Guidebook for Fresno
Food Scene
*Update* check status of closures with COVID restrictions.
Enjoy a walk into the Tower District on Olive between Van Ness and Palm avenue which is known for its eclectic artsy scene. Restaurants often turn over, but listed some ones here that will hopefully stay. Downtown a short drive away with some fun spots like"The Brewery District". Think small town scale, but still a fun vibe. I've kept my list more local. But plenty of chain stuff in the area... google your favorites!
Family friendly spot and use local favorite Ampersand Ice cream in their affogato and coffee milkshake. Fun community events happen in the back room. Yummy pastries available. Food options vary, but not a lunch spot. Sundays they usually have waffles. During pandemic you can order on their app and pick up at the door.
21 locals recommend
The Revue
620 E Olive AveFamily friendly spot and use local favorite Ampersand Ice cream in their affogato and coffee milkshake. Fun community events happen in the back room. Yummy pastries available. Food options vary, but not a lunch spot. Sundays they usually have waffles. During pandemic you can order on their app and pick up at the door.
If you're a coffee snob, this is the place to go! They are serious about their coffee, source some great beans, and are really friendly and a local hipster favorite place to hangout. And the closest coffee shop to walk to from our house!
12 locals recommend
Hi-Top Coffee
1306 N Wishon AveIf you're a coffee snob, this is the place to go! They are serious about their coffee, source some great beans, and are really friendly and a local hipster favorite place to hangout. And the closest coffee shop to walk to from our house!
Really fresh food, juices, smoothies, salads, wraps, and I love the Acai bowls. Nice clean space inside to sit and chat or out on their parklet. True local gem with owners who really care about their community.
6 locals recommend
Tower Blendz
802 E Olive AveReally fresh food, juices, smoothies, salads, wraps, and I love the Acai bowls. Nice clean space inside to sit and chat or out on their parklet. True local gem with owners who really care about their community.
A romantic spot for a sit down dinner for good Italian food, and a nice wine list.
13 locals recommend
Oggi Cosi Si Mangia
1110 N Van Ness AveA romantic spot for a sit down dinner for good Italian food, and a nice wine list.
The pizza is a good, but the calezone is amazing! They also have some pasta dishes but I haven't tried these. You walk up to order at a counter and they bring your order out to you. You can sit on the pizzeria side which has a hole in the wall feel, or if you're ordering a beer or drink sit on the adjoining bar side which has a classier bar feel.
Mama Mia Pizzeria
737 E Olive AveThe pizza is a good, but the calezone is amazing! They also have some pasta dishes but I haven't tried these. You walk up to order at a counter and they bring your order out to you. You can sit on the pizzeria side which has a hole in the wall feel, or if you're ordering a beer or drink sit on the adjoining bar side which has a classier bar feel.
Fresnans love their Me-n-Ed's. I prefer Mama Mia's in Tower for flavor. But if you want a more classic pizza parlor place to sit in, with a few video game machines for the kids and TVs blasting the game. Then this is the place. Have time, they are not fast at this location. But they do have an interesting self serve beers on tap system, with rotating beers- pretty standard selection. if you're a real beer snob, take your pizza to go and walk over to the back patio of Goldstein's and get your beer there.
17 locals recommend
Me-n-Ed's On Tap
1247 N Wishon AveFresnans love their Me-n-Ed's. I prefer Mama Mia's in Tower for flavor. But if you want a more classic pizza parlor place to sit in, with a few video game machines for the kids and TVs blasting the game. Then this is the place. Have time, they are not fast at this location. But they do have an interesting self serve beers on tap system, with rotating beers- pretty standard selection. if you're a real beer snob, take your pizza to go and walk over to the back patio of Goldstein's and get your beer there.
If the weather is nice they have a back patio that people like to hang out for a drink. They food is really nice here, on the pricier side, but a cute romantic spot for a date. The space is cozy with the usual Tower eclectic vibe and clientele.
38 locals recommend
Veni Vidi Vici
1116 N Fulton StIf the weather is nice they have a back patio that people like to hang out for a drink. They food is really nice here, on the pricier side, but a cute romantic spot for a date. The space is cozy with the usual Tower eclectic vibe and clientele.
The food here is decent the beer is good. A diverse menu that should make everyone happy.
43 locals recommend
Sequoia Brewing Company
777 E Olive AveThe food here is decent the beer is good. A diverse menu that should make everyone happy.
Lunch time favorite to grab a deli sandwich. You might have to wait if you hit the lunch time crowd. Just a couple of patio tables outside. It's really more of a place to grab a sandwich and go. Or take home some of their homemade frozen pastas and sauce and make a wonderful Italian meal for yourself at the Bnb!
16 locals recommend
Piemonte's Italian Delicatessen
616 E Olive AveLunch time favorite to grab a deli sandwich. You might have to wait if you hit the lunch time crowd. Just a couple of patio tables outside. It's really more of a place to grab a sandwich and go. Or take home some of their homemade frozen pastas and sauce and make a wonderful Italian meal for yourself at the Bnb!
Nice little sit down Mexican food place that's been here forever. Easy walk from the bnb.
