As
you begin your trip back to San Francisco, you will head south
on Highway 29. Leave Calistoga the same way you came in, but at
the flashing red light, make a left on to Highway 29.
As you head south, you will drive by about 50 wineries between Calistoga and Napa. If you would like to some more, we can suggest several that are on your journey home, including, Charles Krug Winery, Whitehall Lane Winery, And Markham Vineyards.
The first town you will drive through is St. Helena. There is excellent shopping in St. Helena. You might also consider stopping for dinner on your way back to San Francisco. The choices are numerous, but a perfect stop is Tra Vigne Restaurant, on the left, just as you leave St. Helena. Tra Vigne is one of Napa Valley’s best restaurants, and is consistently voted one of the most popular in the influential Zagat survey.
It is worth stopping here just to enjoy the spectacular setting for the restaurant in a room with 30 foot ceilings. On warm days, ample seating is also provided on the terrace. Creative Italian/California cuisine awaits you. Be prepared, however, as dinner reservations are extremely hard to come by if you wait to the last minute to call. (707-963-4444). Fortunately, the restaurant is open all day, and you might have better luck for same day reservations if you are flexible and can eat before 6:00. Indeed, this may be a perfect time to stop for dinner, since by the time your dinner is over, rush hour traffic will have cleared and you should have an easy drive back to San Francisco.
If you are having trouble getting a table at Tra Vigne, or prefer to drive a bit further before dinner, consider stopping at Mustards—which is about a 15 minute drive on highway 29 past Tra Vigne. Mustards serve absolutely delicious California cuisine in a charming roadhouse setting. The service is superb, and you will feel welcome from the moment you enter. For reservations, call 707-944-2424.
For additional Napa Valley dining suggestions, click here.
