I love downtown Pleasant Hill. It's so. charming with all the cafes, restaurants, spas, nail salons all conveniently at the Crescent Plaza. Over the Summer has the best festivals, concert at the lake, wine and beer, Blues and Brews festival and so forth. Restaurants are reasonably priced, however housing in PH can be expensive. The city always looks clean and pristine. My favorite sit and people watch right in the heart of town. Come check it out. read more

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Downtown Pleasant Hill has a nice selection of shops, but it can get a bit crowded on weekends. The mix of boutiques and cafes is enjoyable, although parking is sometimes a hassle. Overall, it's a decent spot to browse and grab a bite, but I wish it had more unique places to explore. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area! read more

Parking here is super convenient! Plenty of spaces available, and it's always clean and well-lit. I love how easy it is to find a spot, even during busy hours. Definitely a stress-free experience! read more

I've never had a problem finding a spot here. It's super convenient for shopping and dining. Plus, it's well-lit, so I feel safe walking to my car even at night. A+! read more

Love Pleasant Hill downtown area...all 4-5 blocks. Its a great little area that packs a punch of useful businesses. Unfortunately being hit hard by covid...has effected some stores minced out. All in all...I believe it will stay relevant.. Has a great movie theater, I think it's Century, Zachary pizza, Hallmark, golf/sports store, five guy burgers, urban plates, cold stone ice cream, Mediterranean rest, ramen place, Carter's baby clothes, Bed & Bath, Michael's, ...a few past stores large hardware store, massage envy, buffet style rest & Italian rest. Right now is probably closer to a 4, butt I've frequented for a few yrs...5 star of casual, useful locations, great date night/ family friendly place....and GREAT parking available. read more

Review #159 - 2017 I've caught the full blown Christmas bug lately and have been going around enjoying as many Christmas events as I possibly can. I've always loved Christmas; but since this year is my first Christmas without our mom, rather than sitting at home & moping, I'm going to live like everyday could be my last day by enjoying every waking moment with my daughter. My mom would definitely not want to see her children/grandchildren sad & unhappy because she is in a better place. Downtown Pleasant Hill knows how to throw their Christmas event and there were a lot of people in attendance. I was actually surprised to see so many people out & about on a work night in the cold. I was even more surprised that I was able to find decent parking. They had street vendors, a face painting booth, balloon makers, Christmas carolers, Santa Claus, Rudolph, live music, children performing on stage, and a horse drawn carriage (although, I didn't actually see one). Very nice and family oriented! I am so glad that I made the effort to come here for the first time and I am looking forward to coming back again in the future... read more

As nice as Walnut Creek without the metered parking- what more could you ask for?! Downtown Pleasant Hill is a great place to walk around, shop, and get a bite to eat. If you're here to see a movie there's plenty to do before and after, and the parking structure always has ample parking. Some spots are 1,2 or 3 hour parking if you want to park closer to the shops. Quick places to eat: -Chipotle -Jamba Juice -Yalla Mediterranean -Coldstone -Urban Plates -Gotta Eatta Pita -Five Giys Not quick places include Jack's, Zachary's, and Sweet Tomatoes. I also love the Hallmark store, the perfect place to get just the right card, gift, and gift wrap all in one place. Ulta is a great addition to the area, I just hope they fill the empty orchard supply with something soon! read more

I rather enjoy downtown P-Hill, it's a nice place to walk and relax, and they have a great selection of activities to do (or eat at). On top of that, parking is free. One of the things that frustrates me with Walnut Creek is parking, and that issue is not nearly as bad in this downtown. This does not have the traditional feel that other downtown regions have in this area, everything is newer and the older area's of Pleasant Hill are elsewhere. This is a place with shopping, activities, and is right next to city hall. Currently, I've patroned just about every store on Crescent Plaza and am happy with them. The movie theater, coffee, restaurants, etc. This is a great place for a "date night" or if you just want to check out a movie and grab pizza with a group of friends. read more

nice, friendly downtown area. Several decent places to eat, and a century multiplex movie theater. Free parking gets this place five stars for sure. read more

