After three days of high-energy performances, celebrity chef demos, and the wild, wonderful chaos that is BottleRock Napa Valley, one thing stood out just as much as the music—the food. With over 60 food and drink vendors slinging creative, bold, and downright decadent dishes, the festival is as much a feast for your tastebuds as it is for your ears. From Michelin-starred indulgences to over-the-top street food, I made it my mission to taste as much as possible—and I’m glad I did. The best part? You don’t need to wait for festival season to enjoy these incredible bites. All of these standout restaurants have brick-and-mortar locations or pop-ups in Napa and the surrounding area, so you can savor their flavor-packed creations long after the final encore.
Here are my picks for the best bites:
587 St Helena Hwy, St Helena, CA 94574
A Michelin starred Napa favorite in St. Helena, PRESS came to shock and delight this year. Not only did they offer their popular absurdity, the Tsar Nicolas Caviar topped Lobster Corn Dog ($32) to GA and VIP ticket holders, they really upped their game for Platinum. A corn dog is no longer enough, the people need french fry ice cream smothered in caviar! And I have to say, the Nitro French Fry Soft Serve with Potato Crumble and Tsar Nicolai Caviar made personally by Top Chef Season 22 contestant Vincenzo Loseto was the best bite of the entire weekend. Absolutely decadent, deeply rich, highly ridiculous, salty and refreshing – an umami and incredible flavor sensation I will not soon forget.
Other delicious moments from their GA/VIP menu include the Black Truffle fries with Shaved Urbani Black Truffles ($19), a Seeded Pretzel Epi with Smoked Onion Mustard ($12), and a local Tenbrink Farm Strawberry soft serve with Butter Crumble and Fudge Sauce ($15). Everything was a big & delicious flavor bomb, and the soft serve was a refreshing delight for the warm temperatures and a fantastic palate cleanser. Their Platinum menu offered a juicy Yellowfin Tuna with Tsar Nicolai Caviar in Steam Buns, and Suckling Pig Tacos with Urbani Black Truffles. Every option was just so rich, so lux, and so fun.
1500 1st St Suite 140, Napa, CA 94559
Chispa, who also participates in La Onda Festival the weekend after BottleRock, also brought the flavor. And the texture. The secret menu item, the Chispa Nacho Supreme ($30), was crunchy, savory, sweet and spicy perfection. They had a couple of different nacho options, including a vegetarian one ($23), but the Chispa Nacho Supreme was the king: Tortilla Chips layered with Mama Teav’s Hot Garlic Spicy Chili Crisp Pork, Street Corn Mix, Jalapeño Crema, and Salsa Roja, topped with Pickled Radish, Green Onion, and Cotija Cheese. Their delicious Rolled Chicken Tacos ($23) were also worth trying, as well as adorable.
1327 Railroad Ave, St Helena, CA 94574
Another restaurant that really brought the playfulness mixed with decadence was Charlie’s. Located in idyllic St. Helena, they’ve been open for two years. Chef Elliot Bell, a former sous chef at The French Laundry, is focused on community, the bounty of Napa Valley, and the flavors of the world. At their BottleRock food station, I fell in love with the Wagyu Hot Dog ($23), complete with Pretzel Bun and Green Tomato Chow Chow (which of course you can add caviar to for $15!), and the Salt and Vinegar Chips with Regiis Ova Caviar and Caramelized Onion Dip($20). They were also serving up Georgia’s ice cream for $12, including the Chucko Taco, a deliciously nostalgic take on the sadly discontinued Choco Taco.
A festival favorite for flavor, fast service and massive portions, this was incredible to watch as well as taste. Gerard Nebesky and his employees are serving up a bowl of fresh paella every 8 seconds. In 2012, Gerard beat Bobby Flay in a paella throw down on the Food Network Show Throwdown with Bobby Flay and has been serving up Paella to Bay Area events and in his restaurants for years and years. We took a peek backstage to watch the magic happen and we saw the secret paella assembly line – each pan is 5 feet across, and there were six of them next to each other, working all at the same time. Really cool to watch, and the Paella was fabulous as well, with a really generous portion size. We could call it the best value and portion for your money at the festival.
1790 Soscol Ave, Napa, CA 94558
Sometimes after all the crazy bougie food, you just want a fried chicken sandwich. The one from Imagination on Fire, a mobile food truck based out of Napa, really hit the spot for me. For $23, the chicken is tender and crispy, the bun is toasted over open fire, there’s the perfect amount of slaw, the spice blend is flavorful without taking over, and the sauce is so good.
610 1st St, Napa, CA 94559
Another simple but hearty and delicious stand out from BottleRock is the Jamon Y Queso empanada from El Porteno. For only $13.50, they are huge, crispy, and full of ham and cheese. The main restaurant is located in the adorable Oxbow Market in Napa, which is well worth a visit, and they serve up all different flavors of empanada, made with fresh local ingredients from California farms.
Best Vegetarian Choice:
Our top vegetarian pick of the entire festival is the “Crispy Chik’n Sandwich”, a plant based chicken patty covered in chipotle ranch, with pickle & lettuce. We also tried and enjoyed the signature “Amy’s Burger”, which is a veggie burger named after the owners Rachel and Andy Berliner’s daughter Amy and “The Rachel”, a delicious salad with baked tofu and a miso dressing. Definitely felt a little healthier after the salad!!
From decadent soft serves topped with caviar to massive pans of sizzling paella and crispy plant-based comfort food, BottleRock Napa proved once again that it’s a festival for food lovers as much as music fans. Each dish brought its own kind of magic—creative, indulgent, and packed with personality. But the good news is, the flavors don’t end when the festival does. These standout restaurants and vendors are serving up their greatest hits all year long across Napa Valley, making it easy to relive the experience one delicious bite at a time. Whether you’re planning a return trip or just passing through wine country, consider this your ultimate post-festival food road map.