Downtown Riverside is changing and growing every month – and for the better! So I’ve complied a couple of list of things to do in Riverside and broken it into two different itineraries – a shopping, with lots of thrifting, itinerary and a family itinerary. A third, romantic itinerary can be found here, at our Mission Inn stay. There will be a fair amount of walking, so wear your comfortable shoes and be ready to explore Riverside!
If you’d like to see more photos of the locations, head to my Riverside highlights on my Instagram.
Shopping (thrifting) Downtown Riverside Day Trip – Recommended Tuesday – Saturday
Because we’re dealing with a lot small businesses, they tend to closed one or multiple days a week. If you really want to hit every store mentioned it’s best to come Thursday through Saturday. But you can still get a lot of shopping done on other days too. There are a few times you’ll be popping in and out of your car but it’s not far!
- Park downtown
- Remember this is a walking tour of Riverside so wear comfy shoes
- Make sure your google maps is ready to go
- Late breakfast at Simple Simon’s
- I recommend the croissants, they are one of my favorites on Earth
- Coffee at Augie’s Coffee or Molino’s Coffee
- Augie’s has two locations, inside the Riverside Food Lab or at their original shop on Main St.
- Molino’s is located across from the Mission Inn off Mission Inn Avenue
- Walk around the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
- This is my favorite stop in Riverside. It’s such an amazing, beautiful, historic place with magical little nooks in every corner.
- You can take a 75-minute tour to learn more, or just walk around by yourself
- Shopping downtown
- Let me orientate you. You’ll be next to the Mission Inn, along the pedestrian walkway. You can head down toward the Convention Center and explore the shops there like:
- Tiggy-Winkle’s, fun and unique items in a ton of different themes like llamas or succulents
- Wendie Monrroy on Main, some good fake plant and plant clippings
- Downtowne Bookstore, a great small bookstore
- Then jump across the street from the Mission Inn and head to:
Mission Galleria, a giant three-story antique store
- Walk over to Orange Street to check out:
- Piep, a super awesome plant store open at noon, closed Sunday
- House of Flames, a great clothing thrift store, closed Sundays
- Grab lunch, I recommend:
- Las Campanas at the Mission Inn, good guacamole in an pretty outdoor location
- Riverside Food Lab, a huge indoor food hall with something for everyone
- Head back to your car
- Make a quick stop at Pink Ribbon Thrift Shop
- This is where I found our couch and a bunch of other great home decor items
- Off Magnolia Ave., closed Sunday & Monday
- Drive over to Central & Magnolia to shop at some of my favorite stores
- It’s across from Riverside Plaza
- I like to park behind Made and Jamba Juice, or off Sunnyside Drive, since you’ll be walking around the following stores:
- Made, All handmade items from local artist great for gifts, closed Mondays
- Foster Army Animal Rescue Thrift Store, closed Mondays
- Mrs. Darling Antiques, please say hello to Ms. Mary, this place is gold, closed Monday – Wednesday
- Lux Clothing, think an independent H&M
- Pop back into your car
- Head to Tio’s Tacos
- Eat if you want to, but I’m sending you there for the art created by the Tio himself. It’s truly a weird, awesome little gem
- It does however have great aqua frescas and food
- Dinner time
- Tio’s Tacos
- Riverside Food Lab
- More restaurant ideas below
- Walk around The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
- I know, you’ve already done this but it looks different at night!
- Dessert at the President’s Lounge at Mission Inn
- This might seem like a throw-away but their desserts are crazy delicious and it’s a very cool lounge, where many President’s have actually visited
More information below on events, restaurants, bars, shows or even a hotel stay
Family Day Trip in Downtown Riverside
My recommendation would be to come down on a festival day. Most festivals are extremely kid friendly and it’s a great way to break up your day. The farmers market isn’t large, but kids typically like those too – that’s on Sundays.
- Park downtown
- Remember this is a walking tour of Riverside so wear comfy shoes
- Make sure your google maps is ready to go
- Late breakfast at Simple Simon’s
- I recommend the croissants, they are one of my favorites on Earth
- Coffee at Augie’s Coffee or Molino’s Coffee
- Augie’s has two locations, inside the Riverside Food Lab or at their original shop on Main St.
- Molino’s is located across from the Mission Inn off Mission Inn Avenue
- Walk around the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
- This is my favorite stop in Riverside. It’s such an amazing, beautiful, historic place with magical little nooks in every corner.
