13 Best Things to Do in Pleasanton, California

June 19, 2020 - Updated

Pleasanton Downtown Association

Pleasanton is a city in Alameda County that has been ranked as one of America’s best cities in which to live. Located about 25 miles east of Oakland, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in the United States and is home to the headquarters of large businesses such as Nordstrom, Macy’s and Safeway. Boasting fantastic weather and plenty of community parks and regional spaces, Pleasanton offers much in the way of outdoor recreation. Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park is a 9,090-acre playground of preserved natural land made available for hikers, bikers, and equestrians, and cyclists with breathtaking views of Pleasanton and the Livermore Valley. The sprawling 270-acre Alameda County Fairgrounds hosts a variety of tradeshows and community events, including the annual Alameda County Fair, which has been running since 1912.

1.Pleasanton Farmers' Market

The Pleasanton Farmers' Market is a local market that is held every Saturday, year-round and sells a wide range of fresh California-grown farm produce. Located on Main Street and West Angela Street, the Pleasanton Farmers' Market sells a range of delicious goods, including fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, honey, fresh flowers, prime cuts of meat and chicken, ocean-fresh seafood, artisan cheese, almond butter, flavored and coated nuts, and unroasted nuts. The market participates in the Open Heart program, a non-profit meal service which collects donations of fresh produce for 3,500 meals each week in Pleasanton, Dublin, and Livermore.

46 W Angela St, Pleasanton, CA 94566, Phone: 925-825-9090

2.Ruby Hill Winery

Ruby Hill Winery is family-owned and operated winery that produces a range of balanced and approachable wines. Handcrafted to embrace the fruit essence of each varietal, wines can be tasted in the winery’s spacious tasting room where friendly and knowledgeable staff are on hand to guide visitors through fun and comprehensive wine tasting experience. Ruby Hill Winery also sells gourmet deli items, wine accessories and apparel, as well as a selection of tasting flights. Visitors can also enjoy a comprehensive excursion through the vineyards and production facility known as the Mello Cielo Vineyard Experience, which includes a unique two-hour wine tasting experience, a customized tour through the vineyards on a dedicated bus, and a sit-down food and wine pairing at the historic water tower.

400 Vineyard Ave, Pleasanton, CA 94566, Phone: 925-931-9463

3.Museum on Main

Located under the arch in historic Downtown Pleasanton, the Museum on Main Street (MoMS) is a Smithsonian outreach program that documents and presents the history of the Tri-Valley region from Native American habitation through to modern day presence. Usually hosted at a local museum, library or community center, the museum features a range of permanent and traveling exhibits highlighting the local history and heritage of the area, covering topics of broad national interest such as work history, food traditions, sports, food, and other themes. Free-standing exhibitions range between 500 and 800 square feet in size and include audio and video presentations, interactive components, and objects in cases.

603 Main St, Pleasanton, CA 94566, Phone: 925-462-2766

4.Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area

Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area is a public park on the border of Pleasanton and Livermore that forms part of the East Bay Regional Parks system. Once a former gravel quarry, the U.S. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation converted to old quarry into an 80-acre recreational park with a lake, picnic facilities and large parking lot. The lake features a sandy beach and supports fishing, recreational boating, and year-round swimming, and there is a small refreshment stand on the beach during the summer months. An Interpretive Center offers information on the park, and there is ample free parking for visitors in a large parking lot.

2500 Stanley Blvd, Pleasanton, CA 94566

5.Augustin Bernal Park

Augustin Bernal Community Park is a 237-acre park in the hills southwest of Pleasanton that connects to Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park and offers a range of outdoor recreation and educational opportunities for visitors of all ages and abilities. Donated to the city by Walter S. Johnson in 1971, Augustin Bernal Community Park is named after Spanish settler, Augustin Bernal to whom the land on which the park sits, was initially granted. Located on the top and east face of Pleasanton Ridge, the park provides hiking, biking and equestrian trails with spectacular views, plus opportunities to explore a vestigial landscape that is disappearing in California. Sharing large sections of its west, south and north boundaries with East Bay Regional Park District’s Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, the park protects a valuable portion of the ridge and also secures a link in a “necklace of green,” nearly encircling San Francisco Bay.

8200 Golden Eagle Way, Pleasanton, CA 94566, Phone: 925-931-3483

6.Alviso Adobe Community Park

The Alviso Adobe Community Park is a fully-restored interpretive seven-acre park in Pleasanton that is built around an adobe house constructed by Francisco Alviso in 1854 and which was continuously in use until 1969. Registered as a California Historic Landmark, the Alviso Adobe is a rare surviving example of an early American adobe and is furnished as it would have been in the 1920s. Located between Old Foothill Road and Foothill Road, the park has been beautifully landscaped with native plants, and fruit trees set amongst ancient heritage oak trees and a seasonal creek and features a replica of a historical Meadowlark Dairy, an activity area, and interpretive displays of Ohlone culture.

