Martinez (California)

Martinez is in Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area region of California.

Get in

By train

Martinez is well served by passenger rail. Amtrak has up to 30 departures per day on its Capitol Corridor route between Sacramento and San Jose, via Oakland as well as eight departures on the San Joaquins route between Emeryville and Bakersfield. Additionally, the once-daily California Zephyr train, running between Emeryville and Chicago calls here. 🌍 Martinez station is close to downtown at 601 Marina Vista Rd, the station is well served by local buses.

By bus

Martinez is connected by bus to the towns of Concord and El Cerrito Del Norte, as well as the North Concord/Martinez BART Station, Pleasant Hill BART Station, and Walnut Creek BART Station.

By car

Accessible by Highway 4 and Interstate 680.

By plane

The nearest airport is Buchanan Field in Concord (small aircraft). The closest major airport is Oakland International (OAK ^IATA). Note that San Francisco International Airport (SFO ^IATA) is the terminus of the BART line that serves the North Concord/Martinez Station.

Get around

• The County Connection, ☎ [phone]. 

See

• 🌍 Contra Costa County History Center, 724 Escobar St, ☎ [phone]. (updated Jan 2017)
• 🌍 John Muir National Historical Site, 4202 Alhambra Ave (Located just north of highway 4 on Alhambra Ave.), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. This site includes a mansion, woodland, and grassland once belonging to John Muir and his family. Muir was known as an early environmentalist who founded the Sierra Club. Activities include a tour of the house and hiking. There is also an interesting adobe structure on site. In addition, if you have reservations to tour Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial in nearby Concord, you'll meet your guide here. $3 entry fee. Children 15 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.  
• Martinez Museum, 1005 Escobar St, ☎ [phone]. Tu Th 11:30AM-3PM; First four Sundays 1PM-4PM. Includes exhibits on John Muir, Don Ignacio Martinez, Joe Di Maggio (another Martinez native), the Port Chicago disaster, and general history of the town, as well as a gift shop and information on tours, including a cemetery tour! 
• Martinez Beavers (near the Corner of Castro St. & Escobar St.). In the fall of 2006, two beavers made their way up Alhambra Creek in downtown Martinez and decided to call it home, proceeding to produce 4 kits over the course of the summer. The beaver have transformed Alhambra Creek from a trickle into multiple dams and beaver ponds, which in turn, lead to the return of steelhead trout and river otter in 2008, and mink in 2009. Best viewing at the Marina, Escobar, and Amtrak footbridges. Beavers are nocturnal, so look in the early morning and late evening. Free. 

Do

• Briones Regional Park, ☎ +1 510 562. A beautiful 5,756-acre park covered in grassy hills and shady Oak trees. The park is south of Highway 4 off Reliez Valley Rd. Briones is a hikers paradise in the heart of the busy San Francisco Bay Area. East Bay Regional Park District Headquarters-PARK, group picnic reservations [phone], group camping reservations [phone]. The park is open 8AM-10PM $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is attended. 
• 🌍 Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, toll-free: [phone]. 5AM - 10PM. Located immediately to the northwest of the John Muir NHS and extending to the Carquinez Strait, the ridgelines of this park offer extensive views of Mt. Diablo and the cities at its base, the Sacramento River Delta, the Mothball Fleet, Mt. Tamalpais and Mt. St. Helena. On clear winter days the snow-capped Sierras may be seen. Wild turkeys, hawks, deer, and other wildlife call the park home. In the spring cows are allowed to graze on the grassy hills. The park hosts a segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Great for a short day hike (1 to 5 miles). Free.  
• Hidden Lakes Park (Morello Ave at Chilpancingo Pkwy). This park has everything from rope swings to hills and even cool wildlife. There are also trails to Hidden Valley Park. 
• Martinez Skatepark, North Court Street. A free 10,000-foot skatepark for skateboarders and roller bladers. 
• Martinez Marina. Features trails, a marsh, a pond, two playgrounds and a fishing pier. Located in downtown Martinez near Ferry Street and the Amtrak station. Bicycling is allowed on the trails. Dogs are allowed in some areas of the park but not near the ducks and pond. 
• Pine Meadows Public Golf Course, 451 Vine Hill Way (Located at the corner of Vine Hill Way and Center Ave.), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. A small and simple par-three course. A great place to shoot a quick round with friends. 
• 🌍 Walk Across the Martinez-Benicia Bridge. A 2.2-mile pedestrian and bicycle path across the bridge to Benicia, part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Free.  

Buy

• Pandora's Box, 613 Main St, ☎ [phone]. Boutique in the historic downtown district that includes artisan wares from Turkey and original clothing designs. 

