From destination dining to hidden gems that Riversiders cherish, Downtown Riverside has a lot to offer visitors looking for a place to eat. You can find everything from traditional French cuisine at Le Chat Noir to hot dog tacos at Mi Vida Gorda. Don’t think of this guide as a comprehensive list of all Riverside has to offer; rather, consider it a few suggestions from a local friend who has been around a while.
At the Inn
The Mission Inn is the center of everything in Downtown Riverside. Along with its beauty and history, the Inn offers some truly incredible places to eat. The Mission Inn Restaurant features a world-class champagne brunch on the Spanish Patio that draws diners from far beyond the city’s limits.
While you’re waiting for your reservation at the AAA Four Diamond Duane’s Prime Steakhouse and Seafood, grab a cocktail and an appetizer at the Art Deco California Lounge in Duane’s lobby. This might be the best place to get a quick glass of the hotel proprietors’ own Irvine and Roberts label wines, available exclusively at the Inn.
We might get in trouble for telling you, but one “locals only” secret is the transition from tacos and margaritas at Las Campanas, through the little back door to the dark wood and buttery leather of the Presidential Lounge. You can enjoy themed cocktails and quiet jazz late into the night while you impress a date or catch up with a friend.
Bella Trattoria, on the walking mall, is like a quick trip to Italy for a small bite at a streetside café. Patio dining with a glass of wine and a build-your-own charcuterie board makes for an excellent afternoon excursion.
While you are dining, take the time to look around. There are hidden treasures everywhere at The Inn.
Feeling Fancy
Mario’s Place
Maybe you put on your good shoes for a night on the town and are waiting for the show at the Fox to start. Don’t waste a good Windsor knot. There are plenty of places to eat that won’t give you side-eye for looking amazing. Mario’s is a true institution in town, offering fine Italian dining, an incredible bar, and jazz on the weekends.
The Mission Inn is just across the street from Mario’s, so you can’t miss it. On the Main Street walking mall, there are a few places that get a little fancy.
The Salted Pig is a gastropub but goes well beyond the “fancy burger joint” stereotype, offering fresh seasonal selections that are expertly curated and prepared. Palenque is a gem of a Mexican restaurant, offering innovative takes on traditional Mexican food and using the highest quality and freshest ingredients.
Le Chat Noir is only a short stroll from the action and offers masterfully executed traditional French cuisine in a sleek but welcoming environment. Since you’re already in the area, you might as well finish your night at W. Wolfskill, a gem of a craft cocktail bar across from the Historic Courthouse. Wolfskill (locals drop the “W.”) offers a small menu of specialty cocktails using fresh ingredients and local produce for their mixers and syrups.
Good Eats
If you’re looking for great food in a more casual setting, downtown Riverside can do that, too. If you’re looking for a big pour, big plate type of place, Heroes is the spot for you. Plan on bringing some home because they haven’t learned about shrinking portion sizes yet.
Art’s Bar & Grill is an “everybody knows your name” style bar. the food is excellent beyond what you think excellent bar food should be, and it’s a great place to get a beer and catch a band on the weekends.
Gram’s Mission BBQ has been around a long time and has earned the title of top BBQ in the city for generations of residents. Spirit of Texas hasn’t been around as long as Gram’s, but they have come on strong and are making excellent Texas-style BBQ. Give them both a try and see which you like better.
Another newcomer on the downtown casual dining scene is Yoli’s Mexican Grill on Market Avenue. they are making a name for themselves with margarita towers and overstuffed burritos. The moles and the chilaquiles get a lot of
attention and would be worth a try if you are looking to stray a bit from standard fare.
Dinner and Dancing
Riverside used to be notorious for shutting down early, but that has certainly changed over the last decade or so. On any night of the week, you can find a place to have a bite and take a whirl. You will hear Mezcal before you see it. This innovative Mexican restaurant and tequila bar gets loud at night, with pulsing Latin rhythms spilling out onto the street. Mezcal is a great place to start your nightclub tour down University.
Downtown Experiment
Killer Queens, the Downtown Experiment, the Riv, and Aurea Vista are all within two blocks. Their dance floor may be bigger than their food menus, but all offer a snack while you wait for your second wind. Not much to eat at the Menagerie, but the drinks are cheap, and everyone feels at home on this dance floor. Downtown’s only LGBTQ+ nightclub is also its longest-running.
W. Wolfskill isn’t a nightclub, but a curated playlist is part of the charm—a place to listen to mellow music and enjoy appetizers and boutique cocktails. Both the food and drink menus are well-curated and offer something beyond standard bar fare. W. Wolfskill is away from the noise of University and Mission Inn Avenues and would surely impress on a first date or a meetup with an old friend.
Wake Up!
Mornings can be a challenge in a downtown that has shifted a lot of focus to its late-night crowd. Riverside has a small but mighty selection of places to get a cup of coffee and a bite to eat for the early risers. Molino’s is directly across Mission Inn Boulevard from the Inn. It’s a standard coffee, tea, and pastry place, but the quality is high, and the view from the sidewalk tables is supreme. Just around the corner is Urban Dripp, offering donuts and coffee in the morning and donuts and beer in the afternoons. Who said all the good ideas have been had?
Arcade is the power move. Just across Ninth Street from City Hall, Arcade has the power broker market cornered. The coffee is great, the food is great, and if you crave being where the business gets done, then Arcade may be your spot.
The Food Lab
The Food Lab is a shared space dining commons environment with multiple rotating restaurant vendors… Okay, it’s a food court! Not the kind with exactly the same fast food places in every American mall, but a place that gives you a lot of choices for some really great food. Initially seen as an alternative to food trucks, the Food Lab has built its own identity as a great place to make everyone happy or to try a variety of foods in one place.
Monty’s Goodburger is a vegan burger stand that has been tricking even the meatiest of cynics since the Food Lab opened. There are too many options to list here, but another longtime tenant that has never done me wrong is FuFu’s Mediterranean Grill. The shawarma fries are so nice. The Food Lab has a bar and offers indoor and outdoor seating. When you’re done with dinner, head across the courtyard and check out The Game Lab, a video game arcade with classic pinball and stand-up arcade machines, as well as a bar for a little retro fun.
