Todos Santos Plaza is a real public square. The farmers’ market is there on Tuesdays, and Music & Market fills Thursday evenings in summer. Salvio Street is the food: Skipolini’s, The Hop Grenade, and La Piñata on Willow Pass. Out on Diamond Boulevard, The Veranda is the newer plaza — Crepe La Fontaine, Puesto, a cinema, and a night you can park once for. The Pavilion, just outside the core, is where big tours land.
It is more attainable than Walnut Creek in many neighborhoods and less precious about it. Mount Diablo is the view. Clayton and the regional parks are the weekend.
Known for
- Todos Santos Plaza
- The Veranda
- Music & Market
- Concord Pavilion
- BART
Getting around
Concord BART serves downtown. North Concord/Martinez station covers the north end. Cars fill in the Pavilion and the outskirts.
Coffee, beer, parks, schools
Local shops
Food truck
Mr. Jalapeno
Street tacos on Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg, and at the Lowe's lot in Concord.
Open
Food truck
Los Rockeros
Mexico City street food. Thursdays at Off the Grid in Pleasant Hill. Wednesdays at Epidemic Ales in Concord.
Open
Barbershop
Breds Barbershop
Clayton Road. Fades and a clean shop, the Concord cut people actually recommend.
OpenRestaurants
Crepes
Crepe La Fontaine
Crepes and coffee at The Veranda, facing the fountain. The Concord stop before a movie or a walk around the shops.
Open
Tacos
Puesto
Tacos on The Veranda patio. The outdoor meal when the plaza is the plan, not a drive-through.
Open
Pizza
Skipolini's Pizza
Pizza on Salvio Street, a block off Todos Santos Plaza and across from the theater.
Open
Beer
The Hop Grenade
A taproom on Salvio, on the same downtown block as the plaza. The pint after Music & Market.
Open
Mexican
La Piñata
Willow Pass at the edge of downtown. Tacos, a tequila bar, and the night the square lets out.
Open
Italian
Luna
Italian with a Mediterranean hand, on Willow Pass. Concord's long-running dinner reservation.
Open
Korean barbecue
Ohgane
Tabletop barbecue on Willow Pass. Concord's room for a long dinner and a full grill.
Open
Lao
Spicy Joi
Lao street food on Willow Pass. Sausage, nam khao, and the papaya salad people drive across the county for.
Open
Thai
Little Thai House
Stir-fries and curries on Meadow Lane. A small Concord kitchen with a short menu and a regular lunch crowd.
OpenAround Concord
nightlife
Concord Pavilion
The East Bay’s big outdoor concert bowl.
Opendowntown
Todos Santos Plaza
Concord’s central square: the market, the Thursday music, and the restaurants on the block.
Openshopping
Sunvalley Shopping Center
Concord’s big mall, a regional habit more than a downtown.
Openshopping
The Veranda
Concord’s outdoor plaza on Diamond: crepes, tacos, a cinema, and a fountain.
OpenNearby
Central Contra Costa
Pleasant Hill
A downtown renewal next to Diablo Valley College.
OpenCentral Contra Costa
Clayton
A small town at the foot of Mount Diablo.
OpenCentral Contra Costa
Martinez
The county seat, John Muir’s house, and a working marina.
OpenCentral Contra Costa
Pacheco
An unincorporated pocket between Concord and Martinez.
Open