Eat

Chinese

• Canton Restaurant, 719 Main St, ☎ [phone]. In downtown Martinez. 
• China Villa, 2376 Pacheco Blvd, ☎ [phone]. A true hole-in-the-wall type of place. 
• Peking-Tokyo Restaurant, 522 Center Ave, ☎ [phone]. In the Nob Hill Shopping Center. Serves Chinese and Japanese food, including sushi. This restaurant is also listed underneath the Japanese section. 
• Sunflower Garden, 822 Escobar St, ☎ [phone]. In downtown Martinez. 

Greek

• Yanni's Greek Cafe, 6635 Alhambra Ave. #212, ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 11AM to 8PM. Gyros, souvlaki, mousaka, pastitsio, spanakopita, hamburgers. 

Italian

• Louie Bertola's Restaurant, 611 Escobar St, ☎ [phone]. M-F 11AM-10PM, Sa 4PM-10PM, Su 1PM-9PM. The restaurant is in an old home. Interesting setting and decent food. Most items are under $8. 
• Mangia Bene, 1170 Arnold Dr, ☎ [phone]. In a strip mall off of Morello Ave. Advertised as "The Best Kept Secret in Martinez." 

Japanese

• Hanabi Sushi, 1155 Arnold Dr, ☎ [phone]. Sushi and other Japanese dishes. 
• Peking-Tokyo Restaurant, 522 Center Ave, ☎ [phone]. In the Nob Hill Shopping Center. Serves Chinese and Japanese food, including sushi. This restaurant is also listed underneath the Chinese section. 

Mexican

• Cinco De Mayo, 2250 Pacheco Blvd, ☎ [phone]. M–Sa 10AM – 9PM, Su 10AM – 7:30PM. Restaurant and Catering 
• La Tapatia, 536 Main St, ☎ [phone]. Downtown. Family owned and operated business, with two restaurants: one in Martinez and one in Concord. 
• Los Ponchos, 5872 Pacheco Blvd, ☎ [phone]. M–Sa 11AM – 9PM. A local favorite. Although this strictly-to-go taqueria is in Pacheco and not Martinez, it is close to town and frequented by many Martinez residents. 
• Taqueria Los Toros, 802 Main St, ☎ [phone]. Downtown. Coupon lunch offers for Jurors serving in the nearby Courthouse. 
• Chavinda, 514 Center Ave, ☎ [phone]. In the Nob Hill Shopping Center. 
• La Primavera, 1311 Pine St, ☎ [phone]. 

Drink

Bars

• Cue and Brew, 1029 Arnold Dr (in the Walmart shopping center). Great place for drinks and billiards. 
• Ray's Lounge, 709 Ferry St, ☎ [phone]. 

Cafes and coffeehouses

• Legal Grounds Coffee, 915 Main St. In downtown Martinez, close to the Court Houses. 
• Wilson's Espresso, 3750 Alhambra Ave. 
• Starbucks, 700 Main Street, 502 Center Ave, & 6688 Alhambra Ave. Everywhere in the world, with three locations in Martinez. 

Sleep

• 🌍 Best Western John Muir Inn, 445 Muir Station Rd (On the corner of Muir Station Rd. and Center Ave.), ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone], fax: [phone]. (updated May 2017)

Stay safe

Exercise caution in downtown during nighttime, its dimly lit and the homeless are numerous in that area. It's the crime hotspot of the city but, as with any city just use smart judgement and you should be safe.

Go next

• Benicia - Visible across the Carquinez Strait at the north end of the Martinez-Benicia Bridge.
• Concord - One of the largest cities in the East Bay, offering a variety of shopping and dining options.
• Pleasant Hill - This neighboring town is primarily a typical family suburb, but it does offer options for food and shopping.
• Walnut Creek - The downtown Walnut Creek area offers shopping, bars, and restaurants.
• Mount Diablo State Park - This 20,000-acre park provides great hiking opportunities on a mountain that dominates the landscape for most of central and eastern Contra Costa County. It offers an incredible viewshed, with views on clear days stretching 181 miles to Mount Lassen.
• Berkeley - Eclectic, political and always interesting, Berkeley is only a 20- to 25-minute drive away. Alternatively, using BART, either a) transfer at the MacArthur station and exit at Downtown Berkeley, or b) exit at Rockridge and walk ~2 miles to downtown.
• San Francisco - Although "the City" feels a world away, it's just a 46-minute BART ride (from North Concord/Martinez station) to the Embarcadero or a 35-90-minute-drive, depending on traffic.

Routes through Martinez

Emeryville ← Richmond ←	W  E	→ Davis → Sacramento
Sacramento ← Fairfield ←	N  S	→ Richmond → Emeryville
Bakersfield ← Antioch ←	E  S	→ Richmond → Emeryville
Jct W E ← Benicia ←	N  S	→ Concord → San Jose
Ends at ← Hercules ←	W  E	→ Concord → Stockton