What's New in Napa Valley Winter 2022 Edition

Lodging, Arts and Entertainment, Food and Drink

Napa, Calif. – Looking for a Winter Getaway from Southern California? Lighter crowds, better deals and a slower pace await you in Napa.

Downtown Napa is the premier Napa Valley experience. This winter, discover one of the best seasons to visit wine country with an abundance of new things to explore. Enjoy new tasting rooms, restaurants and lodging options all within walking distance.

Here's what's new in Downtown Napa and why it should be at the top of your list of winter destinations.

New Lodging:

Cambria Hotel Napa Valley, conveniently located within walking distance of Downtown Napa shopping and restaurants, officially opened in October. The property features 90 guest rooms, an outdoor hot tub, a fitness center, bicycle rentals, as well as a full-service restaurant serving locally inspired dishes and regional craft beers. Its stylish and expansive two-story lobby features a unique U-shaped bar.

New Arts & Entertainment:

The Napa Lighted Art Festival is back for the first time in two years and will take place Jan. 15 – March 13, 2022 in Downtown Napa and Napa's Oxbow District. New this year, the free, walkable and open-air illuminating art festival has been extended for eight weeks featuring eight lighted art sculptures. Original work by local, regional and international award-winning artists will be featured including Israel-based artist OGE Group (Angels of Freedom), LA-based artist Hybycozo (Lightforms) and Napa-based artist Vincent Connors (Spherules).

Uptown Theatre Napa, Downtown Napa's ultimate destination for live music, is hosting all new shows this winter. Headliners include Brian Regan, Andy Grammer and Big Head Todd and the Monsters.

Blue Note Napa recently reopened indoor live concerts with new health and safety protocols in place. The jazz club/gourmet restaurant venue occupies the first floor of the historic Napa Valley Opera House. Upcoming shows include performances by KT Tunstall, Stephane Wrembel Band, Hiroshima and more. 

Archer Hotel Napa's holiday pop-up, Up on the Rooftop with Archer, at Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar runs through Jan. 9, 2022. Enjoy cozy igloo seating, holiday-themed cocktails, shareable small plates, festive photo opportunities and more. 

Makers Market open-air artisan faireis held on First Street Napa on the third Saturday of each month. The artisan faire features sustainably crafted jewelry, home décor, apothecary goods, CBD products, plants, glass, artwork, candles, leather goods and more made and sold by 50 local artists.

New Shopping:

NAPARIO is a new eclectic market, café and event space that recently opened in an old warehouse along the Napa River. It offers a unique shopping destination for fashion, home and garden décor, with an on-site wine bar and coffeeshop. 

New Wine Tasting Rooms: 

Chateau Buena Vista will take up a new residence on First Street. The new wine tasting room will feature caviar pairings and Earth & Sky Chocolates experience in the historic Gordon Building. 

Michael Pozzan Wines is anticipating opening a new tasting room this winter located at the corner of Randolph Street and Calistoga Avenue. The wines will be available to taste by appointment only, and the new space will offer a relaxed, cozy experience featuring indoor and outdoor seating. 

Anticipated to open soon, Grape Culture will bring a new tasting room to Downtown Napa. Grape Culture produces wine from a collection of iconic vineyards in Napa Valley. 

New Frontier Wine Co. is opening a tasting room between the Napa Valley Opera House and Napa Creek. The company is a brand umbrella of parent Alejandro Bulgheroni's Ren Acquisition and includes wines from a culmination of winemaking innovators and artisans from around the globe. 

Heitz Wine Cellars will open tasting room Brendel this winter. Heitz is owned by the Lawrence family who, together with Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy Jr., launched Brendel with a portfolio of wines up to $40 a bottle.

New cocktail bar and tasting room The ArBaretum by Napa Valley Distilleryis opening this winter. The new business will be located at the corner of First and Coombs streets and offer tastings, cocktails and small menu options.

New Food & Drink:

Napa's first and only tiki bar and restaurant, Wilfred's Lounge, recently opened serving island-inspired wine cocktails. The new tiki lounge pays homage to the Hawaiian heritage of Nat Komes, a Napa Valley native and second-generation winegrower behind the concept. The space is decorated with a pirate ship lair, tiki statues, bamboo stalks and more.

The Napa Barrel Project, a sour beer barrel aging facility, is now open. A portion of their beers are aged in used wine barrels to create the unique tastes. Visitors can also enjoy wine, pizza and pub food in the beer-hall styled space. 

Todd Humphrie's Kitchen Door has moved to a new location in Downtown Napa to allow for more space. The restaurant is anticipated to reopen in early 2022. 

Bar Lucia inside Oxbow Public Market recently expanded its food menu. The concept is now offering appetizers, salads and sandwiches to-go along with its favored rosé wines. 

Barnhouse Napa Brews recently opened offering proper English coffee. This local coffee roaster focuses on ethical and affordable coffee sourced from farmers around the globe. Their beverage menu also includes tea, artisan beer, wine, cider and kombucha. 

Coming soon to Oxbow Public Market is Loveski, a "Jew-ish" delicatessen by Chef Christopher Kostow and his wife, Martina. The new concept will blend traditional elements of a Jewish deli and appetizing stores.

Feast It Forward's "The Yard" has officially opened. The bottle shop and event space's new outdoor area features a stage with a video monitor, booths for wine tasting and an upstairs viewing area. The family-friendly place has added new picnic tables, a pizza oven, cornhole courts and a ping pong table. 

Fieldwork Brewing Company has a new food menu for guests to enjoy in its beer garden at Oxbow Public Market. While they will continue to welcome outside food from the market, they have added sandwiches to the snacks.