Yountville

The upscale burg of Yountville shimmers with an impressive number of destination-dining restaurants. Most famously, it's the home of perennial Michelin three-star The French Laundry, but several other establishments have earned mentions in that esteemed guide, including  Bouchon, La Calenda , Ciccio, Ad Hoc, The Restaurant at North Block, and Californian-New American Mustards Grill.

While celebrity chef Thomas Keller put the Napa Valley town on the culinary map when he took over The French Laundry in 1994, it has since developed into a world-class destination of dining, shopping, lodging, spas, and wine tasting—sometimes all rolled into one. Consider the ultra-swanky, LEED Platinum–certified Bardessono resort, with its high-end farm-to-table Lucy Restaurant & Bar, a spa, and a lounge showcasing food and cocktails fed by on-site gardens. The resort is also walking distance to notable tasting rooms, among them RH Wine Vault, a historic 1904 stone building where one can experience a tasting of vintages from Napa and Sonoma vintners by the flight, glass, or bottle.

Indeed, the whole community of Yountville is walkable, with easy access to such covetable items as bespoke chapeaux at Montecristi Panama Hats, high-end lingerie at Knickers & Pearls Boutique, and V Marketplace, a collection of businesses housed in the nearly 140-year-old Groezinger Winery complex that includes the award-winning Bottega restaurant and the internationally-renowned Kollar Chocolates.

For a sign of how this tiny enclave of less than 3,000 souls has evolved into a true lifestyle destination, just look at luxury Silver Trident Winery. The Tuscan-style stone building sits in the heart of downtown and features an elegantly appointed living room, dining room, and library with decor (all for sale) from Ralph Lauren Home. Then, there’s the glittery JCB Tasting Salon from global vintner Jean-Charles Boisset, resplendent with jewels and Baccarat crystal as well as wine. For more ideas on things to do and places to eat and shop in Yountville, check out their visitor guide.

Insider tip: Those on a tighter budget can experience Keller’s culinary genius by making a reservation at the aforementioned Ad Hoc, his more casual restaurant on Washington Street, or by ordering a boxed lunch from his to-go service Addendum, at the same address (Ed. note: As of November 2023, Addendum is closed until spring of 2024).