Chico is one of the greatest gems of Northern California, and it also happens to be my college town. I spent five years living in Chico while I attended Chico State University working towards my bachelor's degree in Business Marketing. I graduated in 2009 and there's been so much growth and development in this town over the last ten years. In 2019 Chico was actually the fastest growing city in California!

Besides being known as a college town, Chico is also know for being filled with trees and beautiful parks. Because of all the trees planted around the city, the changing seasons are especially picturesque with blossoms in the spring and fall foliage in autumn.

Probably one of my favorite things about Chico is that it's able to keep that small town feel while still being contemporary and modern. Both millennials and baby boomers have both fallen in love with Chico, there's something for everyone.

My Favorite Restaurants in Chico

The selection of restaurants and cuisine in Chico is top notch! Food options range from casual trendy eats to upscale fine dining. Many foodie entrepreneurs have moved into Chico from larger metro areas and opened up restaurants and food trucks, bringing the type of eats you'll find in big California cities.

Top Picks for Casual Dining in Chico

Tea Bar & Fusion Cafe - I absolutely love their matcha tea, bowls and wraps. They also have a location in Sacramento and I go all the time!
Crush - I celebrated my 24th birthday at this upscale and modern Italian restaurant.
Grana - This spot is super modern, bright and open layout. They serve contemporary Italian cuisine.
The Rawbar Restaurant & Sushi - This downtown Japanese restaurant has been popular since my college days.
Tres Hombres Long Bar & Grill - In college we loved this spot for its many fun flavored margaritas.
Sierra Nevada Taproom & Restaurant - The world famous Sierra Nevada brews are made right in Chico!
MOD Pizza - A modern California pizza chain with a build your own pie menu.
La Salles - This used to be gritty dance club with go-go dancers in cages. It has since been remodeled into a chic and trendy cocktail bar and restaurant.
Aonami Sushi - Specializing in foods from both local and sustainable sources. They serve raw and cooked menu items.
Momona - Japanese ramen noodle house centrally located on a main strip in downtown Chico.
Parkside Tap House - Crafts beers and comfort food with a modern twist. Outdoor patio is dog-friendly!
Kinder's Meat & Deli - The exterior of the restaurant is very unassuming but meat lovers swear by Kinder’s BBQ and sauces.
Woodstock's Pizza Chico - This small chain pizzeria is a college town staple. They have other locations in smaller California university cities.

Sweet Tooth Cravings & Caffeine Fixes

Bakeries & Ice Cream in Chico:

Jon & Bon’s Yogurt Shoppe - A family chain and they’ve got multiple locations around Chico. I love flavor Tart Lemon and the shaved Hawaiian ice.
Shubert's Ice Cream & Candy - An old-timey sugar shop with a whimsical apothecary theme.
Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab - This is a new addition to Chico downtown. I had been their popular location in San Luis Obispo before. They are know for their kooky ice cream flavors - my favorite is the Kahlua Motor Oil!
Upper Crust Bakery & Cafe - This is probably the most established bakery in town. Locals rave about their sandwiches made with freshly baked bread.
Great Harvest Bread Co. - Multiple locations around Chico and there’s a new menu every day of the week.
Tin Roof Bakery - The Chico sourdough bread is their own take on the famous San Francisco bread.

Chico Coffee Shops:

Naked Lounge - A hipster-approved moody coffee spot filled with art and irony.
Bidwell Perk - A more traditional coffee shop located centrally in Chico, founded by former Chico State students.
Coffee Ranch - Specialty coffees and latte art.
Has Beans Coffee & Tea Co. - Specializes in organic coffee blends.
Daycamp Coffee - Chico’s newest hipster cool coffee shop opened up late 2019.
The Grateful Bean Coffee House - Located on the outskirts in northern Chico, this coffee shop is friendly and spacious.
Tender Loving Coffee - Iced lavender oat milk matcha latte - need I say more?

