Downtown Ventura
Top Things to Do in Ventura
Welcome to the heart of Ventura. Sip, shop, and stroll through Downtown Ventura; where you can chow down on fresh seafood and then lay on the beach under the warm Ventura sun in just a few minutes’ walk. From arts, culture, and history experiences to our bustling craft cocktail scene, experience the top things to do in Downtown Ventura.
Shopping in Downtown Ventura
From museums telling Ventura’s history, unique and locally owned and operated boutiques, thrift shops with the best-hidden gem finds, and antique shops, there is always something happening in Downtown Ventura. Our recent street closures — making for a lovely walkable downtown — mean you’re free to stroll and shop new shops, enjoy restaurants, visit art galleries, and listen to live music.
Thrift Stores
Ventura is known for a lot of things — our relaxed, beach town culture, our dog friendly businesses, and our beautiful weather. Ventura is also known for its awesome thrifting scene, and lucky for you, there are tons of thrift stores in Downtown Ventura, all lined along Main Street.
Give Coalition Thrift Store a chance where you’ll find everything from clothes to toys and pots and pans. Ventura’s Goodwill in Downtown Ventura is an oldie but a goodie and C.A.A.N. Thrift Store is a local’s favorite thrift store with aisles and aisles of hidden finds. Find deals and steals at SPARC Second Chance Store where your purchase goes directly to a local animal rescue organization.
And don’t forget about all the vintage and antique stores in Downtown Ventura. You just never know what you’ll find on your trip to our beach town!
Boutique Shopping
Fun fact: about 90% of Ventura businesses on our Main Street in Downtown Ventura are locally owned and operated! That means, our Downtown Ventura is filled with unique, local boutiques for that special Ventura gift and souvenir.
And all of our business owners take pride and put a lot of care and love into their stores — you’ll feel the quality and care the moment you step through the door of any Downtown Ventura store! Take the afternoon to shop and stroll through Downtown Ventura. Plus, Main Street Moves means you can shop and stroll safely through the streets. You just never know what will call your name as you are shopping in Downtown Ventura.
If you’re looking for artisanal gifts, look no further than Findings Market, Passport Habits, Tiki Girl, Plum Gift Boutique, Betty Belts, Brooklyn Charm, and so much more.
Dining in Downtown Ventura
A wide, and eclectic, range of restaurants are everywhere you look in Downtown Ventura. Thai. Italian. Fresh seafood. Farm to table. Old-fashioned diners and new-fangled vegan. Breweries. Taco spots on the beach. You can find all of this and more in Downtown Ventura; make sure to come with an empty stomach!
Best Restaurants in Ventura
What are you craving? Juicy birria tacos? Cheesy pizza? Fresh seafood on the beach? Lucky for you, Downtown Ventura has it all. The choice of it all can be overwhelming, so take the advice of Ventura locals themselves for the best restaurants in Ventura you have to try — many of them happily located right in Downtown Ventura.
Take Lure Fish House for instance, number one on the list. Just blocks from the ocean, enjoy fresh seafood on your night out on the town in Downtown Ventura. Rumfish y Vino, number two on the local’s list, is also located in Downtown Ventura and it’s easy to see why it’s one of the most popular restaurants in Ventura. You’ll have to check it out yourself to find your favorite Ventura flavor!
Another happy coincidence, many restaurants in Downtown Ventura are dog-friendly! Sit outside on pet-friendly patios and watch the world go by with your pup.
Happy Hour in Downtown Ventura
Happy Hour. Two words that are sure to bring a smile to your face. And there’s plenty to be happy about when you’re in Downtown Ventura during that special time of the evening. Restaurants, bars, and breweries offer great Happy Hour Deals all across Downtown Ventura. From trying Ventura Coast Brewing’s Tap 9 Series (a one-off keg for that day only, 0.3L for $3) to hanging out in Downtown Ventura’s historic district at Peirano’s for their happy hour, you’re bound to find a good deal as you walk along Main Street. For a full list of happy hours in Ventura, check here.
Nightlife
Just because the sun goes down, it doesn’t mean the fun has to stop!
Nightlife in Downtown Ventura is plentiful and brimming with fun, music, culture, and that fun beach feel. Check out all the late night bars to sample Ventura’s cocktail scene. Or catch plenty of life music up and down Main Street. From local places like The Twist on Main or Bombay Bar & Grill, you can catch a local act (oftentimes for free!).
But if you’re looking for a touring concert band, check out the Majestic Ventura Theater which has hosted big acts like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Elvis Costello right here in Ventura.
You’ve got your fun cut out for you in Downtown Ventura
From surfer-chill to sophisticated, nestled beneath hillsides and just off the sandy shores of the Pacific Ocean — it’s only a two block walk to the beach — Downtown Ventura has something for everyone. The lot of it bathed in pretty much perfect weather (Average Ventura temperature? 72 degrees. Year-round). And small town doesn’t mean lacking. With more than 65 restaurants, 110 shops, 35 salons and relaxation venues, miles of beaches and stunning hiking and biking trails, well, you’ve got your Ventura fun cut out for you.
How to Get to Downtown Ventura
Downtown Ventura can be easily accessed by Highway 101 or Amtrak Surfliner. Here’s how to get to Downtown Ventura by trains, planes, and cars.
And your adventure only just begins there.
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