34 Best Shopping in Napa and Sonoma, California

Ceramicist Richard Carter fires up his minimalist line of dinnerware at his 85-acre Pope Valley ranch, where he also creates sculptures and other works on display at his downtown store. Thoughtfully curated kitchenware, home-design items, and hand-crafted clothing by other artisans are also for sale.

A collaboration between a local artist and jewelry maker and a Danish-born curator, this gallery presents changing exhibits of jewelry, sculpture, and objets d'art.

Sweet Pearl carries the latest in women's fashions in a space that makes dramatic use of the section of the historic stone building the shop occupies. Celebs find bags, shoes, jewelry, and outfits here—and you might, too.

A cross between a design gallery and a museum gift shop, the Passdoor stocks high-quality artworks; glassware and ceramics; jewelry; and creative home-decor items.

Part general store, part gift shop, Acres sells bulbs, gardening implements, and home decor items "for the well-tended life." Bucking a brick-and-mortar retail trend, this smart shop has doubled in size.

Inside the Star Building (1900), this gallery exhibits contemporary American, European, and Latin American paintings and sculptures.

You might recognize the dinnerware and other pottery sold by owners Jeff and Sally Manfredi—their biggest customers are the area's inns, restaurants, and wineries.

It's best to call ahead to visit the shop, a short walk from downtown Calistoga.

The fancy furniture, lighting fixtures, and objets d'art at this upscale shop make it a dangerous place to enter: within minutes you may find yourself reconsidering your entire home's aesthetic. The owner's keen eye for French style makes a visit here a pleasure.

In addition to magazines and best-selling books, this store, part of a local indie chain, stocks a wide selection of discounted and remaindered titles, including many cookbooks.

For breakfasts, sandwiches, bread, cheeses, and picnic supplies, stop by the general store, established in 1881 and still a popular spot for locals to hang out on the porch or in the bar. Beer and wine are also for sale, along with artisanal sodas, ciders, and juices.

This combination "contemporary general store" (Fat Pilgrim) and home-furnishings emporium (Harvest Home) carries many locally made gift items and food and beauty products, along with furniture and home accessories, some of them also from Sonoma or Napa. The tone in the huge outdoor section is decidedly whimsical.

The Archer Hotel Napa anchors this open-air downtown complex of mostly ground-level restaurants, tasting rooms, and national (Anthropologie, Lululemon) and homegrown (The Bennington Napa Valley, Habituate Lifestyle + Interiors, Napa Stäk) design, clothing, housewares, and culinary shops. Copperfield's Books and the Visit Napa Valley Welcome Center are also here, along with Milo and Friends for pet necessities and accessories.

"Try this one!" are the three favorite words of Omar Mueller, this shop's sociable monger of quality cheeses from Sonoma, nearby counties, and a few places beyond. Omar also sells gourmet food and kitchen items and makes crepes (the one with Nutella is a hit with kids and adults alike).

Gary Fisch owns four New Jersey stores selling gourmet groceries and international wines but has such a soft spot for the Napa Valley that when the Dean & DeLuca chain abandoned this location, he swooped in and set up shop. The wine selection is as good as ever, and the prepared foods and deli items will ensure you'll picnic in style.

The long-running Saturday market, held from early spring to late fall, provides one-stop shopping for locally produced cheeses, breads, herbs, meats, and oils, in addition to the usual (ultratasty) fruits and vegetables. The flavors and smells arouse the senses, and the participants' passion warms the heart.

The aromas alone will lure you into this shop selling artisanal European-style chocolates created on-site. The truffles, many incorporating local ingredients, include lavender with dark chocolate and fennel pollen with milk chocolate.

St. Helena's treasured Main Street Books was headed for closure when the folks behind Napa Bookmine in downtown Napa rescued the indie. The tiny shop's specialties include Napa and Sonoma titles.

Rows of Panama hats from classic to contemporary line this colorful storefront boutique's walls. The owners, who import their headgear from a revered designer in their native Ecuador, also commission scarves and other accessories. Actor Johnny Depp is among the shop's customers, which claims to have the "largest inventory of genuine Panama hats" in the United States.

An indie shop scheduled to relocate during 2023 from its longtime site at 964 Pearl Street to the Register Square development, Napa Bookmine sells current magazines and new and used books and hosts author events. Specialties include children's and teen titles, travel books, and works by local writers.

"There's a crazy little shack beyond the tracks," the song goes, but in this case the 1870s barn east of the railroad tracks sells tickle-your-taste-buds olive oils and vinegars, along with cheeses, meats, breads, and other delectables to take on the road or enjoy at picnic tables outside. This is no-frills old Napa with a shout-out to old Italy.

The French Laundry, Four Seasons Napa Valley, several wineries, and Martha Stewart herself rank among the fans of ceramicist spouses Nikki Ballere and William Callnan III. The two create artworks and dinnerware ceramics—and exhibit the works of other local artisans—in their studio east of St. Helena in Angwin. It's worth the 6-mile trip halfway up Howell Mountain to see what Ballere and Callnan, who also conduct lively classes, are up to. 

The Healdsburg branch of this Napa-based store is filled with wine, condiments, and deli items, and sells sandwiches and picnic fixings. A terrace with ample seating makes a good place for an impromptu meal, but you should lunch early or late to avoid the crowds. The Oakville Wine Merchant next door has 40 wines on tap, including many from Sonoma County.

At 9,000 square feet this is one of California’s largest art galleries, with contemporary paintings, sculptures, and photographs. It’s also the GrapeSeed tasting room (wines by Matt Smith from Italian varietals are the highlight); patrons sip amid the fine art. The gallery claims its moss wall art in the back is North America’s largest.

The European sensibility of this shop and tasting room's French owner informs the selection of art, jewelry, crafts, and clothing and accessories on display. She also operates as a négociant, purchasing grapes and "juice" (already made wines) to bottle under her Picayune Cellars label. Tastings of these wines start at $35.

Reset your palate at this shop whose owners sell more than a hundred ciders (18 on tap) from as near as Sonoma County and as far afield as Slovenia and Austria. They also stock sparklers, rosés, and other light wines. Test drive a few ciders in the tap room, where small bites are also served.