Crescent Plaza in Downtown Pleasant Hill was a needed addition to the area when it first opened some odd years ago -- and it continues to thrive! Crossing under the archway that designates the downtown area, shop after shop are occupied by recognizable tenants. You can catch a movie, lunch or dinner, and shop for gifts or for the home, all in one spot. Parking can be tough to find, and with a few passes back and forth down the lane, you may get lucky and find a spot. read more

I have been here many times, as I used to live in Pleasant Hill, and still go there often today. First, let me say this: "Downtown Pleasant Hill" is not downtown Pleasant Hill, ironically. Unlike the neighboring cities of Walnut Creek, Concord, Clayton, and Martinez (which, with Pleasant Hill, make up the "Claycord" area of Central Costa County), Pleasant Hill never had a downtown, being a pop-up community that sprang up along I-680 and incorporating only in 1961. So the city and developer decided to create this artificial downtown shopping area in the 1980's and 90's, and called it "Downtown Pleasant Hill". It officially opened in 2000. Now, many Yelpers have mistaken this for just "downtown Pleasant Hill", or even just the City of Pleasant Hill, and went on to give reviews here of other nearby plazas (such as the Safeway plaza and Rite Aid plaza), and even Pleasant Hill in general. Unfortunately, I had to report these as being for the wrong business on Yelp, to maintain the integrity of Yelp. Yelp removed these posts. Many people were leaving negative reviews for the wrong plaza. Sorry. I did not like doing this, but I had no choice, as my first obligation is to Yelp. For more information about the development of the Pleasant Hill Downtown, see: https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/A-REAL-DOWNTOWN-Pleasant-Hill-lives-up-to-its-3240213.php and https://www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us/202/History-of-Downtown. Specifically, Downtown Pleasant Hill is a merchants association with stores between Contra Costa Boulevard and Cleaveland (yes, it is spelled that way) Road on the east and west sides, respectively, and between Gregory Lane and Boyd Road on the north and south sides, respectively. The pulse of the shopping plaza is Crescent Drive, which extends on a curve between Contra Costa Boulevard and Boyd Road. Anchor stores include Bed Bath & Beyond, Ross, Golf Galaxy (used to be Borders Books & Music), Century Theatres, Ross Dress for Less, Michael's, and a vacant (?) store which used to be Albertsons, then Lucky, then O.S.H. The City of Pleasant Hill wanted Bed Bath & Beyond and Borders Books & Music to face the "downtown" street of Contra Costa Boulevard, but those stores refused, and insisted they face the parking lot or parking garage in back. So, in ways like this, this is really not a "downtown". Pleasant Hill's request really made no sense. And unlike most traditional downtowns, there is more parking, with free street parking, four free huge parking lots, and a free parking garage (which is known for car break-ins and a lack of security cameras). Among the stores I have patronized are: Jamba Juice Pasta Pomodoro (now closed) Daphne's California Greek (formerly Daphne's Green Cafe, and now Yalla Mediterranean) The UPS Store Borders Books & Music (now closed) Lucky Ross Dress for Less Michael's Sweet Tomatoes Cold Stone Creamery Corner Bakery Cafe (now closed) Monsoon Masala (now closed) Parking can be difficult at busy times right on Crescent Drive, but there are parking lots all around, with spaces right in behind many stores. The good thing about street parking on Crescent Drive is that is it perpendicular, so it is much easier for customers to pull in and back out. There is also a farmer's market here held in the summers where they block off the street. I will give this shopping plaza four stars, only because there have been break-ins in the garage, and the association was very slow to do anything about this. There are also some vacancies, including the former O.S.H., which make the plaza look bad. And the website is kind of limited, as you cannot click on a store in the map to find out what it is or even search the directory for the number on it. read more

