I had been wanting to stop by for awhile now located in Downtown Ventura . New year ... so NEW me!…read moreI was looking for a good balsamic to make my salads more exciting! After tasting just about most of the balsamics in the shop- I bought the strawberry balsamic. OMG I am so excited . I joined their free loyalty club and I'll be back for more goodies soon! Highly rec, if you're a foodie looking to spruce up your meals! They don't just have balsamics - They have pastas, honey, teas, sauces, gift sets and so much more. Such friendly staff and the shop is kept clean / well organized. It was not busy at all when I stopped in.

This was our third trip to Olive Ventura. We actually remembered to bring our empty olive oil…read morebottles to be refilled. You save money that way. I tried some new varieties and can't wait to use them. It's also a great place to do some gift shopping. They have all sorts of olive oil themed soaps and creams plus candles. It's right on Main Street.

I was so amazed by all the options of olive oils, balsamic vinegars, tequilas, whiskeys, and…read moresangrias. Alec was so knowledgeable about all the offerings and was so accommodating to all of our requests for the different samples. He had great suggestions for pairings and we ended up buying the perfect combo of oil and balsamic. I loved the way we got to try to the oils with the tiny spoons. I definitely think having a bread to sample for the oils would be awesome! The shop was in the cutest part of town. We are so excited to tell our friends and come back.

Such a nice little shop in downtown Ventura! George helped us and he was so friendly and patient…read morewith us as we tried a bunch of different oil and vinegar combos. We ended up getting a basil olive oil and a small hazelnut oil. Their vinegars are also quite tasty - they have bright fruity options like passionfruit and calamansi. They have a number of different size bottles to choose from, including travel sized. George was super helpful too and provided us with some local recommendations of places and views to check out while in town.

This was truly so much fun! There were so many great places to eat and try, but the olive oil…read moretasting was definitely a highlight. My partner and I both love olive oil, so getting to try different kinds was such a unique and fun experience. It was outdoors, had such a great vibe, and was just a really fun way to spend time together. Definitely something I'd recommend checking out if you're looking for a unique experience!

I had a great experience sampling all the olive oils and balsamic vinegars here! This was such a…read morefun activity, great for foodies at this family owned farm in Ojai. For $15, you get a sampling board of several olive oils and balsamic vinegars with some bread from the nearby Ojai Rotie to dip in. All of the olive oils and balsamic vinegars were super tasty and unique. I kind of regret not buying a full bottle of them haha. The board comes with a card with descriptions of each oil and vinegar to read while you taste each one which is nice. I was given two pieces of bread and the staff said I could always ask for more which is nice. There's several picnic tables out from where you can sit at and sample in the farm. They're also well prepared with hand washing and sanitizing stations throughout the area. For parking, there's ample free parking around the farm. Overall, I'd highly recommend stopping by here on your next trip to Ojai! I would definitely come back here with some friends/family.

I love this shop. It's beautiful, light and bright, and oddly so calming. Service is phenomenal…read more The woman who owns the shop is really nice and incredibly helpful. She's thoughtful and mindful about the product selections, and she has great taste. The quality of the product is also outstanding. Their oils and balsamic vinegars make the best salad dressings and dipping sauces. Plus, they have exceptional foodstuffs, like pastas, sauces, pesto, tapenade, chips, and more. This time, they also had a sample table with maple syrups from Runamok. They were terrific! Every time I'm here, I spend $100 on delicious things and leave happier than I arrived, so I'm calling that a victory.

This is such a fun store. You can taste any of the products and there was so many items to choose…read morefrom. I had so idea there was white balsamic vinegar. I loved the blueberry dark balsamic. It was so tasty! I need to go back and pick up some goodies for my sourdough bread.

This was probably one of my favorite experiences as a result of walking into a random store. I…read morewasn't sure what to expect when I walked in but I was immediately greeted by Carolina who welcomed me to try anything in the store. I knew Ojai was famous for its olive oils, but Carolina especially embodies mastery and craftsmanship as reflected in her offerings of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. As I was the only patron in her shop at the time, I was privileged with her showing me various unique combinations of balsamic and olive oil. She certainly lives up to the Italian stereotype of having good taste. She suggested against me buying food for my mother for Mother's Day, but she understood when I insisted that my mom is a foodie (where I get it from). Carolina herself is classy and refined, yet still so open and welcoming, all of which also is reflected in her store. It is thus no surprise that her shop has been around for over a decade. I hope her shop is there when I am 100! If there was ever a place to stop in Ojai, I would recommend this place. A truly unique experience, unparalleled. I am bringing my mom and all my other loved ones here.

It's a cute little store. It was quiet since we were the only ones there. They have samples in a…read moreglass covered sampler. We were also told that we could sample anything even if it was closed, which was great. We were focused on the balsamic vinegar. We tried the Blackberry Reserved Balsamic, and it was amazing. I didn't ask, but they have like a salad recipe that it would be paired with or possibly sell salad there as well. So glad we decided to stop by. The lady who helped us was kind and friendly. Overall, we will be returning since the service and tasting was a pleasant experience.

Paradise Pantry is truly a gem and hands-down our favorite restaurant in the area. We keep coming…read moreback because we know every meal will be consistently delicious, thoughtfully prepared and made with the highest-quality ingredients. Their commitment to locally and sustainably sourced food really shines through in every dish. Everything tastes incredibly fresh and dishes are made from scratch. The service is always warm, attentive and welcoming. Tina is exceptionally knowledgeable about wine and has a wonderful ability to recommend the perfect pairing to complement your meal. Her passion and expertise elevate the entire experience. Her co-owner, the chef, is clearly talented and dedicated to creating memorable dishes that never disappoint. Paradise Pantry is one of those rare places where outstanding food, genuine hospitality and consistency come together beautifully. We always leave looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommend!

