Life is just better with pizza, acai bowls, hot dogs & iced coffee. For a gorgeous and food-focused afternoon in Napa, head to the Oxbow Market. When I walked in to the market for an Acai Bowl at Hudson Greens and Goods, I knew I was in the right place when I spotted Bravos’s Top Chef brothers Bryan and Michael Voltaggio buying smoothies and Loveski sandwiches after their BottleRock demonstrations. I spoke to Michael for a few minutes and he said they love the market, and try to come every day during BottleRock and added that they try to buy as much as possible at Oxbow for their Williams Sonoma stage cooking demos.
Located right on the river complete with a scenic riverside dock, the market holds wine & cheese, farm fresh produce, amazing sandwiches and fabulous bakeries. I needed some caffeine, so my first move was an iced coffee at Ritual’s experimental coffee bar The Cup and Star. Iced coffee in hand, I wandered around Oxbow, checking out the options.
Stop by El Porteño for a great super flaky Argentinean empanada, walk over to Hog Island Oysters for fresh local oysters and clam chowder all day, and if you want something fun and unusual, Sumo offers American Hot Dogs with Japanese toppings & ingredients. We had their Sumo Chili Cheese dog, which is loaded up with chili, togarashi, onions and cheese sauce.
The market is a great place for a wander around while you enjoy eating and drinking treats of all kinds. Bookmine is a fun stop for book lovers, or if you need to pick up a gift or a game. Of course, if you’re looking for a classic Napa wine & cheese moment, you can go to Wine & Cheese Merchant.
For people who love to cook at home, the fresh organic produce from Hudson’s Greens & Goods is some of the finest looking produce I’ve ever seen.
After enjoying the market for a while, I decided my friends and I needed some pizza and enjoyed Live Fire Pizza’s delicious “Bee Sting” pizza, along with with creamy burrata and spicy brussels sprouts. They have outdoor seating if you want to enjoy the weather and view overlooking Napa instead of sitting inside at the bar watching the wood-fired pizza oven.
As long as you come hungry (and/or thirsty!), you could really spend all day enjoying the local specialties. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can even book a class at the Fatted Calf – learn to butcher a whole hog or make your own sausage. They offer something different each Sunday, but it’s always about the meat. If you don’t have time for a class, at least stop by for an incredible sandwich or some house salumi. Speaking of sandwiches, Loveski deli is rumored to have the best pastrami on the west coast. The husband and wife team make their own sourdough bagels, pickles and even cure their own meats.
Oxbow Market truly is foodie heaven, and the best place around to enjoy a hot Napa summer day in the shade.