When you think of Napa, what are the first words that pop in your mind? Pretentious? Full-Of-Winos? Expensive? Well let this place de-bunk ALL those myths!
This place is pretty much the opposite of all the misconceptions about Napa. It's dive-y, casual, rowdy. It's like the fun-loving-alter-ego-that's-been-exiled-to-the-Âboondocks-to-go-in-hiding to Napa's more elitist, pretentious bars downtown. It's the kind of establishment that I can see Guy Fieri randomly popping in to just for a quick drink or pit stop to Flavortown. It's the kind of establishment that doesn't care if you're a waiter, or the owner of the restaurant it's all good in this neighborhood. I guess the copious amounts of alcohol helps too...
I was brought here unexpectedly by a friend. I was a little bit mortified when I found out this was the, "cool poppin' little spot no one knows about." I've always seen the green sign on the side of the highway on the way back from high school, and it wasn't until then that I went inside. The decor was typical of any regular dive bar, there was a jukebox, a couple of sticky tables, sticky floors, and a vending machine that vends those American Spirits. Don't come dressed to impress. Just come as you are, as a friend, as an old enemy, come dowsed in mud, soaked in bleach, as a trend, as a friend, as an old memoria, memoria...
Speaking of Nirvana, you'd hear an eclectic mix of music here. Sometimes there's a live band, and at times its at the mercy of whoever has the quarters for the jukebox. But let's be real here, you don't go to The Green Door for the music, you come for the drinks and stay for the entertaining local flavor. The drinks are strong. I ordered my go-to gin and tonic. I kid you not, it was gin, with the tiny-est splash of tonic, and small wedge of lime. It was great, what a big bang for my buck. Come here for the local flavor and see what's Napa's really like beyond the pages of Bon Apetit or Sunset magazine. We're not always classy, we have our sloppy days too (and here's where we go on those days.)
I'd go here again for the kicks and giggles... or if I was having a Don Draper melt down (I'm hoping that won't come for another thirty some odd years.) Until then Green Door. Keep it classy, or not.
As a man of a certain, off-white color and conspicuously slanty eyes, I'm no stranger to joking with my friends about walking into a bar and having everything stop; the record stylus scratches to a halt, a barfight wherein a man is being slid down the bartop momentarily ceases, and the bartender overflows a beer in amazement as we walk in. All mouths are agape.
No joke though: I've had it happen before. And it sort of happened again. But undeterred, I walked up to the bar and ordered a Bud, a PBR for my friend, and asked WTF is up with the Giants. Everything was cool. It's a smoking bar, but my neighborhood joint is the Geary Club, so I'm used to smoked out bars. As such, this didn't really bother me, but I can see how it could bother some.
The beer is cheap... and it should be. Cash only. The company is very familiar with each other, so be cool. If the barstools could talk, they might tell stories, or maybe they would just out you for farting on them. Vast and wide is the universe. Endless are its possibilities.
Ya know, we went here to watch the SF baseball game after someone told us that it is the 'local dive bar.' Â We were looking for somewhere cheap since we'd been spending so much in Napa and we sure found it.
I mean, I really have nothing horrible to say about this place. Â We didn't experience anything like some of the other people have posted, it was a fun atmosphere during the game, and yes, the big "Hulk Hand" was in the bar ready to be used (too bad the Giants lost).
Downside: it smelled like I smoked 2 packs when I left the place which made me change before heading to the next place...not something I love doing.
TIPS: CASH ONLY. Â They do have an ATM in there, though. Â Oh, and the drinks are strong, so ya know...2 drinks is really 3.5.
The cool things about this place is that it isn't crazy, loud and crowded like some other bars are in town. Waiting a long time for a drink or to use the bathroom is never fun and you don't have to worry about that here. The one-man band playing can be entertaining and when you've had a few, you'll actually dance to his limited song list. The drinks are strong (huge plus!) and the bartenders are pretty nice.
The downfall of this place is that they allow people to smoke inside. Remember those days in California? Going home and reeking of smoke - its in your hair, clothes, etc. And sometimes you get a smoker's voice upon waking up in the morning - no bueno. Not my favorite at all.