We visited for lunch on a Saturday during the farmers market and were seated right away, but we…read morefelt a little rushed to order. Our waitress wasn't rude, but she wasn't particularly friendly or attentive throughout the meal. Unfortunately, one of the salads we ordered had a hair in it, which my sister noticed immediately. She informed the food runner, and the kitchen prepared a replacement. However, our waitress never checked in on us or acknowledged the issue, and she didn't even seem to know what had happened until we brought it to her attention. Her response was not particularly apologetic, and no one offered to take anything off the bill. Having dined out frequently, I've encountered similar situations before, and the response has typically been a sincere apology and some form of compensation, whether that's removing the affected item or offering a discount. Instead, we were essentially told, "Well, she got another one, right?" My sister also had to wait until the rest of us had finished eating before she could enjoy her replacement salad. We eventually went to the front to speak with a manager or someone else about the situation. Unfortunately, that interaction was also disappointing. The woman we spoke with was dismissive and stated, "We don't do that here," emphasizing that it was a matter of principle. We had to push back to get the salad removed from the bill, and even then, the conversation involved unnecessary harsh commentary. Overall, the customer service was disappointing. Mistakes can happen, but the lack of acknowledgment, genuine apology, and willingness to resolve the situation professionally made the experience frustrating. We left feeling that our concerns were not taken seriously, and I would have expected a much more considerate response.

This farmers market is elite Saturday morning energy. Open year-round, rain or shine, right on Main…read moreStreet between S Palm St & Figueroa St. It's officially part of my weekly ritual. Fresh produce? Always hits. Flowers? Stunning every time. Vendors? So friendly. It's the kind of place you come to stroll and leave with a full tote and very happy. Also... the food court deserves its own moment. Artisan bakery goods, fresh juice, and tamales. Do yourself a favor and stand in line, it's worth the wait. Heads up: no pets due to health department regulations. Easy to walk, great vibes, occasional live music, and feels very Ventura in the best way.

Much larger market, but it was a great walk. Lots of fruits and vegetables, and produce and food…read more And I like how to separated. The cooked food from the raw . Found me a juice stand and absolutely loved it.

Probably one of the best farmers markets I've ever been to! The produce and flowers are absolutely…read moreincredible, and the location is perfect. It's exactly what a farmers market should be; quaint, charming, and full of fresh, yummy things. I absolutely loved it!

Typically, I go to the Ojai market on the weekends, but I was visiting Ojai on the weekday and…read morenotice that they have a small market. They called this the community market. The market is open on Thursday from 3-7pm. Unlike the weekend market the number of vendors is very limited. The limited vendors could also been due to the heat the day we visited. I did spot a yummy bagel vendor-called buckaroo. Their bagels were really yummy made out of sourdough. The farmer's market is right off the main street...so very convenient when visiting. The farmer's market is in the park and there is parking lot right next to the market. A nice, relaxing vibe to go with the family- often there is music at the market.

Finally checked out Ventura Meat Company and yeah... this is the kind of spot that makes you side…read moreeye grocery store meat counters forever. You can tell there's real care behind what they do. Everything feels intentional, from the quality of the meat to the fact that they practice whole-animal butchery and source locally through Hobson Family Farms. Love supporting businesses that are actually rooted in the community instead of just slapping "local" on a label. Also obsessed that they make everything in-house... jerky, sausages, beef sticks, bone broth powder, seasonings, even beef tallow. They also carry artisan bread, fresh produce, and organic milk, so somehow I walked in for meat and left feeling like a pioneer woman lol. The space itself feels warm, welcoming, and very Ventura in the best way. Clean, rustic, community-oriented... the kind of place where you can tell the regulars genuinely love coming in. It has that old-school neighborhood butcher shop energy but without feeling intimidating or pretentious. The staff was super welcoming and patient answering questions without making anyone feel intimidated. Whether you know your cuts of meat or you're just there because someone told you "trust me," they make the experience approachable. Honestly feels like one of Ventura's hidden gems. Made my husband very happy. He literally made flank steak the second we got home and was completely content. Now he's suddenly talking about buying a smoker!

They hand a good selection of meat to choose from. I got the rib. My bf cooked it and it was…read moreamazing.

I've never been here, but I have received these chocolates as gifts and I'm not even a candy…read moreperson, but these are absolutely amazing! I highly recommend them to both candy lovers and non-candy lovers in your life alike.

I was in town and saw that there was a chocolate store nearby so obviously had to go and check it…read moreout. This place is a tiny little gem! They have lots of stunning hand-crafted chocolates behind a glass counter. There was a really friendly lady who worked there who gave us the rundown on the most popular goodies. I got 4 chocolates: -Passionfruit dark chocolate -Pot o' Gold (coconut caramel, almonds, milk & dark chocolate) - this was insanely good, my favorite -Macadamia coconut in dark chocolate -Salted caramel almond turtle in dark chocolate (she said this is an all-time best-seller) They have gift boxes for an additional price in case you're getting a gift (this would make an awesome gift!) or a free standard plastic bag if you're getting some for yourself. They're soooo tasty! Definitely worth stopping by!