From shops and showrooms that spark creative inspiration to dining hotspots and luxe lodgings, these new design-forward destinations are not to be missed.
Restaurants
BOA Steakhouse
Napa Valley
With six locations already in popular destinations like West Hollywood and Las Vegas, BOA Steakhouse has opened at Casa Mani Resort in Napa Valley, featuring luxe interiors designed by Backen & Backen. The American steakhouse’s Napa location, helmed by Corporate Executive Chef Brendan Collins, serves the dry-aged prime steaks and tableside Caesar salad the restaurant has become known for accompanied by seasonal, locally inspired dishes and an extensive sommelier-driven wine list. The modern interior spaces feature a restrained palette of natural, Napa-inspired materials, including stone, wood and steel, while the lantern-lit garden patio planted with mature olive trees is especially atmospheric after dark.
1075 California Blvd., Napa; 707.812.1455
Casa Sofia
San Francisco
Located steps away from Oracle Park in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood, Casa Sofia is a new restaurant concept by Michelin-recognized chef Carlos Altamirano and his wife and business partner Shu Altamirano. Named for the couple’s 10-year-old daughter, Sofia, the restaurant blends Latin American influences from Peru, Mexico, Argentina, and beyond with seasonal Northern California ingredients and techniques. Highlights from the menu of sharable plates include Sofia’s meatballs smothered in Mexican mole sauce and ceviche Peruano with halibut, rocoto chile, choclo and sweet potato chips, while cocktails by mixologist Yuri Chauca center around rum, pisco, cachaça and mezcal.
The 146-seat restaurant, designed by interior designer Jon de la Cruz, draws inspiration from traditional Latin American fondas, old Miami and the vibrant SoMa neighborhood with large street-facing windows and a large-scale mural of Sofia by Bay Area artist Letty Samonte. Art Deco references include zig-zag motifs, scalloped trimming and geometric tilework; the custom wallpaper selected by Sofia herself adds a playful, personal touch to the design; and Pacific blue hues and lush greenery imbue the spaces with a tropical vibe.
701 2nd St., San Francisco; 415.889.5389
Spa
The Spa at the St. Regis San Francisco
San Francisco
The St. Regis San Francisco recently unveiled a new spa, the culmination of its multiphase renovation, which began in 2019. Designed by San Francisco–based TEF Design in collaboration with Italy-based architect Gio Pagani, the 9,000-square-foot spa features cedar saunas, eucalyptus steam rooms, a Himalayan salt room, relaxation lounges and dressing rooms. Circular architectural motifs inspired by the neighboring San Francisco Museum of Modern Art feature prominently throughout the design and extend to the hotel’s recently reimagined indoor pool, also designed by TEF Design and Gio Pagani. Additional design elements include wood paneling, custom millwork and textured wallcoverings. Treatments are performed on ultraluxurious Lemi Portofino Evo tables.
125 Third Street, San Francisco; 415.284.4000
Winery
Robert Mondavi Winery
Oakville
This spring marked the start of a new era for iconic Cliff May-designed Robert Mondavi Winery, which has undergone a thoughtful transformation led by architecture firm Aidlin Darling Design and landscape architecture firm Surfacedesign. Established in 1966 by Robert Mondavi, the midcentury Oakville landmark is defined by its distinctive arch and tower. Over time, however, the property underwent a number of haphazard expansions that left the campus disconnected from the surrounding landscape and To Kalon vineyard.
After restoring the winery’s signature arch and tower, the team designed an adjacent structure with an inverted gable canopy to house the hospitality spaces: a series of indoor and outdoor tasting environments, terraces, a reception bar, a retail shop and a courtyard oriented toward the vineyard. A new culinary building includes an indoor-outdoor veranda that frames views of the winery’s culinary gardens. The winery’s original south wing was restored to reflect Cliff May’s residential sensibility, while the north wing was fully reimagined to support state-of-the-art wine production facilities, as well as private tasting rooms and interactive experiences. Throughout, interior furnishings were designed by San Francisco-based firm BAMO.
Landscaping upgrades include the new To Kalon Bowl, an oak-framed amphitheater with views of the Mayacamas Mountains. A series of terraces, gardens and vineyard-facing spaces are planted with native and adapted Mediterranean plants, keeping sustainability top-of-mind.
Many of the winery’s original elements were also preserved and reused during the project. Hand-painted tiles by Margrit Mondavi were reinstalled; artwork from the family’s collection was used throughout the hospitality spaces; oak tank staves were reworked into doors, wall systems and ceilings; and salvaged timber was integrated into displays and landscape elements.
7801 St Helena Hwy, Oakville; 866.828.5045
Lotus Abrams has covered everything from beauty to business to tech in her editorial career, but it might be writing about her native Bay Area that inspires her most. She lives with her husband and two daughters in the San Francisco Peninsula, where they enjoy spending time outdoors at the area’s many open spaces protected and preserved by her favorite local nonprofit, the Peninsula Open Space Trust.
