This historic city on the Carquinez Strait often gets short shrift — perhaps because of its association with jury duty. Martinez is Contra Costa’s county seat, after all. But the waterfront city is undergoing a renaissance, says Adam Hoffert. And while that’s what you’d expect the chairman of the city’s chamber of commerce to say, he’s not wrong.
This region has always boasted great hiking trails and outdoor offerings. But an influx of new, talented entrepreneurs and budding businesses — a market hall, new eateries and entertainment possibilities — have upped the city’s cool factor, Hoffert says.
Those river breezes keep the temperature cool too — well, cool for this side of the Caledecott Tunnel anyway — during summer’s heat.
Still, start your Martinez adventure in the morning, when the temps are at their lowest, with a John Muir-centric morning hike to Mount Wanda and Mount Helen. Starting from the trailhead at Franklin Canyon Road and Alhambra Avenue, take the main fire trail for a brisk, peaceful 2.7-mile lollipop-route hike up to and around the two mountains named after Muir’s daughters. Pause to enjoy the view from Mount Helen over the Carquinez Strait and keep an eye out for the wide variety of birds known to frequent the preserve, including red-tailed hawks, scrub jays and acorn woodpeckers.
It’s free to explore John Muir’s Victorian house, his orchards and gardens at the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group File)
Then head for the John Muir National Historic Site. This property, which includes Muir’s Victorian home, orchards and gardens, once belonged to the legendary naturalist known as the father of the national park system. During the fall harvest, the National Park Service offers fruit from the orchards to visitors for free.
Explore the Strentzel-Muir home and climb to the top of the bell tower, where you can enjoy another great view and ring the bell, then wander the rooms and see how the family lived in the late 1800s. It’s free to roam the grounds, too, and you’re welcome to picnic.
If you haven’t toted picnic fare, you’re probably ready for a pick-me-up right about now. Half a mile down Alhambra Avenue, you’ll find Mountain Grounds, a pint-sized cafe serving up cozy coffee drinks and creative pastries. Treat yourself to an iced pistachio latte, perhaps with a blueberry custard galette.
If it’s a Sunday, the city’s historic downtown will be buzzing as the Martinez Farmers Market takes over Main Street with stalls offering fresh produce plus prepared fare including bao, tamales and Bolani flatbreads.
Market & Main, a public market hall in downtown Martinez, offers restaurants, bars and other independent businesses. (Photo by Douglas Despres)
Down the street, Market & Main has been delighting locals and visitors ever since it opened in late 2021. It’s home to a variety of temptations, from the Out the Dough cookie shop to the Shuck It Oyster Bar, Souley Vegan and a Shipwreck Nautical Bar that opened in February.
The Shipwreck Nautical Bar opened at Market & Main, a public market hall in downtown Martinez, in February. (Photo by Douglas Despres)
You’ll find the stylish Bentley’s Cocktail Bar & Lounge with its 1920s vibe upstairs and out back, its sister hot spot, Bentley’s Container Bar, a shipping container-turned-outdoor bar that began serving up cocktails last year. And now, Bentley’s has introduced Sunday R&B brunch service — DJ Koolens was doing his thing on a recent weekend. You’ll want to make reservations, says co-owner Krystal Endsley.
Of course, this being Martinez, you may be on the hunt for martinis. San Francisco may lay claim to the modern, gin-centric cocktail, but if you know your Gold Rush lore, you’ll know that this is where the first “martini” — the Martinez cocktail — was poured back in 1849. A Martinez bartender mixed an ounce of gin, a wine glass of vermouth, two dashes of maraschino liqueur and a dash of bitters and sugar syrup for a newly-wealthy gold miner, and a cocktail legend was born. You’ll find a “Birthplace of the Martini” plaque just steps away at the intersection of Masonic Street and Alhambra Avenue.
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If you’re in the mood for something lighter, nearby Five Suns Brewing offers a taproom and popular beer garden with 10 brews on tap that range from a Reliez pale ale to a Ghost Moon pilsner and a seasonal summer Cosmos. Hillside Tap Room and Eatery, which opened earlier this year, offers a lineup of creative hot dogs and slushy boozy drinks, like frosé and blended sangria, and Del Cielo Brewing, hosts events such as trivia, cornhole tournaments, bingo and live music.
And if you’re looking for casual, creative sammies, there’s Lucia’s Craft Sandwich — the Martinez offshoot of the popular Crockett eatery — which opened in 2021 at the other end of town. Think sandwiches filled with smoked ham, apricot jam, ricotta and hazelnuts and a veggie deluxe with roasted peppers, artichokes, an eggplant spread and burrata.
Patrons take part in trivia night on the patio at Five Suns Brewing in Martinez on Wednesday, August 17, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
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All refueled and ready to go? Martinez is home to the Cobra Experience, a 25,000-square-foot museum devoted — no, not to snakes — to Shelby Cobras and other vintage race cars. It’s open on the third Sunday of each month, when guests can admire this jaw-dropping automotive collection and explore the midcentury racing engines, prototypes, artifacts and memorabilia. They do special events, too, including a “learn to drive manual” class ($10) on Sept. 14.
There’s live music downtown at venues including Del Cielo, Five Suns and Roxx on Main, Lesley Stiles and Tony Lauro’s restaurant, where the lineup includes Carlos Reyes on Aug. 30 and Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88s Aug. 31.
And if you’re into baseball, this is the home of the Martinez Sturgeon, a Pecos League pro baseball team that began playing at Joe DiMaggio Fields at Waterfront Park in 2021. Keep an eye out for the Sturgeon game lineup next spring.
If You Go
John Muir National Historic Site: This national park site is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with a visitor center at 4202 Alhambra Ave. in Martinez. Mount Wanda and the hiking trails are open from sunrise to sunset. Admission is free. www.nps.gov/jomu/
Mountain Grounds: Opens at 5:30 a.m. weekdays and 6 a.m. weekends at 3750 Alhambra Ave. in Martinez; https://mtngrounds.com/.
Martinez Farmers Market: Open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays at 700 Main St.; www.pcfma.org.
Market & Main: Opens at 11 a.m. Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. Friday-Saturday and 9 a.m. Sundays at 610 Main St., www.marketandmainmartinez.com.
Five Suns Brewing: Opens at 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon Fridays and 11 a.m. weekends at 626 Main St.; www.fivesunsbrewing.com.
Hillside Taproom & Eatery: Opens at 11 a.m. daily (closed Tuesday) at 400 Ferry St.; www.hillsidemartinez.com.
Del Cielo Brewing: Opens at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, noon on Fridays and 11 a.m. weekends at 701A Escobar St.; https://delcielobrewing.com/.
Lucia’s Craft Sandwich: Opens at 9 a.m. daily at 6682 Alhambra Ave.; www.luciascraftsandwich.com
Cobra Experience: Tickets at $10-$15. Open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month — Aug. 18, Sept. 15, Oct. 20 and so on — at 777 Arnold Drive, Suite 200; https://cobraexperience.org/.
Roxx on Main: Opens at 11 a.m. Tuesday-Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday, with live music Thursday-Saturday, at 627 Main St.; www.roxxonmain.com.
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