Best Romantic Dining in Napa Valley

There's something magical about a train ride. Add dining on the train at a table set with china and white linens, and the whole idea becomes even more romantic. The restored Pullman rail cars roll through some of Napa Valley's most scenic stretches. With brass accents, etched glass and plush sitting chairs, riding the wine country rail is like taking a trip back in time. The Napa Valley Wine Train has three kitchens, and all meals are prepared on the train. Don't feel like you have to spend the entire trip at your table. Be sure to wander around and see all of the cars.

A food truck for a romantic meal? I know what you're thinking but bear with me while I explain. The Bruschetteria Food Truck is part of the Clif Family, the folks responsible for those famous energy bars. The kitchen on wheels is usually parked outside the Clif Family tasting room in St. Helena. The patio is a lovely spot to enjoy lunch and wine in the sun. You can also grab a bottle of wine, order of bruschetta, salad, and a warm chocolate chip cookie, (maybe two) and take your order on the road for a picnic. There's plenty of nearby options like Bothe-Napa Valley State Park or the Bale Grist Mill. Throw-down a blanket and dig in.

Whisk your loved one off to France, without leaving Napa Valley. Dinner at Bistro Jeanty should easily score you some bonus points with your other half. Quaint and charming, it has the feel of an authentic French bistro. The dining room at Bistro Jeanty is small and cozy, but on Yountville's many mild nights, dinner on the Bistro Terrace is a lovely place for good food, wine, and nice conversation. The menu varies with the season, but French classics like cassoulet, steak tartare and coq au vin standout. The extensive wine list includes great wines from Napa Valley and various regions of France.

If you're looking for a romantic meal that's lighthearted and fun, think about Ca' Momi Osteria. The space is sleek and modern, but at the same time comfortable and rustic. Lighting is just low enough to allow the Acunto Napoli wood-burning oven to shine. Imported from Italy, it features a custom mosaic design and is the star of the exhibition-style pizza kitchen. Ca' Momi Osteria serves authentic Neapolitan style pizza. Cooked for 90 seconds in a 900-degree wood-burning oven, it's served uncut. (Similar to how pizza is served in Italy.) Along with pizza, there are several authentic, traditional Italian dishes prepared using local, organic products along with those imported from Italy.

Hop into one of the cozy booths at Miminashi and start ordering. Don't be shy. Dishes here are great to share. Favorites include the Roasted Japanese Sweet Potato with miso butter and créme fraîche, and the Vegetable Fried Rice with spigarello, mung bean sprouts, kimchi, ginger, Tokyo Negi, scrambled egg. (Bacon or smoked trout can be added for good measure.) Omakase, the Chef's selection five-course menu, is served family-style and changes daily. It's hard, but try to save room for dessert. Soft cream flavors, Japan's take on soft-serve ice cream, change daily and come with heaping toppings options like chocolate-covered waffle pieces, toasted coconut, and miso caramel.

Celadon is the type of place that if you didn't know it was there, you might walk right by without realizing what you were missing. Tucked in a shaded, garden-like walkway just off the Napa River, Celadon is located in the Historic Napa Mill. Diners have the option to sit in the courtyard or the dining room, but with weathered brick walls and a fireplace, the rustic courtyard is especially cozy. The courtyard is also a comfortable place to talk, a tall order in many restaurants these days. Nice for lunch or dinner with your sweetheart, along with Asian sticky ribs, you can expect options like fried calamari, a grilled double-cut pork chop, filet mignon, and pappardelle pasta.

Goose & Gander is a favorite spot for locals and St. Helena visitors. A bit off the main drag, when you arrive it feels a bit more like entering someone's home than a restaurant. The menu changes with the season, but favorites like the Martini House mushroom soup, and the G&G burger, are always available. The dining room has a rustic, pub-like atmosphere with leather chairs and dark wood accents. The fireplace adds to the intimate feel at lunch and dinner, but on a nice day head outside to the patio. Along with a yard full of blooming possibilities, there's a pond loaded with colorful koi fish.

Casual, relaxed, and quiet enough to carry on a conversation, the Farm makes date night easy. Located at Carneros Resort and Spa, an upscale property in southwest Napa, Farm serves dinner seven days a week. Couples are welcome to sit inside, but the sheltered pavilion is a nice change of pace. Heat lamps keep diners warm and cozy when chilly temperatures prevail. The a la carte menu includes the likes of oysters, roasted scallops, and orecchiette pasta. The dinner tasting menu is a seasonal five-course tasting menu that shines a light on one single ingredient. Finding inspiration from the resort garden, possibilities include the likes of corn, English peas, pears, and beets. Couples in the mood to truly indulge should consider the wine pairing.

Congratulations, if you've snagged reservations at The French Laundry, you don't need to do much more to impress. Opened in 1994, Chef Thomas Keller's Michelin three-star restaurant is the spot many Napa Valley visitors dream about eating. Serving classic French cuisine, the nine-course menu changes every day. Two tasting menus, a Chef's Tasting Menu and a Tasting of Vegetables, are offered daily. If a meal here is on your wish list, you have to be organized to succeed. Reservations must be made well in advance. (No walk-in guests.) Men are required to wear jackets for both lunch and dinner service, so be sure to pack and dress appropriately. The French Laundry is a member of Relais & Chateaux, Relais Gourmands and Traditions & Qualité.

Auberge du Soleil offers all the romance and deliciousness of France in California's Napa Valley. Diners can choose between three and four courses. Appetizer and second selections include chilled Maine lobster, cow's milk burrata, sunchoke risotto, and seared yellowfin tuna. Main dishes range from Japanese Wagyu to spiced local lamb, and potato gnocchi with wild mushrooms and pea shoots. Try to save room for dessert. There's everything from lemon pie, to caramel poached pears, and homemade sorbet. The dining room is comfortable and quiet, making conversation easy. If you can't make it for dinner, consider going for breakfast or lunch. You won't be disappointed.