610 & 644 First Street
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 226-6529
oxbowpublicmarket.com
Description
If you said that this unassuming (and incredible) place is something like Napa’s answer to the Ferry Building, you wouldn’t be far off. Steve Carlin, founder of Oxbow, was one of the brains behind the Ferry Building’s market. And his genius is at work in this airy space on the Napa River.
Part local grocery, part farmer’s market, part gourmet food court, Oxbow has all the elements that make foodies swoon. Among the options for diners to sample are succulent oysters from Hog Island Oyster Company, addictive burgers from Gott’s Roadside, and spicy Latin fare from Pica Pica Maize Kitchen. There is of course a wine merchant as well, plus a vast selection of artisanal specialties, from decadent cheeses to fresh-pressed olive oil to ritual-inducing coffee.
Of course, the focus is on locally and sustainably produced foods, but even more than that Oxbow is about connecting with one’s food—the joy that comes from buying, cooking, and eating quality items. Plus, it’s about community, so much so that the market hosts multiple regular happy hours as well as special merchant events. Check the website for a full list offerings.
Read about more things to do in Napa.
Directions
Take the Baylink ferry to Vallejo and catch the Napa VINE route 10 bus to Napa.
