I absolutely LOVE the botanical gardens, it is such a gorgeous walk with increasingly beautiful views of the ocean as you ascend the trail. The plants are magnificent, with different regions showcasing Chilean, Californian, Mediterranean, and South African plant varieties. Fridays are free entry and Wednesday and Friday dogs are allowed. I visit every time I have friends visiting and it’s wonderful to see how the plants look in all the different seasons! Could not recommend more.

Great place for the Ventura ocean view. Not interested in the plants there to be hornest, as some were bone dry. Also great to get your steps in and hick up a hill.

Gardens were beautiful. My only complaint was that we got locked out and had to walk all the way around. I think it would be common courtesy to let us know when we bought tickets at 3:30, they would have warned us that we would be locked out if not back by 5:00.

Started the morning at Ventura Botanical Gardens, which has 160+ plant species and spectacular views of the California coastline. It has nearly 3.5 miles of walkways and over 100,000 plants from Five Mediterranean climates throughout the world."

Even though this was a bit off-season and a lot of the flowers had turned, it was a beautiful walk. The people were so nice, a great way to get some exercise.

Friendly staff at the entrance. Clean and clear path with a staircase to cut through the path if desired. Great views and peaceful.

We walked the trial, and it was magnificent! I recommend bringing snacks or having a picnic. Many areas to rest and enjoy the beauty of nature. Staff is welcoming and dedicated.

Amazing history. Cost is $8.00 to self tour the grounds. Well worth it if you love historical places

This is a beautiful mission. The priests really care about the parishioners and people in general. The gift shop is my favorite with very friendly staff. There is a chapel which has a Michael Angelo authorized replica of the Virgen and Jesus and many amazing relics from saints such as St. Jude! Their entry fee as a museum is very low, and I support it because it is a beautiful historical site that must be preserved for our children. I love their small garden. It is very serene. The bathrooms are located behind the gift shop through the garden and other bathrooms are located on the outside behind the church. I love this place!!!

The Mission Basilica is beautifully preserved, showcasing rich history and stunning architecture. The church and its peaceful yard offer a lovely place to reflect and explore. There’s a small museum at the entrance that gives great insight into the site’s past. Plan to spend about an hour here—it’s the perfect quick cultural stop. Tickets are available at the door.

Mission San Buenaventura is a nice small Mission. Has lots of history and interesting artifacts. Well maintained and clean. The garden is nice and the church and alter are beautiful. The gift shop is nice. We paid $8 per adult at the gift shop. The self guided tours begin in the gift shop and they provide you with a map that is easy to follow. Overall it was a great experience and I do recommend.

We stumbled upon Mission Basilica San Buenaventura by chance and didn’t even realize it was right in downtown Ventura! Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to see the whole place, but we did get to step inside the church, and it was absolutely beautiful — peaceful, historic, and full of charm. We’re definitely planning to come back to tour the entire mission next time. A lovely hidden gem in the heart of Ventura!

Incredibly beautiful and well maintained church and gardens with museum quality presentation. While they make you go through the gift shop to pay the entrance fee, the modest price ($8 for seniors) was well worth it. The highlights are the church (don’t miss the altarpiece and the Pieta and reliquary) and the immaculately maintained gardens with Queen Palms waving over the myriad flowering plants and bushes. The museum was good, but we didn’t have time to peruse it fully as we were headed out to Santa Ynez.

Beautiful courtyard, an unforgettable original rivers-of-life main entrance double doors, and a real nice stained glass rendition of Calvary (the site of Jesus’ crucifixion).

This is a fantastic spot to relax with family or friends. We especially enjoyed Coastal Cone Ice Cream, with their unique Taiyaki fish-shaped waffle cones filled with ice cream—it was a highlight! Margarita Villa Mexican restaurant was decent, though not particularly memorable. There’s plenty of parking, and the beach is just a short walk away. Unfortunately, the boat rental was closed on Sunday, so we missed the chance to ride the swan boats, which would have been a great family activity.

