Angele Restaurant & Bar in Napa

​January 2024 

Don and I had a cozy meal in Napa, on a chilly January evening in 2024.

I took this photo the next morning, when the sun was bright.

The night before we dined beside 2 of those cute windows.

Raindrops on the window glass and real flickering candles, made it warm and cozy. 

​Rainy Day

It was cold and rainy when we arrived at the Historic Napa Mill.

We had booked just one night at Napa River Inn, in the historic A. Hatt Building. 

Exploring the Napa Mill

After checking in I grabbed a hotel umbrella and explored the outside of the mill property.

At the very end,  I spotted the barn like structure. It seemed to be covering an outdoor dining space, facing the river.

Appealing Entrance

My eyes were drawn to the blue and white awning to the  left.

The blue and yellow paint along with green plants, looked inviting on that gray day.

Riverfront Patio

I wandered past the entrance and studied the large structure, covering Angele's patio. It looked like the space could be totally opened up on a lovely day.

It also looked like the sturdy roof and roll down walls could keep the area dry on rainy days. But there were no tourists on that cold January day.

A Curious Structure
​
Beside the covered patio, a yellow building with blue shutters caught my eye. 

I learned later that Captain Albert Hatt  built this specific small structure in 1893, along with a wharf. It supported his growing merchant and shipping business. 

In 2002 the rectangular building was refurbished and became the dining room for Angeles.

I wish I could have seen the riverside restaurant on a warm sunny day. Internet photos show tables and striped umbrellas sitting beside the yellow building. 

A Peek

​The restaurant didn't open until 5, but the door was open. I peeked inside and was surprised to see the soaring wood rafters. The exterior had given no hints of that.

There was a cozy, rustic feel to the dining room.  And lots of flowers!

The staff welcomed me to look around.

The tables near the windows looked very inviting.

I tried to recall the exterior, with flat roof and low windows.

Who would have guessed this little yellow building had so much space and charm inside.

7:00 p.m.

​I took a very quick peek at the menu and made a reservation. We only had one night in Napa and this magical French cafe was just steps from our hotel room.

The dining room was hopping when we arrived. We were seated at a cozy table in the corner, where we cold study the whole room.

Food & Drink

Our server Ann welcomed us with drink menus. I could abbe kept it French, with a French 75. Or I could have been a bit edgier and ordered the Cigarettes and Coffee Cocktail.

But I embraced Napa and ordered some local Chardonnay. Don went did his own thing and had an Old Fashioned. The crispy French bread was a treat.

French Dishes

The delicious food options matched the country rustic decor. Comfy and simple, yet classy. ​

Don went for Prince Edward Island Mussels... white wine, thyme, bayleaf, garlic, comfit and French fries.

I ordered Boeff Bourgenioun, which I'd had in Paris a few months before. This dish seemed totally different with whipped potato and mushrooms, carrots and pearl onions. 

Was this the country French version? The beef was perfectly tender, with a heavenly sauce! 

Post Dinner
​
The restaurant was almost empty by the time we finished. We took our hotel umbrellas and wandered before returning to our hotel room. 

In the morning, the sun came out and we wandered some more.

We had to get back on the road soon, but we vowed to return another time.

We'll aim for a sunny day and a table by the river!