Amy’s guidebook
Food and Drink
There is a proper dining room, as well as two bars (the main downstairs, where you can also order food, and the other upstairs, depending on time of day.)
The fanciest dining in town to date in terms of food and craft cocktails (don't worry, you can also get a wide selection of beer and wine). The National Exchange Hotel recently re-opened last spring after a three year, excruciatingly detailed renovation that easily cost the investors upwards of $10million. It should come as no surprise that seats can be hard to come by, and the food is spendy, but it is worth it. Inventive dishes featuring seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
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Lola Dining
211 Broad StreetThere is a proper dining room, as well as two bars (the main downstairs, where you can also order food, and the other upstairs, depending on time of day.)
The fanciest dining in town to date in terms of food and craft cocktails (don't worry, you can also get a wide selection of beer and wine). The National Exchange Hotel recently re-opened last spring after a three year, excruciatingly detailed renovation that easily cost the investors upwards of $10million. It should come as no surprise that seats can be hard to come by, and the food is spendy, but it is worth it. Inventive dishes featuring seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
A bakery and brewery featuring sourdough crust woodfired pizzas, in-house brewed beer, and a variety of delicious, seasonal dishes incorporating locally-harvested produce and meats. It’s hard to go wrong.
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Three Forks Bakery & Brewing Co.
211 Commercial StA bakery and brewery featuring sourdough crust woodfired pizzas, in-house brewed beer, and a variety of delicious, seasonal dishes incorporating locally-harvested produce and meats. It’s hard to go wrong.
Excellent sushi. They are often booked weeks out, so call ahead. For those of you who are familiar with them from previous years, they have changed locations this year, and are annexed to California Organics, a grocery store next to SPD.
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Sushi In the Raw
135 Spring StExcellent sushi. They are often booked weeks out, so call ahead. For those of you who are familiar with them from previous years, they have changed locations this year, and are annexed to California Organics, a grocery store next to SPD.
Also excellent sushi, and only inside. Please do not go if you are not fully vaccinated, as the space is small and staff is limited. The avocado salad is an oft-overlooked specialty that comes highly recommended if you like creamy sesame vinaigrette and copious amounts of avocado on shredded cabbage.
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Sushi Q
238 Commercial StAlso excellent sushi, and only inside. Please do not go if you are not fully vaccinated, as the space is small and staff is limited. The avocado salad is an oft-overlooked specialty that comes highly recommended if you like creamy sesame vinaigrette and copious amounts of avocado on shredded cabbage.
New York-style pizza place where you can order a large slice for $6 that will be ready in a minute or so, tap beer, or a variety of locally-made drinks (beer, hard kombucha, or Juns). All ingredients are high-quality, and the slices are both filling and delicious.
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The Pizza Joint
228 Commercial StreetNew York-style pizza place where you can order a large slice for $6 that will be ready in a minute or so, tap beer, or a variety of locally-made drinks (beer, hard kombucha, or Juns). All ingredients are high-quality, and the slices are both filling and delicious.
It won’t stand up to taquerias from the bay, or southern california, but it's ours and we love it. I personally enjoy the pozole, the super burritos with carnitas, and the molcajete on rare occasions (it’s gigantic).
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Mi Pueblo Taqueria
104 Union AlleyIt won’t stand up to taquerias from the bay, or southern california, but it's ours and we love it. I personally enjoy the pozole, the super burritos with carnitas, and the molcajete on rare occasions (it’s gigantic).
Great burgers on fresh brioche buns, good wings, best selection of beers in town; behind SPD.
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Jernigan's Tap House & Grill
123 Argall WayGreat burgers on fresh brioche buns, good wings, best selection of beers in town; behind SPD.
Standard bar that often has live shows (I understand the sound system is unusually good), as well as trivia on wednesday nights. They serve a variety of bar food. Tachos, a mix of nacho toppings on tater tots is a locally popular choice.
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Crazy Horse Saloon and Grill
230 Commercial StStandard bar that often has live shows (I understand the sound system is unusually good), as well as trivia on wednesday nights. They serve a variety of bar food. Tachos, a mix of nacho toppings on tater tots is a locally popular choice.
Food scene
Open for lunch (Heartwood) and dinner (The Annex). Heartwood’s main features are bowls (soup and grains) with whole grains and greens, and thick fancy toast, but done extra. The Annex features ramen bowls, pho, and other noodle bowls. The sweet and sour karage chicken is a local favorite for good reason. This is the kind of place where you can get homemade daal, smoked salmon with paprika salt, or an in-house kimchi.
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Heartwood
237 Commercial StOpen for lunch (Heartwood) and dinner (The Annex). Heartwood’s main features are bowls (soup and grains) with whole grains and greens, and thick fancy toast, but done extra. The Annex features ramen bowls, pho, and other noodle bowls. The sweet and sour karage chicken is a local favorite for good reason. This is the kind of place where you can get homemade daal, smoked salmon with paprika salt, or an in-house kimchi.
