Downtown Fresno, California
The last several years have seen an unprecedented amount of re-investment in Downtown Fresno. The effect of this re-investment effort is already being felt, as new shopping and dining options are opening up all over Fresno’s urban core. Once only a daytime destination, Downtown Fresno is quickly becoming an attractive place to shop and dine, all located within a walkable area that is easily accessed by three major highways.
The opening of Fulton Street in 2017 has accelerated what was already a trend of businesses relocating to Fresno’s urban core. Shopping and dining among the towering, ornate structures, built in Fresno’s boom-town era of the 1920s, offers a unique experience that you can’t get anywhere else in The Central Valley. Restaurants are opening at a record pace, with several locations staying open into the evening to accommodate the developing nightlife scene in the Fulton Entertainment District.
Among these restaurants is an unmatched variety in cultural dining options, including authentic Mediterranean, Mexican, Asian and Soul Food, as well as a variety of cafés. Besides Fulton Street, other dining hot-spots in Downtown Fresno include the Galleria at Kern and N Street and the Kern Street Corridor. Downtown Fresno is also the center of the region’s food truck scene. Food trucks can be found regularly at Mariposa Plaza for CArtHop, or at many of the events happening in the downtown area on any given day.
Shopping in downtown also offers a change of pace to the numerous suburban malls throughout the rest of the city. From stores specializing in vintage clothing, to stores with clothing and novelty items, Downtown Fresno has shopping options that reflect the diverse ethnic makeup of the area. Downtown Fresno is also home to the only Jaguar dealership in the region.
Downtown Fresno’s shopping and dining scene benefits from being adjacent to some of the best entertainment options in Fresno. Many of these businesses are within walking distance of popular attractions such as Chukchansi Park, Selland Arena, William Saroyan Theater and Club One Casino.
As development has progressed, other areas within downtown have begun to develop their own unique attractions. The Brewery District, just south of Chukchansi Park includes several of the Central Valley’s best breweries. Within the next year a new tasting room and cocktail bar are scheduled to open. Farther north, the Cultural Arts District is home to several new housing developments offering urban living options as well as a recently established park to help facilitate the growing popularity of arts and culture events in the area.
For visitors, Downtown Fresno also has free one-hour parking at city-owned garages, as well as free parking at meters after 6 p.m. on non-event nights. For more information on dining in Downtown Fresno, visit downtownfresno.org for an up-to-date list of dining options in the area.
Whether you’re here for a sporting event or catching a show at one of several historic theaters, Downtown Fresno has something for everyone.
Whether you want to sit down to a relaxing meal with an elegant atmosphere or need to grab a bite on the run, you’ll find the dining options in Fresno to be plentiful, varied and most importantly, delicious. These establishments are situated close to unique shopping destinations.
- Tower District
- Fig Garden Village
- Fashion Fair
- Campus Pointe
- Sierra Vista Mall
- River Park Place
- Fashion Fair Mall
- The Galleria
- Gallery Plaza
- Manchester Center
- North Pointe Center
- Pavilion West