I think we hit every shop in this place looking for trinkets to take home to my family I found a few and of course after finding the little things I was wanting the very last shop would have been the best to purchase at. Don't remember the name of the shop but they had some great deals. Bottom line the shops in the harbor that are left there or nice to shop through and the people were great.

It's a beautiful location and we enjoyed walking along the boardwalk and looking at the boats. It was Thanksgiving day and all the stores were closed which was fine for us. We just wanted to walk and enjoy the scenery.

Always a pleasure to be here! Not so crowded, can always find a parking spot even on the weekend, love to walk around, have some seafood or ice cream, fun doing the boating, life is better with the cooler weather here.

There is a lot to see just walking around. Little shops to go into. Food. Drink. You GOT to rent a paddle boat or kayak for at least an hour. Its safe and interesting and beautiful. I saw seals, fish, and birds close enough for a thrill but far enough to be safe. Some of the paddle boats are in the shape of big swans! There are also electric boats with sun shade that carry a small group.

The scenery is beautiful. The beach wasn't crowded at all,but it was a little chilly that day.

Not much going on here. This place could do with a complete makeover. Dining choices are limited and mediocre. The harbour looks pretty set against the amazing mountains, for me thats about it

Interesting museum. Loved the support of local culture and artists. Definitely a fun place to take your kids.

We enjoyed our time here, Dracula doll exhibit was impressive and so entertaining, I had fun reading story and walking through with my family. Kids enjoyed outdoor space and all the hands on activities. Enjoyed learning some of Ventura’s history through photography. Kids free, military 50% discount. Would recommend and will come back in the future :)

The staff were great here and I would have most likely rated the museum as a 4 but the day I visited, the main gallery was closed for setup of a new exhibition. At least I was able to visit their native American and Catholic doll exhibitions. Have to admit the dolls were very interesting but some were a little scary.

Infull disclosure, I am a docent there. But this is a hidden jewel in Ventura. George Stuart's figures alone make this a go to. Right now there are also two exhibits, one featuring photographs of Ventura county and another that features landscapes of Ventura, encouraging people to linger with a circular bench in the space.

Couldn't really explore because they were having some kind of poem reading so kids had to be extremely quiet which is impossible. Just hung out at the garden for a bit. But it's free so cant complain. Garden has very nice murals.

Great place to spend the afternoon with the family. There is a childrens garden as well. Every first Sunday of the month is free admission, otherwise the cost is 5, which is fair considering they have staff to support.

A hidden gem of a museum that more should experience. Great history, art and grounds to experience in a lovely neighborhood for young and old.

Cool outdoor spot conveniently located across from the Marriot at the park. Fresh! With options to shuck your own, take them to go or enjoy the ocean views and breeze while dining there. Dog friendly, and you are able to bring outside items. Park will voucher an hour of parking for you as well. Will definitely make it a point to come here when I pass through in the future.

This place is so good. The food is amazing and the service is super friendly. Can’t beat the beachside location, right by the sand and water. I’m happy a place like this exists and I hope they continue to be a part of what makes Ventura great. You get a free 60 minute parking pass when you go through the gate.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with this place. The service was excellent, the food was excellent, and the atmsphere was excellent! I can see myself making the two hour drive to Ventura just to visit this one place. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this spot. Next time I'll bring a picnic and make a real meal of it.

Great when you want to shuck your own oysters. You’re in for a fun time no doubt. Bring your own shuckers, buy one from the shop, or just ask to borrow one. Whatever which way, you’ll have some fun. Shuck shuck away. Their smaller ones are usually better, in a sweeter way. We love getting the Kumamoto variety mainly. Open air seating at the beach and you can have open containers. Good deal!

Self serve, plenty of tables for large groups, excellent staff (shoutout Zach!), and the BEST oysters. Habanero butter oysters changed my life for the better.

Fresh and tasty food, friendly service, beautiful scenery. Perfect for a quick stop for lunch or an early dinner.