8 locals recommend
Cuca's Restaurant
936 E Olive AveNice little sit down Mexican food place that's been here forever. Easy walk from the bnb.
Haven't been here yet, but have heard from locals and guests that they have a nice patio (good if the weather is nice) and decent Mexican food, and often live music.
7 locals recommend
El Patio Mexican Restaurant
552 E Olive AveHaven't been here yet, but have heard from locals and guests that they have a nice patio (good if the weather is nice) and decent Mexican food, and often live music.
There are several Pho places at this intersection and I'm sure they're all good. It's not fancy, but really good Pho soup, fresh ingredients, filling and excellent price! Not in walking distance, outside of Tower, but worth the 5 min drive.
Pho 99
3141 E McKinley AveThere are several Pho places at this intersection and I'm sure they're all good. It's not fancy, but really good Pho soup, fresh ingredients, filling and excellent price! Not in walking distance, outside of Tower, but worth the 5 min drive.
A little drive away. But it's our go-to place to grab a sandwich to take with us up to the mountains for a little day hike. Or if you want to make a delicious Italian dinner at home grab some homemade pastas here, a bottle of wine, and stay in. So good!
9 locals recommend
Sam's Italian Deli & Market
2415 N First StA little drive away. But it's our go-to place to grab a sandwich to take with us up to the mountains for a little day hike. Or if you want to make a delicious Italian dinner at home grab some homemade pastas here, a bottle of wine, and stay in. So good!
A little drive outside Tower District, but a local favorite ice cream shop. They make all their ice cream in house, using locally sources ingredients. There are rotating flavors of the month, but the staples are always good like Honeycomb, Whiskey Carmel Swirl, or Bordeaux, or their version of Rocky Road, or Mint Chip.
46 locals recommend
Ampersand Ice Cream
1940 N Echo AveA little drive outside Tower District, but a local favorite ice cream shop. They make all their ice cream in house, using locally sources ingredients. There are rotating flavors of the month, but the staples are always good like Honeycomb, Whiskey Carmel Swirl, or Bordeaux, or their version of Rocky Road, or Mint Chip.
Drinks & Nightlife
Tower District is walking distance and has several little bars. There's an area downtown they are developing as a brewery district currently 2 breweries and a specialty cocktail bar are the main attractions.
Not a mortuary nor a delicatessan... but an eclectic space with a cool vibe and an amazing selection of craft beers on draft. If there is a favorite local band playing then the place can get a little crowded but otherwise pretty calm. No food, and I don't know what other drinks they have, you go here for the beer. Patio in the back which has expanded during the pandemic.
34 locals recommend
Goldstein's Mortuary and Delicatessen
1279 N Wishon AveNot a mortuary nor a delicatessan... but an eclectic space with a cool vibe and an amazing selection of craft beers on draft. If there is a favorite local band playing then the place can get a little crowded but otherwise pretty calm. No food, and I don't know what other drinks they have, you go here for the beer. Patio in the back which has expanded during the pandemic.
Great local brewery, they just opened this location, nice outdoor space. Don't have food themselves, but often host a food truck and live music on weekends. Kid friendly.
6 locals recommend
Full Circle Brewing Co.
712 Fulton StGreat local brewery, they just opened this location, nice outdoor space. Don't have food themselves, but often host a food truck and live music on weekends. Kid friendly.
Local brewery in what they are trying to develop as the Brew District in downtown. Right across the street from Chukchansi park it's the perfect spot to grab a beer before a Fresno Grizzlies minor league baseball game. They don't serve food themselves but often have a local food truck on site. Also host music events many weekends. Huge outdoor space with picnic benches and some fire pits.
32 locals recommend
Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Company Beer Garden
745 Fulton StLocal brewery in what they are trying to develop as the Brew District in downtown. Right across the street from Chukchansi park it's the perfect spot to grab a beer before a Fresno Grizzlies minor league baseball game. They don't serve food themselves but often have a local food truck on site. Also host music events many weekends. Huge outdoor space with picnic benches and some fire pits.
Really good craft cocktails. Expanded outside sidewalk patio during pandemic.
20 locals recommend
Modernist Craft Cocktail Bar
719 Fulton StReally good craft cocktails. Expanded outside sidewalk patio during pandemic.
Entertainment & Activities
They have a small but decent bar with some nice craft brews on draft and usually some specialty cocktails for a good price. It's a pretty relaxed place for a drink and a round of billiards. There's also a hidden speakeasy here called "The Library", reservation usually required, but if the little red light is on, there is an opening. There's a dress code and you still need a password and the secret instructions to find the door. Fun to check out!
Detention Billiards
750 E Olive AveThey have a small but decent bar with some nice craft brews on draft and usually some specialty cocktails for a good price. It's a pretty relaxed place for a drink and a round of billiards. There's also a hidden speakeasy here called "The Library", reservation usually required, but if the little red light is on, there is an opening. There's a dress code and you still need a password and the secret instructions to find the door. Fun to check out!
Arts & Culture
Wide variety of shows go on here, check the billboard or online to see what's showing.
24 locals recommend
Tower Theatre
815 E Olive AveWide variety of shows go on here, check the billboard or online to see what's showing.
Essentials
Rite Aid
1210 N Blackstone AveClosest spot for basics and pharmacy.
Smart & Final Extra!
7733 N First StClosest grocery store with everything you'd need.