I vividly remember the first-ever BottleRock Napa Valley, held in May 2013. A friend flew in all the way from New York to join me for what sounded like an exciting extravaganza — but after an hour of wandering through the dusty, bare dirt lot that was the Napa Valley Expo grounds, we left.

At that point, we had already spent a good amount of money on mediocre sandwiches from what looked like shipping container booths, along with warm, grocery-store-quality wine served in plastic cups. (I recall shelling out $20 for skimpy pours.)

That first BottleRock was nearly a Fyre Festival. Today, the music, culinary, wine and nightclub-style celebration feels more like posh Pebble Beach. I’ve gone every year since the inaugural event and it just keeps getting better — especially for general admission attendees, who don’t have access to the fancy Skydeck, Suites or Platinum Lounge, where top-shelf food and drinks are served to those willing to pay up to $8,995 for a three-day pass.

It’s still pricey for us everyday folks — one-day general admission tickets are $233 and parking isn’t cheap, either. Last year, food and wine prices remained firmly in the double digits — even a warm pretzel required an extra charge for cheese sauce.

Expect to pay around $16 for two average chicken tenders and a handful of fries, $13 for a mainstream Cabernet Sauvignon, $12 for a 12-ounce can of beer and $18 for a cucumber lemonade gin cocktail.

Best bets at BottleRock

So here’s my tip: before diving into the eats and drinks, take a stroll around the sprawling property. Scope out what really appeals to you and plan your budget carefully — there’s some excellent fare to be found amid the more state fair-style offerings.

Keep your eyes peeled for sure bets like Morimoto Asia, Chispa, Loveski Deli, Ristorante Allegria, Boon Fly Café, Sarmentine Artisan Boulanger, Gerard’s Paella and Compline.

There’s also Sumo Dog, which serves up head-scratching but delicious creations — like their signature Angus beef frank topped with wasabi relish, pickled peppers, spicy mayo, teriyaki sauce, furikake, minced onion and nori (they offer pork sausage or Beyond Meat dogs, too).

Don’t be shy about hovering near the picnic tables in the culinary gardens and asking guests how they liked their meal. Over the years, I’ve never had anyone be offended when I asked for advice — like whether last year’s birria grilled cheese from El Garage was worth the $20 price tag (a resounding “yes,” even at $20).

An improved wine lineup

On the wine side, the lineup has seriously improved, now reflecting the prestige of BottleRock’s location in one of the world’s finest wine regions.

This year’s festival will feature over 100 vintages and varietals, including premium brands like Duckhorn Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc at the main concession stands. Wine cabanas on the General Admission lawns will offer selections from Clif Family Winery, Schramsberg Vineyards, Beaulieu Vineyards, Venge Vineyards, Mumm Sparkling, Silverado Vineyards and Bennett Lane Winery.

Be sure to swing by the wine garden to check out new additions like Bella Union by Far Niente and Cliff Lede Vineyards — labels typically reserved for the Skydeck, Suites and Platinum Lounge.

Like nearly all large-scale Wine Country events, participation is expensive for vendors — it can cost thousands just to get on BottleRock’s approved list. So it’s understandable that many smaller, boutique restaurants and wineries have been priced out in the past.

But now, at least, our hard-earned money is delivering much better bang for the buck.

2025 BottleRock Napa Valley

Where: 575 Third St., Napa (at Napa Valley Expo)

When: May 23-25

Tickets: bottlerocknapavalley.com

The post Food and Wine Is Expensive at BottleRock. Here’s How to Get the Best Bang for Your Buck appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Whether you’re noshing fried chicken in General Admission or grabbing some caviar-covered hot dogs in the VIP section, BottleRock Napa Valley (May 23-25) has another delicious lineup of restaurants ready to rock.

The three-day music extravaganza, now in its 12th year, has always been known for its gourmet food stalls, wine tents, craft beer and top-notch artists and bands, including Sublime, Public Enemy, 4 Non Blondes and dozens of others on multiple stages.

Though the much-anticipated food celebrity lineup for the Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage is yet to be announced, we’ve got the scoop on what’s on the food playlist.

Best food at BottleRock 2025

Sonoma County will represent with Sarmentine Artisan Boulanger, Amy’s Drive Thru, HopMonk Tavern, Gerard’s Paella, OHM Coffee Roasters (Sonoma and Napa) and Mariapilar Ice Creamery.

Some of the Napa and Bay Area-based restaurants we’re most excited about include:

— Loveski Deli: A Jewish-style deli from Meadowood Napa Valley chef Christopher Kostow and his wife, Martina. Located at Oxbow Public Market, the food is a New Yorker’s dream, with delicious matzo ball soup, fresh bagels, a chopped Reuben sandwich and braised brisket.

— Stateline Road Smokehouse: These Napa newcomers previewed some of their Kansas-style barbecue at last year’s festival, and we’re looking forward to another strong showing from chef-owner Darryl Bell. Hopefully the brisket fries make a return.

