Guidebook for Chico
Food Scene
This pizza is bomb and just a short walk away! Locally owned and fresh ingredients with unique combinations that are fantastic. The menu is always changing but it never fails.
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Farm Star Pizza
2359 EsplanadeThis pizza is bomb and just a short walk away! Locally owned and fresh ingredients with unique combinations that are fantastic. The menu is always changing but it never fails.
Another Chico staple. This cafe/breakfast and lunch restaurant is the original hipster destination of Chico gone modern. Very diet friendly with vegetarian, paleo, and gluten-free options. Fresh ingredients. The scrambles and pancake options are all stellar. I walk here everyweekend to grab coffee. They also have a drive through window for to-go orders.
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Sin of Cortez
2290 EsplanadeAnother Chico staple. This cafe/breakfast and lunch restaurant is the original hipster destination of Chico gone modern. Very diet friendly with vegetarian, paleo, and gluten-free options. Fresh ingredients. The scrambles and pancake options are all stellar. I walk here everyweekend to grab coffee. They also have a drive through window for to-go orders.
One of Chico's true originals. This place hasn't changed since it opened over 50 years ago, nor should it, from sawdust on the floor to traditional outfits waiters wear! Italian lovers welcome. It's got every hearty Italian staple for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Oh, and of course champagne brunch on the weekends! Another short walk away.
Italian Cottage
2234 EsplanadeOne of Chico's true originals. This place hasn't changed since it opened over 50 years ago, nor should it, from sawdust on the floor to traditional outfits waiters wear! Italian lovers welcome. It's got every hearty Italian staple for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Oh, and of course champagne brunch on the weekends! Another short walk away.
Not necessarily a restaurant but you can choose to eat in. This place makes all its own pasta and sauces and it's quite amazing! You have to try the red bell pepper cream sauce! This is great for a quick lunch or taking ingredients home to make dinner. They also have their dinner for four take-out option where you can have bread, pick any pasta with any sauce, and salad for four people around $22.
California Pasta Production
1600 Mangrove AveNot necessarily a restaurant but you can choose to eat in. This place makes all its own pasta and sauces and it's quite amazing! You have to try the red bell pepper cream sauce! This is great for a quick lunch or taking ingredients home to make dinner. They also have their dinner for four take-out option where you can have bread, pick any pasta with any sauce, and salad for four people around $22.
Your classic Mexican restaurant. Welcome to California, some of the best Mexican staples around!
Casa Ramos
216C W East AveYour classic Mexican restaurant. Welcome to California, some of the best Mexican staples around!
One of the nation's finest homemade ice cream! Literally. They won second best in the nation a few years ago. This place is classic and you can't get any better! If you're here in the summer the Peach ice cream and root beer floats are the best! Turtle ice cream is a close second.
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Shubert's Ice Cream & Candy
178 E 7th StOne of the nation's finest homemade ice cream! Literally. They won second best in the nation a few years ago. This place is classic and you can't get any better! If you're here in the summer the Peach ice cream and root beer floats are the best! Turtle ice cream is a close second.
Baskin-Robbins
241 W East AveA short walk away and all the ice cream you can sample!
Your classic candy shop right in the heart of downtown Chico with the old school toys and candy you can't find anywhere else. Plus gelato!
Sweet Chico Confections
121 W 3rd StYour classic candy shop right in the heart of downtown Chico with the old school toys and candy you can't find anywhere else. Plus gelato!
All the sushi restaurants in Chico are great but this one is my favorite. It's quiet and friendly. Try the gabby roll, longboard roll, or spider roll! Wine and sake available. Monday is happy hour all night!
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Japanese Blossoms
2995 EsplanadeAll the sushi restaurants in Chico are great but this one is my favorite. It's quiet and friendly. Try the gabby roll, longboard roll, or spider roll! Wine and sake available. Monday is happy hour all night!
