Downtown Walnut Creek is a great place to walk around, patronize businesses and take it all in without practically any fear of rampant theft or violence that's happening in places like San Francisco or Oakland. It's actually jarring how orderly things are here. Could it be that having pragmatic city policies, dealing with bread-and-butter issues (ex. housing), and not having a city council driven by ideology makes for better, safer cities? ;) Things that really stand out: the wide sidewalks, Big Belly trash cans on every corner (and they work!), and plenty of benches and parklets that make it super pedestrian-friendly. Public art is everywhere thanks to the city's public art initiative, and it really enhances the outdoor experience. You'll come across "Bullman with bulldog", "Rawr", "Hand of Peace", "Fountain Head" and so many more while you're there! I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention that parking places, especially three city garages (a total of 1378 spots [!!!]) that charge *just* $1.25 per hour and the first hr is free. I've never seen these garages at max capacity so I have no idea why people complain about the parking situation... Biggest downside of Downtown? The drivers here are some of the worst in the Bay Area--seriously inattentive & thus dangerous. Keep an eye out when crossing the street, strive to make eye contact because their Teslas can send you flying to the emergency room. read more

Walnut Creek Downtown - Holiday Tesla - Local Flavor Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Sept 16, 2025 I haven't spent a nickle on goods or services in Walnut Creek now for four years. I occasionally see a restaurant on YELP that makes Walmut Creek look attractive but I have proudly shaken the cheating Walnut Creek dust off of my sandals. There was an exception where I was taken to that God forsaken place due to me being in a coma. Also I am taking my daughter there for a Dr. appointment today. Restaurants and shopping and parking in that trap? Not going to happen until Hell freezes over. read more

Downtown Walnut Creek is always very lively!!! The Broadway Plaza is a good sized outdoor shopping mall with lots of high end stores and plenty of restaurants. As a matter of fact, a lot of the downtown area has plenty of restaurants, bars, bookstores, coffee shops, and other businesses. Sometimes, parking may be a challenge, and just driving through here might take some time with all the people walking around, it's a very walkable area. This is definitely the place to be in Walnut Creek, and I would say this place has way more action than the other surrounding cities have in their downtown areas!! read more

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Walnut Creek is almost 20 square miles; approximately 70k population. Quality/Quantity - I just realized, I rarely venture away from the mall... You have a really nice downtown, so many good restaurant choices just blocks away. Don't get me wrong, the restaurants around the mall are good also, it's just that I have frequented them too often. Today, Chabad of Contra Costa was hosting an event, see pictures. Atmosphere - Happy holidays, many promotions in the downtown area, see pictures. Heritage walk, see picture. Free downtown trolley, not sure if it is still operating...? Many parking garages nearby, some have first free 3 or 4 hour parking; but crazy busy today as it was a holiday and a Sunday! Service - Good. Price - Above average, upscale area. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1849. read more

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Restaurants. Shops. Toy stores. Bars. All within a few blocks of each other. Just park and go. If you can't make up your mind where or what to eat, you're guaranteed to find a place here that will satisfy your food craving. (Fun fact: Here you'll find the San Francisco Creamery featured on a few Food Network shows.) With the pandemic currently raging, your only parking option is metered. However, they don't overcharge the way the likes of Los Angeles does, so it really won't hurt the pocketbook too much. A great place to go solo for the day, for family fun day, brunch with friends or a dinner date. read more

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DOWNTOWN WALNUT CREEK -- It's one of the nicest "downtowns" anywhere. It's very safe* and clean, beautifully designed, and a combination of big and small retailers, chain and family-owned restaurants and bars. It's not the typical small town with 3 blocks of stuff, instead, it's 3 blocks wide and 8 blocks long. Bottomline, so worthy. Things to do: 4.5/5 Safety: 4.5/5 Cleanliness: 4.5/5 * The past few months has seen a few shootings. Random. There was also rioting during the aftermath of the George Floyd death, which in my opinion, the real message is lost and replaced by anarchists and fear. But, I digress. read more