— Moro: Chef Mourad Lahou, founder and owner of Aziza and Mourad restaurants in San Francisco, opened this super-casual Moroccan street food cafe at Oxbow Public Market last April. Dishes like chicken shawarma, roasted lamb shoulder with couscous and grilled flatbread with eggplant dip, sound like perfect candidates for BottleRock eaters.

— Mustard’s Bar Taco: A taqueria pop-up from Napa’s Mustard’s Grill? Call us intrigued.

— El Porteño Empanadas: Classy hand pies made with local ingredients. Perfect for walking around between bands.

— New England Lobster & Crab Shack: I’ve had their lobster rolls countless times and they never disappoint.

— Lao Table: Based in San Francisco, this award-winning restaurant is known for papaya salad and Laotian fried rice — we hope to see both at BottleRock.

See a full list of more than 50 restaurants, bakeries and local purveyors on the festival food lineup at bottlerocknapavalley.com.

Now open

La Reyna Bakery has opened a second location in Rohnert Park featuring their tried and true Mexican pan dulce — sweet morning treats like conchas and cream-filled rolls — as well as flaky empanadas, coffee, tortas and bolillos (Mexican bread). The family-owned bakery has been a Santa Rosa favorite for nearly 15 years, located inside Rancho Mendoza Super Market at 1201 Piner Road. The new Rohnert Park bakery is at 1 Padre Parkway. Check out their delicious photos at instagram.com/lareynabakery or order online at lareynabakeryca.com.

You can reach Dining Editor Heather Irwin at heather.irwin@pressdemocrat.com. Follow Heather on Instagram @biteclubeats.

The post Get Ready to Eat Your Heart Out at BottleRock Napa Valley 2025 appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Poise those forks for maximum deliciousness as BottleRock Napa Valley rolls out the lineup of restaurants, chefs, popups and food trucks for this year’s event (May 26-28).

Now in its 10th year, the annual music festival serves up local food and wine in addition to top-billed artists. (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Post Malone, Lizzo, Duran Duran, Lil Nas X and The Smashing Pumpkins will headline this year’s festival.)

BottleRock 2023 dining options include notable newcomers, including:

— Morimoto Asia, chef Masaharu Morimoto’s new Napa restaurant
— Stateline Road Smokehouse, the much-anticipated Napa restaurant from Michelin-trained chef and Kansas City native Darryl Bell
— The Farmer’s Wife from chef Kendra Kolling, Sonoma County’s grilled cheese queen
— D.R.E.A.M. Doughnuts truck from San Rafael
— Cooked by Gio, a Filipino food caterer
— Croccante Pizza, opening soon in downtown Napa
— Cluck Me Fried Chicken, a popup from chef Tyler Rodder of Oenotri
— Proper F an’ C, opening soon in Napa
— Buckhorn BBQ Truck from Sacramento
— Osha Thai, upscale Thai restaurant with locations in Napa and San Francisco

Other restaurants that will be serving food at the festival include Torc, Napa Yard at Oxbow Gardens, Villa Corona Mexican, Ox and Fox, Foodshed Takeaway, Original Burgerdog, It’s Always Sunny Sorbet, Mustards Grill, La Toque, Press Restaurant, Oenotri, Cole’s Chop House, Morimoto Napa, Goose & Gander, Bounty Hunter Smokin’ BBQ, Tarla Mediterranean Grill, Compline Restaurant, Moro, Zuzu, The Q Restaurant & Bar, Ristorante Allegria, Charlie’s, Di Filippo Wood-Fired Pizza, Imagination on Fire, Taqueria Rosita, Empress M, Napa Sport, Napa Yard, HopMonk Tavern, Frankie’s Deli, JAX White Mule Diner, Mo’s Hot Dogs, El Porteño Empanadas, Monday Bakery, William Tell House, Nombe, Phat Salads and Wraps, The Chairman, Curry Up Now, Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen, Gerard’s Paella, Nash & Proper, bling bling dumpling, Kara’s Cupcakes, Sweetie Pies Bakery, Vintage Sweet Shoppe, Mariapilar Ice Creamery, The Chocolate Dippery and Humphry Slowcombe.

The always-entertaining lineup for the Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage — a combination of celebrities, musicians and chefs cooking and clowning on stage — has not yet been released. Stay tuned for more information on this and our top festival food picks. Click through the above gallery for some food highlights from previous festivals.

For more details on the event and restaurants, go to bottlerocknapavalley.com

The post BottleRock Napa Valley Announces Tasty Food Lineup for 2023 appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

As a Napa local, I’ve been attending the BottleRock music festival since its inception in 2013, which featured The Black Keys, Kings of Leon, and the Zac Brown Band as headliners. I’ve only missed one year—in 2017, I was on my honeymoon—and have mastered how to make the most of the festival weekend even as BottleRock continues to grow in popularity and size.

From where you can find free nearby parking to why you should always pack extra toilet paper, here are some of my top tips and tricks for BottleRocking like a local.  

Pack like a Pro

It’s important to note that BottleRock has a new bag policy this year, which bans backpacks. As for what you should put in your bag: a hat and sunscreen (lotion, not spray; aerosol cans are banned) will keep you protected from the sun—there is very limited shade in General Admission—and a jacket will keep you warm at night. I can’t stress this enough: the temperature will drop significantly when the sun goes down.

