Concord, California Offers Country Cool Coastal Vibes in Small City Setting

Story, photos/video by Cassie Hepler

All I knew about Concord, California before this visit through the tourism board was that is was a San Francisco suburb style city in Northern California. But Concord has its own pulse and rhythm that is relaxing and refreshing. There seems to be that unhurried city pace the country offers but somehow still maintaining a city full of activities for those inclined.

Arriving straight from the Goddess Ganja Getaway in Pescadero, CA, I was feeling a bit crunchy. I didn’t wash my hair for a couple days as it was super cool in the mornings and didn’t pack enough layers to keep my core solidly warm like most East Coasters. So by the time I drove to the Hilton Concord, I needed a nice, long hot bath. And do did my car, it was covered in road splattered bugs and dust at this point but had already stopped for Pearl (my Honda Civic) to get a nice shine and wax along the way. Now it was my turn to get back to “normal”… whatever that is. After a small snafu with the paid parking situation (which honestly is my only complaint about the otherwise wonderful, sprawling Hilton Concord… it’s not that city-like where it warrants paid parking), I was bubble bathing it up. Right before that, Hilton has a new text message system and and asked if I needed anything. I said yes, a couple drinks and another breakfast voucher please. By the time I emerged all squeaky clean, there was an envelope under the door like magic with two drink tickets and two breakfast vouchers. And they had welcomed me with a fruit and cheese plate along with my Visit Concord bag of goodies to do, see and eat. I felt like a new woman and meandered down to the large lobby bar as the attached restaurant Plate & Vine is closed on Sundays to get my beloved dirty martini and pick the bartender’s brain as they know what’s good in town.

Welcome to the Hilton Concord in Concord, California.

Walking into the Hilton Concord with reception and pool on the right, bar to the left. Hilton Hotels Photo

There is a lovely back patio – with ashtrays which I was surprised to see – at Hilton Concord. There was an Indian wedding that night which was fun to people watch too.

Some people say dirty martinis taste like sea water. So be it, I will gladly drink to the Pacific Ocean at Hilton Concord and this was one excellent martini.

After the back patio got a little full of partygoers, I meandered over to the pool area and made note of the hot tub hidden away in the corder at Hilton Concord. There was also a service dog named Sasha who was guarding her tiny human. Back and forth she paced, it was so sweet!

Hilton Concord changing its hues during sunset time with a couple of lone palm trees.

Soon it was time for bed and rest with my fruit and cheese plate, I was too pooped to party and wanted to get up and hike in the morning. So I snuggled in bed, watching some scary Travel Channel TV show about hauntings and demonic possession and fell asleep… eventually.

I woke up and was ready to rock and roll but was confused as to the address of must-see Mount Diablo. The concierge at the hotel gave me a much closer address (20 minutes away versus 50 minutes one way) so I went along my merry way. The address he gave me sent me to the business office and indeed, the main entrance was 50 minutes away. Fortunately a friendly volunteer park ranger came to my rescue and told me where to go nearby to get the views I craved. So along I went with a warning for mountain lions sign along the way.

Just following paths unknown, my new thing at Mount Diablo in Concord, California.

I kept envisioning a long flowing dress and fabulous hat running through the field at Mount Diablo in Concord, California.

I pretty much just kept going in one direction at Mount Diablo in Concord, California.

You could hear trucks in the distance mining at Mount Diablo in Concord, California.

Some parts of the path were woody on this trail at Mount Diablo in Concord, California.

I took another path at Mount Diablo in Concord, California.

I sat a spell and meditated and soaked up nature at Mount Diablo in Concord, California.

Time to head back to the hotel to meet the tourism contact at Mount Diablo in Concord, California.

Along my way I found a pine cone as big as my head that rolled down the path in front of me which highly amused me at Mount Diablo in Concord, California.

After getting hooked up with a handful of restaurant gift cards, it was off to the beer races in downtown Concord, CA. There’s nothing like a delicious beer after a good hike (marathon runners do the same thing, it’s good for you!) First stop was Hop Grenade, a cool funky little pub that hosts all the local beers in California and has a light menu to boot.