My family and I went to the Jolly Oyster on a Saturday at around 12 pm. Parking was free for 1 hour, and in order to not get charged a penalty you need to scan the qr code and pay online BEFORE your time runs out and leave the lot. Location: Super easy to find! It was very clear from the umbrellas and stands that we were in the correct place. There were convenient beach bathrooms right next to Jolly Oyster. You have to wait to be seated, but they are pretty attentive and quick to seat us. Staff: The staff was so incredibly nice! The person who sat us wiped our table down and attempted to get us more shade. He explained the dining situation very well. The staff member at the shuck shack was extremely nice! He helped educate me on the difference between the gold and premium uni. We think a nice touch from the staff was that if they recognized you they would say, "Welcome back!", which is something so small, yet so impactful. Food: We ordered a dozen mixed raw oysters (half kumamotos and half Laguna bay), habanero lime grilled oysters, and bay scallop ceviche. We also got some uni (gold) from the shuck shack. The raw oysters were extremely fresh and super delicious! The habanero lime grilled oysters had a good savory flavor. We LOVED the bay scallop ceviche, we got it twice! Super limey and the scallops were a perfect texture. The uni was super fresh and creamy, we even got the uni twice, too! Atmosphere: It was very laid back and everyone was pretty much to themselves at their own picnic tables. You can bring your own beverages and some people even brought some In N Out! Next time we will definitely bring more drinks and maybe some sandwiches now that we know! It's dog friendly as well! Overall, we will definitely be coming back to Jolly Oyster! Especially for the bay scallop ceviche and uni!! Definitely recommend stopping by if you're driving through Ventura!

Went in on a Saturday for lunch with 3 people. Was able to be seated at a high top table straight away. Great vibe, friendly and quick service. We ordered dirty martinis and when we asked for more olive brine they happily obliged. We ordered fresh and broiled oysters to share as well as mussels abs lobster roll. All were fantastic! Even the bread with whipped butter was delightful! Loved this spot.

I recently discovered Lure Fish House thanks to its fantastic online reviews. I was so impressed that I ended up going for happy hour two days in a row! I absolutely loved their seafood tower, oyster shooters, and biscuits. The sundae was also a delicious treat to end the meal. The pepper dish was a bit too spicy for my taste, but overall, the food was great and the service was excellent. I will definitely be back for more!

We had a great dinner with excellent service. We had the cheddar biscuits which were delicious. We also had the Vancouver oysters and the mussels with chorizo which was delicious. The entrees had mix reviews. My fish and chips were great though they needed some salt. My lady had the lobster ravioli which was drowned in cheese. Personally I don't mind all that cheese but it seemed overpowering to the flavor of the ravioli. But all in all a very lovely end to our day trip to Ventura and for 3 appetizers, 2 entrees And 2 non alcoholic drinks for $110, a great bargain !

First time coming here after hearing how great it was, figured we needed to try it! It was great! We sat outside and the day was beautiful with the nearby ocean breeze it was perfect! The inside was very trendy and modern with everything very first class. Our waiter Jairo was very attentive and gave us great recommendations on our food and drinks! The food was very tasty and well prepared! Strongly recommend when you're in the area!

My wife and I recently dined at Lure Fish House in Ventura for dinner during a quick visit, drawn in by its stellar Yelp reviews. Even on a Tuesday night, the place was buzzing, which is always a good sign. The vibe is cool with nice decor—think coastal chic without being over-the-top. The service was a highlight; our server, Rachel, was an absolute star, super friendly, and on top of everything. We kicked things off with steamed clams and the fish chowder Veracruz as appetizers. The clams were plump and meaty, a solid start. The chowder packed a lot of flavor, though I was a bit bummed it was light on actual fish. The house bread was a nice surprise—crispy crust, soft inside, perfect for mopping up the clam broth. For mains, I went with their famous dab fish, which didn’t disappoint. The skin was crispy, the meat flaky and tender, and it came with two sides, which was a nice touch. My wife got the lobster ravioli, and while it was tasty, the lobster filling was a bit sparse for her liking. Dessert was the Basque cheesecake with strawberry. It was decent but denser than the classic burnt Basque style I was hoping for, and I was kinda expecting fresh strawberries instead of the canned strawberries with sauce. Parking was an easy with a free public lot nearby, which is always a win. To sum it up, Lure Fish House is a good choice for seafood lovers. Great atmosphere, awesome service, and mostly hits the mark on the food. I’d come back again if I’m back in Ventura!l