Say what you want about Walnut Creek. But, you cannot deny that the downtown area is POPPIN' like cray! "The people in Walnut Creek are Snooty" "Walnut Creek is too expensive" "It's filled with all white people" "Walnut Creek is pretentious" "There's nothing to do in Walnut Creek" Trust me... I've heard it ALL. And while some of those statements may be true at times, I can't agree with these statements whole-heartedly. I honestly can't even agree with these statements at all. You see, there was a time when the Dub C had a rather unfavorable reputation. But, the times have changed. I know because I've lived in CoCo county long enough to see the changes. This city is truly a goldmine and its' downtown area is a pure reminder of this. Downtown Walnut Creek is like my home away from home. It's only the next city over, but the atmosphere is just so different. This is one of those cities that I practically know like the back of my hand. It's a foodie and shopaholic's dream! Some of my favorite stores, restaurants, and bars are located right here in little Dub C. For the most part, the people that I've met here are super friendly. It's diversified so much over the years, and I've met people from all over the Bay Area who come here. So what would a review be without a lil' name droppin'?! Well, I'm about to drop a few names of some of my favorite restaurants to go to in DTWC! Just to name a few: *Scott's Seafood *The Walnut Creek Yacht Club *Momo's *Havana *Stanford's *Ruth's Chris Steakhouse *Fleming's *Sasa *Montecatini I could probably go on. Yes, that restaurant list is composed of some pricey restaurants. BUT... have I mentioned that my favorite time to hit up Walnut Creek is during happy hour?? ALL of those places have a bomb ass HH! The happy hour scene is actually pretty lit on the other side of the tunnel. Speaking of happy hour, I can't forget to mention that the bar scene is also pretty live! Some of my bar faves downtown are: *Massés *Tiki Tom's *Residual Sugar *1515 Lounge *Dan's You can also shop 'til you drop at the beautiful Broadway Plaza Shopping Center! Since the remodel, this place has definitely expanded with all kinds of shops. The Macy's here is super nice and I've always been able to find great deals. NYX and Sephora are always great for my makeup needs. You got your higher end like Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom's to your everyday favorites like Ross and Forever 21. They have a cute ice skating rink during the winter time and a movie theatre located in center of the plaza. The farmer's market is also pretty amazing! They usually have live music and a host of great local vendors. Parking can get pretty pricey when it comes to the meters and private lots, but you can always find a lot within a few blocks that will allow free parking for the first few hours. Walnut Creek has really become a hot commodity in Contra Costa County. It's a mini "big city" destination for many East Bay residents. I love the downtown area of Walnut Creek! I'm glad that it's here to satisfy all of my "downtown" needs and cravings. read more

My hubby and I got to experience "the walk thru" version of Downtown Walnut Creek, while on our way to the Capitol One Cafe from the Walnut Creek Bart Station. The one mile trek thru the downtown strip was super lively and an area I can't wait to explore more in the future. Here the downtown you will find many, many indoor/outdoor restaurants whom which offer great outdoor seating. You will also find great boutiques that sell cute women's clothing. There's different parking lots throughout the downtown area plus street paid parking. If you haven't visited DWC, be sure to book mark it now! Great spot for date night(s)! read more

i spotted a metered person parked on bonanza st. on a sunday afternoon. strange, i thought. found a vacate parking spot on bonanza at other end of bonanza. also strange. read the print on the meter. parking: enforcement is 7 days a week except for "metered holidays". explains vacate parking space. hearsay meter person uses wireless technology to ticket cars whose meter is revenue deficient. no need to look for expired meters. downtown walnut creek is undergoing another transformation. after the broadway lane area was totally developed into an upscale shopping area with a new parking lot & upscale shops/eateries. the area between ygnacio and mt. diablo is now undergoing change with a steady changeover of "local" tenants/shops to upscale theme eateries * boutiques. read more

The weather is really nice here they have like two shopping areas bunch of little restaurants what is not to like here the weather is beautiful. Thanks for Reading my Review ~Lizzie~ :) read more

