1801 First B&B, Napa

D and I are heading back to Napa shortly, and I realized that I have a whole pile (well, whatever the digital equivalent is) of photos of the great B&B we stayed at last time.

1801 First is a charming Victorian house in the city of Napa itself, less than a mile from downtown restaurants or the Oxbow Market. I’m not usually much of a B&B person (too many doilies), but this one is just my speed – classic and neutral decor, individual tables at breakfast (with different seating times available!), and plenty of wine.

We’ve stayed twice, both times in the Viognier suite on the first floor. It’s right off the main foyer, but because of a small antechamber inside the door, it feels sufficiently removed from the rest of the house. The only downside is that the window overlooks a four way stop at First and Jefferson, which is a pretty busy intersection starting bright and early, 6am or so.

There’s a nice patio out back, where the B&B hosts hold an evening happy hour; the last time we were there, they had a Trefethen tasting. It’s a nice way to sample some wines without having to drive!

Breakfast is served in the dining room at the front of the house; seating is first come, first served, so I always tried to get there promptly to get my favorite table – against the window, but not in the sun.

As for the food, there are two choices each day, one hearty (eggs and polenta, French toast) and one light (yogurt, granola, and a hard boiled egg). I stuck with the hearty options, which were always good – though I preferred the savory egg dishes over the sweet dishes.

Oh, and there are also freshly baked goods, like scones or muffins. Yum!

1801 First is a great option if you’d like to be in Napa proper, but avoid the chain hotels. However, this time D and I are going to try something different… Stay tuned!