If you’re in Calistoga for Mother’s Day weekend, have you booked reservations at a local restaurant? After all, this is a very special year, now that people like you are traveling more frequently. For this reason, Calistoga restaurants and the entire Napa Valley will be quite busy. To put it another way, you might want to start looking now for that perfect spot to treat your mother. To make your decision a bit easier, here are just five of the best restaurants in downtown Calistoga. Additionally are some last minute lodging recommendations as well.
Note: Selected dishes are samples from dinner menus. Brunch menus may change in advance of Mother’s Day.
Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery
1250 Lincoln Ave.
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 942-4101
www.calistogainn.com
The Calistoga Inn is bound to be one of the first places you’ll see in Calistoga. For one thing, it’s one of the first hotels on the town’s main street. For another, its distinctive main building seems to be set apart from other businesses. Yet once inside, you’ll discover how much room there is for dining. In fact, not only do you have indoor dining, but a very impressive patio with a fire pit. Of course, if you’re looking for a place to stay, this charming 17-room boutique is quite popular. If you need additional space, there is also a cottage with a private bath.
What To Order At The Calistoga Inn Restaurant
For dinner, try one of the restaurant’s starters like steak tartare ($19) or salmon cakes ($19). For your main course, you might like their prime rib eye ($53) or grilled Pacific swordfish ($38). On the other hand there are several other dishes to consider, like their pastas, seasonally fresh salads and pizzas. If you love beer, make sure to try out selections from their Napa Valley Brewing Company in the patio section. From May through October, you can enjoy live entertainment from local artists each night in the patio.
Note: The Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery is open for Mother’s Day brunch. You can book a reservation for brunch or dinner directly online.
Related: Best Spa Hotels In Downtown Calistoga
Evangeline
1226 Washington St.
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 341-3131
www.evangelinenapa.com
A taste of gourmet Louisiana cuisine in the Napa Valley? If French cuisine is one of your passions, then consider Evangeline for any occasion. Accordingly, this includes Mother’s Day, whether it’s for a Creole-style brunch or dinner.
What To Order at Evangeline Restaurant, Calistoga
Although the brunch menu is not yet available, there are some excellent choices for dinner. Take for example the butternut squash soup ($15) or petit crab rolls ($16). Afterwards, enjoy one of flavorful entrees from this French bistro “with a Creole soul”. In more detail, you may like the gumbo ya-ya ($25), steak frites ($36) or the classic shrimp etouffee ($29). If that’s not enough, you can further order complements like grilled andouille sausage ($7) or frites Evangeline ($7).
Spirits and French Wine
Of course, you can also order crafted cocktails and French wines, including selections from the Napa Valley. Specifically, Charles Krug sauvignon blanc, Frank Family chardonnay and Venge cabernet sauvignon.
Related: Small Napa Valley Wineries To Visit On National Wine Day
Fleetwood
Calistoga Motor Inn
1880 Lincoln Ave.
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 709-4410
www.fleetwoodcalistoga.com
Of all the outstanding restaurants listed here, Fleetwood is rising quickly as a trendsetter. In fact, the search for Fleetwood on Google Trends for Calistoga has risen 1,600 percent. Furthermore, the buzz is backed by a phenomenal Italian/Med-inspired menu and rising star chef. Anchored by twin wood-fired stoves and top flight staff, chef Drew Glassell is lauded for his high quality cuisine. Yet at the same time, the prices of his selections are refreshingly modest.
What To Order At Fleetwood Restaurant, Calistoga Motor Lodge
In this case, are starters that may be on the Mother’s Day Dinner-Spring menu, like cioppino ($22) or wood oven roasted meatballs ($15). In addition are offerings like superb pasta dishes ($26) and gourmet pizzas ($22-$23). That’s not to mention inventive protein dishes like oak grilled salmon ($28) and striploin steak ($36). What’s more cocktails ($15) are modestly prices as are the premium wines. With this in mind, some Napa Valley recommendations for you are the Chateau Montelena zinfandel ($18/$72) and Picayune albarino ($14/$56).