Salvio Pacheco Square at Todos Santos Plaza was my favorite space at Concord, California.

Up next was Hop Grenade which also has that amazing courtyard view above at Concord, California.

Inside Hope Grenade in Concord, California.

Everybody should go digital at Hop Grenade in Concord, California.

I went with the Coronado Brewery Orange Avenue wit beer at Hop Grenade, it was thicker than most wits but nice and orange-y.

I love rubbed BBQ wings and pretzels and these were a good start to upcoming noms at Hop Grenade in Concord, California.

E.J. Phair was literally next door and the next stop in Concord, CA.

We love a beer pub with good humor at E.J. Phair in Concord, CA.

Once I heard people speaking Spanish in the kitchen, I knew to order steak tacos dabbed in guac and these guys filled the belly well with a lot of meat. I paired it with the cream ale, my fave on the menu at E.J. Phair in Concord, CA. The owners were hanging out at the bar and saw my Instagram stories and sent me another pint on the house – with the logo on the glass of course!

Most Hiltons have these magical shuttle buses that will take you within a 3-5 mile radius of the hotel. Every hotel should have one of these as it allowed me to bounce around without worrying about Uber, Lyft or drinking and driving. So back to the hotel and right across the street was my final stop for the night, Eureka! restaurant inside Willows Shopping Center in Concord, CA.

The interior of Eureka! was appealing but I was loving the outdoor space in Concord, CA.

A more upscale dining spot, it was good to have “hoppy hour” pricing at Eureka! in Concord, CA.

The Old Forester whiskey was on the hoppy hour menu so was feeling that with a separate glass for the square ice cube in case I wanted to open the flavor a bit at Eureka! in Concord, CA.

I created an elevated boiler (whiskey and beer) by adding on Hangar 24 Craft Brewery‘s orange wheat at Eureka! in Concord, CA.

Delicious and popular glazed cauliflower bites at Eureka! in Concord, CA hit the spot and could fool a carnivore easily.

Meaty, juicy and tender hot chicken slider at Eureka! and delicious french fries which were even more amazing when the waitress brought truffle sauce in Concord, CA.

I drifted past a Japanese dollar store and was delighted to find some adorable lunch boxes for my bestie’s kids – a pig and a panda – and their ears folded down to close it for a whopping $3. I also attempted to locate my beloved World Market but gave up and opting for bed instead and saved that adventure for the next day. I had another lovely elevated buffet style breakfast at Plate & Vine that morning and set about for another day of exploring.

Lucky for me, the farmer’s market was the next morning and I enjoyed poking around the city center square and found these tasty looking juices from Smit Farms at Concord Farmer’s Market.

Those berries looking pretty tasty from Rodriguez Farms at Concord Farmers Market.

We need more fruit peddlers like this lovely lady from J&J Ramos Farms at Concord Farmers Market.

Follow your nose to the soap, candle and lip gloss lady from Delta Moon Soapworks at Concord Farmers Market.

We love a good vinaigrette and olive oil, this one man company Bistro Blends of Napa Valley created all these lovely flavors from at Concord Farmer’s Market.

Perhaps some fresh smoked salmon, tuna and tilapia is more your speed at Concord Farmers Market.

Amazing flavors of all the best tasting pesto options ever with Bolani at Concord Farmers Market.

Even this bread was amazing by Bolani! So new and fresh, they don’t even have a website.

Green juice with ginger is my fave and what my body was craving by The Fruit Tree at Concord Farmers Market.

A view of the park on a not so sunny day at Concord Farmers Market.

Soon I called the Hilton shuttle and left for lunch at … which I will return to later in the story as I ended up going back again for lunch, it was so good! But I did end up walking around after lunch at The Veranda Shops, walkable across from the Hilton as well as Concord’s newest shopping center. I did some light shopping at Old Navy (yoga pants for tall girls) and Gap, got some new scent samples for fall at Sephora and somehow ended up with a full face of makeup at Ulta. There are a lot of restaurants (and still expanding) like Mikuni Sushi, Super Duper Burgers, MOD Pizza, Next Level Burger (Vegan), EMC Seafood and Raw Bar, Whole Foods 365 (the less fancy, lower priced whole paycheck version) and they are getting even more stores soon!

