At the Wine Country Inn, we love directing guests to the fantastic Napa Valley restaurants located a short drive from the Inn. One of our new favorites is Solbar, located approximately 10 minutes from Wine Country Inn, just outside of the town of Calistoga.

Solbar is led by Executive Chef Brandon Sharp, whose stints include working along side of Thomas Keller at the French Laundry. Solbar has a fantastic, modern decor with fireplaces and twinkling white lights. A Michelin one-star restaurant, the dining room is divided into two parts: to the left is formal dining area ideal for dinner, while to the right is a bar/lounge area that makes a more casual spot for a pre-dinner drink, or appetizers and small plates with friends.

Solbar has a full bar, and an extensive wine list, including many wines by the glass. We particularly like their bar menu, which consists of small plates such as miso mushroom soup, maitake mushroom pizza, korean style hot wings, and shrimp lettuce wraps.

Insider’s tip: Monday nights is “locals” night, so Solbar features certain cocktails, wines by the glass, and small plates at reduced rates.

Insider’s tip: If you do want to sit in the bar area, we recommend going early (before 6:00 p.m.), as it can fill up!

Insider’s tip: Solbar also has a great outdoor patio area, perfect for a summer evening cocktail!

And a reminder, our Wine Country Inn front desk is always ready to help you with reservations, directions, and other restaurant suggestions. Cheers!

Cindy Pawlycn, the dynamic chef behind St. Helena’s well-loved Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen, has opened her new St. Helena restaurant: Brassica Mediterranean Kitchen & Wine Bar.

Brassica is now located in the spot of Pawlcyn’s former “Go Fish” restaurant, just south of town. Typical menu items include Fried Zucchini Blossoms, Hummus with Ful, Tabouli, etc.

We’re excited to welcome Cindy’s new restaurant to our Wine Country Inn guests. Again, our front staff will be happy to make reservations for you, and our Evening Restaurant Shuttle does run to and from Brassica.