Roman Holiday Gelato Brings a Taste of Italy to Napa's Oxbow |
A St. Helena favorite has opened its second location, bringing handcrafted gelato, seasonal flavors, and a little Hollywood inspiration to downtown Napa. |
What began as a small gelato shop in downtown St. Helena has made its way to Napa. Roman Holiday Gelato, the locally owned gelateria founded by pastry chef Elisha Smiley, has opened its second location inside Oxbow Public Market.
The new shop opened in late August, with a grand-opening celebration in September. For Napa residents, it's an opportunity to discover a business that has been serving handcrafted Italian-style frozen desserts in St. Helena since 2023.
From Hollywood to Italy to Napa Valley
The name Roman Holiday comes from the 1953 Audrey Hepburn film, in which a princess escapes her royal obligations for a day of adventure in Rome - including a stop for gelato.
Smiley's own journey has been almost as interesting. A former tax accountant who pursued a career in pastry, she worked at St. Helena's Model Bakery, cooked in restaurants in the United States and abroad, and studied gelato-making at Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna, Italy. She also taught pastry at the Culinary Institute of America.
Italian Tradition, Napa Valley Ingredients
Roman Holiday churns its gelato fresh daily, combining traditional Italian techniques with seasonal California ingredients. The shop emphasizes natural ingredients, without artificial dyes or preservatives.
Unlike conventional ice cream, gelato generally contains less fat and is served at a slightly warmer temperature, allowing flavors to come through more prominently.
The menu ranges from familiar favorites such as dark chocolate, vanilla, and espresso chip to more adventurous seasonal creations.
Fall offerings have included caramel apple and maple pecan, although flavors rotate as ingredients and batches change.
Dairy-free sorbets and selected plant-based flavors are also available. And for those who aren't in the mood for gelato, Roman Holiday offers espresso drinks, fresh coffee, and boba.
The changing selection gives local residents a reason to return throughout the year, discovering new flavors as the seasons change. Where to Find It
Roman Holiday Gelato's new location is inside Oxbow Public Market at 610 First Street, Suite 2, Napa, with reported daily hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The original St. Helena café remains open at 1336 Oak Avenue, just off Highway 29.
For current flavors, hours, and additional information, visit Roman Holiday Gelato's website. |
30 Comments
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Hope the Napa shop does well. Small local businesses need all the support they can get.
Coffee and gelato in one stop? That’s a dangerous combination for me.
Gelato served a little warmer really does bring out the flavor. Excited to see what they have.
I’ve walked past Oxbow plenty of times. Now I have another reason to go in.
Renee H.It is easy to walk right by, but the market's worth a stop on its own.
Natural ingredients and no artificial dyes sounds good to me.
Claudia V.I appreciate that too. You can really taste the ingredients in a good gelato.
Ten to eight is handy for an after dinner treat.
Mark D.Same here, that's a nice option after dinner at Oxbow.
I’ll take a scoop of dark chocolate, please.
Gina F.Dark chocolate is hard to beat. Let us know how it is!
Studying gelato in Bologna sounds like the real deal. I’m curious to try it.
Alex B.That training definitely sounds impressive. Curious which flavor you'll try first.
Nice to see the original cafe is staying open as well.
Seasonal flavors are my weakness. Caramel apple, here I come.
Roberto S.That one sounds perfect for fall. Hope they still have it when you go.
I miss the little St. Helena location being my only option, but Napa is convenient too.
I usually go for espresso chip. Hope they have it when I visit.
The Audrey Hepburn connection is a cute story behind the name.
Fresh gelato every day sounds worth a trip to First Street.
I’m glad they have dairy-free options. My daughter will be excited.
Oxbow is already a fun place to visit, gelato is a nice addition.
Frank D.Agreed, it's a great spot to wander around and grab a treat.
Does anyone know if the boba is good? I’ll probably try it either way.
A tax accountant turned pastry chef is quite a career change. Good for her!
Maple pecan sounds like the perfect fall flavor.
I’ve been to the St. Helena shop and their gelato is delicious. Glad they’re closer now.
Love seeing a locally owned shop open at Oxbow. Welcome to Napa!
Ooh, caramel apple gelato sounds so good. I’ll have to stop by.
Megan R.I'm tempted by that flavor too. Seasonal treats never last long enough.