A classic experience. They have the traditional set up with coy fish and everything. The menu is massive for both Chinese and Japanese food. I'm a sucker for their sushi. Huge rolls and tons of ingredients.
Rice Bowl
2804 EsplanadeA classic experience. They have the traditional set up with coy fish and everything. The menu is massive for both Chinese and Japanese food. I'm a sucker for their sushi. Huge rolls and tons of ingredients.
Wonderful, authentic, the only place in town like it! If you like Indian food, this is the place to go!
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Priya Indian Cuisine
2574 EsplanadeWonderful, authentic, the only place in town like it! If you like Indian food, this is the place to go!
There are a few great Thai places in town but this one is hands down the best!
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Cocodine Thai Cuisine
2485 Notre Dame BlvdThere are a few great Thai places in town but this one is hands down the best!
Downtown Chico, great burgers and beer on tap. Very affordable for a family or group. Great selection.
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Burgers & Brew
301 Broadway StDowntown Chico, great burgers and beer on tap. Very affordable for a family or group. Great selection.
This place is no secret in town, so it's always packed. It's right across the street from the university. I'd call it "Modern American-Mexican." The food is pretty good, drinks are great (any kind of margarita you want!), great atmosphere with indoor or outdoor seating. The bar is open fairly late.
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Tres Hombres Long Bar & Grill
100 Broadway StThis place is no secret in town, so it's always packed. It's right across the street from the university. I'd call it "Modern American-Mexican." The food is pretty good, drinks are great (any kind of margarita you want!), great atmosphere with indoor or outdoor seating. The bar is open fairly late.
My new favorite "on the go" place. It's healthy and fresh. Prices are ok, but the food is high quality. Fantastic salad bar and wraps. Take home meals and more. It's connected to "Unwined at 980," a cool new wine place where you can sit down for tapas and drinks. The selection is unique and you get a flat of wines to try at a time. It's a fun thing to do!
Ready Chef Go
980 Mangrove AveMy new favorite "on the go" place. It's healthy and fresh. Prices are ok, but the food is high quality. Fantastic salad bar and wraps. Take home meals and more. It's connected to "Unwined at 980," a cool new wine place where you can sit down for tapas and drinks. The selection is unique and you get a flat of wines to try at a time. It's a fun thing to do!
This place is another popular one. The line is always out the door but worth the wait. Great standard American breakfast food. Biscuits and gravy all the way!
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Morning Thunder Cafe
352 Vallombrosa AveThis place is another popular one. The line is always out the door but worth the wait. Great standard American breakfast food. Biscuits and gravy all the way!
Cafe Coda
265 Humboldt AveGrunge, hipster, perfection! Great food and cool atmosphere.
This is a great place to go on Saturday mornings. There is live music, street food, and great fresh produce, meats, and flowers available. Chico is a fantastic ag town, this straight from the farm to your table. Great for kids too! There's also a Farmer's Market from May through October in downtown Chico. It's much larger and more of a fun scene, less focus on the food. Great food trucks!!
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Chico Saturday Farmers Market
Wall StreetThis is a great place to go on Saturday mornings. There is live music, street food, and great fresh produce, meats, and flowers available. Chico is a fantastic ag town, this straight from the farm to your table. Great for kids too! There's also a Farmer's Market from May through October in downtown Chico. It's much larger and more of a fun scene, less focus on the food. Great food trucks!!
This is one of Chico's fancy spots. It's nice with a great patio set up for bocce ball. It is a bit pricier but you can't go wrong. They're into sustainability and locally grown food.
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Red Tavern Bistro Bar Patio
1250 EsplanadeThis is one of Chico's fancy spots. It's nice with a great patio set up for bocce ball. It is a bit pricier but you can't go wrong. They're into sustainability and locally grown food.
This is another fancy pants place but lesser known so it's a nice get-away. The food and bar are fantastic! Great for a date or celebration night.