Toilet paper and hand sanitizer always come in handy when the porta potties inevitably run out of TP and soap. I also like to bring a portable charger to power up my phone, which always ends up dying before the headlining act from all of the photos and videos I take.

An empty stainless steel water bottle is an absolute must. It’s good for the environment and your wallet, for BottleRock has free refilling stations throughout the festival so you can keep hydrated. But the water bottle can have a dual purpose. My trick: I purchase two alcohol beverages at once, drink one, and pour the other in my water bottle to keep it cold. This saves you from having to weave through thick crowds and wait in line every time you’re ready for a drink. For this, I recommend a bottle that keeps beverages cold.

Getting There

There are many transportation options available for getting to and from the festival. BottleRock is selling tickets to chartered buses going to and from San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, Fairfield, Sonoma, Mill Valley, Palo Alto, and Santa Rosa. Uber and Lyft are always great options, especially if you’ll be drinking, but expect them to have surging prices due to high volume, which also means you could end up waiting a while to get one.

If you’re staying in or near Napa and are close enough to bike, there is free bicycle parking (don’t forget a lock), but Napa Valley’s local Vine bus is one of the most underrated ways to get to the festival. It’s extremely clean, efficient, and most importantly, free, plus they have extended the hours on their routes for concert goers.

Driving should be a last-resort option, but if you do take your own vehicle, don’t worry about shelling out the big bucks for a parking pass. It’s totally possible to find non-metered street parking on the outskirts of downtown Napa, especially earlier in the day. I like to search in the area around the St. John the Baptist Church on Caymus St. From there, it’s roughly a 15-minute walk to the gates.

Getting In

At last year’s festival, it took me at least 30-45 minutes each day to get through the gates. The earlier you arrive, the shorter the lines will be, but unless you snagged a VIP or Platinum wristband, I suggest arriving an hour ahead of showtime for the first artist you want to see to ensure you don’t miss them.

There are two entrances. The main one is a bit of a free-for-all, but the side entrance on Brunel St. tends to be quicker, more civilized, and less claustrophobic (it’s a single file line, whereas everyone really just clumps together at the front entrance).

I’m hopeful that the BottleRock team has found a way to speed up the entrance process this year, but at the very least, they are offering a fast track option for anyone enrolled in TSA Pre ✓® . Find the TSA Pre ✓® RV parked on the corner of Bailey and 3rd, show your known traveler number, and they’ll give you a Fast Pass wristband to use at the main gate. You can also sign up for TSA Pre ✓® there; just bring your passport or proof of U.S. Citizenship and $85.

Keep Your Friends Close

There are tens of thousands of people at BottleRock, so it’s very easy to lose track of your friends as you separate to use the restroom, find food and drink, etc. When you return to the stage to find them, it can be nearly impossible as the crowds fill in. Moreover, cell phone service can be quite finicky.

Creating a totem is a great tool for keeping your group together. This consists simply of a stick and something your friends can identify tied to the top, perhaps a stuffed teddy bear or a cowboy boot. Bonus points if it lights up at night. Take turns holding the totem up throughout the festival and your friends will have a much easier time reuniting with you.

Top Picks for Food & Drink

The number one thing that separates BottleRock from every other music festival is its world-class wine and food offerings. It’s a great opportunity to experience some of the top wineries and restaurants in Napa Valley—at a fraction of the price of a full meal or bottle—so I recommend keeping it hyper-local.  

As someone who visits these wineries and restaurants regularly, I’m providing my top BottleRock food and drink picks: for wine, get your bubbly from Schramsberg, rosé from Blackbird Vineyards, and sauvignon blanc from St. Supery. Personally, I don’t think red wine pairs great with warm festival days.

The Citrus Mistress from Hop Valley, an Oregon brewery, is my favorite festival refresher (find it at the Beer Bend), but if you want to keep it local, try the Hatchet from Trade Brewing, which has a taproom just a few blocks from BottleRock. As for cocktails, the Sun God from Hendrick’s Gin (with Lillet Blanc, fresh cucumber, lemon, and soda) is the definition of a porch pounder.

This year I will be going straight for a bucket of fried chicken from Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc (if you haven’t had his fried chicken before, you haven’t lived). As an alternative option, the fried chicken sliders from Brix are a longtime BottleRock favorite. The Menchi Katsu Burger from Morimoto has become a BottleRock standby, but the wait in line is worth it. Like Ad Hoc, Boon Fly is also new to the roster this year and they’re bringing their famous donuts, a perfect treat if you want something sweet. For a snack that’s both light and refreshing, head to FARM for a cup of spicy watermelon.

The post How to BottleRock Like a Pro: Tips and Tricks from a Napa Local appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

You come to BottleRock for the music—this year’s festival features headlining acts Imagine Dragons, Neil Young, and Mumford & Sons—but there’s so much more to see and do over the course of three days than “just” rock out. From pre-festival parties to dancing in a porta potty—yes, you read that right—here are six things you can’t miss at BottleRock this year.

The post Beyond the Music: 6 Things You Can’t Miss at BottleRock 2019 appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.