In the heart of downtown Napa, the Oxbow Public Market is a unique prize. Whether you want to pick out treats for a picnic, get ‘take-out’ for later in the evening, or sample unusual food, you’ll find it at Oxbow. If you’d simply like to find a bottle of wine, dine on the river, or you’re looking for a cool shopping experience, Oxbow has you covered, and it’s all under one roof.
The Oxbow Public Market is a fun, delicious experience. Enjoy a glass of wine and an artisan cheese plate with friends while the lazy river sails by. Pick up some juicy burgers for the kids (or yourself). Explore the seasonal foods of produce stands, and chat with the merchants.
The anchor of dining at the Oxbox Market is Kitchen Door. This is not your average marketplace food experience. Put together by renowned restaurateurs Todd Humphries and Richard Miyashiro, Kitchen Door offers ethnic comfort foods that are created with local, seasonal foods.
If you’re looking for some retro-classic Napa Valley food, just pick up a burger or a fish taco at Gott’s Roadside. (The fish tacos are terrific.) The cult burger stand was started just up the road in St. Helena. You might also take a peek inside Pica Maize Kitchen. Chances are you’ve never had Venezuelan food, and certainly not like this. Their Latin beverages are a tart surprise.
More? Oh, my, yes. Hog Island Oyster Company is in the Main Hall. You can have your oysters lavishly prepared or fresh in the half shell. In the mood for Italian? Ca’ Momi has authentic, wood-fired Italian pizzas, traditional Italian pastries, and classic Italian wines. Perfect for wine country resident and for visitors.
Oxbow Wine Merchant & Wine Bar has casual fare that pairs perfectly with its large selection of wines. Innovative Taqueria makes sumptuous tacos, house-made white corn tortillas and chips, chili-rubbed rotisserie meats, fresh salsas, salads and one-of-a-kind side dishes. (The Oxbow Wine Merchant incorporates the Oxbow Cheese Merchant with savory cheeses from all over.)
The variety and values at Oxbow Wine Merchant are what you’d expect from the Napa Valley wine region. You can sip a glass on the outdoor deck, or find an unusual bottle for dinner. This is a classic hands-on, service-oriented shop for buying, tasting, and learning about wine.
Near Gott’s Roadside is The Model Bakery. They bake up the goodies right there, and the aroma of fresh bread is bliss. The Fatted Calf is an artisanal charcuterie and butcher shop–it completes the McKinstry St. side of the Market.
Five Dot Ranch offers sustainably produced natural beef products. Kanaloa Seafood Market is a full-service eco-seafood market. And, if you want a buzz, Ritual Coffee Roasters is ready to zip you up and get you going. Kara’s Cupcakes, fresh and yummy, uses only the finest ingredients. Finally, Oxbow Produce and Grocery brings in the best local and organic produce daily and offers healthy specialty foods.
Oxbow Public Market changes with the seasons and weather—something is always going on! Spices (Whole Spice Company); chocolate (Anette’s); olives and olive oil (The Olive Press); and specialty teas (Tillerman Tea) are part of the daily scene. And how about an ice cream cone on a warm afternoon? Three Twins Ice Cream has perfected an organic formula that brings you back for more. And more.
If you’re looking for a truly special gift, Heritage Culinary Artifacts is the ultimate source for culinary antiques from around the world.
Outside, ten open-air market stalls provide more of Northern California’s bounty. From artichokes to zucchini, trees and wreaths during the holidays, fresh fish and shellfish, Oxbow is a pure delight.
Bring your adventurous appetites to these Oxbow Market folks:
Writer: Meredith Blevins, featured travel writer for the Authentic Wine Country. Join her at www.blevinswordworx.com for wine-country mysteries, classes, and the untamed west.
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