Claire’s Ventura Guidebook
Food
Our favorite restaurants in Ventura.
Taqueria Cuernavaca Express
Local’s favorite street tacos! We highly recommend the asada.
Spencer Makenzie's
806 E Thompson BlvdWorld famous fish tacos! A must visit in Ventura.
One of the best restaurants in venture! Buzzy gastropub featuring Central American plates & inventive cocktails, along with a stylish patio. Great for dinner!
33 locals recommend
Rumfish y Vino
34 N Palm StOne of the best restaurants in venture! Buzzy gastropub featuring Central American plates & inventive cocktails, along with a stylish patio. Great for dinner!
Amazing fish restaurant with a beautiful ambiance. Best to get a reservation for dinner!
164 locals recommend
Lure Fish House
60 S California StAmazing fish restaurant with a beautiful ambiance. Best to get a reservation for dinner!
Local’s favorite!!! Great for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There’s often a line so get there early!
65 locals recommend
Cafe Nouveau
1497 E Thompson BlvdLocal’s favorite!!! Great for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There’s often a line so get there early!
Lovely cafe located on Main Street. Gourmet small plates, sandwiches & wines in a rustic-chic setting with a small upscale market.
44 locals recommend
Paradise Pantry
222 E Main StLovely cafe located on Main Street. Gourmet small plates, sandwiches & wines in a rustic-chic setting with a small upscale market.
Plant based farm-to-table restaurant, serving only the freshest organic produce sourced locally, with vegan and gluten free options!
9 locals recommend
Harvest Cafe
175 S Ventura AvePlant based farm-to-table restaurant, serving only the freshest organic produce sourced locally, with vegan and gluten free options!
Awesome cafe for breakfast and lunch. Tons of options for the whole family with a cute and causal atmosphere!
6 locals recommend
Frontside Cafe
1070 East Front StreetAwesome cafe for breakfast and lunch. Tons of options for the whole family with a cute and causal atmosphere!
Local’s favorite pizza! The restaurant is on a water so it has awesome views.
75 locals recommend
Toppers Pizza
2701 Peninsula RdLocal’s favorite pizza! The restaurant is on a water so it has awesome views.
Upscale American grub like burgers, chili & wings, plus craft beer & happy hour in a vibrant space.
46 locals recommend
Social Tap Ventura
1105 S Seaward AveUpscale American grub like burgers, chili & wings, plus craft beer & happy hour in a vibrant space.
Rincon Brewery offers a full food menu, in addition to 20+ beers on tap. Indoor-outdoor dining, games and a sandbox for the kids all make this a great destination for a flight, a pint, or an evening of dinner and drinks with the family.
7 locals recommend
Rincon Brewery Ventura
4100 Telegraph RdRincon Brewery offers a full food menu, in addition to 20+ beers on tap. Indoor-outdoor dining, games and a sandbox for the kids all make this a great destination for a flight, a pint, or an evening of dinner and drinks with the family.
Upscale cooking to casual dining: local, seasonal ingredients are the soul of their culinary inspired American fare. Great drinks too!
8 locals recommend
FINNEY'S CRAFTHOUSE & KITCHEN - VENTURA
494 East Main StreetUpscale cooking to casual dining: local, seasonal ingredients are the soul of their culinary inspired American fare. Great drinks too!
Great for brunch! An Italian cafe with something for everyone. A true local’s favorite.
7 locals recommend
Immigrant Son Caffe
543 E Main StGreat for brunch! An Italian cafe with something for everyone. A true local’s favorite.
Edenic Smoothies
AMAZING smoothies! Highly recommend breakfast and lunch.
Awesome tacos, loaded fries and nachos! Outdoor seating only, so check the weather before you go.
Tacos El Diablo
Awesome tacos, loaded fries and nachos! Outdoor seating only, so check the weather before you go.
Coffee + Tea
Our personal favorite coffee spot in town. Amazing coffee, matcha, pastries, and more!
6 locals recommend
Prospect Coffee Roasters
92 South Laurel StreetOur personal favorite coffee spot in town. Amazing coffee, matcha, pastries, and more!
Singing Sun Coffee
1930 E Main StCharming coffee shop that features unique drinks.
Breweries + Bars + Wine
Popular bars, wine tasting rooms, and breweries in Ventura.