Downtown Pleasant Hill has it's positive moments. For example, the City Hall with the surrounding park, water, and the small weekend farmer's market, is pleasant enough and even well designed. Gayle and I also go to the movies here and occasionally Peets, Borders, Lucky's, the really good Indian restaurant, and Coco Swirl among others. On the other hand, Pleasant Hill will never be mistaken for Walnut Creek, or even Santana Row in San Jose (the best of the fake downtowns IMHO). Losing Left Bank to WC doesn't help either. Like the larger and more over-the-top Bay Street in Emeryville, Downtown Pleasant Hill lacks a certain cohesion or centering. It also has similarly confusing traffic flow and parking options. It's OK, if you know what you want to do, but I wouldn't consider it a destination stop if you're in the area. One final note - The traffic flow for the new shopping area (anchored by Kohl's) across the freeway is even worse. read more

I dig it! How can you not? Ya got needs? This place is very convenient. You need arts and craft material, pick up stuff at Michael's. Need a hair cut or need your nails done, there's a nail spa, a few beauty salons, and a SuperCuts. You want sushi, you can go to Nama. Nah, don't go to Nama. Not the greatest sushi, but not the worst. They've got a bar at least. Coffee you ask? But of course, there's a Peet's! How about some 'good eats'? There's Zachary's Chicago style Pizza, Togo's, Daphne's, and Sweet Tomatoes. Oh, if you don't want coffee, there's always Jamba Juice too! Or better yet, go for dessert at Coco Swirl, the cupcake shop next door, or Cold Stone Creamery mmm! I'd say Corner Bakery, but I already gave them a bad review. Blah, screw them and Five Guys. Speaking of beef, you want a darn good Yankee Pot Roast, go to Jack's. You'll thank me! Need to treat your feet? Go to Massage Envy, or buy your feet some new running kicks at Fleet Feet Sports. I can go on and on, but this place also provides good services like UPS Store and gift cards from Hallmark. A dentist, a wax center, a Ross, and a Lucky grocery store in the back in case you need to buy ingredients. If you want something good during your lunchtime; You've got plenty of restaurants to choose from. Or you can wait in the long line at Chipotle. Need health and beauty stuff, it's at Bed Bath & Beyond. Wanna catch a movie at the Century Theaters, why not? Make it a lazy date night, and enjoy it here. Now you see why I dig it?!?! Convenient!!! read more

A very nice shopping center that is usually the spot to be on Friday night and the rest of the weekend. There is a mix of stores that provide clothing, crafting/hobbies, home furnishings, and other personal services (such as nails and looking good). Plus there are tons of restaurants for any budget. Not to mention there is a large movie theater here as well. I love that there are lights on the trees year round. P.S. during the summer there is a free event for music in afternoon. read more

FIND A NEARBY PARK AND ENJOY SOME TIME OUTDOORS I love the parks of Pleasant Hill. The one near downtown PH is my favorite. There's a softball field there (I played on an adult league and we had some games here). There are basketball courts also, and a pool for swimming. I remember coming here a lot as a kid. This pool and Larkey Park hold many memories for me! The community center at this park used to host a lot of activities for children. Even putting on the annual Haunted House. My parents used to let me sister and I participate in several of the annual events. The "new" downtown (okay, so it's over 10 years old but I can remember it before it was developed so it still seems new to me - it's nice! Parking can get tight if you're looking for it right on Crescent, but behind these shops by the Luckys is a larger lot. Lots of parking there - normally! City Hall is close to downtown and there's a farmer's market in this area as well. It's a safe, fun community. I always enjoy shopping and eating in downtown PH. There's a movie theater, but if I'm going to see a movie, I prefer to go to the Dome (different part of PH). read more

