Napa Rose - Dress code?

[Mackie Mouse]

DH and I will be dining at the Napa Rose Chef's Table in about a week (happy dance!). We'll be going after spending a day at the parks. In my mind, I've been comparing it to the California Grill in WDW, where some guests will dress business casual and others will come straight from the Magic Kingdom...what would you recommend wearing? Would it be appropriate to go straight from the parks, or should be make sure that we leave time to change and freshen up?

 

[Cinderpamela]

You will see the same type of attire at Napa Rose that you do at California Grill. Some folks come straight from touring the parks and others are dressed up for a nice evening out.

When we go we always dress up a little bit more than what we are wearing in the park, meaning for the boys a nice collared cotton shirt,
and for me I will do a fashionable top and khakis or jeans with dressier shoes.

If its a pain to get back to your room and change though, I would say just wear what you wear in the park.

 

[larina]

You will see the same type of attire at Napa Rose that you do at California Grill. Some folks come straight from touring the parks and others are dressed up for a nice evening out.

When we go we always dress up a little bit more than what we are wearing in the park, meaning for the boys a nice collared cotton shirt,
and for me I will do a fashionable top and khakis or jeans with dressier shoes.

If its a pain to get back to your room and change though, I would say just wear what you wear in the park.

Yes, what she said! We like to get a little dressed up for dinner sometimes, but it isn't a necessity at Napa Rose. Jeans and a nice shirt will do just fine, and you can totally get away with more casual dress and not feel out of place at all. Enjoy your experience.

 

[Congo Queen]

I have done it both ways in years past: 1) showed up for a dinner reservation just moments after exiting Soarin w/ hot and tired kids (wearing shorts and t-shirts) in tow; and 2) dressed up and rested. The staff at Napa Rose was wonderful to us either way. My preference is of course to have time to rest a bit and arrive for dinner clean and refreshed so I try to plan our dinner reservation after a nice late afternoon break. But if for some reason that can't happen within your schedule, don't stress. Hope you have a lovely dinner.

 

[mysteriouspnai]

DBF and I like to dress up because it's rare that we can afford a nice dinner at Napa Rose We'll change during our afternoon hotel break and take it slow for the rest of the afternoon before dinner or we'll leave clothes in a locker and change in the bathroom. Have a wonderful time!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I agree with the other posters about scheduling some time to return to the hotel the freshen up and change. While people do go to NR straight from the parks, it really is nice to see people looking nice. The servers will treat everyone well, regardless of how they are dressed, so don't worry about that. But, especially since you'll be at the Chef's Counter (NB it's a counter, not a table), you might want to dress up a bit. Also, just a FYI: whatever you choose to wear at the counter, be sure that it covers you from all angles, front and back, so that nothing embarrassing hangs out if you lean in to see what the chefs are doing and so that diners behind you don't see anything they shouldn't!

 

[Mackie Mouse]

Thanks for the advice - it's exactly what I was hoping to hear! We will be getting to the park at 8 AM that morning and then taking the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour...so we'll have a fairly long day in the park before our 8:30 dinner. I'm planning to leave time to change and shower before dinner, but that day is also our first in the parks, and we are staying at HoJo's (so, opposite direction walking from the Grand Californian), so we may want to just keep on going straight through. Good to know that we don't have to worry either way.

 

[Cinderpamela]

If your coming from Hojo's I like the idea of spending a few extra bucks on a taxi from Hojo to the GCH. I cant imagine that it would be too cost prohibitive. That way you are all freshened up and not having to do a fast paced walk to get to your reservation.

 

[XTinabell]

Yes, I agree with everyone.

When we went, I did very little planning for our meal. I went in an old beat up hoodie and jeans. I wasn't the only one dressed down but the restaurant is very nice and I felt a little silly. The waiter was amazing and I wasn't treated any different from the tables that were dressed up. Just for my own comfort though, I would clean up a little more next time I go.

 

[Mackie Mouse]

If your coming from Hojo's I like the idea of spending a few extra bucks on a taxi from Hojo to the GCH. I cant imagine that it would be too cost prohibitive. That way you are all freshened up and not having to do a fast paced walk to get to your reservation.

We'll actually have a car if driving won't be too much of a hassle that night - I just assumed that it would probably take about as long to drive around the busy/crowded block to the GCH as it would to walk there! Will the California hotels allow free parking if you're dining there the same way the hotels at WDW do?

I'm also trying to pack light, so I am assuming that "dressed-up" jeans with nicer shoes/sandals and a dressy top will do just fine. (I have felt very comfortable in this type of clothing at the Cali Grill in Florida.) DH is planning on nice jeans with a polo shirt and brown shoes.

 

[ArchOwl]

We'll actually have a car if driving won't be too much of a hassle that night - I just assumed that it would probably take about as long to drive around the busy/crowded block to the GCH as it would to walk there! Will the California hotels allow free parking if you're dining there the same way the hotels at WDW do?

I'm also trying to pack light, so I am assuming that "dressed-up" jeans with nicer shoes/sandals and a dressy top will do just fine. (I have felt very comfortable in this type of clothing at the Cali Grill in Florida.) DH is planning on nice jeans with a polo shirt and brown shoes.

If you are dining at Napa Rose (or Storyteller's), you get 5 hours of free valet parking with validation. DH and I have done this quite often and enjoyed a nice dinner and then entered DCA for a stroll.