I do love the downtown area, I really do. BUT I was stung by a bee last Tuesday while I was walking my kids, and I am furious. I have only ever been stung by a bee here and I think that is absurd! I can only blame the city for ruining what would've been a bee-free existence! While I was walking some kids walked by and snickered at my bald head and that got me really steamed too. Outside of that i do recommend sitting by one of the many fountains and people watching. One time i saw Steph Curry and I yelled' "Hey Steph!" and he waved back! Totally crazy! read more

Got mugged in Walnut Creek downtown, for $45, by a parking meter. Stuck my card in, hit some buttons, something flashed on the screen, I should be good to go? Came back to my car to find a teeny tiny ticket snuck under my windshield wiper. Guess I hit the wrong buttons. But who would know? I'll tell you who, the soulless meter police. They are on that. You could of picked any line of work, and you chose meter maid? I mean really. Who says to ones self, I want to be the most hated, disrespected person in any given city? The new meters in Walnut Creek are confusing. The likelihood they will take someones money is high. Walnut Creek is raking it in for meter violations. I will never shop or dine there ever again. read more

Downtown Walnut Creek is a great area for shopping, restaurants and nightlife! Parking garages abound (though they aren't all free - do your homework or consult a local), but luckily many of the restaurants validate and high-end places frequently offer valet. Street parking will always be a challenge, you're much better off heading to a garage since everything is a reasonable walk. There is truly something for everyone down here! Movies, restaurants that will suit all palates and pocketbooks and many boutiqes. Admittedly many of the shops are more high-end (reminiscent of areas like Carmel - Walnut Creek truly is the East Bay's own little Rodeo Drive), but it is a great area to come for unique gift or house items. The area is very walkable and has great nightlife, and you'll be very safe to wander the downtown area into the wee hours. Come find your new favorite haunt in Downtown WC! read more

Walnut Creek Downtown - California Plaza, with a BART train - Local Flavor Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Sunday street parking - METERS ON! Walnut Creek is one of the very few cities in California that charges for street parking on Sunday. You know, on the day it also holds its farmer's market downtown. I've known a few people that received tickets while shopping at the farmer's market, then having breakfast downtown. They just assumed that street parking was free on Sunday, like in most cities - not greedy Walnut Creek, no sir. - They want your $$ ticket money. Spend your money elsewhere, at least on Sunday. There are plenty of cities with downtown areas in the Bay Area. read more

About 5 years ago, I was moving up here from San Diego and had my first glimpse of Walnut Creek coming off the 24 and down Mt. Diablo Blvd. I was in love, the second I made my way past the World Market, in to Broadway Plaza and knew this was the spot in the East Bay I'd make my home. Downtown WC is the perfect blend of local shops and restaurants, along with chain stores, coffee shops, fountains, and a real sense of community. Extra perks include our beautiful library, civic park and in my opinion tons of generous free parking. Honestly, I've never not been able to find a spot in the many free lots. You just need patience and be willing to walk a bit to your destination. From Broadway Plaza to the Lesher Center and all the unique stores on North Locust, Main and Broadway, I just love my town. Lots of seasonal events as well-everything from Wine Walks, Art on the Main, Halloween and Christmas happenings and more-I can't think of a more well rounded spot than downtown Walnut Creek. read more

Lol, the negative reviews are all about parking and assumptions people made. These errors can be avoided by reading the meter. Not really all that difficult. Parking is pretty cheap by Bay Area standards. But i digress. I've lived here for 12 years and it was super cute when I moved here and has only gotten cuter. Upscale shopping, good dining, great local and chain businesses, and it's safe and aesthetically pleasing. Even new condos are being constructed with the modern vibe. Parks are gorgeous, and the downtown organization is looking to make it even nicer. Even our library is gorgeous. Come here for ice skating in the winter, grab a hot chocolate at one of the many cafes near by, and attend first wednesday outdoor concerts, wine and art festivals, and music at broadway plaza and have a glass of wine in the summer. Just, for the love of God, read the parking meter. You can take the five seconds to do it rather than blaming the city for your own lack of attention to basics. read more

