Guide to Napa + SF

I had the absolute pleasure to spend a week on the West Coast in October 2021. I joke that I need my bi-annual trip to California for my health, but I’m starting to really believe it. I usually find myself in LA, but I decided it was time to switch it up and go somewhere new. With one of my besties from high school now living in SF and my other bestie from college itching to travel, a trip to NorCal was born. I love so much of California - the pace of life, the food, and especially the weather. Every day was a mid seventy high with lows in the mid-fifties. I got to wear my cutest summer fits with my cutest fall jackets! 

I started my trip with a non-stop flight to SF on a Thursday landing at 9 pm PDT. Jordyn and I rented an adorable Jeep Wrangler and drove an hour and a half out to Napa Valley. For the next three days, Jordyn and I rested, ate, drank, watched TV, wore cute outfits, and drove around one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen in the US. It was the best quality time I could’ve asked for with a friend. Once Monday rolled around, we made our way to San Francisco, where Jordyn would take a flight back home and I’d spend two more days with Matthew. I hadn’t been to SF in years, so it was a true joy to see the city from the perspective of a newfound local. In the dream future, I’d like to take a trip to Napa every year to drink delicious reds. For now, I’ll just reflect on the amazing memories I got to make with my best friends through this blog post. 

Where to eat in Napa

For coffee and breakfast…

  • Southside Yountville. We went almost every morning for a large americano. I rarely like coffee black, but I would drink this coffee black. It’s that good. The cafe itself has a lovely outdoor seating area that you can enjoy with beautiful weather. We also enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Southside our first morning. We split the ricotta and avocado toast.

  • Model Bakery for Oprah’s favorite English muffin. This spot is a must in Napa. Don’t be the person that doesn’t try Model when in Napa. I ordered a breakfast sandwich on the English muffin and it did not disappoint. We got there on the earlier side and avoided waiting in line so maybe try the same.

  • Bouchon Bakery for a plethora of delicious pastries. I tried a kouign-amann for the first time, not knowing that I was about to eat a caramelized croissant. I loved it and hope to try every kouign-amann on the planet. Bouchon reminds me of Magnolia Bakery with a more rustic feel and less cupcakes. The line is intimidating and can go slowly but let it be a sign that you’re in the right place

For a farm-to-table dinner…

  • Farmstead. We went to Farmstead on our first night in Napa and it did not disappoint. We sat outside and enjoyed espresso martinis. Everything we ordered was great. We shared the deviled eggs (which I had for the first time ever), the meatballs, a kale salad, and the pork chop entree. I would highly recommend coming here.

  • Goose and Gander. It’s a romantic and intimate restaurant that boasts many strong entree dishes and smaller appetizers. We didn’t go with the biggest appetite so we shared the corn croquettes and each ordered a salad. We thought adding steak to our salads would be a good idea until we saw the check. Don’t be silly like us and just get an entree. 

For a classic, always hits the spot meal…

  • Restoration Hardware. I’ve actually never eaten at any of their other locations but I’m sure they are just as great as the RH In Yountville. Brunch was fantastic - I wish I could’ve ordered everything on the menu. We shared the avocado toast and the smoked salmon plate. The restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows, sparkly chandeliers, and decorative fountains. It’s the perfect restaurant for taking pictures, so I took full advantage.

  • R+D Kitchen. A branch of the Hillstones Group. The perfect spot to get your fixing of sushi, a fried chicken sandwich, and insanely large and tasty salads. You can make a reservation at this location which is highly recommended. You can also sit outside and order from a limited menu. We got lucky and were able to sit within twenty minutes of arriving without a reservation. It has the same trusty feeling like all their other locations, with great service and better food. 

Where to drink in Napa

  • V. Sattui. A casual vineyard offering wine tastings, a deli and cheese shop, and outdoor seating areas to picnic. Jordyn and I made reservations for their wine tasting at 3 pm, but decided to get there a bit earlier to check out the vibes. I’m so glad we did it because we ended up having a delicious charcuterie lunch. We bought salads, truffle cheese, bread, crackers, and prosciutto. We even had the chance to check out the wine train, which travels right by V. Sattui. At the wine tasting, we tried rose, reds, and whites. We never felt rushed, just encouraged to enjoy every wine. 

  • Del Dotto Cave Experience and Wine Tasting. Amazing winery tour. We booked the tour in advance and went in the late afternoon. Del Dotto has various vineyards but the cave is their newest location. We tried probably 10-15 different wines, each one was better than the next. After the tour, we enjoyed pizza on the terrace and explored the vineyard gardens. 

Where to eat in San Francisco

  • Tartine. Famous bakery with delicious sweet and savory treats. I tried the sweet potato and cheddar scone - it was incredible.

  • Foreign Cinema. Trendy and vibrant restaurant that plays movies old school (projector and everything). Absolutely worth going to with good friends, parents, or on a date night. The menu is seasonal so it changes frequently. We ordered a couple of cocktails, the cod dip, a tomato salad, the duck, and fried chicken. The entrees and the bread were incredible.

  • Souvla. I wish they had this quick and casual greek food spot in NYC. We went to the one on Hayes for lunch. I ordered a salad and fries. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, definitely order the froyo.

  • Dumpling Home. Casual dim sum spot that’s usually very, very busy. We went for lunch and didn’t wait a minute. Everything’s good you can’t go wrong.

What to do in San Francisco

  • Lands End Lookout. Beautiful trail along the San Fransisco Bay with beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge. If I lived in SF I would walk here in the evenings at sunset all the time. The trail is perfectly shady and breezy so it’s great to do when you don’t want to work up a sweat. It also wasn’t busy when we went. There’s also many spots along the way to sit, people watch, marvel at nature’s beauty, and take pictures!

  • Mission District. Cute area with streets filled with shops and restaurants. Foreign Cinema and Tartine are both in this area. I only walked around the area at night but I’d assume it’s great during the day too. The Mission Dolores Park is also right around here - it’s small park with benches, tennis courts, and lots of cute dogs. The park is also surrounded by beautiful houses.

  • Filmore Street. Great shopping street with your favorite trendy shops (Reformation, Isalis, Gorjana, etc). I spent about two hours in this area just window shopping and browsing.