It often seems that there is only one traditional way to celebrate Thanksgiving — namely, a homemade turkey dinner with cranberry sauce and dozens of distant relatives — but the truth is only you can decide the right way to celebrate for yourself. Rather than sticking to tradition, interested travelers can save themselves some work by visiting any of these Napa Valley restaurants offering their own alternative versions of Thanksgiving dinner.
Thanksgiving Getaway
Meadowood
900 Meadowood Ln
St. Helena, CA 94574
(707) 531-4788
Tripadvisor: 4.5 stars, 1485 reviews
Meadowood’s Thanksgiving Escape package comes with more than just a gourmet multi-course turkey dinner for two, though this one has the rare distinction of being served in the privacy of their Vintners Room. The tentative menu includes butternut squash soup, Maine lobster, two preparations of free range turkey, duo of housemade bread stuffings, organic Yukon mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, fresh cranberry sauce, Brussels sprouts, baby carrots, haricots verts, garden peas and candied yams.The couples package also includes breakfast at their onsite restaurant The Grill, a $150 spa credit for use during your stay, and a bottle of sparkling Napa Valley wine to celebrate upon arrival.
Insider tip: Dining at Meadowood is truly a once in a life time experience. Chef Kostow is guaranteed to pull out all the stops for Thanksgiving. Full packages start at $2,300.
Michelin-Starred Turkey
SolBar
755 Silverado Trl
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 226-0850
Tripadvisor: 4.5 stars, 901 reviews
The Michelin-starred restaurant SolBar on the grounds of Calistoga’s Solage Resort treats guests to a hefty Thanksgiving dinner consisting of both comforting seasonal classics like roast turkey and novel additions like oyster stew. Enjoy this year’s filling meal at 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving day at a table amidst the gorgeous Palisades foothills on the eastern side of Napa Valley, just beginning to turn green with the precipitation of the colder seasons.
Insider tip: Looking to spend Thanksgiving Day fully immersed in wine country? Stop by Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga for a winery tour, they’re open Thanksgiving Day 9:30am-3pm
Dinner and Leftovers
La Toque
1314 McKinstry St
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 257-5157
Tripadvisor: 4 stars, 404 reviews
La Toque’s four course prix fixe menu for Thanksgiving dinner includes your choice of main entree–just in case turkey doesn’t fit your tastes or dietary restrictions–alongside soups, appetizers and the obligatory pumpkin-flavored dessert. For an extra $42 per diner, each course comes with a specially-selected wine pairing. The best part of their seasonal offering comes after the courses themselves, when every guest receives a pre-made turkey sandwich to be enjoyed later. What’s Thanksgiving without leftovers, after all?
Insider tip: La Toque’s next irresistible culinary event comes January 14, when the restaurant hosts a multi-course truffles and wine dinner prepared by Michelin-starred chefs as part of the Napa Truffle Fest.
Taste of the Season
Harvest Table
1 Main Street
St. Helena, CA 94574
(707) 967-4695
Tripadvisor: 4 stars, 121 reviews
Harvest Table’s chef Levi Menzick uses the culinary bounty of Napa Valley to create unique meals year-round, and his Thanksgiving menu is no exception. For $65 per person, guests arrive at 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving day to enjoy three seasonal courses that include autumnal flavors like chestnut risotto, sage-infused brown butter, pumpkin tartlettes and the typical free-range turkey. Children under 12 receive smaller courses for only $35 per person, making Harvest Table a convenient choice for families exploring Napa Valley with younger children.
Insider tip: It’s hard to resist the complex flavors and unusual preparations of Harvest Table’s cocktail menu, one that includes such interesting ingredients as grilled pineapple relish, creme de violette foam, chile-dusted black Hawaiian sea salt, and lavender syrup.
Thanksgiving Brunch
Meritage Resort and Spa
875 Bordeaux Way
Napa, CA 94558
(844) 475-6171
Tripadvisor: 4 stars, 121 reviews
Rather than wait until afternoon, the Meritage Resort begins their Thanksgiving feast at 10:30 a.m. in their onsite restaurant Siena. A $90 adult ticket to their annual holiday brunch provides for a mimosa at the event’s start plus continual access to their impressive roster of buffet stands. Those include an omelet bar, an iced seafood table, a pastry stand, a carving table with meticulously seasoned turkey and prime rib, and a whole lot more.
Insider tip: Children who can’t enjoy bubbly like their parents will still have plenty to entertain them, including two puppet shows and an area for creatively decorating cookies.
A Mobile Feast
Napa Valley Wine Train
1275 Mckinstry St
Napa, CA 94559
(800) 427-4124
Tripadvisor: 4.5 stars, 2466 reviews
Why confine yourself to one area of Napa Valley for Thanksgiving when you could see it all instead? The Valley’s famous wine train offers two 3.5-hour excursions on Thanksgiving Day, allowing diners to take in the region’s autumnal scenery in between wine tastings and multiple gourmet courses prepared by Executive Chef Donald Young. The perfectly prepared turkey and communal atmosphere makes this holiday trip well worth the $166 admission price per adult.
Insider tip: For the best views onboard, book a table in the window-lined Vista Dome for an extra $75 per diner.
Drinks with Dinner
Fume Bistro & Bar
4050 Byway E
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 257-1999
Tripadvisor: 4.5 stars, 405 reviews
The lively atmosphere of Fume Bistro & Bar lends itself well to holiday meals. Their Thanksgiving prix-fixe menu features three courses with several options to satisfy even the pickiest diners in every family. Past years’ menus have included familiar seasonal preparations culled from local farmer’s markets like flatiron steak, iceberg wedge salad with fried capers, and butternut squash soup.
Insider tip: Don’t leave without taking advantage of Fume’s extensive drink menu, which includes reds and whites from independent producers throughout the valley as well as distinctive cocktails like their French pear martini and spiked Napa iced tea.
Napa Valley is an outstanding destination no matter what time of year. For Thanksgiving, numerous resorts and restaurants open their doors and their kitchens to travelers celebrating the holiday away from home, each offering their own unique seasonal feast as satisfying as any home-cooked meal.