A nice overview of the layout of The Veranda Shops. *Submitted Photo*

The Veranda Shops also has yoga in the park every first Friday and Fitness Friday every second Friday of the month. *Submitted Photo*

Full food and drink service at IMAX Luxe Cinema at The Veranda Shops. *Submitted Photo*

After getting my shopping workout in, it was back on the Hilton shuttle for ice cream time at downtown Cream Concord. Fearing for my lactose sometimes intolerant self, I had no clue what to expect but had toes and fingers crossed they would have options… and they did!

The outside of Cream in Concord, CA looking pretty picturesque.

Meet the do’sant, a croissant and donut hybrid split in the middle and filled with chocolate mint soy ice cream and sprinkles (or jimmies as they call them in Philadelphia).

The owner was raving about the waffles and churro ice cream and he wasn’t lying that is carb heaven right there at Cream in Concord, CA.

I had never heard of Super Duper Burgers but liked their motto: fast food burgers, slow food values a lot in Concord, CA.

I also love me some homemade pickles with a little bit of sweet spice is always nice at Super Duper Burgers.

This pretty much sums up the motto as well at Super Duper Burgers.

You order in line and wait for your number to be called like most burger joints at Super Duper Burgers.

But these aren’t ordinary burgers, you can taste the non-GMO difference in each bite of the moist, cheesy beef and huge slab of chicken at Super Duper Burgers.

As the sun set that last night, I realized I needed a few things from Target and called the Hilton shuttle one last time.

My chariot awaited while I ran inside, paid and ran out. Fortunately it slows down at night and I had it all to myself, thanks Hilton Concord! Time after this was spent boiling myself in the hot tub for a restful sleep.

That morning, the lovely waitress insisted I try a chef made omelet and who was I to say no? So I loaded up on fruit and peanut butter…

So I loaded up on fruit and peanut butter for the fruit I was taking for road fuel, one of my favorite snacks.

The telltale logo of Plate & Vine, new on Instagram too!

The outdoor patio was pretty too at Plate & Vine.

Chef hooked me up with an egg white omelet at Plate & Vine.

This thing was as big as my head, not kidding at Plate & Vine.

Now back to the business of eating and shopping again! So after I was all packed up and ready to go, it was one last stop at The Veranda Shops for a lunch of epic endings. Mind you, I had went previously the day before so let’s start there.

For over 25 years, Mikuni Sushi has been innovating fresh Japanese dishes and serving eclectic sushi in Sacramento, CA and now they are in Concord, CA.

The interior of Mikuni Sushi in Concord, CA.

Lunch time starts picking up at Mikuni Sushi in Concord, CA.

Chef Michael is my go to guy for lunch #1 at the sushi bar, perfect for people eating on the go at Mikuni Sushi in Concord, CA.

Chef hands me some salted edamame to start at Mikuni Sushi in Concord, CA.

I love a good seaweed salad at Mikuni Sushi in Concord, CA.

The iron chef combo with panko shrimp ($16.50) was a good lunch special option at Mikuni Sushi in Concord, CA paired with some hot, steamy green tea.

But when we went back the second time, we told the other Chef Michael (there are two) what The Veranda had given us in gift cards and to go nuts as I eat everything at Mikuni Sushi in Concord, CA. He perked right up! Give a chef free reign and it will be amazing, trust us.

How about some barracuda sashimi at Mikuni Sushi in Concord, CA? Utter perfection. Not a fan of salmon eggs, chef joked they are like fish pop rocks.

Fatty tuna and salmon at Mikuni Sushi in Concord, CA had everyone ordering it from the photoshoot. It was like butter in my mouth.

The next roll was quite a process so we tried to capture it without going too much over the safety guard in this video. We also learned they sell live, moving tentacles if that’s on your bucket list!