French Laundry executive sous-chef Elliot Bell and a volunteer firefighter. Within a few minutes’ walk from Charlie’s you’ll find The Model Bakery, known for its 100-year-old brick ovens and baguettes, and Station Pizza.

No trip to St. Helena is complete without an open-air meal at Gott’s Roadside which, despite its middle-of-nowhere-sounding name, is mere blocks from downtown. Indulge in James Beard–award winning American classics with a California twist, including the burger with a fried egg, Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich (with turmeric-harissa mayo) and Ahi Poke Crispy Tacos. Before getting back on the road, snap a photo at the restaurant’s famous EAT St. Helena sign. Read about more of the city’s exceptional dining options here.

One great stop between meals and wine tastings: the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, next to the local library. In 1880, the future author of Treasure Island was in the area on his honeymoon, and found an abandoned shack in Silverado, then a remote mining ghost town on Mount Saint Helena. Penniless, he lived there with his bride for many weeks. In 1883, he published a memoir of his stay, The Silverado Squatters. Today, many of his artifacts are on display at the museum. You can also work up a sweat while visiting of Robert Louis Stevenson State Park; a five-mile trail through rough terrain to the summit of Mt. St. Helena will lead you to a vantage point from which much of the San Francisco Bay Area is visible.

Shopping in St. Helena

The shopping district here, mainly centered along Main Street, exudes a blend of sophistication and small-town ambience. NoMa House is a café and retail collective where you can pair browsing for clothing or home and wellness goods while enjoying a small-bite snack and a glass of rosé or green juice. Two more standout fashion stops are the high-end styles at Veronica Beard and Elysewalker. And, this being the Napa Valley, it’s a great place to shop for wine, too—both Acme Fine Wines and Orin Swift Cellars should be on your to-visit list.

For more inspiration for things to do if you’re a first-time visitor in St. Helena, see this piece; for information of how to best take in the Napa Valley’s annual mustard-harvesting season, read this local blog post.