After Dark

Contrary to popular belief, the sidewalks don’t roll up at sunset here in Wine Country. Though things may slow down a bit after the dinner time rush or get altogether sleepy on weeknights (hey, we work around here), there’s plenty of Bacchus to be found around these parts. You just have to know where to look. Insiders know that Bouchon is a favorite late night hangout for off-duty chefs and industry folks looking for a quick drink and a bite to eat after a long shift. In Napa, DG’s Jazz, Blues and Salsa is always hopping on the weekend, with live music and dancing lessons. In Sonoma, it’s almost a right of passage to closedown the Swiss Hotel after bar-hopping around the square. While you’re still upright, however, stop at the El Dorado Kitchen, which does double duty as a swank eatery and cocktail bar. The clean lines and simple layout make it prime real estate for people watching.

>>2006 Winners in the After Dark Category

Best Bar

Oh, if these paneled walls could talk, what delicious secrets they’d reveal. The Martini House bar, nestled quietly beneath the restaurant is just cozy enough, with its velvet curtains and overstuffed library chairs, to necessitate intimate conversations and more than one accidental-on-purpose brush against the handsome winemaker in the corner. Who knows, you may even end up sipping cult Cabs for hours and discussing German philosophers until closing time. Or nuzzle in the candlelight with a sassy little Riesling, though results may vary.

Best Bartender

The bar at Bouchon is a special place. You’re closer to the oysters, for one. In fact, should conversation wane, you’ve got a front row seat to the shucking action. The bar also happens to be a lot closer to the…beverages. It’s a prime opportunity to ask about new vodka flavors (Kaffir lime?) or find yourself the recipient of a favorite new rosé. But maybe best of all, the bar also happens to be where you’ll find smiling bartender Chris Kennedy, pouring drinks and offering his take on the menu while dispensing sound advice on everything from Riojas to relationships.

Best Nightspot

Though folks may add a few extra layers in the winter, you’ll find a crowd spilling onto the sidewalk from beneath the Swiss Hotel porch just about all year round, rain or shine. As the dinner crowd transforms into a slightly more amorous and amicable after-dinner cocktail crowd, the Hotel becomes a favorite rendezvous and mingling spot until the late night hours.