Okay, I have lived in the area since 1975, and I remember what "downtown" Pleasant Hill used to be like. While I miss the Grand Auto, this new shopping area has finally grown on me. The restaurants have gone from interesting to dirty and now back to "worth making the trip" to. I know this is not a foodies place, but my girlfriend and I always enjoy going to either Daphne's, the Corner Bakery or to Pomodoro. And it's really cool Zachary's is by the movie theater. (Personally I can't each those deep dish pizzas anymore lol). I am not sure if you all know, but the Michael's offers (very inexpensively) classes in cake decorating and other arts and crafts. My gal loves them and has become a cake making champion. Be really patient as the parking lot can get full of angry drivers. I always head to the back by Ross or Michael's. If you are more eco friendly the CCTA busses will drop you off in the back by City Hall (even from BART). Its less crowded than Walnut Creek but really nice on a pleasant afternoon. read more

Downtown Pleasant Hill - What a relaxing Sunday in Pleasant Hill - Shopping Centers Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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I've always been perplexed about how this is a "downtown" per se, but I guess it's more of a town center with a plethora of dining and practical shopping needs. It has nearly every genre of food options, from Italian to Mediterranean to Sushi to dessert and bistro type places. Lots of variety and a decent amount of free parking. I've never not found a spot. Additionally you've got your hair salons, crafting needs, nail salons, massage joint and other basics that a "downtown" should offer. Where I feel it falls short is in retail options-there aren't many clothing stores or gift shops that one would usually find in a downtown area. Downtown Pleasant Hill is great for dining or movie going, but in terms of retail, I don't find it to be a destination. Perhaps I am bit spoiled by Walnut Creek, but there you have it. Still-it's a nice area and definitely family friendly. It's nice they built this out for residents who don't want to travel to another areas.... read more

Hay hope u all having a great Sunday it so nice today an it warm day come home to see the family an shiping with MoM $$$ lol will parking is not too bad an it busy here will hope all of u have a great day be safe injoy read more

Downtown Pleasant Hill - Sunset very nice weekend - Shopping Centers Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Downtown Pleasant Hill is a fairly new shopping area in Contra Costa County, which opened about a decade ago in 2000. A little history for those of you who a new to Pleasant Hill, or were just never told. Long ago much of the area that is now Pleasant Hill was a port for ships, much like Pacheco and Martinez, some time before the 1940 the area was then filled in and became farms. When Pleasant Hill was established a little over fifty years ago it was intended to be a housing community, this explains its odd borders, also why the Sun Valley Mall is located in Concord, and the Pleasant Hill Bart station is actually located in Walnut Creek. Residence of Pleasant Hill voted against raising housing tax, and over time it became more and more apparent that the city of Pleasant Hill would have to establish its self another way. Downtown is made up of Crescent Dr, City Hall and the Pleasant Hill Park and Recreational district. Several festivals are held here through out the year, the best being the Fourth of July Parade. http://www.ci.pleasant-hill.ca.us/ read more

I remember when this shopping center was built, and it became a local hangout very quickly! This is the place to be a Friday night for dinner and a movie, and is also great in the summer time for outdoor concerts and wine festivals, and during the holidays for the tree lighting ceremony and beautiful decorations. The main draw is of course the Cinemark Pleasant Hill 16 theater, certainly my favorite theater in the area. There is also considerable parking including a full free garage, and some street parking and private lots if you feel lucky. Nothing is a far walk from the garage though, but it can be a bit of a zoo on Friday nights when the movie theater is jumpin'. Get there early to get a good parking spot! I have always praised this center for having SUCH a variety of restaurants, varying in cuisine AND price. Chipotle, Sweet Tomatoes, Peet's, Jamba Juice, Pasta Pomodoro and Daphne's have been there as long as I can remember. And later additions of Jack's, Five Guys, Togo's, Sinful Bliss and most recently Nama, Zachary's and Corner Bakery Cafe keep the multi-cultural food party going. All that is missing is Chinese and Indian, and sadly those are the two restaurants there that closed (you are deeply missed Monsoon Masala and Yan Can! Left Bank and L&L Hawaiian - not as much.). But no spot in that center stays empty for long, so I look forward to seeing who shows up! This is also a great center for holiday shopping - hitting Hallmark, Bed Bath & Beyond and Ross in one swoop is great! I also have bought all my cell phones at this T-Mobile, have done some grocery shopping at Lucky's, and have bought fun clothes and accessories at Style For Less. Many hours and dollars were spent at Borders and Country Clutter - 2 more shops that are gone but not forgotten. Last but not least - Saturday morning Farmer's Market! Great produce, live music, fresh flowers, yummy snacks - awesome! It has been fun and at times a bummer to watch this shopping center evolve over the years but one thing has always stayed the same - if there is something fun going on in Pleasant Hill, it's happening here! read more