Think Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, any quaint town with outdoor shopping and eats and you'll love Downtown Pleasant Hill. We walked for hours window shopping, slipping inside to escape the heat, grabbing some good food and took in some fun people watching too. There is something for everyone around here! read more

Every time I return home, I make sure I pay a visit to Walnut Creek. There's just something so charming and local about the place, even though it can be full of rich, stuck-up, bougie white people. I still find a lot of charm and enjoyment out of the place, simply because it reminds me a lot of my growing up. There's a great nightlife here, seeing to it that a lot of surrounding neighborhoods don't quite have a nightlife like this (though: it IS an older crowd. Young college kids like myself would feel too young here.) There's a bunch of small, intimate bars and late-night eats that I love. There's also a great variety of places to go to, from expensive, high-end shops and local restaurants to more modern, hip, trendy stores with better price tags. The place itself is beautifully decorated and clean and well-kept. You get your old-fashioned local eateries paired with a budding modern locale with newer restaurants and shops. It's charming and just about right. It's easy to walk everywhere, and there's SUCH a variety of stores down the blocks. You get older cafes to bigger department stores to modern large-group eateries, a movie theater and a late-night bookstore. I'm in love with the place, and it provides a nice, charming atmosphere for small-town, safe folk looking for places to entertain. read more

I don't know where to start but this city is my absolute favorite (besides Alameda). Family friendly but perfect for singles as well. A huge selection of restaurants and bars. From night life to wine tasting Walnut Creek has it all. Several trails and open space to explore. Plenty of parks and public swim areas. Major retailers and high end specialty shops. The only con is parking downtown but that's to be expected with any city. Centrally located only about 20 minutes to Oakland and 30 to SF depending how close you are to the freeway. Safe community and excellent school district. And of course that comes with a price. To live here is a bit pricy which seems to be the trend these days especially in the Bay Area. You definitely get what you pay for. read more

Walnut Creek Downtown - Downtown with my husband and niece - Local Flavor Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

This is a pretty good downtown. Most recently while shopping during the holidays I felt transported to being in A suburb of London during the Christmas season. There are tons of restaurants, shopping, and special interests. Because it is Walnut Creek, it is a little on the expensive side, but there is no reason why you can't find what you are looking for. A huge plus is the free parking garages. I have always been able to find a spot in the garage. What did I learn today? Street parking is always a challenge. read more

Hello welcoming City of Walnut Creek, or so I once believed you to be.So you now charge for street parking on Sundays? There is no indication of this practice. At least have the decency to alert people! We had a group of 47 people, and many of them received tickets. It put a terrible damper on our family Fathers' Day Brunch! We had family in town from around the country for a reunion. We rented the Community Center at Heather Farms the day before, and had a wonderful time;however, the weekend ended on a sour note! Next year we plan to gather elsewhere.Between the facility rental,catering,decorations,hotels, shopping and dining,it looks like your future revenue from our family will be zero! Was it worth the paltry revenue you made from the tickets? You do the math... read more

This is a really cool part of town. Downtown Walnut Creek has a lot to offer, in terms of food and shops. We ate at Pyramid and did come window shopping on our way over and back. Street parking is hard to find, but it is your best option. Luckily the street meter takes credit cards. Even still, street parking is expensive and you really only have a 2 to 2 1/2 window. All in all, it is worth the trip -- local or not. There is a lot to do and see in downtown walnut creek. read more

One of the more lowbrow downtowns in the Bay Area. It's amazing how despite so having many restaurants, the food remains pretty bad to mediocre across the board. Downtown Walnut Creek is basically an outdoor food court/mall with lots of outdated chain restaurants like Cheesecake Factory, or independent restaurants that cater to obnoxious weekend "scenesters" who are more interested in selfies rather than good food. Despite all the cafes, not a single artisanal coffee shop exists. Shopping is all corporate and generic "mall" brands found anywhere else. Looks and feels like a scene from the late 90s. Absent is any of the Bay Area sophistication that should make Walnut Creek a quality destination. read more