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Leon Bistro
817 Main StThis is another fancy pants place but lesser known so it's a nice get-away. The food and bar are fantastic! Great for a date or celebration night.
This place has been around forever! It's a great classic Chico spot. A great place to celebrate with family and friends or for a quiet date night. It is a smaller restaurant so be sure to call in advance if you have a large group. Their wine selection is top notch and they have the finest Italian/Sicilian family recipes around. A bit pricier but worth it.
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Sicilian Cafe
240 Main StThis place has been around forever! It's a great classic Chico spot. A great place to celebrate with family and friends or for a quiet date night. It is a smaller restaurant so be sure to call in advance if you have a large group. Their wine selection is top notch and they have the finest Italian/Sicilian family recipes around. A bit pricier but worth it.
Drinks & Nightlife
One of my favorites! The crowd tends to be 30-50. It can get crowded fast. Great late night burgers and fries and they never fail on the drinks!
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The Banshee
134 W 2nd StOne of my favorites! The crowd tends to be 30-50. It can get crowded fast. Great late night burgers and fries and they never fail on the drinks!
This is a great restaurant with a nice bar attached. Great happy hour deals, though dinner can be pricey. Nice apps and you have to try their mojitos!
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Crush
201 Broadway StThis is a great restaurant with a nice bar attached. Great happy hour deals, though dinner can be pricey. Nice apps and you have to try their mojitos!
I love this place! Same owners as the Banshee. They can get crowded and a little slow on service but it's worth it. There's a patio outside for seating and a bar or you can go inside. The crowd tends to be 30-50 years old. Duck fat fries, street tacos!!!
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B Street Public House
117 Broadway StI love this place! Same owners as the Banshee. They can get crowded and a little slow on service but it's worth it. There's a patio outside for seating and a bar or you can go inside. The crowd tends to be 30-50 years old. Duck fat fries, street tacos!!!
This is hands down the best steak house in town...but they also have one great bar with a terrific happy hour. There's also a great patio outside. Try the sliders and creme brulee! This place can get crowded fast.
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5th Street Steakhouse
345 W 5th StThis is hands down the best steak house in town...but they also have one great bar with a terrific happy hour. There's also a great patio outside. Try the sliders and creme brulee! This place can get crowded fast.
So cute! This is an old barn converted to a wine venue. They think they're pretty high-end but it's worth it. The flatbread pizzas are great. The wine list is always changing but never disappoints. They have champagne and own a great tap room right next door for beer lovers! This place has tapas so not ideal if you're looking for a full meal.
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Wine Time
26 Lost Dutchman DrSo cute! This is an old barn converted to a wine venue. They think they're pretty high-end but it's worth it. The flatbread pizzas are great. The wine list is always changing but never disappoints. They have champagne and own a great tap room right next door for beer lovers! This place has tapas so not ideal if you're looking for a full meal.
Parks & Nature
My home away from home! I love this place. A unique trait to Chico, this park spans across nearly 11 miles in town. You can hike or just go for a leisurely stroll or even fish at the small lake. People love to mountain bike, trail run, or let their dogs roam free and explore the outdoors. If you use the North Rim trail you can go up and hike and hike for miles and miles with views overlooking the canyon and creek. If you use the more southern trails you can follow the paved/gravel road along the creek and find endless swimming holes in the summer. Upper Park connects to the scenic Lower Park with a looped paved trail hugging the creek (great for small bike rides or strolls).
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Upper Bidwell Park
Old Chico Canyon RoadMy home away from home! I love this place. A unique trait to Chico, this park spans across nearly 11 miles in town. You can hike or just go for a leisurely stroll or even fish at the small lake. People love to mountain bike, trail run, or let their dogs roam free and explore the outdoors. If you use the North Rim trail you can go up and hike and hike for miles and miles with views overlooking the canyon and creek. If you use the more southern trails you can follow the paved/gravel road along the creek and find endless swimming holes in the summer. Upper Park connects to the scenic Lower Park with a looped paved trail hugging the creek (great for small bike rides or strolls).