A tiny delicatessen featuring home-cured meats from local farms. The Ham Standard is my favorite sandwich, but they have daily specials as well. Excellent selection of wines and other drinks, along with cured meats, frozen foods, and delicious sides. Expect to pay a lot, but remember that it’s about the highest quality meat you can get short of raising it yourself.
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The Ham Stand
821 Zion StA tiny delicatessen featuring home-cured meats from local farms. The Ham Standard is my favorite sandwich, but they have daily specials as well. Excellent selection of wines and other drinks, along with cured meats, frozen foods, and delicious sides. Expect to pay a lot, but remember that it’s about the highest quality meat you can get short of raising it yourself.
Ice cream shop!!! A selection of unique flavors, many of which are made in house. I particularly love the homemade mint. Other popular favorites are Bourbon Breakfast (bourbon and cornflakes in the icecream) and Saffron Rose.
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Treats
210 Main StIce cream shop!!! A selection of unique flavors, many of which are made in house. I particularly love the homemade mint. Other popular favorites are Bourbon Breakfast (bourbon and cornflakes in the icecream) and Saffron Rose.
groceries and other
Cosmic Roots Market
115 S Pine StJust a block away, if you need a thing or two like half and half, or sunscreen.
A liquor store open late at the top of Broad St., next to the Nevada Theater.
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Bonanza Market
321 Broad StA liquor store open late at the top of Broad St., next to the Nevada Theater.
For any grocery needs, this is your best bet. SPD is a locally run, unionized IGA that has served the community for almost half a century. Their deli makes great sandwiches to order for around $6-8, which come with a bonus bag of lays potato chips, or you can just pick up a pre-made poboy if they haven’t run out for $3. I recommend anything with Dutch Crunch rolls. There is also a basic camping section in the back.
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SPD Market
735 Zion StFor any grocery needs, this is your best bet. SPD is a locally run, unionized IGA that has served the community for almost half a century. Their deli makes great sandwiches to order for around $6-8, which come with a bonus bag of lays potato chips, or you can just pick up a pre-made poboy if they haven’t run out for $3. I recommend anything with Dutch Crunch rolls. There is also a basic camping section in the back.
shopping
Great unique, handmade items, clothing, body products, household supplies, and local artists. The smell alone is worth a visit.
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Kitkitdizzi
231 Broad StGreat unique, handmade items, clothing, body products, household supplies, and local artists. The smell alone is worth a visit.
A variety store, specializing in humorous kitsch, gag-gifts, and funny things all around. Good place to get a gift for friends and loved ones.
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Gray Goose
230 Broad StA variety store, specializing in humorous kitsch, gag-gifts, and funny things all around. Good place to get a gift for friends and loved ones.
Used clothing in excellent condition, similar to Buffalo Exchange. They also sell furniture these days.
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Solstice
104 N Pine StUsed clothing in excellent condition, similar to Buffalo Exchange. They also sell furniture these days.
A tiny old miner’s shack on Commercial St., filled with crystals.
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Crystal Rainbow
310 Commercial StA tiny old miner’s shack on Commercial St., filled with crystals.
Looking for the perfect beach towel to take to the river? Novaks has a nice selection of Pendleton towels. I have had three for 8 years and they have been beaten to death and they are still going strong. They also have a nice selection of pendleton clothes, and other men’s wear.
Novak's Menswear
305 Broad StreetLooking for the perfect beach towel to take to the river? Novaks has a nice selection of Pendleton towels. I have had three for 8 years and they have been beaten to death and they are still going strong. They also have a nice selection of pendleton clothes, and other men’s wear.
just drinks
You can sample various local wines with flights in a relaxed atmosphere, on the street and on a back porch
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Nevada City Winery
321 Spring StYou can sample various local wines with flights in a relaxed atmosphere, on the street and on a back porch
Szabo Vineyards
316 Broad StreetAnother wine sampling room in the heart of town.
High end cocktails with a focus on special Mezcals from the Oaxaca area. They’ve transformed their parking lot in the back into a giant patio with live music.
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Golden Era
309 Broad StHigh end cocktails with a focus on special Mezcals from the Oaxaca area. They’ve transformed their parking lot in the back into a giant patio with live music.
Specialize in alternative non-alcoholic drinks, like Kava Kava, Kratom, and Coca Leaf tea (yes, as in the leaves associated with Cocaine; yes, it gives you a little zip). If you approach and say the scene isn’t for you (it’s not for everyone!) you can sample their Juns (a Kava root drink that is relaxing) at the Pizza Joint, or Mi Pueblo Tacqueria- I recommend the Vacation Jun over the Champange Jun, as I like the pina colada taste with the kava.
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Elixart
203 York StSpecialize in alternative non-alcoholic drinks, like Kava Kava, Kratom, and Coca Leaf tea (yes, as in the leaves associated with Cocaine; yes, it gives you a little zip). If you approach and say the scene isn’t for you (it’s not for everyone!) you can sample their Juns (a Kava root drink that is relaxing) at the Pizza Joint, or Mi Pueblo Tacqueria- I recommend the Vacation Jun over the Champange Jun, as I like the pina colada taste with the kava.