Downtown Walnut Creek is one of my favorite neighborhoods. For any of you out there who like to enjoy nightlife in the bay area in an urban area with several bars and nightclubs in a low crime area then so far I think Downtown Walnut Creek is the best place to go, one of the main reasons is because there is a large police station in the heart of downtown and there are police cars everywhere making sure nothing gets too crazy. Even in the nightclubs I've went to so far have had security everywhere working like watch towers with ear pieces, and anytime somebody made a mess they would grab a towel right away and say "that's okay I've got it", clean it up, and then go back to their watch tower positions. THAT MAKES ME FEEL SAFE. read more

Love, Love, LOVE this shopping center. It has everything you could want. High end and medium/low-ish end shopping, a multitude of restaurants of various cuisines, a movie theatre, an abundance of parking garages, and just an overall safe and pleasant atmosphere. The selection of shops here is fabulous. I always find it fun to window shop the stores that I could never afford. Anthropologie, Free People, Kate Spade, Lucky Brand, etc. The stores I can afford to shop at are great too. Gap, H&M, J.Crew, and Urban Outfitters are my favs. There's also non clothing stores like Barnes & Noble, Crate and Barrel, and the Apple Store. I could spend hours and hours here. So much to see! Restaurant wise, there is something for everyone. The cheap places like Chipotle, Ikes Sandwiches, The Counter are all very popular. Other restaurants vary from Chinese, Mexican, Cafes, Seafood, Italian, Pizza, and a bunch more. The only downer of this place is the parking situation. Sure there are tons of parking garages, but if you come here during dinner time or pretty much anytime during the weekend, parking is scarce. One time I had to circle all of downtown at least 3 times to be able to find a spot open up in a garage. The most popular garage is the one next to the movie theatre. If there are no spots there keep a look out for a smaller garage. There are a few tucked away in allys. All in all, I will continue to drive all the way from Fairfield to this shopping center. The stores, dining, and ambience are unbeatable in my book. read more

Been a local since my kids were born. Loved here for the atmosphere and daily commute to the city. Love the atmosphere and only reason to deduct one star is for the Sunday parking meters maid. Otherwise wouldn't move anywhere else. Great entertainment and varieties of restaurants just about everywhere and the little shops. Much of it walkable. read more

This area is saturated with great restaurants and boutiques. Parking is often sparse, and therefore hard to come by. Most spots have a 2 hour limit with meters charging $2 per hour. There are, however, a few public parking lots and parking garages offering additional, off-street parking. Nice to walk around and people watch too, hehe! read more

Downtown Walnut Creek is your typical "upscale" money trap. Ala... Union Square... Palo Alto... the Marina in SF... and to a much smaller scale Marin... The only bad part about Downtown Walnut Creek is its well-known reputation as the "snob" capital of the bay. Unfortunately, this reputation is well deserved.... However, as much as some of the establishments try their best to make certain ethnic groups uncomfortable, there are also just as many other business in Downtown Walnut Creek that go out of their way to make you feel at home. One MAJOR plus for Downtown Walnut Creek is despite the 'snobbish" their parking meters will give you an entire 30 minutes for one quarter!!! Wow... One quarter MIGHT get you 6 or 7 minutes in Oakland. Also, for those of you who don't want to drive, there is a FREE shuttle from the Walnut Creek BART station to the downtown area. So, if you can stand the somewhat elitist attitude, the sorority girl/frat boy aroma of duchies, I think you could have a very fun time in the DWC. I mean, they do have a TON of really good (romantic) restaurants.... read more

One of the best Downtown areas in the East Bay. Great for singles, couples and families. Just love the selection of shops and restaurants. The only challenge is that parking can be a little hard to find, especially on the weekend. read more

