Downtown Napa
An Art Lover’s Guide to Downtown Napa!
One of my favorite things to do while visiting a city is to check out the art scene. Everyone goes to the Napa Valley its world renowned wines, but what if you could have the best of both worlds: great wine and art? Well, you can!
Downtown Napa has the quaint feel of a small town yet packs a punch with its wide variety of impressive dining options, art galleries and gift shops, ample wine tasting opportunities, and beautiful public art. Best of all, it’s easily navigable by foot with its two primary streets: First Street and Main Street, which run perpendicular to one another.
You could easily spend an entire weekend discovering all that Downtown has to offer, so here are a few of my art-related suggestions that will enhance your experience!
Napa Art Walk
The Napa Art Walk is a biennial exhibition that takes place outdoors in Downtown Napa. The current exhibition is called "Sense of Place" and goes through 2021. It features eight sculptures by the following artists: Eileen Fitz-Faulkner (Orinda, CA), Brian Hutsebout (OR), Danette Landry (Napa, CA), Ken McCall (Boise, ID), Jann Nunn (Oakland, CA), Sue Quinlan (Boulder, CO), Eino Romppannen (Pahrump, NV), and Patricia Vader (Martinez, CA).
The sculptures are all located in close proximity to one another and there's even a map available so you can make sure you don't miss one as you peruse the streets of Downtown! I'd recommend starting at #1 (on First and School Street) since the the sculptures will lead you East up First Street and you’ll pass many great shops, tasting rooms and art galleries. Here are a few favorites we passed along the way:
Acumen Wine Gallery (more on that below!)
Artists Of The Valley Gallery
If you’re into murals like I am, I would highly recommend taking a detour from the Art Walk and discovering the First Street Artists Alley, which is a developing shopping area outside of the Archer Hotel. They have several great murals tucked away by Bay Area and Napa artists including Miro Salazar, Chelsea Ritter-Soronen, Israel Valencia, Kerry Lee, Thailan When, Will Durkee, and Vincent Connors, and Mikey Kelley Studio’s piece that I matched!
From there you can continue up First Street, where you’ll see several historic murals and more shopping opportunities. I’ve been really wanting to check out AERENA Galleries on the Riverfront, so once you get to Main Street you’ll turn right. This area has a ton of great dining options like Morimoto Napa along with some really great stores like the Napa Tourist Information Center (they have a little Mercantile section inside that has awesome gifts!). Further down the way you’ll find the Napa General Store, which also has a great selection of gifts in addition to a very popular restaurant!
Lunch At Gran Eléctrica
Even if you veer off course, you will continue to find sculptures from the Art Walk as you make your way around Downtown. I personally made a point to see all of the sculptures, so by the time I got to #7, which is north on Main Street, I had worked up an appetite! I would suggest stopping for brunch, lunch, or dinner at Gran Eléctrica, which is an indoor-outdoor Mexican restaurant with great ambiance! They have a beautiful pink and gold Virgin Mary mural outside in their patio area and the menu has everything you’d want - great margaritas, chips and guac, tacos and more! I loved the decor and the service was really great! Pro tip: get the mezcal margarita!
Oxbow Public Market
From Gran Electrica you can head over the Napa River, which is a short yet scenic walk. The river adds a beautiful natural element to the Downtown Napa and one of my favorite, must-do stops when I come to town is the Oxbow Public Market. They have a great variety of fast-casual dining options, treats, a brewery and other gift vendors which make the building really fun to peruse. Some of my favorites include Kara’s Cupcakes (a great treat!), Live Fire Pizza (really delicious), Whole Spice (for gifts), and C Casa (get their tacos!). Another great lunch option is to grab some picnic items and head outside to the Oxbow Commons Bypass Channel to enjoy lunch on the grassy area!
Acumen Wines Gallery
Whether you’re a wine buff or not, I would highly recommend doing a tasting at Acumen Wines Gallery because the experience is informative, educational, and relaxing. Acumen is located on First Street and the first thing you’ll notice is the incredible decor. The light fixtures are repurposed water tanks and mixture of natural elements is beautifully representative of Napa style. The wine is organically farmed from Atlas Peak and they offer a variety of tasting options if you’re looking to try several wines, or you can simply enjoy a glass and peruse the art gallery that is located behind the tasting room!
CIA At Copia
Last but not least, the CIA At Copia is definitely worth a visit, if not just to see the expansive mural by Oakland based artist Hueman on its exterior. The piece was completed by RAD Napa (you can see their other mural I matched here) and is a beautiful addition to Downtown Napa’s impressive collection of public art. CIA At Copia is almost directly across the street from the Oxbow Public Market so whether you’re in the mood to dine at their restaurant, take a cooking class, or just admire the massive mural, it’s a must visit!
Visit The Mural
Lodging
There are several great options for lodging in Downtown Napa. If you’re looking for a high-end option, the Archer Hotel is your best bet. They have a great rooftop bar that overlooks Downtown and you can’t beat the location. The Andaz Napa is another great option down the street with its elevated decor and appointed rooms. If you’re looking for options within Downtown that are a bit quieter and off the beaten path, I’d suggest either the Westin Napa or the Embassy Suites. The Embassy Suites is a beautiful Mediterranean inspired property that is literally within ten minutes of several of wineries. Pro tip: the hotel has a complimentary evening reception with wine and snacks and they also have bike rentals for exploring the neighborhood!
For more tips and things to do in Downtown Napa, click here! This post was sponsored by Downtown Napa but thoughts and views are my own.