Absolutely recommended! We really enjoyed everything! The food was wonderful, and the service was excellent. We were seated very quickly, served right away, and the dishes were prepared and presented in no time. Everything was delicious—from the appetizers to the hot dishes and soups. The salad, oysters, calamari, fish, and all the other dishes we tried were fresh and flavorful. Highly recommended!

Lure Fish House in Ventura is one of the best seafood spots in the area. The food is incredibly fresh, full of flavor, and always cooked perfectly. The oysters, clam chowder, and fresh fish plates are amazing, and the atmosphere is warm, inviting, and great for both date nights and family dinners. The service is consistently friendly and attentive, and everything—from the appetizers to the desserts—feels high-quality. If you love seafood, this place is a must-try. Highly recommend!

The reviews speak for themselves. Seriously, the food was insanely good! The potatoes au gratin were maybe the best I’ve ever had? We went around 12:30pm on a Wednesday and didn’t even wait for a table. The service was great. The prices are expensive, you can expect to pay at least $20 per person. But that’s to be expected with high quality food. I don’t regret the money spent at all! We will definitely be back.

This is a hidden gem!! We are happy we stumbled on this amazing place, the food was so delicious that we ended up bringing friends back not only for breakfast but showed up for dinner too. The service was amazing and very friendly, so we will be coming up here again and recommending all our friends to stop by.

Large breakfast/lunch menu. Everything was awesome. Need to come back to try the other dishes. If you get a chance to have Susan serve you, you’re in luck cause she’s super friendly and knows how to navigate the menu depending on your tastes.

My wife and I are relatively new to the area and have been trying to find a good breakfast/brunch spot.Cafe Nouveau stands alone as the best place that we’ve eaten at for breakfast so far. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding. There is great outdoor seating and eating inside is nice as well. You have to try the bacon beignets – it might be one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.

This is just such a nice place to have breakfast! I've eaten here a couple of times now and the food is delicious every time. The wait staff is attentive and all around awesome!! We sat outside each time and it seriously left like we were in our own little private dining area. The outdoor seating was brilliantly planned!! Highly recommend!! (Also the maple bacon beignets are delicious!!l

Wow! I seldom go out for breakfast, but we went in after having this recommended to us. Its well worth it! Carlos the owner has a we oiled highly trained service and culinary staff, we had Maple Bacon Beignets, Eggs Benedict, and the Breakfast Nachos, all were excellent! The service staff are all quietly communicating and work as a great team. Drop a napkin? It will be taken before you can take action and another one, clean and folded returned in moments. The coffee, ever refilled. Treat yourself and don't miss this place.

Best Breakfast/brunch in town! Food is amazing. Service is spectacular! Maple Bacon Beignets? Yes please..

Great food, great service. The water with a lemon slice was a nice touch. Ask for Mitch he'll really take care of you. Didn't have the stomach for the pancake roll. Nice music. We'll have to come back. But, the bathroom floors need cleaning.

Highly recommend coming here! Local or just passing, by like we were. The food was great! Nothing left us unsatisfied. They even took the time to guide us through the menu and gave us info regarding menu options. A great restaurant all around! The customer service was exceptional—not only for my family, but for everyone dining there. You can really tell they care about every guest’s experience. The walls were entertaining as well 😆. Some good laughs happened, Pete’s Did not disappoint.

