About Napa Downtown
A visit to Napa Downtown is an essential part of any trip to the Napa Valley.  Less than 50 miles and an hour's drive from San Francisco, this historic wine country downtown district is a wine-tasters delight and the unofficial 'hometown' of the Napa Valley. Napa Downtown is the first stop for visitors as they travel up the Valley, which means less time in traffic, more time for fine wine, food and fun.

History
For more than 150 years, the present-day site of the town of Napa along the Napa River has served as a center of commerce, government, and information for the Napa Valley. Officially founded in 1847 by Nathan Coombs, Napa boasts more pre-1906 structures than any other Bay Area city.   They add character and charm through their Italianate, Victorian Gothic, Spanish Colonial, Classical Revival, and Art Deco styles.

Location
Often referred to as "where the Napa Valley begins," Napa Downtown is located off CA Highway 29 and Hwy 221 in Napa County. The closest Napa Valley wine tasting experience means less time for traffic and more time for fun.

POINTS OF INTEREST

Napa Valley Opera House
The beautifully restored historic Napa Valley Opera House presents a range of entertainment, including jazz, classical music, family programming and comedy.

Napa Valley Wine Train
Visitors to Napa Downtown can embark on a unique and memorable ride on the famous Wine Train, which combines a delicious culinary experience with a relaxing journey through California's historic and scenic wine country.


EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

There's something cooking year-round in Napa Downtown.  Highlights include:

Chef's Market  
Summer
Every Thursday evening, Memorial Day through Labor Day!
Napa's most popular event combines a variety of demonstrations by local chefs, three stages of music, tasty nibbles from various Napa restaurants, wine tasting as well as an authentic farmer's market and a large children's activity area.  FREE.

Napa Downtown Wine & Crafts Faire
September
Rated as one of the top three craft shows in Northern California, the Wine & Crafts Faire, with its 200 vendors, is the largest one-day outdoor event in Napa and attracts some 25,000 visitors annually.

Wine Country Cajun Food & Music Festival
October 
Downtown Napa tranforms the streets into New Orleans with parades, Zydeco music, beads, Cajun food, beer and wine and lots of fun!  Three stage of live entertainment, dance lessons and much more! Chefs demonstration from Napa's premiere chefs and winemakers and craw fish wrangling for the kids. FREE! 

Holiday Bed and Breakfast Tour
December
Napa Downtown gets all dressed up for the annual Holiday Bed and Breakfast Tour and Taste event.  Inn tours feature holiday decorations and festive entertainment, and food and wine pairings from Napa's premiere chefs and winemakers.


WINE TASTING

Napa Downtown has 20 wine-tasting rooms , all within easy walking distance, offering tastes of thousands of boutique, limited release and rare wines from Napa Valley and around the globe.

THE DINING SCENE

Napa Downtown's restaurant scene has experienced a major metamorphosis since the acclaimed Celadon restaurant opened in 1996. Today, Napa Downtown has more than 40 restaurants, 40 percent of which are Zagat-rated.