9 Unique Downtown Calistoga Retail Finds

WineCountry Collective — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 08:00:42 +0000

Being able to play hooky and spend a day in Napa Valley for some retail therapy is a charming luxury exclusive to living in Northern California. Calling on one of my most stylish friends to peruse the downtown retail area, we hit the road at 11am. A stretch of highway and then a couple turns through oak-dappled hills, and suddenly we were parked and ready for a full day spent in downtown Calistoga. A summertime Thursday seemed like the best timing for exploring and tasting the quaint Napa Valley town.

Tank Garage Winery
1020 Foothill Blvd
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 942-8265
TripAdvisor: 4.5 stars; 39 reviews

Our first stop was a tasting room to get the day off to an official wine country start. We pulled up to the aptly named Tank Garage, which is located in a refurbished, 1930s gas station complete with two pumps and a full width garage dock door open to the street. The interior is stylishly designed with a vintage edge that includes a pinball machine, classic Indian motorcycle, and insanely delicious one-off wines. We were in love with the variety and quality of the bottle art, which is commissioned from world-class artists and designers. The Tank Winery merchandise is perfectly hip and they have sleek branded items like harmonicas, handkerchiefs, and flasks.

Insider Tip: Give yourself a reason to go back for their member’s only events. Unique occasions like poetry slams, concerts, and community garage sales are all on their upcoming calendar.

Calistoga Pottery
1001 Foothill Blvd
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 942-0216
TripAdvisor: 5 stars; 13 reviews

Just across the street is the small, but exceptional studio of Calistoga Pottery. Inside we found a treasure trove of gorgeous stoneware and expertise of owners Jeff and Sally Manfredi. They’ve been creating utilitarian pieces out of clay since 1980, and you can find their work throughout Napa Valley wineries and restaurants. Their small operation allows for the flexibility to experiment with glazing techniques and custom orders. Thanks to their reputation in Calistoga and extensive knowledge of the artform, Jeff and Sally create simple and timeless pottery. From butter dishes to large platters, you can find something for anyone (and even more for yourself) in brilliant colors and a variety of glazes.

Insider Tip: For truly unique and entirely Calistoga-inspired dinnerware, ask about their grapevine ash glaze. It’s a special (and ever-changing) collection that is glazed with carefully cured and sifted grapevine ash from local winery burn piles after pruning.

Lincoln Street Market
1117b Lincoln Ave
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 346-0913

Lincoln Street Market is a multi-room brocante with vintage gems that range from classic farmhouse to gilded European in style. It was easy to get lost in the labyrinth of rustic furniture and housewares, but we made sure to take a moment and enjoyed the courtyard for a seat in the shade.

Insider Tip: If you’re looking for something to fit your aesthetic or a specific type of salvaged art or furniture, simply call and talk to one of their expert pickers who travel the globe finding incredible collectibles. They’ve been helping Calistoga inns and wineries find one-of-a-kind elements for years.

Blackbird of Calistoga
1347 Lincoln Ave
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 341-3080

We spent the most time in the lifestyle and gift shop, Blackbird of Calistoga. With plenty of interior design items to make your tabletop shine at dinner parties, your bathroom feel like a spa, and your outdoor space lush and comfortable, it’s an easy place to retreat to. Select furnishings and fashions range into the more expensive side, but the quality of the materials assure that they’ll be around for a long time and in heavy rotation.

Insider Tip: Venturing all the way to the back of the store, I found a choice selection of children’s toys and infant clothes, making it a great resource for baby showers and birthdays as well.

Catch
1365 Lincoln Ave
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 963-7700

Right down the street was a similarly compelling gift and fashion store. Opened by Toss Designs, the small boutique shows off unique handbags, resortwear, party supplies, and cute gifts. With a feminine flair and summer themes officially in full swing, Catch is a boutique for closet essentials and colorful accessories.

Insider Tip: Spice up any bag purchase with their monogram patches for immediate personalization.

Rove Boutique
1371 Lincoln Ave
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 403-5062

We loved playing dress up in this bohemian boutique. With a great assortment of candles and eclectic accessories, they have a well-curated variety of dresses and casual women’s wear. From astrological goodies to comfortable lingerie, Rove seemed to have a little bit of everything for the free-spirited and fashion-forward individual.

Insider Tip: We couldn’t help but notice the wide selection of local and American-made jewelry. Not to mention that there is a sister store, Gathered (literally, the owners are sisters) in St. Helena with a similar selection of stylish products.

Azusa
1422 Lincoln Ave
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 341-3192

At this point, stopping into a shoe store focused on comfort made sense on so many levels. Walking into this small boutique you immediately get the impression that every piece of inventory is selected with care and purpose. Leather sandals, fashionable wedges, simple flip-flops and easy sneakers line every wall.

Insider Tip: If there’s a specific style or need you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to ask the employees or, even better, the owner Lisa who is incredibly knowledgeable about the brands and their sizing.

Calistoga Olive Oil Company
1441 Lincoln Ave
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 265-6866
TripAdvisor: 5 stars; 29 reviews

As the final stop on our downtown retail tour, we wanted to save the opportunity to taste olive oil and spices for very last. Intentionally, the store has adopted a walk-in policy for their tastings, which means no advance reservations needed for the informed staff to guide you through the company’s philosophy and products. With an array of different types of olive oil, balsamics, spices, and other fun picnic products, Calistoga Olive Oil has great offerings for chefs and the everyday cook. With olives hand-picked from wineries in the area, it’s a perfect local treat to take home to your kitchen.

Insider Tip: You can find and taste their olive oil this season at the Santa Rosa Farmers Market with Triple T Ranch and Farm. Additionally, they will be featured as a food artisan at the annual Taste of Napa event in July.

Bio: Tiffany Bukowski is a Northern California native and specializes in brand marketing in San Francisco. She enjoys red blends, fancy cheese boards, and talking with her hands.

The post 9 Unique Downtown Calistoga Retail Finds first appeared on NapaValley.com.

Downtown – NapaValley.com

9 Unique Downtown Calistoga Retail Finds