Best Calistoga Restaurants
Where to eat in Calistoga? Local Wally knows the BEST restaurants in Calistoga and Napa, from cheap eats to 5 star dining. No bad meals, every bite is going to be delicious.
Best Places to Eat in Calistoga
Napa's Best Restaurants in Calistoga
At the northern tip of Napa Valley is Calistoga, once a sleepy town known best for their geothermal hot springs and mud bath spas and their own Old Faithful geyser. What it was not know for was their food scene. But that has changed.
With the arrival of chefs looking to make their mark along with two posh resorts bringing in a new visitors, Calistoga’s food scene has exploded with restaurants that rival the best in the valley. Sports bars and BBQ sit comfortably with Michelin star dining, giving the hungry visitor plenty of options at all price ranges.
Plan a day of wine tasting, give yourself time to relax in a mud bath and then chill at any of these great restaurant options and experience the charm that Calistoga brings.
BEST RESTAURANTS IN CALISTOGA
🤑 Cheap Eats around $20pp 💵 Moderate around $35pp 💰 Expensive over $40pp
Auro
💰 Michelin Star dining located in the Four Seasons Resort
Modern American cuisine with global influences using French cooking techniques that focuses on hyper-seasonality and highlights the true flavors of the ingredient. Expect precision and innovation with every bite of their seven course tasting menu, $275 pp.
DON’T MISS: You’re already in deep so go for broke and add the $195 pp wine pairing for the full Auro experience.
Bricco Osteria
💵 Family run and Authentic Italian dining
A cozy, warm and inviting dining room that balances white tablecloths with the feel of an authentic rustic Italian dining experience. Freshly made pasta combined with local ingredients, large portions and warm hospitality, Bricco Osteria is old school Italian, totally unpretentious and hugely popular.
DON’T MISS: Linguine alla Chitarra, featuring shrimp, clams, mussels, and fresh fish of the day in a light tomato sauce.
Buster’s Original Southern BBQ
🤑 Real BBQ in wine country
A lot of restaurants have “BBQ” ribs on their menu but for real BBQ you need a serious pit master and serious smokers and Buster’s has both. Follow your nose to the sweet smell of wood and meats roasting, stay for some live jazz and blues music, the long lines attest to the quality of the enduring love for Buster’s southern cooking.
DON’T MISS: It’s pretty hard to resist the tri-tip sandwich after seeing (and smelling) the rows of meat engulfed in smoke but get a side of tender pork ribs for the full experience.
Evangeline Napa
💵 Michelin recommended and cozy cute
So adorable, Evangeline is a bit of Paris inside and a touch of New Orleans out, offering a blend of French bistro and Creole cuisine where Steak Frites sits comfortably next to Shrimp Étouffée. Not a crazy mash up, the food flows as smoothly as the vibe and the menu is surprisingly affordable with most entrees in the $30 range.
DON’T MISS: Gumbo Ya-Ya, a hearty bowl of rice, veggies, chicken and andouille sausage.
House of Better
🤑 The doctor is IN
Located in the backyard of Dr. Wilkinson’s resort (aka mud bath spa), the House of Better offers a calmer, more peaceful dining experience featuring healthier foods from the Southwest in a casual, backyard setting. Counter service, kids menu, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and a terrific happy hour, M-F from 3-5 with $3 street tacos.
DON’T MISS: Did someone say they make their own pies? With apples and green chiles?
Lovina
💰 Charming historic home and sophisticated food
A 120 year old historic home with retro sign exclaiming GOOD FOOD, women owned and operated Lovina takes good care of their employees - paid vacation, healthcare, 401K, living wage - and their customers benefit with their no tipping policy. Food is Italian influenced, plenty of Vegan and GF options, with much of the produce grown in the owners garden.
DON’T MISS: Unlimited No Corkage fee on Wednesdays and discount bottles as well.
Sam’s Social Club
💵 American standards and a great patio
Named after Sam Brannan, the visionary who imagined Calistoga as a world class resort town and died broke trying. The inside dining room is spacious and modern but the tree shaded patio with fire pits and a natural geyser-fed fountain outside is the place to be for breakfast, lunch or dinner on a nice day. Nothing over the top but everything is solid and satisfying.
DON’T MISS: Candy Cap Churos for dessert, flavored with candy cap mushrooms, a local wild fungi that naturally tastes and smells like maple syrup, butterscotch, or brown sugar. Weird, right?
Solbar
💵 Inventive cuisine at 5 star Solage Resort
One of the trendiest restaurants in one of Napa's trendiest resorts, Michelin rated Solbar offers refined with that caters to those seeking inventive California cuisine in a relaxed yet classy environment both inside and out. Try their short ribs, braised 48 hours for melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
DON’T MISS: Dinner can be pricey but lunch is surprisingly affordable with most entrees in the mid-$20’s. Splurge but not splurge!
