Best coffeehouse in the Napa Valley: Calistoga Roastery

July 14, 11:13 PMNorth Bay Community ExaminerNicole Seiffert

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In 1998, the New York Times said "some people think [Calistoga Roastery] is really Calistoga's main claim to fame." More than a decade later, it's hard to disagree.

Five reasons to spend time at Calistoga Roastery that have nothing to do with the coffee are:

1. Brownies and Snickerdoodle cookies the size of hockey pucks.
2. Complimentary WiFi.
3. Seating variety that includes window seating, tables for two, large, circular restaurant booths, and community tables.
4. Entertaining ephemera, humorous metal signs, local artwork, and a clock labeled "Aussie Time" that runs backward.
5. Friendly staff members who will cheerfully reset the WiFi switch when the signal wanes and who never give a "You're still here?" eyebrow raise.

If you happen to be one of those people who selects a coffeehouse for the coffee, then Calistoga Roastery is still the place to go. As the names of their artisan blends suggest, sipping Frank Sumatra or Clive's Wake Up Call is like drinking a cupful of personality. Calistoga Roastery is so sure you'll love its coffee that it backs every bag of beans sold with a 100% guarantee.

Perhaps co-owner Clive, himself, is the best reason to keep going back. Always lively and highly caffeinated, Clive delights in connecting, whether it's to test your pop music knowledge—"Quick! Who sings Devil Woman?"—or to offer his impromptu movie reviews.

In addition to the great coffee and giant cookies, Calistoga Roastery has enough varied menu items that you can show up for breakfast, stay for lunch, and have a different drink every hour in between. And, after you thank him for the coffee, be sure to ask Clive about his old bartending gig in Sydney, Australia.

Calistoga Roastery is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is located at 1426 Lincoln Avenue, in Calistoga, California.