Downtown Modesto Hidden Gems
A slow afternoon through the quieter corners of downtown Modesto — VHS-decorated coffeehouses, tucked-away wine bars, and global tapas rooms the locals keep to themselves.
The Plan
11:00 AM
Preservation Coffee & Tea
Organic coffee in a nostalgic VHS-decorated shop. Grab a seat by the window and pretend it's 1998.
1:30 PM
Camp 4 Wine Cafe
Tiny downtown wine bar on J St. Charcuterie boards, local pours, the kind of place you stumble into and stay for three hours.
4:00 PM
Bauhaus
Global tapas and rotating craft beers on 10th St. Sit at the bar, trust the bartender, order the sausage plate.
7:00 PM
State Theatre of Modesto
Restored 1920s movie palace. Catch whatever's on — the building is the real show.
More Weekend Ideas
Date Night in Downtown Modesto
Handmade pasta, craft cocktails, and a stroll under the Modesto Arch. Downtown Modesto does date night better than you think.
Lodi Wine Country Saturday
Three stops through Zinfandel country. Old vines, big pours, zero stress.
Family River Day
Kayaks, a covered bridge from 1863, and a picnic by the Stanislaus River. The Valley's best family Saturday.