3465 Old Foothill Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94588

7.Alameda County Fairgrounds

The Alameda County Fairgrounds is a 270-acre facility located in Pleasanton that has hosted the annual Alameda County Fair since 1912, as well as numerous trade shows and community events. The Alameda County Fairgrounds is also home to the Pleasanton Fairgrounds Racetrack, which was built in 1858 and is the oldest one-mile horse-racing track in the United States. Other features at the grounds include the Amador Pavilion, a multi-purpose arena and livestock event facility; a 3,000-seat amphitheater, and a 9-hole golf course within the horse-racing track infield; and the Heathcote-MacKenzie House, also known as The Heritage House, which was built on the site of the fairgrounds around 1905. There is also a model train exhibit maintained by the Alameda County Central Railroad Society that has been at the Alameda County Fairgrounds since 1959.

Gate 8 or Gate 12 Corner of Bernal and, Valley Ave, Pleasanton, CA 94566, Phone: 925-426-7600

8.Rubino Estates Winery

Rubino Estates Winery is a Californian-Italian winery that produces award-winning wines against a backdrop of picturesque views of the Livermore Valley. The winery produces a range of complex yet smooth wines for every occasion and palate from hand selected Californian and Italian grape varietals including Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, an earthy Barbera, a spicy Sangiovese, and a crisp Trebbiano. Rubino Estates Winery features a modern tasting room, a gourmet deli, a bocce court and beautiful grounds for outdoor picnicking. Rubino Estates Winery is open every day of the week for tours and tastings.

1188 Vineyard Ave, Pleasanton, CA 94566, Phone: 925-484-1699

9.Granizo Tile Art Mural

The Granizo Tile Art Mural is a public art display created by famous artist Granizo in 1994 in celebration of the ‘Pleasanton Centennial.’ The project depicts a pictorial history of the area's rich heritage and consists of three diagonally placed rectangular columns that can be viewed as single pieces and align to form a single mural. The murals depict four perspectives of the area’s heritage, including agriculture, culture, history, commerce, and movie making and are extremely significant because it was one of the last pieces Granizo produced before he passed away.

100 Main St, Civic Park, Pleasanton, CA 94566-7321

10.Hap's Original Steaks & Seafood

Located in the heart of downtown Pleasanton, Hap's Original Steaks & Seafood is a classic New York-style steak, and seafood house that specializes in the finest dry-aged cuts of beef such as Midwestern corn-fed certified Angus Prime Beef, lamb, chicken, and fresh seafood and fish straight from the ocean. Using locally sourced ingredients from local artisan producers and farmers, the restaurant serves a menu of stellar cuisine in a casual and relaxed environment. The cuisine is accompanied by an award-winning wine list with more than 300 wines from around the world, including California-centric wines from the Napa Valley Region, and classic French champagnes. Hap's Original Steaks & Seafood is open for dinner, seven nights a week.

122 Neal St, Pleasanton, CA 94566, Phone: 925-600-9200

11.Gay 90's Pizza Co.

Gay 90's Pizza Company is a unique pizza parlor with an old-school vibe that makes mouthwatering pizza with specialty sourdough from scratch and wood fires them to perfection. Based in a historic building on Main Street that dates back to 1864, Gay 90's Pizza Company features comfortable indoor and outdoor patio seating and serves delicious pasta and sauce plates, fresh salads, pizzas and various toppings, entrées of meat and fresh seafood, and decadent desserts. A list of craft beers and casual wines is available for drinking, and Gay 90's Pizza Company is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

288 Main St, Pleasanton, CA 94566, Phone: 925-846-2520

12.De LA Torre's Trattoria

Located in Val Vista Shopping Center, De La Torre’s Trattoria is a quintessential neighborhood Italian trattoria and local gathering spot that serves a seasonal menu of traditional Italian specialties and wood-fired pizza. De La Torre’s Trattoria’s menu is distinctly Italian with a variety of trattoria classics and favorite dishes using only the freshest, highest quality locally grown produce, naturally raised meats, and homegrown herbs and vegetables. The wine list features casual, and easy-drinking wines from small producers and family wineries in Italy and California and the service is friendly, efficient and professional. De La Torre’s Trattoria is open for lunch and dinner during Monday through Friday, and dinner only on Saturdays.

6025 W Las Positas Blvd, Pleasanton, CA 94588, Phone: 925-484-3878

13.Lokanta Mediterranean Grill & Bar

Lokanta Mediterranean Grill & Bar is an avant-garde eatery with an elegant vibe that serves sophisticated Greek and Turkish fusion dishes. Friendly, professional staff in crisp attire serve cocktail-friendly Mediterranean treats such as fried halloumi and grilled pears, warm dolmas and hummus, creamy white beans in red wine vinaigrette, and jumbo spanakopita. Other menu delights include shrimp baked with feta and ouzo, roasted branzino with ouzo-spiked tomato coulis, and Lokanta’s signature entrée of a grilled chicken and coconut curry pastry known as talas, and a Greek-style moussaka made with rich béchamel. Lokanta Mediterranean Grill & Bar is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

443 Main St, Pleasanton, CA 94566, Phone: 925-223-8074