I love lower park too! This is the historic lower Bidwell park founded over 100 years ago and where my grandmother watched the filming of the original Robin Hood. This is great for visitors wanting just a leisurely peaceful stroll under some beautiful trees along the creekside, joggers, or a casual bike ride. This is also home to the cutest playground, Kaper Acres. Great for little ones to roam and play on the slide, classic Humpty Dumpty, and more. Stay safe! Don't go to the parks before or after sunset.
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Lower Bidwell Park
South Park DriveI love lower park too! This is the historic lower Bidwell park founded over 100 years ago and where my grandmother watched the filming of the original Robin Hood. This is great for visitors wanting just a leisurely peaceful stroll under some beautiful trees along the creekside, joggers, or a casual bike ride. This is also home to the cutest playground, Kaper Acres. Great for little ones to roam and play on the slide, classic Humpty Dumpty, and more. Stay safe! Don't go to the parks before or after sunset.
This is one of my favorite places to go. It's a gorgeous hike with a beautiful fall at the end. It's roughly an 8-10 mile loop depending on the route you take. The hike isn't too strenuous but you have to be prepared. The end is the only part that's truly uphill about the last 1/4 mile. Great for family outings, dates, or a group trip. Dogs on leashes welcome. Pack a lunch, bring plenty of water, and of course a camera. It takes about 1.25 hours to get there. It is hot in the summer but perfect in the spring and fall (bring a light rain shell) and well shaded.
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Feather Falls Trailhead
This is one of my favorite places to go. It's a gorgeous hike with a beautiful fall at the end. It's roughly an 8-10 mile loop depending on the route you take. The hike isn't too strenuous but you have to be prepared. The end is the only part that's truly uphill about the last 1/4 mile. Great for family outings, dates, or a group trip. Dogs on leashes welcome. Pack a lunch, bring plenty of water, and of course a camera. It takes about 1.25 hours to get there. It is hot in the summer but perfect in the spring and fall (bring a light rain shell) and well shaded.
A beautiful lake and view with the state's second largest reservoir and tallest dam in the nation. This is a great day trip for boating, houseboats, or fun in the water/beach. A short 40 minute drive south of Chico.
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Lake Oroville
A beautiful lake and view with the state's second largest reservoir and tallest dam in the nation. This is a great day trip for boating, houseboats, or fun in the water/beach. A short 40 minute drive south of Chico.
One of the few original covered bridges left. A beautiful leisurely trail hugs the creeks and makes for great scenic views.
Honey Run Covered Bridge
One of the few original covered bridges left. A beautiful leisurely trail hugs the creeks and makes for great scenic views.
This is a unique little fall. It's called "Phantom Falls" because sometimes you can find it and sometimes you can't. If the water is low, the falls disappear. It's part of Table Mountain in Oroville. Table Mountain is a beautiful tabletop flat mountain with trails along streams and creeks. Great for picnics and just wondering along. It's best to go in the spring to see the blooming flowers and try to find Phantom Falls. Google the best ways to find Phantom Falls and you will find tips on how to get there (it's not that hard) and most people on the trails can point you in the right direction.
Phantom Falls
This is a unique little fall. It's called "Phantom Falls" because sometimes you can find it and sometimes you can't. If the water is low, the falls disappear. It's part of Table Mountain in Oroville. Table Mountain is a beautiful tabletop flat mountain with trails along streams and creeks. Great for picnics and just wondering along. It's best to go in the spring to see the blooming flowers and try to find Phantom Falls. Google the best ways to find Phantom Falls and you will find tips on how to get there (it's not that hard) and most people on the trails can point you in the right direction.
Arts & Culture
Cute and quaint, this place will give you the history of Chico and Butte County along with the rotating exhibit schedule.
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Chico History Museum
141 Salem StCute and quaint, this place will give you the history of Chico and Butte County along with the rotating exhibit schedule.
