Downtown

civic core · 93301

Downtown Bakersfield is the civic and arts core, anchored by the Fox Theater, Rabobank Arena, and the county admin block along Truxtun. It is where the city stages itself - First Friday art walks, the Padre Hotel bar crowd, lunch traffic from the courthouse - and where the Amtrak San Joaquins drops you if you are arriving without a car. The grid is walkable in stretches that downtown Fresno would envy, and the historic facades along 19th and Eye carry actual character. The honest tradeoff: it empties hard after dark outside event nights, and surface parking still scars too much of the footprint.

2,835

singles 22–50

48%

male

$27,968

median income

$1,200

median rent

The data

Downtown by the numbers

Downtown is roughly balanced, about 48% men to 52% women.
● Verified · Census ACS 5-yr, 2019–2023
Median individual income in Downtown is about $28,000.
● Verified · Census ACS 5-yr, 2019–2023
California registers voters by party, and Kern County is Republican-plurality, about 37% to 34% Democratic, the red county of the Central Valley, with a 21% No Party Preference bloc.
● Verified · CA SOS Report of Registration, May 2026
The median renter in Downtown pays about $1,200 a month.
● Verified · Census ACS 5-yr, 2019–2023
About 2,800 Downtown residents ages 22 to 50 are single.
● Verified · Census ACS 5-yr, 2019–2023

