This Small Northern California Town Has The Best Downtown
While many of the country’s gold rush towns have faded over time, few have managed to preserve their lively atmosphere quite like Nevada City. This town, sitting in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, is home to an impressively active arts and music community, a packed event calendar, and a dining scene that keeps tourists coming back year after year. The best part? Most of this action takes place right downtown, meaning you can leave your car parked for this trip! Let’s dive into what makes this Northern California downtown so special.
Arts & Entertainment
Nevada City has built a strong reputation for its arts scene, hosting world-class musicians and featuring numerous performing arts centers and galleries. Right in the heart of town, you’ll find live music venues like The Crazy Horse Saloon & Grill, a historic landmark housed in a 19th-century building that has served as a local saloon for decades. Throughout the year, the saloon hosts live music performances, meaning there will likely be something going on during your visit!
The Nevada Theatre is another pillar of the town’s live entertainment scene, renowned for being the oldest continuously operated theater on the West Coast. This theater, which first opened in 1865, has 240 seats on the main floor and additional seating in the balcony level. Today, it is used for both live performances and film screenings.
Walking down Commercial and Broad Street, you’ll find several art galleries to explore as well. Shiva Moon, for example, sits at the intersection of Main, Commercial, and Coyote Streets, showcasing folk art, jewelry, and textiles from around the world. Visitors can browse both fair-trade contemporary pieces and antiques collected during travels, with each item representing the work of artisans from across the globe.
Events & Festivals
On top of its downtown live music and theater scene, Nevada City keeps the energy going with a year-round calendar of events and festivals. From April through December, the town hosts an outdoor farmers market on Union Street each Saturday, bringing in over 35 vendors to sell produce, bread, jewelry, and more. Live music makes the market atmosphere extra lively! Each spring and fall, Nevada City also holds a City-wide Sidewalk Sale, with local businesses in both the Seven Hills and Downtown districts putting racks and tables out in front of their storefronts to offer some great deals on last season's products.
In June, the town gets dressed up with rainbow flags for the Nevada City Pride Parade, which draws crowds from around the region. And, of course, don’t miss the Nevada City Victorian Christmas coming up in December! On select Sundays and Wednesdays throughout the month, the town embraces the Christmas spirit with wandering Victorian carolers, authentic gas lamps, and festive street vendors, a family-friendly tradition that has taken place since 1978.
Culinary Scene
Starting with your morning coffee run and ending with a nightcap, Nevada City has a dining establishment for every moment of the day. Communal Coffee, located right on Broad Street, is the perfect place to grab your caffeine fix, serving espresso, pourovers, drip, and matcha, among other handcrafted beverages. If you’re needing a bite, they also serve some classic breakfast and lunch options like eggs, French toast, salads, burgers, and bowls. For dinner, you won’t find a place much more unique than The River Downtown, a watering hole housed in a historic building that serves a variety of beverages and globally inspired small plates. A few dishes you’ll find on the menu include smashed tacos, lamb meatballs, ahi poke nachos, and samosas.
Want to finish the evening with a drink? Look no further than Three Forks Bakery & Brewing Co., a microbrewery that serves all kinds of beers on tap, including lagers, blondes, IPAs, porters, and stouts. They also have ciders and wines if you are craving something different.
Hotels & Inns
Several hotels and inns are concentrated along Broad Street, many of which have rich histories. The National Exchange Hotel is the perfect example, having first opened in 1856 during the town’s gold boom. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and renovated in 2018, it now offers modern luxury, while still preserving its historic character. There are several on-site dining options, including a cocktail bar, tavern, and European-inspired restaurant. The hotel also hosts an array of live music events throughout the week.
Just down the block from the National Exchange Hotel, travelers will find the 1856 Speakeasy Suites, set in a historic brick building that once served as a saloon and boarding house. The hotel also happens to be located above Communal Cafe, keeping you close to your morning coffee! There are eight suites to choose from, some featuring a historic Victorian style, while others lean into a more contemporary decor.
Nevada City’s attractions extend well beyond what is mentioned in this article - you'll find so much more to discover in person. Theaters, live music venues, and art galleries abound in the town, giving you the chance to explore as much of the art scene as you want. You won’t have a hard time finding a good restaurant downtown, either, whether that be at The River, Three Forks Bakery & Brewing, or another joint not mentioned. So pick your hotel, pack your bags, and get ready to have a great time in this historic town!
