Guidebook for Ventura

Gretchen
Guidebook for Ventura

Food Scene

One of my top three in Ventura. Restaurant plus wine and cheese shop. Great small plates, salads and fresh daily specials. Don't miss Kel's Killer Mac 'n Cheese and the desserts.
44 recommandé par les habitants
Paradise Pantry
222 E Main St
44 recommandé par les habitants
One of my top three in Ventura. Restaurant plus wine and cheese shop. Great small plates, salads and fresh daily specials. Don't miss Kel's Killer Mac 'n Cheese and the desserts.
Fresh oysters eaten at the beach - does it get any better?
15 recommandé par les habitants
The Jolly Oyster Ventura
911 San Pedro St
15 recommandé par les habitants
Fresh oysters eaten at the beach - does it get any better?
Beer and tacos on the pier
14 recommandé par les habitants
Beach House Fish
668 E Harbor Blvd
14 recommandé par les habitants
Beer and tacos on the pier
Sports bar right by the beach, lots of light, fresh air, good beer - great place to catch the games.
46 recommandé par les habitants
Social Tap Ventura
1105 S Seaward Ave
46 recommandé par les habitants
Sports bar right by the beach, lots of light, fresh air, good beer - great place to catch the games.
Don't miss this tiny but awesome Japanese restaurant. Not sushi, but excellent small plates - skewers, onigiri (ask for the Godzilla!), ramen, sukiyaki. Sapporo on draft, you'll love it
Gotetsu - Kushiyaki and Sake House
2098 E Main St
Don't miss this tiny but awesome Japanese restaurant. Not sushi, but excellent small plates - skewers, onigiri (ask for the Godzilla!), ramen, sukiyaki. Sapporo on draft, you'll love it
Love the tom kha ghai soup, plus everything else.
27 recommandé par les habitants
Rice by Mama
419 E Main St
27 recommandé par les habitants
Love the tom kha ghai soup, plus everything else.
My very favorite place for fish, just a few blocks from the Ventura Pier. Everything is delicious, service is perfect. Bar has a great happy hour, highly recommend the ahi ceviche and the crab cakes.
164 recommandé par les habitants
Lure Fish House
60 S California St
164 recommandé par les habitants
My very favorite place for fish, just a few blocks from the Ventura Pier. Everything is delicious, service is perfect. Bar has a great happy hour, highly recommend the ahi ceviche and the crab cakes.
Doesn't get any more Ojai than this. Farm to table restaurant, everything is superb. In the summers they add tables outside, light up the wood-fired pizza oven, and have amazing evening concerts.
111 recommandé par les habitants
Farmer and the Cook
339 W El Roblar Dr
111 recommandé par les habitants
Doesn't get any more Ojai than this. Farm to table restaurant, everything is superb. In the summers they add tables outside, light up the wood-fired pizza oven, and have amazing evening concerts.
Great food with a NYC East-villagey vibe. Just a couple doors from the movie theater so great before or after a show.
Sicily By Gino
563 East Main Street
Great food with a NYC East-villagey vibe. Just a couple doors from the movie theater so great before or after a show.
Ventura's only all-vegan restaurant. The chef at this tiny gem is classically trained, food is delicious.
6 recommandé par les habitants
Mary's Secret Garden
100 S Fir St
6 recommandé par les habitants
Ventura's only all-vegan restaurant. The chef at this tiny gem is classically trained, food is delicious.
Healthy and delicious soups, salads and sandwiches. Quick and easy sit-down lunch.
9 recommandé par les habitants
Nature's Grill & Juice Bar
566 E Main St
9 recommandé par les habitants
Healthy and delicious soups, salads and sandwiches. Quick and easy sit-down lunch.
My fave burger chain, voted #1 Best Burger in America by USA Today. Onion rings are killer.
The Habit Burger Grill
487 E Thompson Blvd
My fave burger chain, voted #1 Best Burger in America by USA Today. Onion rings are killer.

