Gluten-free travel can be challenging, especially for those traveling with celiac disease. The fear of cross-contamination is real, making the quest for safe and delicious options a top priority. As someone with Celiac, I understand the battle.
In this post, I’ve compiled a list of the eight restaurants in Napa that can accommodate gluten-free guests including those sensitive to cross-contamination.
I hope this post helps reduce any anxiety associated with gluten-free travel during your next Napa getaway.
The Best of Napa Gluten-Free
Before We Get Started
This post contains a list of Napa gluten-free options tested by myself or other gluten-free travelers. Although I typically only list restaurants I’ve tried, I want to share other good restaurants I have yet to try. This list also includes restaurants recommended by gluten-free travelers sensitive to cross-contamination.
I’ve marked all the restaurants I’ve personally tested as “Trudy Traveler Recommended” restaurants. Each restaurant has accommodated gluten-free dining needs, and I have not had cross-contamination issues. Some of these restaurants have more gluten-free options than others, which I will indicate throughout the post.
Disclaimer: The following recommendations are based on personal experiences and insights shared by fellow gluten-free travelers. Please recognize that not all mentioned restaurants are exclusively gluten-free. However, some may have dedicated prep spaces, while others may not. Dining at any non-dedicated gluten-free restaurant entails inherent risks for celiac travelers. Any individuals dining at any of the mentioned restaurants are choosing to do so, exercising their discretion and risk.
Napa Gluten-Free: Oxbow Public Market
C Casa
Trudy Traveler Recommended
C Casa was the highlight of our Napa gluten-free meals and should be on the top of everyone’s list. Located in Oxbow Public Market, this self-proclaimed taqueria is Mexican food reimagined.
We dined at this restaurant twice during our Napa visit. The food is delicious and they are a 100% gluten-free restaurant. Delicious food and celiac safe is a magic combination in my world.
The grilled chicken and cheese taquitos were my favorite. You just can’t go wrong with perfectly cooked chicken, creamy chipotle aioli, and cheese wrapped in a crispy taco shell and topped with guacamole and serrano crema. Delicious!
Their mesquite grilled street corn was another favorite. The grilled corn is sprinkled with cotija cheese, tajin, and garlic aioli, resulting in a flavor explosion in your mouth!
We also tried a few of their street tacos, all of which were heaping with flavorful ingredients. The grilled prawns street taco was our favorite.
Don’t miss out on this Napa gluten-free gem. I’d recommend making reservations because it fills up quickly. You can check out more about them here.
Hog Island Oyster Bar
Trudy Traveler Recommended
Located in Oxbow Public Market, Hog Island Oyster Bar is a delight. You can scoot yourself up to their bar and watch them prepping their popular raw oysters as you wait. Speaking of oysters, while they don’t list gluten-free options on their menu, I did confirm their raw oysters and chowder are gluten-free.
While we didn’t try the oysters, we did order the clam chowder. This generously sized bowl comes loaded with perfectly prepared fresh clams in the shell. Their cream-based chowder also includes potatoes and carrots, in a thin creamy broth. I don’t usually jump at eating clams out of a shell, but I enjoyed these.
There is limited seating and they don’t accept reservations, however they do offer a convenient take-out option.
We highly recommend visiting Hog Island Oyster Bar while in Napa. You can find out more about them here!
Kara's Cupcakes
Trudy Traveler Recommended
Looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth? Look no further than Kara’s Cupcakes. This bakery offers a variety of regular and gluten-free cupcakes to choose from.
Depending on the day, you may find flavors that include a chocolate or vanilla cake with various frostings, such as coconut cream cheese, chocolate buttercream, or Madagascar bourbon buttercream.
They also offered a fudgy flourless cupcake, which we both enjoyed; however, the chocolate with coconut cream cheese frosting was my favorite.
Discover more about their delectable creations here, and treat yourself to a sweet treat!
Gott's Roadside
Trudy Traveler Recommended
You’ll find Gott’s Roadside next to the larger Oxbow Public Market building.
Goatt’s Roadside has a fun retro diner vibe and a mouthwatering menu. I recommend looking at the menu ahead of time because you order at the counter before being seated—that’s a lot of pressure.
Although their menu doesn’t list gluten-free options, they confirmed that everything is gluten-free except their burger sauce, cheese fries, and onion rings. Everything else can be made gluten-free.
They offer a large burger made from fresh ingredients and delicious fries cooked in a dedicated gluten-free fryer.
We both enjoyed our burgers; however, I would add ranch in the future since their burger sauce is not gluten-free.
If you’re looking for a good burger and fries, I think you’ll be pleased with the options Gott’s offers.
You can see more about what Gott’s has to offer here.
Napa Gluten-Free: Downtown
This area is a quick 5-10 minute walk from Oxbow Public Market.
Torc
Trudy Traveler Recommended
Torc is located in the downtown area of Napa. In the words of their owners they are “dismantling’ the fine dining experience, replacing it with a sophisticated yet relaxed evening that doesn’t break the bank”.
Torc offers many gluten-free options and can prepare meals without concerns of cross-contamination, including using a dedicated gluten-free fryer. Yay!
The food quality was great, and the service was fantastic. They also brought us a special dessert to celebrate our anniversary.
Torc is another Napa gluten-free restaurant option that I would highly recommend. Learn more about Torc here.
Napa Noodles
Napa Noodles is highly recommended as a gluten-free restaurant option. Customers report they offer a variety of noodle dishes and gluten-free options, which are marked on the menu. Their ramen comes highly recommended.
They are reported to be attentive to cross-contamination concerns, but guests should communicate their gluten-free requirements clearly when placing orders.
Learn more about Napa Noodles here!
Napkins Bar and Gril
Napkins Bar and Grill is also in the heart of downtown Napa.
They offer an array of globally inspired dishes, including seafood, steak, pasta, and other popular dishes made from seasonal farm fresh ingredients.
Gluten-free customers report that gluten-free items are not marked on the menu, although they can prepare a gluten-free version of most items.
You can learn more about Napkins’s Bar and Grill here!
Bistro Don Giovanni
Bistro Don Giovanni is about 10 minutes north of downtown Napa. Gluten-free visitors, including locals with celiac disease highly recommend this restaurant.
Although gluten-free options do not appear on the menu, the server or manager can explain how they can prepare gluten-free dishes.
In reviews, no one experienced issues with cross-contamination, including customers who have eaten there multiple times.
See more about Bistro Don Giovanni here!
Thanks for reading this post!
Napa offers a variety of good restaurants that can accommodate gluten-free visitors including avoidance of cross-contamination.
I hope you enjoy your time in Napa. Don’t miss our post on the Best Napa Sparkling Wines. Cheers!
Let me know in the comment section below if you have other great Napa gluten-free options!
Don’t forget to follow Trudy Traveler on PINTEREST, and you can save the pin for later!