Exterior street view of Naked Lounge Coffee Shop in downtown Chico.

I brought my husband on a weekend trip to Chico for the first time in 2015. His first impressions were overwhelmingly positive, mostly he was impressed with the beautiful architecture and abundance of trees. In Chico you'll see buildings dating back to the early 1900’s, and there's many brick buildings adding a lot of charm and ambiance to the neighborhoods.

While Chico does have a reputation for being a rowdy party town, in reality it's actually a great travel destination for families. The city center is very walkable and you can easily spend an afternoon strolling the downtown streets. Downtown consists of a 10 x 10 block grid and there's a large selection of restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques and public art.

Book a walking tour of Chico on Viator!

Bike Rentals in Chico

Along with being very walkable, Chico is also an excellent place for bike rides. When I first moved to Chico I didn't own a car and I used to ride my pink cruiser bike all over town. Chico is one of the few California towns I know that has an ideal layout for cycling.

You can also take your bicycles to Bidwell Park which is filled with paved bike trails. It's a very peaceful bike ride through the pristine nature of Bidwell Park. The trails are not very steep or difficult, so they make for a calming and leisurely ride.

You can rent bicycles from Campus Bicycles and North Rim Adventure Sports.

Thursday Farmer's Market

Beginning in April and running through September, the entire downtown area turns into a giant Farmer's Market on Thursday’s. It's one of the largest and most impressive farmer's markets I've ever seen. There's booths selling produce, shopping, music, food trucks, flower stands, ice cream, henna tattoos, and so much more. In college it was a Thursday tradition to meet friends at the market to hangout.

There's also a year-round farmer's market on Saturdays from 7:30am – 1pm at the parking lot located at E 2nd St and Wall St.

More Shopping in Chico

Lulu’s - The popular online fashion brand actually started as a boutique in Chico. They now have a fun and trendy outlet right in downtown. See my photos in this blog post of inside the Lulu’s outlet.

Woodzee - Another famous fashion brand to come out of Chico is Woodzee Sunglasses. These eco-friendly sunglasses are designed with millennials in mind. They have a very bright and California-chic boutique right in the heart of downtown.

Nightlife in Chico

Most small towns get very quiet and desolate after the sun goes down, but not Chico! In the evenings you'll see the downtown streets come to life, especially on warm summer nights. There's many cocktail bars, night clubs, dancing, dive bars, late night eats and even piano bars.

Local Spots with a Lively Nightlife Scene:

Argus | Bar + Patio - This cocktail bar is known to be a hipster hangout. They often have live music playing and are open late until 2am on most days.
Crazy Horse Saloon - Known as a place where you can have a crazy fun night. You’ll see go-go girls in flashy chaps and you can ride the mechanical bull.
Duffy’s Tavern - A gritty Irish dive bar. Has looked exactly the same for many decades. It’s open until 2am for all you night owls.
The Beach - A modern disco dance club serving slushy boozy beverages and pumping DJ music.
Madison Bear Garden - Commonly known as “The Bear”, this large bar and restaurant is filled with kitchy decor and located right next to Chico State campus.
La Salles - Trendy cocktail bar open until midnight on Friday and Saturdays. Serving food until 10pm.

Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park

The city of Chico was founded by the Bidwell family in 1860 and Bidwell Park is one of their greatest legacies. This state park covers 11 miles of wilderness and is one of the favorite playgrounds for adventurous Chico residents. There's ample hiking trails, water holes for swimming and picnic areas.

Lower Bidwell Park is one of the most popular recreational areas, and it’s very easy to access from downtown. You’ll find swimming, picnic areas, bike trails and leisurely hiking trails.

The Sycamore Pool is a unique feature in Chico inside Bidwell Park One-Mile. It’s a large public pool with water flowing in from the creek. This is a very popular summer destination when the temperatures are high. Chico is known for very hot summers! It free for anyone to swim and sometimes they have lifeguards.