Sightseeing

Beautiful spot for an easy hike, with the best views in Ventura
46 recommandé par les habitants
Ventura Botanical Gardens
567 Poli St
46 recommandé par les habitants
Beautiful spot for an easy hike, with the best views in Ventura
A must see to get a true feel for historic Ventura.
38 recommandé par les habitants
Mission San Buenaventura
211 E Main St
38 recommandé par les habitants
A must see to get a true feel for historic Ventura.
Lovely spot to hike or run, trails are extensive so you can do a little or a lot. Catch breakfast, lunch or dinner after at The Farmer and the Cook (see listing.)
19 recommandé par les habitants
Ventura River Preserve - Meyer Rd Trailhead
1290 Meyer Rd
19 recommandé par les habitants
Lovely spot to hike or run, trails are extensive so you can do a little or a lot. Catch breakfast, lunch or dinner after at The Farmer and the Cook (see listing.)
Dedicated bike path that goes all the way to Ojai, it connects to the coastal bike path at Main St in downtown Ventura. Slightly uphill on the way there, easy coast downhill to home.
Ventura River Trail (Ojai Valley Trail Extension)
Ventura River Trail (Ojai Valley Trail Extension)
Dedicated bike path that goes all the way to Ojai, it connects to the coastal bike path at Main St in downtown Ventura. Slightly uphill on the way there, easy coast downhill to home.
Easy, accessible hike with beautiful views of the Ojai Valley. You can turn it into a longer, more challenging hike by taking Fox Cyn or Lucy trails uphill, or take Gridley Trail to Nordhoff Peak.
29 recommandé par les habitants
Shelf Road
Shelf Road
29 recommandé par les habitants
Easy, accessible hike with beautiful views of the Ojai Valley. You can turn it into a longer, more challenging hike by taking Fox Cyn or Lucy trails uphill, or take Gridley Trail to Nordhoff Peak.

Drinks & Nightlife

Newly opened, excellent micro brews and a super selection of food truck fare.
44 recommandé par les habitants
Topa Topa Brewing Co.
104 E Thompson Blvd
44 recommandé par les habitants
Newly opened, excellent micro brews and a super selection of food truck fare.
Fun Irish pub with good bar food.
19 recommandé par les habitants
Dargans Irish Pub & Restaurant
593 E Main St
19 recommandé par les habitants
Fun Irish pub with good bar food.
Like stepping into an episode of Mad Men if Mad Men were into dive bars. Great martinis, super retro vibe. Love this place.
Sportsman Restaurant
53 S California St
Like stepping into an episode of Mad Men if Mad Men were into dive bars. Great martinis, super retro vibe. Love this place.

Entertainment & Activities

Lovely shaded park ringed with excellent running/hiking trails and several play areas.
24 recommandé par les habitants
Arroyo Verde Park
Foothill Road
24 recommandé par les habitants
Lovely shaded park ringed with excellent running/hiking trails and several play areas.
Fun climbing structure in the sand and right on the bike path. Kid-friendly tacos on the pier.
99 recommandé par les habitants
Ventura Pier
750 E Harbor Blvd
99 recommandé par les habitants
Fun climbing structure in the sand and right on the bike path. Kid-friendly tacos on the pier.
I just love this spot for a walk, and for kids there are lots of climbing structures including a big pirate ship with a zip line.
36 recommandé par les habitants
Marina Park
2950 Pierpont Blvd
36 recommandé par les habitants
I just love this spot for a walk, and for kids there are lots of climbing structures including a big pirate ship with a zip line.
Kid-sized zoo with stunning views. It is just the right size for a morning or afternoon visit, beautifully landscaped, and there's a train to ride around the perimeter to take it all in.
48 recommandé par les habitants
Santa Barbara Zoo station
48 recommandé par les habitants
Kid-sized zoo with stunning views. It is just the right size for a morning or afternoon visit, beautifully landscaped, and there's a train to ride around the perimeter to take it all in.
Only .5 miles from my house, this school is in a park with 2 great play areas, including a huge wooden Rainbow Bridge climbing structure.
Blanche Reynolds Elementary
450 Valmore Avenue
Only .5 miles from my house, this school is in a park with 2 great play areas, including a huge wooden Rainbow Bridge climbing structure.
Beautiful place to stop and play (or eat the ice cream you bought across the street) after strolling around downtown Ojai.
30 recommandé par les habitants
Libby Park
210 S Signal St
30 recommandé par les habitants
Beautiful place to stop and play (or eat the ice cream you bought across the street) after strolling around downtown Ojai.
There's a butterfly room! Plus walking trails and cool exhibits, would make a great day combined with a visit to the zoo.
118 recommandé par les habitants
Musée d'histoire naturelle de Santa Barbara
2559 Puesta Del Sol
118 recommandé par les habitants
There's a butterfly room! Plus walking trails and cool exhibits, would make a great day combined with a visit to the zoo.