Stay At the Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa
Calistoga Motor Lodge seems like a departure to the bygone era of those classic roadside motels. In fact, this upscale property once featured a 1940s era roadside motel. Yet, by all means, the contemporary transformation of the lodge is quite fabulous. To point out, are the stylish rooms, large pool and premium treatments at Moonacre Spa.
Related: Napa Sonoma Wine Tasting At Celebrity Owned Wineries
Lovina
1107 Cedar St.
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 942-6500
www.lovinacalistoga.com
Another restaurant to greet you as you arrive into Calistoga is Lovina. Yet, to further clarify, this trendy spot is TripAdvisor’s top restaurant in downtown Calistoga. Although this may be true, there is one other restaurant of the Michelin-star quality that ranks just above it. However, Solbar at Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection is not technically in downtown. Besides, the building housing Lovina has an interesting past and the menu is far more affordable. Indeed, the early 20th century house was once the residence of the mayor of Calistoga and then a doctor’s office. That’s not to mention that Lovina is named after a Donner Party survivor. But the things to remember here are the ambiance, hospitality and food!
What to Order At Lovina Restaurant
There is a good reason why Lovina is so highly rated. Some say this is their favorite restaurant in the Napa Valley. Others compliment the attentive service and their lovely experiences. With that in mind, are some popular Mother’s Day dinner choices from the menu. For starters, you may like wild prawn & octopus ceviche ($15), roasted beet tartar ($18) or fried mushroom polenta bites ($11). Next, your entrée are both meat-based or vegetarian/vegan options. With the latter, are the Impossible sausage lasagna ($34) and almost bolognese with Impossible meat ($29). By the same token are gourmet seafood and meat dishes, like Flannery Farms dry aged ribeye ($45/$65) and Lovina’s cioppino ($46).
Wines by the Glass or By the Bottle
The majority of your wine selections are from the Napa, Sonoma or Mendocino wine regions. Moreover, are nice Calistoga-based wines by the glass like Barrett Vineyards’ moscoto azul and Picayune Cellars’ padlock. Further notables are Schramsberg brut rose, Close Pegase’s estate chardonnay and Monticello’s pinot noir. Some of these selections are available by bottle, in addition to more standouts. Namely, Tedeschi Family’s sauvignon blanc, Chateau Montelena Riesling and LOLA Wines’ chenin blanc.
Sam’s Social Club
1712 Lincoln Ave.
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 942-4969
www.samssocialclub.com
At first impression, Sam’s Social Club may not strike you as a restaurant to take your mother for Mother’s Day. On the contrary, take a closer look at the dining area, both indoor and outdoor. Together with a chic bar, impressive menu and rich history, you may choose this above the others. To further clarify, this restaurant at Indian Springs is named after the historic resort’s founder Sam Brannan. As a matter of fact, Indian Springs is the oldest hot springs resort in California. That’s not to mention it’s among the Napa Valley’s finest resorts.
What To Order At Sam’s Social Club
Even though Indian Springs is among the best in Napa Valley, its dinner menu is reasonably priced. That in itself is impressive since you’ll be in the oft-times pricey Napa Valley. You can start of your dinner with shareables like deviled eggs with black truffle ($14) or ricotta crostini ($10). Moving along, you may want to order a farm-to-table fresh salad like little gem ($15) or roasted baby beets ($16). Saving your best for nearly the last are an assortment of appetizing entrees. To clarify are favorites like Sam’s cheeseburger ($24), roasted acorn squash ($28) or New York strip ($50). Similarly appealing is the Saturday/Sunday exclusive of slow roasted prime rib, (AQ).
Stay at Indian Springs
Set in the heart of downtown Calistoga, Indian Springs is not only historic, it’s among the most popular for accommodations. In the first place, you have a range of choices, from View Rooms to cottages, lodges and bungalows. In like manner are the historic spa and mineral pools that are like no other. Most notable is the enormous mineral pool, one of the largest pools in California.
Related: Napa Valley Dishes From Chef Drew Glassell
About The Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012-2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including CBS New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget and Radio.com. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University in 2012.