The sweeter side of Downtown Napa

Ca' Momi at Oxbow Public Market
Ca’ Momi at Oxbow Public Market

No matter where you turn, Downtown Napa has great bakeries and sweet shops for a relaxing breakfast with coffee, that afternoon treat with tea, a take-out snack or freshly-made bread to bring home.

Model Bakery at Oxbow Public Market is the go-to bakery for artisanal bread made with organic ingredients.  A branch of the Model Bakery in Saint Helena which was established over 80 years ago, the bakery serves a variety of breads – including a to-die-for Fatted Calf bacon bread on weekends – as well as breakfast breads, cakes, cookies, custom sandwiches and prepared salads that are always light and fresh.  Great for a take-out for a picnic up-valley.

Nearby in the main hall is an Italian pasticceria at Ca’ Momi with authentic torta, crostata, biscotti and more made on-premise by Italian bakers .  Also in the main hall is Kara’s Cupcakes which serves an endless selection of full-size and bite-size favorites as well as seasonal selections such as the current strawberry-filled vanilla cupcake with cream cheese frosting.

At the end of Main Street in the Historic Napa Mill is Sweetie Pie’s which specializes in cakes, pies and signature sweets which one can linger over with coffee in a cozy café with high ceilings.  They also serve great sandwiches for lunch.

ABC Bakery (aka Alexis Baking Co.) on Third Street near School St. is a local’s hangout, serving breakfast and lunch.  They also make great cakes, breakfast breads and cookies, but they’re famous for their potato rolls, which are sold to local restaurants like Norman Rose Tavern for their top-selling hamburger.