Enjoy a day of browsing shops at your leisure. Park in the underground structure next doors. Open slots are indicated by a green light above the slot and a rolling counter by the ticket machine lists # of open slots.. high tech! There are numerous places to take a break and I was enchanted by the odds n ends store named David Brian. It has a GREAT stationary selection, desk supplies, children's card games, puzzles...more than I could get to in the 40 min we spent in...and I didnt get to the lower level! A definite "gotta go back" place. This is a great place to spend time- whether you are power shopping or just killing time. read more

I love downtown Walnut Creek! There is a huge variety of stores here, from the big fancy expensive places I will never go, to the random mom and pop shoe stores on the side streets. Parking is never that bad, you never have to walk too far, movies, restaurants, etc. I love the farmer's markets and the white lights hanging out at night everywhere. The only annoying thing is the teenage girls representing the annoying cliques of east bay - walking around with tiny excuses for dogs and daddy's credit card. le sigh. Otherwise - a fun place to be all year round! read more

I really enjoy the downtown area of Walnut Creek for its restaurants and shopping. It seems like most days are sunny and nice as I stroll around Walnut Creek with a Jamba going shopping at my favorite kitchen stores. read more

You've got be kidding!... Went to have dinner with my wife late on a Monday and assumed the meter wasn't running anymore. Didn't put the maybe $2 required and came out to find a ticket for $45... Went overseas for a long trip right after and when I came back to pay the ticket is now $95. Actually $98.50 with the credit card fee. Really? I come to spend money in your stupid downtown on a Monday night and you charge me a hundred dollars because I didn't put $2?... Really?? Ok, good bye downtown restaurants! There are plenty of places that want my business (e.g. Danville) and don't see the need to rob me for the "privilege". read more

Downtown walnut creek has plenty of outdoor stores you can shop at. They got name brand stores, mom and pop stores, movie theaters, nice restaurants near by, bars. Very lovely place to enjoy the outdoor scenery. Will be back when I get the chance. One of the cleanest downtown I have been to. read more

The City of Walnut Creek has terrible predatory and fraudulent parking practices. One minute over and $55. I recently asked for clarification as the date and time of the "violation" I was not in Walnut Creek. No response, no courtesy, just a fine. The tin badge for profit commission traffic rent a cops are a disservice to the city. read more

Walnut Creek is getting more pricey all the time. I do still enjoy coming to WC. There is quite the singles scene on a Friday and Saturday night. One place that I frequent is 1515 on main street. I also enjoy Art on the Main. Another great spot is Leonida's chocolates. Best in the world. There is plenty people watching. read more

I am sooooo disappointed! I will NOT give Downtown Walnut Creek and more of my money.. Today, I shopped (and spend $ in the stores), went to a movie (full price in the theater) and ate with friends at one of the restaurants I was SHOCKED to find out when I returned I owed $25 on parking (apparently I was just over 5 hours limit where the price for parking goes up drastically. I had just spent hundreds of dollars with your merchants. Why dont you offer validation for parking? I will not patronize your businesses again. read more

It's ok. Nothing much to see. Not my type of restaurants. I would only come back for the ice cream (several locations) and coffee places.

It used to be such a charming downtown with unique shops, courtyards, gorgeous trees, and lovely views in every direction. All is being torn down, the charm is going, going, gone. read more

Walnut Creek used to be a charming neighborhood city. However, it's rapidly growing to be a "urban" eye sore. Yes, there are lots of shops and restaurants, with plenty of upscale salons, boutiques, etc. But the character of the town has changed dramatically. The parking meters are only the tip of the iceberg. More concerning is the transient/homeless population who have decided this is the place to be. The south side of town is particularly inhabited with homeless encampments and street dwellers hanging out at Trader Joe's, Whole Food's and all along the Iron Horse Trail. The police department is responding to over 100 transient related calls per month. If you live here, this is how your tax dollars are being spent. And if you don't live here, or are planning to move here, stay away from downtown, any canals or open space areas, bridges or overpasses and places that serve the homeless population. read more