Tucked into the northernmost edge of Napa Valley, Calistoga offers natural abundance that makes it the perfect getaway for visitors looking to relax in effortless style. This easygoing town is known for its mineral hot springs, small-town charm, and serious wine pedigree. Here, you can indulge in a luxurious spa treatment before sipping on a glass of wine country’s finest vintage in a private cellar. But for every high-end tasting experience on a sprawling estate, there’s a family-run winery pouring small-lot reds for a steal. Affordable alternatives abound, from homestyle cuisine to self-guided tours. Here’s how to live the high life or keep it low-key in Napa Valley’s most laid-back town.
Note: Prices are accurate as of publishing time in July 2025. Please check individual business websites for the most up-to-date pricing.
Where to stay
Splurge: What could be more “Napa Valley” than a luxury resort with its own winery estate? The Four Seasons Napa Valley offers a grape-to-glass experience at its Elusa Winery, complete with guided tastings, tours, and grape picking during harvest season. Its expansive suites also feature vineyard views (starting around $1,000 low season; $1,600 high season), or you can opt for a residential villa that’s equipped with special features like a bocce court or outdoor hot tub.
Save: Wine country doesn’t have to break the bank. Soak up the stylish retro vibes at Calistoga Motor Lodge (starting around $260 low season). The downtown retreat offers cool camper-themed suites and rooms with private terraces, along with two geothermal pools, a spa and bathhouse, outdoor games, and cruiser bikes.
Where to sip and savor
Splurge: For an epic wine tasting, wind your way up Spring Mountain to Stony Hill, a high-elevation vineyard known for its Chardonnay. The estate’s gorgeously renovated midcentury modern home has spectacular hilltop views, which you’ll enjoy while sipping on five wines paired with cheese and charcuterie during the Terroir Experience ($350 per person). It also includes a tour through the historic vineyard before you settle in for tastings of elegant Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from Stony Hill’s limited portfolio.
At dinnertime, head back to your hotel for a feast at Calistoga’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, Auro at the Four Seasons. Helmed by Top Chef alum Rogelio Garcia, Auro’s seven-course tasting menu blends modern California cuisine with sophisticated technique (starting at $435/person with wine pairings). The menu changes seasonally, so at any given time you may sample a crudo of 10-day dry-aged Japanese Shima-aji served with an apple aguachile or venison with mole negro and blistered Okinawa sweet potato.
Save: Wine country indulgence doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Relax in a tranquil garden setting with the Palisades Mountains as a backdrop at Bennett Lane Winery. The Taste of the Napa Valley experience ($35) features four guided tastings, including the popular Maximus Red Feasting Wine.
For dinner, make the short drive to House of Better. The bright, colorful patio and lawn—complete with a hammock and swings—bring a fun, backyard vibe to mealtime. Order at the counter and enjoy your healthy, Southwest-inspired dishes at one of the picnic tables under strings of fairy lights. House-roasted New Mexican chiles are a star of the menu, so don’t sleep on favorites like the chicken posole ($16), nachos ($14), or stew ($16).
Top-tier spa treatments
Splurge: At the luxurious Spa Talisa, tap into the region’s natural healing properties with the Brave Spirit Ritual ($495). The 100-minute treatment features a foot soak and aura cleanse, a salt scrub fortified with marine algae, detoxifying thermal mud application, and a restorative massage.
Save: For a more budget-friendly path to bliss, Calistoga Spa Hot Springs’ Volcanic Ash Mud Bath ($162) delivers 60 minutes of pure bliss. Melt away your cares with a mud bath followed by a mineral whirlpool soak scented with aromatherapy salts. Finish with an invigorating eucalyptus steam bath.
Pedal to the metal
Splurge: If staying active is on your agenda, mix wine tasting with a dash of adventure on the Getaway Adventures Sip ‘n’ Cycle Tour ($250). You’ll take a guided ride along Calistoga’s scenic back roads, stopping along the way to sip local wines and refuel with a gourmet picnic. The 12-mile trek includes two winery visits, where you’ll learn to sip, swirl, and taste (wine tastings not included).
Save: Or choose to go at your own pace aboard a rental cruiser on the Self-Guided Calistoga Cool Wine Tour ($95, tastings not included). Calistoga Bikeshop will curate a custom itinerary, complete with tasting reservations at up to three wineries. The tour includes bike and helmet rentals, plus a handy service that transports your wine purchases back to the shop.