- You can take a 75-minute tour to learn more, or just walk around by yourself
- The little ones won’t love the tour but they’ll love the macaws
- Shopping downtown
- Let me orientate you. You’ll be next to the Mission Inn, along the pedestrian walkway. You can head down toward the Convention Center and explore the shops there like:
- Tiggy-Winkle’s, fun and unique items in a ton of different themes like llamas or succulents – my daughter likes this place
- Downtowne Bookstore, a great small bookstore with a kid’s area
- Or jump across the street from the Mission Inn and head to: Mission Galleria, a giant three-story antique store
- Riverside Art Center & Museum
- Opens at 10am
- There are some very small kids friendly exhibits upstairs. But I take my kids all around the museum and explain the art to them
- Walk over to Orange street to check out:
- Piep, a super awesome plant store open at noon, closed Sunday
- I know this might sounds nuts but my child loves plants and has a few of her “own”
- Grab lunch, I recommend:
- Las Campanas at the Mission Inn, good guacamole in an pretty outdoor location
- Riverside Food Lab, a huge indoor food hall with something for everyone
- Head back to your car
- Check out Tio’s Tacos
- Eat if you want to, but I’m sending you there for the art created by the Tio himself. It’s truly a weird, awesome little gem
- It does however have great aqua frescas and food
- My daughter always asks to go here
- Walk around The Mission Inn
- I know, you’ve already done this but it looks different at night!
- If you’re visiting in December, you’ll have all of the Christmas lights to look at
- Dinner time
- Tio’s Tacos
- Riverside Food Lab
- More restaurant ideas below
- Dessert at the President’s Lounge at Mission Inn
- This might seem like a throw-away but their desserts are crazy delicious and it’s a very cool lounge, where many President’s have actually visited.
Are you a couple? Looking for hot a romantic quick trip? Check out our mission inn here for the run down on that!
Looking for an event? Downtown Riverside hosts a crazy amount of events throughout the year, so check into what’s happening before you come down. I’ve complied a short list of reoccurring events below.
In to bars? Downtown Riverside has a ton of bars, both dive and hipster, all located downtown so you won’t have any problems finding any.
Want to see a show? The Riverside Municipal Auditorium and the Fox Performing Arts Center are great places and really cool venues for all kinds of shows.
Want to spend the night? Downtown Riverside has a few hotels now, and they’re building more all within walking distance. But my personal favorite is the Mission Inn and it’s worth every penny. You can read all about our Mission Inn stay here, it was romantic and indulgent guys.
Where to Eat in Downtown Riverside
- Augie’s Coffee House, great coffee
- Simple Simon’s, great croissants
- Riverside Food Lab, a huge food hall with something for everyone
- Tio’s Tacos, solid Mexican good and good aqua frescas
- Presidents Lounge at Mission Inn, good desserts
- Las Campanas at Mission Inn, Mexican food with good guacamole
- ProAbition, new American food
- Duane’s Prime Steak & Seafood, an upscale American restaurant
- Mario’s Place, an upscale restaurant
- Heroes Restaurant & Brewery, large American bar food portions with peanuts everywhere
- Taco Station, Mexican food
- Woodfire Cafe, a better version of burgers and pizza
- The Upper Crust Sandwich Shoppe, basic sandwich shop
- 9th Street Eatery, solid breakfast and Asian fusion
- Downtown Riverside has more restaurants so go explore!
What to do in Riverside
- Shop
- Eat
- Riverside Art Center & Museum
- Walk around the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
- Take a tour of the Mission Inn Museum
- Walk around Tio’s Taco and check out the art
- See a show a the Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- See a show at the Fox Performing Arts Center
- Attend an event – see the list below
- Get a spa treatment at Kelly’s Spa at the Mission Inn
- Take a look at all the amazing architecture:
- Riverside County Superior Courthouse, built in 1904
- Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
- Fairmont Park
- A quick five minute drives takes you to a huge park with ton of playgrounds, lakes, paddle boats, etc… My favorite is walking around the second, farther lake. It’s an absolute beautiful walk.
- Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center
- A mostly outdoor experience with fun Dinosaur sculptures, a cactus garden and a small indoor museum focusing on fossils.
- Rancho Jurupa Park
- This is a pay-to-park, park with a lake, miniature golf, a splash pad, a playground and even a campground.
- Riverside Metropolitan Museum, currently closed for renovations
Where to Shop in Riverside
- House of Flames, vintage clothing store
- Piep
- Mission Galleria Antique Shoppe
- Mrs. Tiggy Winkles
- Wendie Monrroy on Main
- Downtowne Bookstore
- Made
- Lux Clothing
- Mrs. Darling Antiques
- Foster Army Animal Rescue Thrift Store
- The Pink Ribbon Place, thrift store
- Forget Me Not Antiques
- And of course there’s more stores downtown to explore!
Reoccurring Events
- Check out the Riverside county website for events
- Sundays – Farmers Market downtown
- First Thursday of each month – Riverside Artswalk
- Spring & Summer, Fridays – Magnolia Center Marketplace near Plaza
- Winter, late November to early January – Mission Inn Festival of Lights
Take time to visit downtown Riverside, and enjoy everything this awesome and ever changing, but historic Southern California city, has to offer. What are you favorite places to visit when you’re in downtown Riverside?