When we lived in Ventura, we went to Pete's just about every weekend. And for good reason - Pete's is just about the perfect breakfast diner. The menu is large, from baked goods and pancakes to eggs and bacon, along with Mexican food, everything is homemade and delicious. The coffee is great too. The staff are all so friendly, the interior is cozy, it's just so happy at Pete's. It's awesome. Just be prepared to wait a little bit almost any time you go, because this is where locals eat. Because it's awesome. Pro tip: try the habanero salsa!

This was interesting for us . This place had people waiting to get a seat and lots good reviews about the food The staff was very friendly and they are very dog friendly. Which was awesome. Our waitress was very nice. So it was weird when our food was so underwhelming. When I took a bite of my eggs it had egg shells in it. And zero seasoning. I didn't care for the style of breakfast sausage that they use. The French toast was just ok. My husband had the huevos rancheros. The eggs were good but the canned beans over the breakfast potatoes were not tasty at all. The breakfast potatoes would have been so much tastier without the beans. The little salsa it came with tasted like raw tomatoes. Lastly the coffee wasn't fresh. It didn't taste good.As we looked around it seemed as though maybe we had just ordered the wrong food. Maybe the other options are much better. For us it was just meh. We spent over $50 for 2 egg breakfast meals and coffee. All that being said, because everyone was so nice and it had a lovely atmosphere. I would try it again

My Spanish omelet was excellent. I added avocado and it was worth it. The service was friendly and my coffee never reached less than half a cup (and I drink a lot of coffee) 😆 This is a great stop if you're in the area.

Pete's is a gem. I highly recommend the Chile Verde Burrito, it was huge and delicious. The atmosphere was also delightful. Service was on point and everything one could ask for.

Just passing. Went off reviews The biscuits were absolutely delicious! And the chili Verde omelette lights out! Fresh grease orange juice and very nice service quick too. Restaurant is crowded but i guess tha is what you get when you make tasty food.

My wife and I visited Brophy Brothers in Ventura for dinner after spending the day before Easter at Serra Cross, and it was a fantastic experience. Last time we tried, the line was too long, so we were thrilled to use Yelp’s waitlist feature this time around. It worked perfectly, and we scored a patio table with a stunning view of Ventura Harbor. We started with the hot combo, featuring fresh shellfish like shrimp and baked oysters—absolutely delicious and it was so flavorful. The clams were impressively large, and the sauce was so good we couldn’t stop dipping our sourdough bread in it. My wife ordered a cup of clam chowder, which was creamy, packed with clams, and just divine. Her seafood pasta dish was another highlight, loaded with plump shrimp and tender, flavorful scallops. The meal was incredible, made even better by the breathtaking sunset view from our table. Our server was on point, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. Parking was a breeze, too. Brophy’s delivered on every front—fresh seafood, great service, and an unforgettable atmosphere. We’ll definitely be back!

I've been to Brophy Brothers many times in Santa Barbara and great food and service. This time, in Ventura Harbor, it was no different. I had blackened sea bass and my partner had seafood pasta. Both were delicious. The clam chowder was the best I've ever had. This is not a upscale fine dining restaurant. As a consequence it's a bit noisy. If you simply want good fresh seafood, this is the place to go.

The only regret I had is not getting the clam chowder soup in a bowl…I only had a cup and it’s one of the best I ever had…savory and lot of clams…like a lot…the fish was cooked Perfect! And great customer service and of course, very nice view.

Delicious food and a really fast kitchen. The service is very good and they've got just the right amount of options on the menu. They chowder is 🔥; highly recommend.

Best clam chowder in years, and the fish sandwich, Mahimahi, excellent. Laura was a great server, view incredible.

We love enjoying the harbor views here. LONG wait times without a reservation are par here though. 90 minutes is not uncommon on the weekends. Food is good. Drinks are ok. Not a fan of their margaritas. Service is typically steady and reliable. Of course prices are a bit high for what you get but you're paying for views as much as anything so make a reservation or sit at the bar, order a red beer or glass of syrah with dinner and enjoy the sunset.

Super fun place, great food, excellent staff, party atmosphere with your fellow humans all enjoying life. The view is fantastic. The cocktails are unmatched.