We stopped here after a nice dinner on a Saturday night(10/23/10). Â There were 10 people in our party - 5 couples. Â There were maybe a dozen or so people in the bar when we arrived (10pm ish??). Â Well, the husbands went up to the bar, were watching baseball, and the wives went and sat at a table near the juke box.
Everything was fine. Â The old guy performing his "live music" was ok. Â We were entertained watching some older folks perform their dance moves. Â We had just texted the hubbies, telling them we were ready for the next round..........
and all of a sudden a good-sized guy walks in, stands conspicuously in the middle of the bar, takes off his red bandana, spends about a full minute folding it while he glares around the bar, sticks it in his back pocket - carefully making sure it's hanging out where it can be seen, and then he proceeds to the bar.
WHAT????? Â What just happened? Â Are they filming a movie?? Â It was bizarre. Â It was SO obvious that he was making some kind of point of flashing his "colors". Â More people had filtered in from the time we first got there, and the whole atmosphere kind of changed. Â When he did that there was a different current going through the place. Â Nothing "happened" when we were there, but we promptly left. Â We weren't going to hang around to see if it would. Â
Sorry, Green Door. Â I missed the warning in the Napa tourism brochures about there being a gang presence after 10pm!!! Â It was completely bizarre & creepy.
We met some restaurant  people that work and live in Napa after our
deathly boring first night. They took us here to keep us from having nothing to do and falling asleep before 10. I loved this place. The drinks were damn cheap, it was loud and noisy and filled with the locals from the area. Oh and you can smoke inside!!! huge plus!!! if your in Napa and bored this is 1 of 2 places i would recommend.
Best bar in Napa, this is true, but there are only 3 in the same category. Â It's sad but I actually go here sometimes, now that a slightly better bar here closed. Â For the most part this town has made me give up drinking, its not fun anymore. Â There are so many things upsetting about this place its hard to find an objective distance from which to describe them, but I will try.
Divey-shit bars don't have many rules, except this place, and its not quaint or novel in anyway, here are a couple I remember: Â no rolling of dice when the jukebox is playing...
when the "live" music starts all drinks are a dollar more...god help me. Â The "live" music has been 1 guy every fri/sat night for the last 6 or so years. The "live" music is also at least 50 percent NOT live: Â this 1 dude and a cd player plugged into a PA. Â He presses "play" a Journey, Winger, or Foreigner etc track begins then he plays/sings along. Â This costs a dollar more for EACH drink. Â When I first saw him play, I was like "damn he really sounds like Mick Jones"...then he bent over to scratch his ass mid song and low and behold Mick Jones was still singing and playing guitar, impressive. Â They do have an internet jukebox but the patrons choose basically the same bands/songs as the "live" cd+guy music extravaganza, just without the extra dollar per drink.
Wonderful dive-bar that hits all the marks. From the wood paneled walls to the amazingly cheap drinks and snacks (when's the last time you got anything out of a vending machine for 30 cents?) this bar is really the essence of a local dive. Smoking allowed too which is a plus.
Tip well and enjoy the friendly staff and patrons. You'll have a great time.
We stumbled into this bar when my friend Bernadette married earlier this year... It was a great place for the entire bridal party to drink and take awesome photos... Our hour at the Green Door has to be my favorite part of the entire day! Â Juke box playing and cute old men to talk about baseball with... SoCo shots were soooo cheap and drinks for everyone definitely did not break the wallet... Â I am looking forward to visiting this place again! Â Thank you for the hospitality (and the free Green Door shirt you gave the lucky couple!)
...Check out the photos I uploaded!
All I can say is that this place makes me happy! Â Take it for the brilliant little dive bar it is and you will love it too. Â Everyone there is really friendly and the one man band is amazing. Â It's actually not really worht going unless the one man band is there b/c it's just not as fun. Â Eventhough his songlist is somewhat limited, he keeps the dancefloor full and will play whatever you want as long as he know s it.
Gotta love the Door!! Â Just writing this makes me what to head down there tonight!
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