Great for kids with fun and interactive activities. They often have weekend events and great deals.
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Gateway Science Museum
625 EsplanadeGreat for kids with fun and interactive activities. They often have weekend events and great deals.
The Museum of Northern California Art
900 EsplanadeComing soon! The hope is that this place will be open by May 2017. It will be a terrific hands-on and interactive learning center that is fun for kids and families. Located in downtown Chico. Check online to see if it is open.
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Chico Children's Museum
325 Main StComing soon! The hope is that this place will be open by May 2017. It will be a terrific hands-on and interactive learning center that is fun for kids and families. Located in downtown Chico. Check online to see if it is open.
Shopping
Standard mall: Forever 21, JC Penny's, Dick's Sporting Good, American Eagle, Victoria's Secret, Sears, Maurice's, Christopher Banks, Chico's, Men's Warehouse, Francesca's, Buckle, New York & Company, etc.
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Chico Mall
1950 E 20th StStandard mall: Forever 21, JC Penny's, Dick's Sporting Good, American Eagle, Victoria's Secret, Sears, Maurice's, Christopher Banks, Chico's, Men's Warehouse, Francesca's, Buckle, New York & Company, etc.
Made in Chico
127 W 3rd StAll local products, great for souveniors, gifts, home deocr, etc!
All local products, great for souveniors, a historic yo-yo museum, children's toys, games, clothing, gifts, home deocr, etc
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Bird In Hand
320 Broadway StAll local products, great for souveniors, a historic yo-yo museum, children's toys, games, clothing, gifts, home deocr, etc
Essentials
Raley's
211 W East AveSave Mart Supermarkets
146 W East AveSafeway
720 Mangrove AveNew Earth Market
864 East AveEntertainment & Activities
Cinemark 14
801 East AveThe unique off-beat indie films play here. They're almost always the best ones in town!
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Pageant Theatre
351 E 6th StThe unique off-beat indie films play here. They're almost always the best ones in town!
City Plaza
132 W 4th StThey play Friday night movies downtown in the plaza during the summer!
Bowlero Chico
2397 EsplanadeChico's finest and only bowling alley! $1 nights on Tuesdays :)
A skating rink, batting cage, and mini golf all in one place. Fun family entertainment.
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FunLand / Cal Skate Chico
2465 Carmichael DrA skating rink, batting cage, and mini golf all in one place. Fun family entertainment.
This is new to the area. A short 15-minute drive outside of Chico takes you to Durham, a small farming community. Almendra Winery recently opened and is available for tasting appointments. A beautiful scenery with fun wine tasting!
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Almendra Winery & Distillery
9275 MidwayThis is new to the area. A short 15-minute drive outside of Chico takes you to Durham, a small farming community. Almendra Winery recently opened and is available for tasting appointments. A beautiful scenery with fun wine tasting!
Chico's claim-to-fame, Sierra Nevada beer! I just recently went on a tour of the brewery and was blown away, even as a local who had thought she had heard it all already about this brewery! I highly recommend it and hear the sustainability tour is the best.
The brewery and restaurant are attached to one another with a great bar in the restaurant. The food is pretty good (I highly recommend the beer cheese pretzel as an app) and they have samplers where you can get a whole flight of beers to try. Pale Ale is a Chico favorite, along with Celebration (their winter line) and Summer Fest.
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Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
1075 E 20th StChico's claim-to-fame, Sierra Nevada beer! I just recently went on a tour of the brewery and was blown away, even as a local who had thought she had heard it all already about this brewery! I highly recommend it and hear the sustainability tour is the best.
The brewery and restaurant are attached to one another with a great bar in the restaurant. The food is pretty good (I highly recommend the beer cheese pretzel as an app) and they have samplers where you can get a whole flight of beers to try. Pale Ale is a Chico favorite, along with Celebration (their winter line) and Summer Fest.