The Restaurant at Meadowood

Don’t let the understated name of the restaurant at Meadowood Napa Valley fool you—the place is a temple to fine dining that repeatedly earns three stars from Michelin and is considered one of the best in the world. Executive Chef Christopher Kostow has built the menu around simple dishes that feature local ingredients—in fall, for instance, a dish may include flour from locally foraged acorns; in spring, you might find one that incorporates edible flowers that grow on the property. The standard menu in the dining room has anywhere from nine to 11 courses in all, and wine pairings are available. There’s also a rotunda-style bar where guests can order smaller portions—three-course meals, snacks, and smaller bites. Without question, the best seats in the house are in the kitchen, at a four-seat high-top from which you can interact with chefs as they cook and see preparation unfold at every turn. Every winter the restaurant organizes an innovative event dubbed the 12 Days of Christmas, during which Kostow brings in visiting chefs from around the world to take over the kitchen and prepare food to pair with select wines from renowned vintners. It is one of the most popular Napa Valley culinary events of the year.