Sightseeing
We are extremely fortunate to live next to a wild and scenic designated class 1 river, but increased interest, promotion, and visitation to the Yuba in the last decade has created a lot of tension in our little community. Here’s what we’d like you to know if you’re staying here:
First and foremost, the Yuba is not a public swimming pool. It is an ecosystem, filled with a delicate balance of other life-systems including, but not limited to, myriad fish species, microorganisms, pollinating insects, song birds, raptors, bobcats, mountain lions, bears, reptiles, and squirrels. The latter will chew open your bags and eat your SPD sandwiches, so be thoughtful about leaving your bags and food out in some over trafficked areas.
There is no specific date when the water becomes swimmable. Exercise caution if you aren’t certain that you can swim and especially if you don’t see other people confidently swimming around you.
If you wear sunscreen:
a) consider wearing reef-safe sunscreen.
b) consider not using spray sunscreen.
c) Please wait at least 15 minutes after applying before you jump in after applying sunscreen. Some days, you can see an oil slick on the water from the throngs of people spraying sunscreen on and jumping in immediately after. It’s gross, and it can’t be good for the watershed or anything living in or on it. Take the time to heat up, and take it all in.
Please be considerate and do not bring speakers to play music. That’s a fast way to bum out everyone around you. Instead, take the opportunity to bliss out on the water, the wind, and the birds.
DO NOT BRING @#$%ing GLASS. Glass breaks, and you won’t be able to pick it all up. Then someone’s foot gets sliced open, or a dog’s foot gets sliced open (both have happened to me and my dog, and it sucks). If you’re going to bring fun drinks, bring cans, or transfer them into a metal or plastic container.
Pack it in, pack it out. Every year a few hundred of us spread out all over the most heavily trafficked parts of the river and pick up trash at the end of swim season. We carry out literal tons of trash. Please pick up your trash so we don’t have to.
As far as good spots go, the advice most locals will give you is to go the the Hwy 49 bridge, park, and to take the trail from the old bridge on the north side of the bridge and walk east until you see a hole you like.
Remember when you park: don’t park in fire lanes and don’t park over the fog line. The beautiful scenery makes it easy to forget you’re on a very busy highway, and emergency vehicles will be coming by at fast speeds on a regular basis.
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Yuba River
We are extremely fortunate to live next to a wild and scenic designated class 1 river, but increased interest, promotion, and visitation to the Yuba in the last decade has created a lot of tension in our little community. Here’s what we’d like you to know if you’re staying here:
First and foremost, the Yuba is not a public swimming pool. It is an ecosystem, filled with a delicate balance of other life-systems including, but not limited to, myriad fish species, microorganisms, pollinating insects, song birds, raptors, bobcats, mountain lions, bears, reptiles, and squirrels. The latter will chew open your bags and eat your SPD sandwiches, so be thoughtful about leaving your bags and food out in some over trafficked areas.
There is no specific date when the water becomes swimmable. Exercise caution if you aren’t certain that you can swim and especially if you don’t see other people confidently swimming around you.
If you wear sunscreen:
a) consider wearing reef-safe sunscreen.
b) consider not using spray sunscreen.
c) Please wait at least 15 minutes after applying before you jump in after applying sunscreen. Some days, you can see an oil slick on the water from the throngs of people spraying sunscreen on and jumping in immediately after. It’s gross, and it can’t be good for the watershed or anything living in or on it. Take the time to heat up, and take it all in.
Please be considerate and do not bring speakers to play music. That’s a fast way to bum out everyone around you. Instead, take the opportunity to bliss out on the water, the wind, and the birds.
DO NOT BRING @#$%ing GLASS. Glass breaks, and you won’t be able to pick it all up. Then someone’s foot gets sliced open, or a dog’s foot gets sliced open (both have happened to me and my dog, and it sucks). If you’re going to bring fun drinks, bring cans, or transfer them into a metal or plastic container.
Pack it in, pack it out. Every year a few hundred of us spread out all over the most heavily trafficked parts of the river and pick up trash at the end of swim season. We carry out literal tons of trash. Please pick up your trash so we don’t have to.
As far as good spots go, the advice most locals will give you is to go the the Hwy 49 bridge, park, and to take the trail from the old bridge on the north side of the bridge and walk east until you see a hole you like.
Remember when you park: don’t park in fire lanes and don’t park over the fog line. The beautiful scenery makes it easy to forget you’re on a very busy highway, and emergency vehicles will be coming by at fast speeds on a regular basis.
Conveniently located just out the door, this is a beautiful 2.75 mile loop that takes you over the creek twice, through historic neighborhoods, and into the woods. The inclines are mild, and it's rarely crowded.
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Deer Creek Tribute Trail
Deer Creek Tribute TrailConveniently located just out the door, this is a beautiful 2.75 mile loop that takes you over the creek twice, through historic neighborhoods, and into the woods. The inclines are mild, and it's rarely crowded.