downtown pleasant hill decades ago was where goodwill. salvation/ grocery outlet. was. not a go to destination for many the center of downtown Pleasant Hill has changed with the buildup of the Crescent Drive shopping complex/Century 16 theatre and adjoining shopping centers. (ongoing for at least a decade). VIva La Difference! read more

I love walking Downtown Pleasant Hill even more so than I do Downtown Walnut Creek only because I feel like everything is a little more retail suburban and "open" comparatively. Walnut Creek is more like a cool-night-on-the-town or some even call it a tourist destination now with the likes of broadway plaza, The San Francisco Creamery and some top rated restaurants as far as shopping and eating goes. Granted, you can walk around downtown Walnut Creek and find pretty much anything and everything-but, I always feel that I have to glam it up just a lil bit at night. Downtown Pleasant Hill on-the-other-hand is more like I'm fine in a pair of sweats, a tee, and hair-up-in-a-ponytail-laidback-chill-a-bit kinda walk-about. Definitely more Family friendly and family oriented. The anchor stores here are, Bed, Bath & Beyond & Michaels. Lots of chain stores & eateries such as Sweet tomatoes, Daphnes, Peet's, Corner Bakery, Hallmark, Massage Envy & mom & pop franchises like Coco Swirl Froyo to name a few. Go for a walk, spend & be merry. read more

Where you around before this area was rebuilt to what you see today? There's not really any of it I miss. They have packed a lot of mid-scale businesses into not a lot of land. They almost planned it well. I'll through put a guess and say the city was more concerned about revenue than the best possible design. Parking is usually a challenge. I got my car broken into while at the theater one time. Something the police know about and simply can't do anything about. Very nice. The focus for my visits are food and or a movie with my buddy, Greg. Usually food means lunch for me, and there's maybe 8 places I've been too. Nothing you cant get somewhere else within 20 miles Occasionally, the grocery store or Michael's are the stop, but it's mostly food. read more

Downtown Pleasant Hill is the perfect one stop shop, that's fairly close to the house. For the entertainment we have the movie theater. With a sign large enough to be a landmark, the Century 16 theater is our go to place for movies. They keep it very well maintained on the outside. Sidewalks clear of trash, no graffiti on the walls. Just overall, very clean. You have a wide range of places to eat. From burgers, to burritos and everything in between. A few food highlights would be: Five Guys. You can never go wrong with Five Guys. Plus it's literally right across the street from the theater, so go for a quick bite then to the cinema. Zachary's is also right across the street. Don't expect a quick bite, but do expect excellent pizza. Chipotle is just a few steps down the sidewalk. Another place you can never really go wrong with. Don't be scared if you see a long line. It's usually always like this, and they are very good and moving it along quickly. The last of the favorites would be Corner Bakery. Great sandwiches, and great service most of the time. If none of these places sound good at the moment, they also have Greek, Mediterranean, Sushi, and a few other sandwich spots. After the movie, say you want to do a little grocery shopping since you're out and about. Well Lucky for you there is a Lucky super market right there. There is also a Bed Bath and Beyond, and Michael s, so you can really make a day of it if you wanted to. Anything you could possibly want to do, they most likely have a place down here that will cater to you. They have a lot of holiday festivals that go on, plus wine and art festivals. At Halloween and Christmas they do events for children. Parking can be tough on the street, but the parking garage is usually pretty empty. It's nice to have a clean, safe place to come to and spend the day, and so close to home. read more