Everything Else

Lovely, light-filled studio, hot vinyasa with excellent instructors.
Jai Rhythm Yoga
175 S Ventura Ave
Lovely, light-filled studio, hot vinyasa with excellent instructors.
We are about a mile from both local hospitals, perfect for visiting docs, nurses and students.
Ventura County Medical Center
300 Hillmont Ave
We are about a mile from both local hospitals, perfect for visiting docs, nurses and students.
We are about a mile from both local hospitals, perfect for visiting docs, nurses and students.
7 recommandé par les habitants
Community Memorial Hospital
147 N Brent St
7 recommandé par les habitants
We are about a mile from both local hospitals, perfect for visiting docs, nurses and students.
Saturday's downtown Ventura.
19 recommandé par les habitants
Ventura Farmers' Market (Downtown)
East Main Street
19 recommandé par les habitants
Saturday's downtown Ventura.
Sundays. Love this one.
46 recommandé par les habitants
Ojai Certified Farmers' Market
300 E Matilija St
46 recommandé par les habitants
Sundays. Love this one.
You'll love this place. Warmest people ever, beautiful small space, brilliant instructors.
12 recommandé par les habitants
Arrow Heart Yoga
143 W El Roblar Dr
12 recommandé par les habitants
You'll love this place. Warmest people ever, beautiful small space, brilliant instructors.

Essentials

Easy 1.5 block walk to groceries.
45 recommandé par les habitants
Vons
6040 Telegraph Rd
45 recommandé par les habitants
Easy 1.5 block walk to groceries.
This is a gem: Syrian owned grocery store with an amazing middle eastern deli, extensive wine/beer selection, and a separate bar area with big screen TVs for watching the game.
Santa Cruz Market
1947 E Main St
This is a gem: Syrian owned grocery store with an amazing middle eastern deli, extensive wine/beer selection, and a separate bar area with big screen TVs for watching the game.
What would we do without TJs?
51 recommandé par les habitants
Trader Joe's
103 S Mills Rd
51 recommandé par les habitants
What would we do without TJs?
If you gotta shop at Whole Foods this one's brand new and nice.
27 recommandé par les habitants
Whole Foods Market
650 Town Center Dr
27 recommandé par les habitants
If you gotta shop at Whole Foods this one's brand new and nice.

Arts & Culture

Nearest movie theater, it's an easy drive and is modern and clean.
14 recommandé par les habitants
Century 10 Downtown
555 E Main St
14 recommandé par les habitants
Nearest movie theater, it's an easy drive and is modern and clean.
Slightly farther than downtown Ventura, this is a brand new theater in a new outdoor shopping/dining mall.
8 recommandé par les habitants
Century Riverpark 16 And XD
2766 Seaglass Way
8 recommandé par les habitants
Slightly farther than downtown Ventura, this is a brand new theater in a new outdoor shopping/dining mall.