VENTURA eat+drink+do

 

EATS

Immigrant Son Caffe

  • 543 E. Main Street

  • (805) 667-9084

  • Love this place for breakfast/brunch and lunch. The avocado Pomodoro toast topped with poached eggs is a fave!

Frontside Cafe

  • 1070 E. Front Street

  • (805) 628-9566

  • Another yummy breakfast & lunch spot served with Aussie love.

Cafe Nouveau

  • 1497 E Thompson Blvd

  • (805) 648-1422

  • A local fave for their extensive breakfast/brunch menu, also serves lunch and dinner. Setting is a 1920s Spanish bungalow with lush mediterranean garden patios.

Rumfish Y Vino

  • 34 N. Palm Street

  • (805) 667-9288

  • A fave restaurant to treat yourself or for a special occasion. serves seafood, tapas/small plates with Central American influenced flavors, and gastro-bar. Leave the kids at home.

Paradise Pantry

  • 222 E. Main Street

  • (805) 641-9440

  • A great little spot for wine that serves up equally great meat & cheese plates, sandwiches, salads, patés, desserts, and other finger foods.

Rice by Mama

  • 419 E. Main Street

  • (805) 641-0238

  • Our fave Thai restaurant, offering indoor & outdoor seating

Pacific by NoRu

  • 394 E. Main Street

  • (805)205-9618

  • Upscale cooking in a casual setting. Serves an American with Asian influence menu using locally sourced ingredients.

Gotetsu

  • 2098 Main Street

  • (805) 312-7117

  • Very small, low-key Japanese restaurant outside of downtown Ventura. Serves kushiyaki (skewered grilled meat & veggies) &  specialty dishes like curry, onigiri, etc.  + Japanese wine, beer, and sake. Love this place.

Harvest Cafe

  • 175 S Ventura Ave #104B

  • (805) 667-8386

  • Farm-to-table vegan & vegetarian dishes made of organic and locally grown ingredients.

Beach House Tacos

  • 668 Harbor Blvd

  • (805) 648-3117

  • If you plan on going to the Ventura Pier, order your food here and hang out at MadeWest brewery (MW doesn’t serve food). A breakfast menu is served on weekends.

DRINKS

MadeWest Brewing Co.

  • 668 E. Harbor Blvd.

  • (805)947-5002

  • Doesn’t serve food, so order from Beach House Tacos and bring up here to enjoy ocean & island views at this fave Harbor spot.

Ventiki Tiki Lounge & Lanai

  • 701 E. Main Street

  • (805) 667-8887

  • Fun Polynesian-inspired menu + tiki cocktails. Great Happy Hour. Come early to miss the crowd.

Ventura Coast Brewing Co.

  • 76 S. Oak Street

  • (805) 667-8640

  • Great open space with a cool local vibe, right in downtown Ventura.

Finney’s Crafthouse

  • 92 S Laurel St.

  • (805)667-8115

  • American tavern chain serving 30 local craft draft beers as well as hand-crafted cocktails. Has a menu of shareable meals.

Prospect Coffee Roasters

  • 494 E. Main Street

  • (805)638-3312

  • A favorite for its coffee-specialty selection and good-looking setting.

Palm & Boy

  • 451 E Main St #8

  • (805) 667-9201

  • Follow a charming alleyway that leads to a courtyard garden, Palm & Boy serves Handlebar coffee, Rori’s Artisinal Creamery ice cream, and their own delicious acai bowls.

SEE & DO

Skating Plus

  • 1720 Mesa Verde Ave.

  • 15-minute drive from Lodge

  • Old school roller-skating rink with a mini arcade inside and usual snack bar. Visit their website for coupons.

Golf n Stuff

  • 5555 Walker St.

  • 15-minute drive from Lodge

  • Offers mini golf, go-karts, bumper boats, and arcade. Visit their website for coupons.

Boulderdash Indoor Rock Climbing

  • 2879 Seaborg Ave, Suite D

  • 10-minute drive from Lodge

  • Fun energy releaser for all levels of rock-climbing experience.

Ventura Pier

  • 750 Harbor Blvd

  • 15-minute drive from Lodge

  • A few blocks from downtown Ventura is the 8th longest pier in California at 1,620 ft in length. A playground is right below at sand level. Specialty bike rentals are available nearby.

The Ultimate Escape Rooms

  • 1591 Spinnaker Dr. ##117C

  • 10-minute drive from Lodge

  • located at the Ventura Harbor. Play in-person or by live video. Get the gang together to solve puzzles that lead you to “escape” the rooms.