Topa Topa is famed for delicious and often unusual flavors. Local's favorite for sure!
44 locals recommend
Topa Topa Brewing Co.
104 E Thompson BlvdTopa Topa is famed for delicious and often unusual flavors. Local's favorite for sure!
Local's favorite due to their great flavors and community events such as trivia night, BBQs, and beer & cheese events.
Seaward Brewing
1920 Goodyear AvenueLocal's favorite due to their great flavors and community events such as trivia night, BBQs, and beer & cheese events.
Known for some of the best European-style beers you will find anywhere on the California coast!
9 locals recommend
Transmission Brewing
1098 East Front StreetKnown for some of the best European-style beers you will find anywhere on the California coast!
Poseidon is known for stunning beers with full-on flavors. Their Dirty Diver Double IPA has an 8% kick and hops to the fore, a traditional style of IPA with the Poseidon touch.
Poseidon Brewing Company
5777 Olivas Park DrPoseidon is known for stunning beers with full-on flavors. Their Dirty Diver Double IPA has an 8% kick and hops to the fore, a traditional style of IPA with the Poseidon touch.
One of the local favorites is the colossal Life Day, an Imperial Stout that is packed with flavor. This brewery is known for its unusual flavors!
9 locals recommend
Ventura Coast Brewing Company
76 S Oak StOne of the local favorites is the colossal Life Day, an Imperial Stout that is packed with flavor. This brewery is known for its unusual flavors!
VenTiki Tiki Lounge & Lanai
701 E Main StArguably one of the best Tiki bars on the West Coast!
A super chill lounge that serves unique drinks and food that is complex in flavor with elegant presentation.
Rocks & Drams
14 South California StreetA super chill lounge that serves unique drinks and food that is complex in flavor with elegant presentation.
Great bar with unique cocktails. Sunday's they have specialty ramen and all other days of the week they have great tapa's style menu!
Strange Beast
Great bar with unique cocktails. Sunday's they have specialty ramen and all other days of the week they have great tapa's style menu!
Sightseeing
Popular places to see and visit in Ventura.
Historic homes, museums, boutiques, Mission San Buenaventura, antique shops and restaurants adorn our palm tree-lined streets. A must see!
Main Street
Main StreetHistoric homes, museums, boutiques, Mission San Buenaventura, antique shops and restaurants adorn our palm tree-lined streets. A must see!
Fun resultants and shops by the water! Great for families or anyone who is looking for a view.
109 locals recommend
Ventura Harbor Village
1583 Spinnaker DrFun resultants and shops by the water! Great for families or anyone who is looking for a view.
The sandy beach at Ventura Pier is Ventura's main central beach and is nearest downtown. There's a nice walk along the beach as well!
17 locals recommend
Ventura Beach
The sandy beach at Ventura Pier is Ventura's main central beach and is nearest downtown. There's a nice walk along the beach as well!
Solimar
Pacific Coast HighwayAwesome dog friendly beach 🏖 with easy parking!
Our personal favorite beach. Easy access and parking. The beach is popular for walking, fishing, swimming, and surfing!
14 locals recommend
Emma Wood State Beach
California 1Our personal favorite beach. Easy access and parking. The beach is popular for walking, fishing, swimming, and surfing!
Day Trips
Places to visit within 50 miles of Ventura.
Known for its Mediterranean-style white stucco buildings with red-tile roofs reflect the city’s Spanish colonial heritage. Upscale boutiques and restaurants offering local wines and seasonal fare line State Street.
182 locals recommend
Santa Barbara
Known for its Mediterranean-style white stucco buildings with red-tile roofs reflect the city’s Spanish colonial heritage. Upscale boutiques and restaurants offering local wines and seasonal fare line State Street.
A small town located 30 minutes inland known for its boutique hotels, recreation opportunities, hiking, and farmers' market of local organic agriculture.
94 locals recommend
Ojai
A small town located 30 minutes inland known for its boutique hotels, recreation opportunities, hiking, and farmers' market of local organic agriculture.
Malibu
21 miles of scenic beauty-- tons of restaurants, beaches, and shopping!