Being single, no not a statement just a matter of fact, I often struggle to find fun things to do in the Napa Valley after dark. When I first came here in the mid 1907’s, there was a lot of venues where you could go and hear music, dance. Then for some unknown reason, almost every one of these disappeared in the in the mid 1980’s and stayed dark until recently.
It seems the rebirth of downtown Napa has sparked a revival of a Night Life especially in the area of the ongoing flood control project near Main and 1st Street. It was spear headed by the Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin’ BB&Q and Silo’s to be followed by quit a few more, even a few upvalley.
In the dark days, I can remember when the remodel occurred at the Main Street Exchange and the Napa Valley Opera House only to see these struggle and nearly close due to hard economic times. It is great to see this revitalization happen and yes being single may have it advantages now that I have someplace to go to try to change this.
A great place to find out what is happening in Napa can be found at 7x7SF who has a great blog about going ons here in the Napa Valley. Below is a recent post from them called Napa Valley Late Night: Where to Go After the Party (Or Dinner):
There are tons of summer celebrations in Napa Valley, but what do you do when the wedding reception’s over, the wineries are closed, or you want another drink or two after dinner? Not long ago, the answer would be to pop a cork in your hotel room, but these days the Valley has plenty of options for night owls.
Downtown Napa
Carpe Diem Wine Bar: This hip hangout, owned by three young locals, will keep the bar open late for you and quickly make you feel at home with a city feel and small town welcome. Technically the kitchen closes at 10 pm on weekdays and 11 pm on weekends but they tend to go wherever the night takes them and the bar is often rocking until late in the night. (Mention 7×7 and get a free glass of bubbles)
John Anthony Lounge: Open till 2 am, this sharp and swanky tasting bar and lounge is where to go after Carpe Diem, Morimotoor one of the other semi-late-night spots with good eats. The wine is world-class and the pourers know just what to do to fit the mood of your group.
Silo’s: This funky concert hall and bar is always open to the public for drop-ins if you don’t want to buy your tickets ahead of time. Don’t pay too much attention to the hours on the website or wall — with a range of live music and light snacks on the weekends, Silos stays open until 2 am if it’s busy.
Morimoto: Iron Chef Morimoto opened his Napa edition last falland it’s still packed every night with locals and visitors. With a rocking bar, a patio that overlooks the Napa River and the kind of city feel you’d expect of Manhattan, you’ll be comfortable even if there aren’t any couches left in the lounge or stools available in the bar.
Bistro Sabor: This quick service restaurant and bar is open until 11 pm Tuesday through Thursday but won’t kick you out until 1:30 am on the weekends. Saturday Salsa nights are hot — a DJ spins the latest Merengue, Cumbia, Bachata and Reggaetron hits all night long.
Yountville
Bouchon is open until 12:30 am, serving up Thomas Keller’s famous French cuisine. Its classic French-style bar closes around the same time but will stay open a little later if you’re a good tipper or a fun group.
If you’re looking to play a round of pool, head to Pancha’s, a classic, smoke-filled dive bar that’s open until 2 a.m.
St. Helena
Many restaurants will take late reservations, so call ahead for the latest availability. As long as you keep ordering they probably wont kick you out. Farmstead Restaurant is open until midnight (with a bar and a outdoor patio seating) and there is a new bar called Bar Terra, but if you’re looking for a place to party you’ve really only got one choice: Anna’s Cantina. This spot has live music Thursday through Saturday and will be packed with locals dancing, drinking, playing pool, and doing all kinds of fun stuff they’ll regret in the morning because they live in a very small town.
Calistoga
Calistoga Inn:Definitely a local’s favorite, a DJ spins tunes here until 1 am Wednesday through Saturday nights.
Hydro Bar & Grill: 80s music and a youthful middle-aged crowd drink and dance at Hydro. It’s a great place for late night eats — the kitchen stays open until 11:30 pm on weekends.
If you’re looking for some Latin flair, try Pacifico, open until 1 am with a mariachi night on Fridays, or Brannan’s Grill, which closes around 10 pm but has a classic piano bar feel and good eats.
By Ian White on May 26, 2011 4:00 PM
Thank you for reading this post. If I can ever be of help in finding you the perfect property here in the Napa Valley, please email me at Curtis@NapaValleyAddress.com.
Your Broker Extraordinaire, selling Napa Valley Real Estate from its heart, Yountville.
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