On the ground

Local date spots

21 spots · tap a point, label, or class to filter

Class

Budget

Vibe

21 spots across Downtown

Downtown
Drinks
Firestone Grill
Barbecue restaurant$$$$★ 4.6 · 3,741
Downtown
Dining
The Padre Hotel
Restaurant$$$$★ 4.4 · 2,066
Downtown
Cafés
Rosemary's Family Creamery
Ice cream shop★ 4.5 · 1,924
Good for groupsWheelchair access
Find it
2733 F St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Get there
Transit Drive Walk
Crowd read
4.5★ from 1,924 Google reviews
Split the bill
Price tier unlisted — plug in what you expect to spend at Rosemary's Family Creamery.
Estimate — adjust$
Your share$25
Their share$25
Even split — modern and uncomplicated.
Hours
Mon11 AM to 10 PM
Tue11 AM to 10 PM
Wed11 AM to 10 PM
Thu11 AM to 10 PM
Fri11 AM to 10 PM
Sat11 AM to 11 PM
Sun11 AM to 10 PM
Parking
Free parking lot
Dining
In-store pickup · Onsite services · Takeout · Dine-in
Access
Wheelchair accessible entrance · Wheelchair accessible parking lot · Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
Groups
Contact
Call Site Maps
Downtown
Cafés
Cafe Smitten (Downtown)
Cafe$$$$★ 4.6 · 1,210
Downtown
Dining
The Woolworth's Luncheonette
Diner$$$$★ 4.6 · 1,130
Downtown
Cafés
Dagny's Coffee Co
Coffee shop$$$$★ 4.5 · 866
Downtown
Drinks
Sandrini's Public House
Bar★ 4.4 · 590
LGBTQ+ friendlyGood for groups
Find it
1918 Eye St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Get there
Transit Drive Walk
Crowd read
4.4★ from 590 Google reviews
Split the bill
Price tier unlisted — plug in what you expect to spend at Sandrini's Public House.
Estimate — adjust$
Your share$25
Their share$25
Even split — modern and uncomplicated.
Hours
MonClosed
Tue12 PM to 1:30 AM
Wed12 PM to 1:30 AM
Thu12 PM to 1:30 AM
Fri12 PM to 1:30 AM
Sat12 PM to 1:30 AM
Sun12 PM to 1:30 AM
Parking
Free parking lot
Dining
Takeout · Dine-in
Crowd
Groups · LGBTQ+ friendly · Tourists
Contact
Call Site Maps
Downtown
Drinks
Guthrie's Alley Cat
Cocktail bar$$$$★ 4.6 · 421
Good for groupsWheelchair access
Find it
1525 Wall St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Get there
Transit Drive Walk
Crowd read
4.6★ from 421 Google reviews
Split the bill
$ · budget-friendly is our editorial bracket, not a real bill. Plug in what you expect to actually spend at Guthrie's Alley Cat.
Estimate — adjust$
Your share$13
Their share$13
Even split — modern and uncomplicated.
Hours
Mon10 AM to 2 AM
Tue10 AM to 2 AM
Wed10 AM to 2 AM
Thu10 AM to 2 AM
Fri10 AM to 2 AM
Sat10 AM to 2 AM
Sun7 PM to 2 AM
Parking
Free street parking
Dining
Dine-in
Access
Wheelchair accessible entrance · Wheelchair accessible parking lot · Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
Groups · Tourists
Contact
Call Site Maps
Downtown
Drinks
Downtown Red Zone
Sports bar$$$$★ 3.8 · 373
Downtown
Activity
Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science
Science museum★ 4.6 · 355
Wheelchair access
Find it
2018 Chester Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Get there
Transit Drive Walk
Crowd read
4.6★ from 355 Google reviews
Split the bill
Price tier unlisted — plug in what you expect to spend at Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science.
Estimate — adjust$
Your share$25
Their share$25
Even split — modern and uncomplicated.
Hours
MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
Thu10 AM to 4 PM
Fri10 AM to 4 PM
Sat10 AM to 4 PM
Sun12 to 4 PM
Dining
Onsite services
Access
Wheelchair accessible entrance · Wheelchair accessible parking lot · Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
Family-friendly
Contact
Call Site Maps
Downtown
Dining
KUMA SUSHI, Bakersfield Downtown
Japanese restaurant$$$$★ 4.7 · 264
Downtown
Activity
The Well Comedy Club
Comedy club★ 4.4 · 247
Good for groupsWheelchair access
Find it
1517 18th St, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Get there
Transit Drive Walk
Crowd read
4.4★ from 247 Google reviews
Split the bill
Price tier unlisted — plug in what you expect to spend at The Well Comedy Club.
Estimate — adjust$
Your share$25
Their share$25
Even split — modern and uncomplicated.
Hours
MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
Thu6 to 10:30 PM
Fri6 to 11 PM
Sat6 to 11 PM
SunClosed
Access
Wheelchair accessible entrance · Wheelchair accessible parking lot · Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
Groups · Tourists
Contact
Call Site Maps
Downtown
Dining
Mango Haus
New American restaurant$$$$★ 4.5 · 203
Downtown
Dining
LUNA Bistro & Cafe
Restaurant$$$$★ 4.5 · 180
Downtown
Dining
Huevo House
Restaurant$$$$★ 4.4 · 167
Downtown
Activity
Corks and Strokes
Painting studio★ 4.9 · 125
LGBTQ+ friendlyWheelchair access
Find it
2623 F St m, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Get there
Transit Drive Walk
Crowd read
4.9★ from 125 Google reviews
Split the bill
Price tier unlisted — plug in what you expect to spend at Corks and Strokes.
Estimate — adjust$
Your share$25
Their share$25
Even split — modern and uncomplicated.
Hours
MonOpen 24 hours
TueOpen 24 hours
WedOpen 24 hours
ThuOpen 24 hours
FriOpen 24 hours
SatOpen 24 hours
SunOpen 24 hours
Dining
Onsite services
Access
Wheelchair accessible parking lot · Wheelchair accessible seating
Crowd
LGBTQ+ friendly · Transgender safespace
Contact
Call Site Maps
Downtown
Cafés
Bottoms Up Espresso
Coffee shop$$$$★ 4.4 · 104
Downtown
Drinks
Crash Lounge
Bar$$$$★ 4.5 · 100
Downtown
Dining
Cali Rays Sourdough Deli - Bakersfield Downtown
Restaurant$$$$★ 4.9 · 95
Downtown
Activity
Bakersfield Escape
Amusement center★ 4.9 · 86
Wheelchair access
Find it
1412 17th St Ste 311, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Get there
Transit Drive Walk
Crowd read
4.9★ from 86 Google reviews
Split the bill
Price tier unlisted — plug in what you expect to spend at Bakersfield Escape.
Estimate — adjust$
Your share$25
Their share$25
Even split — modern and uncomplicated.
Hours
Mon12 to 9 PM
Tue12 to 9 PM
Wed12 to 9 PM
Thu12 to 9 PM
Fri12 to 10 PM
Sat12 to 10 PM
SunClosed
Dining
Onsite services
Access
Wheelchair accessible entrance · Wheelchair accessible parking lot · Wheelchair accessible restroom
Contact
Call Site Maps
Downtown
Activity
The Nile Theater
Performing arts theater★ 4.5 · 55
Wheelchair access

Downtown

Downtown by the numbers

Local date spots

Firestone Grill

The Padre Hotel

Rosemary's Family Creamery

Cafe Smitten (Downtown)

The Woolworth's Luncheonette

Dagny's Coffee Co

Sandrini's Public House

Guthrie's Alley Cat

Downtown Red Zone

Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science

KUMA SUSHI, Bakersfield Downtown

The Well Comedy Club

Mango Haus

LUNA Bistro & Cafe

Huevo House

Corks and Strokes

Bottoms Up Espresso

Crash Lounge

Cali Rays Sourdough Deli - Bakersfield Downtown

Bakersfield Escape

The Nile Theater

Reach Downtown singles right where they plan dates.