At Happy Hour Napa, we enjoy an outdoor happy hour experience as much as the next person and with the beautiful weather in Napa, it allows for patio dining almost year-round. Here are our Top Patios for Happy Hour in Napa Valley.
Eiko’s
Most of the time, when you hear the phrase; “Location, location, location”, someone is usually telling you about a house or apartment that they are looking to purchase or rent. In this case, it is one of the reasons that Eiko’s lands on our Top 6 Patios for Happy Hour. This place resides in the heart of downtown Napa, walking distance from the high-end shops, hotels, and many wine bars that line the street. Eiko’s offers their happy hour every day of the week from 4 pm until 6 pm which includes traditional edamame, shishito peppers, shrimp or tuna tacos, sushi rolls, sashimi, oysters in the half shell, and other vegetarian options. You can wet your whistle with any draft beer for $5, well drinks for $6, or a 10oz carafe of sake (hot or cold) for $8. Eiko’s patio offers very comfortable couches for lounging during your happy hour, and for those crisp Napa evenings, they have beautiful glass fire pits to warm you up. It’s a great place to people watch as it is in the heart of the downtown Napa shops. The combination of Eiko’s location, along with the extensive happy hour menu, and the ambiance of their glass fire pits, make this a “must see” for any Napa native or traveler.
Sky and Vine
The name says it all for this patio! Sky and Vine is a rooftop patio, located on the 4th floor of one of Napa’s downtown hotels, the Archer. Looking east offers a picturesque view of the hills surrounding the Napa Valley. You can visit this rooftop patio any time of the year, as they have gas heaters, fans, and umbrellas, along with most of their table seating under a trellis. The happy hour for Sky and Vine is offered Sundays to Thursdays and runs a bit later than the norm, from 8 pm to 10 pm. Their happy hour menu includes shishito peppers or impossible sliders ($5) for vegetarian options, or beef jerky for $6, and their lobster corn dogs are a “must try” at $10 for 3. Sky and Vine has two mixed drinks on tap, a delicious Moscow Mule or Aperol Spritz for $10, but if you’re looking for a great “go-to”, the Margarita is a solid choice at the same price. At Sky and Vine, you can pull up a chair at the bar to catch a game, sit in their comfortable patio chairs with a small or large group, or sit at one of their tables for some casual dining. Don’t take our word for it, see it for yourself and make Sky and Vine your next late Happy Hour!
Empress M
If you are looking to enjoy some dim sum at your next happy hour, then Empress M is the place for you! They are located a bit off the beaten path, outside of downtown Napa, but well worth the drive or Uber. The happy hour at Empress M is offered seven days a week running from 3 pm until 5 pm. Empress M provides a tranquil private patio to enjoy your choice of pot stickers or spring rolls for $1 each, or their delicious pork buns, pork or shrimp dumplings, or their vegetarian option of mushroom dumplings run a cool $2 apiece. You can wash your dim sum down with some Henhouse from the draft for $6, a well drink for $8, or a glass of wine for $9. Whatever you choose can be enjoyed at one of their many outdoor tables or you can pull up a chair to overlook the beautiful garden in the center of the patio. If you choose to stay for dinner, we recommend their crispy walnut shrimp or the chicken wings that offer a unique Chinese twist. They also have live music on Friday nights, and you can check to see their upcoming artists on their Facebook page. Empress M lands on our Top Patios for Happy Hour because; Who doesn’t love a great dim sum?
Tra Vigne Pizzeria
Mangiamo!! Next on our list of Top Patios for Happy Hour is Tra Vigne Pizzeria which is located up valley in the beautiful small town of St. Helena. Right off Highway 29, Tra Vigne Pizzeria is a true italiano eatery and a must for anyone looking for authentic Italian food. Their secluded outdoor patio offers mature trees and umbrellas for shade, patio heaters for those cool St. Helena nights, and bocce ball courts for some friendly competition. Tra Vigne Pizzeria’s Arancini ($1.50 per ball), which is a crispy risotto ball, that has a spicy tomato sauced mozzarella center and served with salsa verde sauce, is a must any time of the year. You can also enjoy oysters on the half-shell or bbq spiced smoked chicken wings for the same price of $1.50 each. The wood fired olives for $5 that come warm in a cast iron skillet and seasoned with Calabrian chili, lemon juice, and citrus zest make our mouths water every time we visit. Tra Vigne Pizzeria is a family and pet friendly place where you can feed your Italian food craving any day of the week because their happy hour runs every day from 4 pm until 6 pm. Saluti!
Hop Creek
The last place on our Top Patios for Happy Hour list is Hop Creek. If you are looking for good beer, good food, and a good time, Hop Creek is your place. Located in the Browns Valley neighborhood of Napa, Hop Creek is a true “locals joint”, with spacious patio areas on both sides of the restaurant. Their happy hour is Monday thru Friday from 2 pm until 6 pm and this nanobrewery has all your happy hour favorites, like chicken wings (not for the faint of heart as these are ginormous) for $8, pretzel bites for $4, their maple glazed brussels sprouts are delicious at $5.50, or choose any of their three flatbread options; Margarita ($7.50), Shitake Hits the Fan ($9.50), or We Meat Again (10.50). One item that you might not see on their happy hour menu, but is a must, is their fried pickles. Yum! Hop Creek offers their house beers on draft for a steal at $4 per pint or you can enjoy a well drink for $4.50, and since you’re in the Napa Valley, a glass of wine can be enjoyed for $6. The outdoor space that is located off the back of the restaurant is secluded and after a good rain, you can enjoy the sounds of the creek that runs along the side of the patio. We promise that you will fall in love with Hop Creek during your next happy hour!!
