Sitting down at Auro, the Michelin-starred restaurant at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley, my mom and I watched, wide-eyed, as multiple servers cleared a wide swath of space on our table and set down a spread of six individually plated, single-bite dishes.
"The amuse-bouche requires a little extra room,” said Adam, our waiter.
This small feast came just after an entryway greeting of Champagne and goat cheese gougeres (savory pastries), all of which were merely a precursor to the seven-course meal we were about to enjoy. Based on those first few bites, we knew we had a lot to look forward to.
Our experience at Auro was a lot like the rest of our time at the Four Seasons property in Calistoga, California — immaculately presented with exceptional service, delightful surprises and full-on Napa Valley flavor. For a destination known for luxury and culinary excellence, it doesn’t get much better than the resort’s offerings.
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley is located on a working winery, and offers an on-site tasting room.
Credit: 2025 Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa ValleyThe Auro Experience
Helmed by executive chef Rogelio Garcia (an alum of cooking competition show “Top Chef” and a James Beard Foundation finalist for Best Chef: California), Auro opened in October 2022 and received its Michelin star in June 2023, a mere eight months after opening. As of the 2025 Michelin Guide California, it remains the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Calistoga.
The seven-course tasting menu offered at the establishment showcases seasonal cuisine influenced by Garcia’s background — he was born in Mexico City and raised in Los Angeles and Napa — as well as his time spent working in fine dining in San Francisco and California wine country.
Standout dishes from our meal included delicate strips of dry-aged shima aji (a type of Japanese fish) interlaced with apple slices and bathed in a citrusy aguachile; a melt-in-your-mouth piece of butter-poached Ora King salmon in a golden vadouvan curry sauce; and a blue-and-gold-corn tetela, a triangular treat from Oaxaca, Mexico, stuffed with beans and chanterelle mushrooms. There was also a dry-aged Australian Wagyu ribeye and two dessert courses — one featuring white guava and passionfruit and the other showcasing chocolate and strawberry — all accompanied by smart and surprising wine pairings from sommelier Derek Stevenson.
An extravagent amuse-bouche spread welcomes diners to Auro.
Credit: 2025 Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa ValleyFor my mom’s first introduction to Michelin-level dining, we couldn’t have dreamed up a more perfect meal, combining delightful new flavor combinations with top-tier produce and an approachability that fine dining can sometimes lack.
Additional On-Property Restaurants
Chef Garcia also oversees the more casual Truss Restaurant + Bar, which is adjacent to Auro and serves meals throughout the day. Menu options range from pizzas and pastas to lunchtime sandwiches and bowls, fish and steak mains at dinner and all manner of breakfast fare. (Pro tip: Order the olive sourdough bread from nearby Model Bakery for a taste of the super-popular establishment’s baked goods without the lines.)
Guests can also keep an eye out for special culinary activations at Truss. During our visit, a pop-up celebrating Japanese-meets-Peruvian Nikkei cuisine was being showcased on the restaurant’s Instagram-worthy outdoor terrace, featuring small plates and cocktails in collaboration with Champagne Laurent-Perrier.
Perhaps even more enjoyable were our lunchtime meals at Campo Poolside, where we sampled a refreshing tuna poke bowl, crispy fish tacos on blended corn and wheat tortillas and a veggie burger made with seven different kinds of mushroom — a patty my mom described as the best she’d ever had.
Crispy fish tacos are a must-order dish at Campo Poolside.
Credit: 2025 Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa ValleyDining at Campo also highlighted the staff’s intuitive service, which we found all around the resort. Our waitress took our room number at the beginning of the meal, and by the time our plates had been cleared, she informed us that our afternoon pool cabana was ready whenever we were — without us ever mentioning the upcoming reservation.
Every experience we had at the property showcased this brand of thoughtful and seamless attention to detail, making our visit easy and relaxing every step of the way.
Elusa Winery, Spa Talisa and More Top-Notch Amenities
Another highlight of the resort is its location on a 4.7-acre organic cabernet sauvignon vineyard. Four Seasons’ unique property layout features buildings spread throughout a working winery, and the vines create a picturesque landscape that firmly roots guests in the wine country setting. Whether from room balconies, the dual-pool deck (with one area for all ages and another just for adults), the restaurants or the spa, guests will find themselves surrounded by idyllic vineyard views at all times.
As an added bonus, Elusa Winery operates directly on site, producing smaller-batch wines that can be sipped in its modern, light-filled tasting room, a true treat for Four Seasons guests. Whether travelers stop in for an impromptu three-wine flight as my mom and I did, or pre-arrange a guided tour of Elusa’s production facility accompanied by a flight of cabernet sauvignon and a cheese board in a private tasting space, there are numerous special experiences on offer without ever leaving the resort.
Spa Talisa is also not to be missed, located in a striking stone building and offering everything from traditional massages to mineral-rich Calistoga mud treatments (the area has long been renowned for its hot springs, and many area spas offer geothermal pools and mud baths). Advise clients to go early or stay after their treatment to relax on the outdoor patio, a tranquil space outfitted with a private whirlpool and a line of loungers overlooking the vineyard.
Modern, comfortable guestrooms offer idyllic vineyard views.
Credit: 2025 Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa ValleyAt the end of the day, the luxury continues in the resort’s 85 impeccably designed guestrooms and suites, spread around the property in small, two-story buildings for enhanced privacy. Our Palisades Room featured an indoor fireplace, a private patio, a spacious bathroom with a deep soaking tub, a wine fridge, a white-noise machine and a cozy nook for reading or relaxing. Locally inspired design elements add a sense of place, including the use of wood from the nearby Petrified Forest.
Every luxurious amenity was a delight — I took a long soak in that bathtub and slept deeply in my plush bedding — but I think what both my mom and I will remember most are the seemingly small, but extravagantly meaningful touches arranged by the staff. From Adam, who explained every dish at Auro; to Zack from the valet team, who drove us on a complimentary ride to Calistoga’s main drag; to the barista who brewed fresh decaf coffee for my mom at the coffee bar inside Truss restaurant, the Four Seasons team reminded us that the ultimate luxury is having someone else worry about the details of your day — and ensure that they are executed to absolute perfection.
Exploring the Area
Clients interested in getting off property have a few transportation options at their disposal, courtesy of Four Seasons. The center of Calistoga — a quaint strip of charming dining and shopping options — is just a few minutes' drive from the resort, and guests can request a complimentary ride into town (and then text or call the team for a pickup to get back). For slightly longer jaunts, Four Seasons Napa has partnered with Lucid Group, Inc. to give guests access to electric vehicles, offered free for up to four hours (depending upon availability, with advance reservation recommended), an ideal option for checking out nearby attractions such as the town of St. Helena.
