Napa Valley Burger Company
Downtown/Bridgeway · American
Verified September 2026
A gourmet burger counter that brings a Wine Country sensibility to a genre that's usually fast food: certified Angus beef, brioche buns baked daily, and a rotating list of wine, beer and cocktails. It occupies Sausalito's oldest brick building, put up in 1885, which over the years has also housed a general store, a variety shop and a restaurant called Winship's. That is a lot of history for a burger counter. It's a good option when you want something quick that isn't actually fast food, and one of the few Bridgeway spots where a family can eat well for far less than the sit-down restaurants nearby charge for two. The address is 670 Bridgeway, in the middle of the main downtown strip.
Atmosphere
Casual counter service, a handful of tables, and an easy grab-and-go setup if you're headed to the waterfront to eat with a view instead of inside. It's small, so peak lunch hour can mean standing while you wait for a table to open up. The old brick walls give the room more character than a counter restaurant usually gets, and the bar means you can sit with a glass of wine if you don't feel like a soda.
What To Order
The Vintage Cheese Burger is the house signature, with sharp cheddar and a special sauce. The James Beard Competition Burger, built with beef blended with pinot noir-marinated mushrooms, arugula and basil aioli, is the one that shows what the kitchen can actually do. The Whiskey Bacon Burger is the bigger, sweeter option, and the Silverado veggie burger keeps vegetarians in the group happy. Sides include truffle fries and crispy Brussels sprouts, and there are fish and chips and salads for anyone who has had enough beef. Order a milkshake alongside any of them; they're a genuine strength here, not an afterthought.
Good To Know
Open daily from 11:30 to 6, weather permitting, and closed on Christmas. Because the closing time is early, this is a lunch and early-dinner stop, not a late-night one. It's a good option with kids, or when the fancier Bridgeway spots have an hour wait and you'd rather not spend it standing around hungry. Counter service means no reservations and no waiting for a check, which is useful on a tight schedule before a ferry. Takeout works well if you want to eat on a bench by the water; the waterfront is a short walk away. Prices are a fraction of the sit-down places, though a burger with fries and a shake still adds up, so check the menu.
Our Take
The reliable middle ground on a street full of higher-priced options. Order here, eat on a bench by the water, and you've saved both time and money for whatever else the day has planned. Try the competition burger at least once if you're hungry enough.