I can't stand down town WC so down town PH is a great alternative. Sometimes I just want to get some fresh air and some fro yo. I can come here and avoid the traffic and snobbery that comes with Walnut Creek. I just wish they had a few more stores rather than all the restaurants. Otherwise, I'd give 5 stars. read more

Downtown Pleasant Hill - Having fun with the Leils. - Shopping Centers Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Been going to this movie theater forever. I remember when I used to kick it here on Fridays nights with my homies, ahh the good ok' days but I digress. Good amount of parking, except on Friday nights because of all the high schoolers coming out. Good amount of food establishments just down the street. read more

If you don't pay attention, you can be on the street and pass it. This area is actually nice to take a stroll. Parking garage is free and gets filled up quickly due the movie theater nearby. Additionally, there is parking along Crescent drive, but it can be busy. tons of stuff to see and do/taste. Also some businesses behind those shops on Crescent. read more

It's getting there. Stayed nearby for a couple of days. Liked the options (Jamba Juice, Chipotle, etc) and glad we were walking, the parking situation looked like a nightmare. The center was filled with families, youth and adults of all ages enjoying their evenings. Seems like a cool place. read more

Nice area as a whole. I thought Pleasant Hill was going to be kinda a dump, but this place was really nice. Definitely recommend this area. read more

I live, work, and play in Downtown Pleasant Hill. It is a great area with everything you need. Movies, groceries, dining out, retail, haircuts, a beautiful park, a farmers market and the list goes on. I remember the old downtown Pleasant Hill, where the movie theater is was once a bowling alley and some other small shops. Nations was just a hole in the wall spot about where hallmark is. Pleasant Hill did a great job revitalizing this area. Not all shops flourish here, but there are quite a few that have stood the test if time. I love my city of Pleasant Hill! read more

It's not exactly a downtown per se in the sense of lots of tall buildings and tons of businesses. It is however a nice area for restaurants, movies, a little shopping, and walking around enjoying the area. read more

Nice, quaint downtown area with a nice selection of shops, a theater and some nice places to eat. Need to be expanded, as it is small.

Downtown Pleasant Hill has it all food shopping movies clean out door safe all in all it's just a good place to go shopping and hang out

So I love the little downtown of Pleasant HIll. Not so much for the shopping, because the selection isn't huge (I hope it continues to grow!), but it is nice area with lots of eating places, room for the kids to run, grab a movie. It has given a center to PH and all of the great family-themed events that are downtown. I think it is great spot! It is not as fancy as WC and much nicer than the mall, so I am a fan for sure~ read more

This outdoor shopping area is well balanced with shops, major stores (Bed Bath & Beyond and Ross to name a few), restaurants and a movie theater. A must to do some shopping, browsing or just yo hang out while in the Pleasant Hill area. read more

I grew up around the corner from here, and I remember when this was being built and being SO excited for a movie theater! It's a small strip without a ton of options, and things don't seem to last very long sometimes. I miss the bookstore! But I love the Hallmark, the parking, Michaels, Bed, Bath and Beyond. You can easily walk through the whole thing in less than an hour. Live music sometimes and a fountain for little kids to play in. It's just cute. :) read more

Great location with lots of stores and restaurants. My son loves to walk around and people watch here.

I love downtown Pleasant Hill or whatever we want to call it. It has such a hometown, family feel and we just had to buy a home and live in the area. Having relocated from Hawaii it is great to find a town like this that has everything you need and feels so safe. It has the perfect mix of small shops and restaurants to meet all our needs so we hardly ever leave the area. The greatest thing about Pleasant Hill is you are only minutes away from other big stores, malls, or dealerships, etc. if you need that In Concord or Walnut Creek. I love that they keep it quaint and hope they never bring in the big businesses that bring the bad with it to keep it low key and a pleasant place to live and shop. read more

Although I basically agree with what Andrew S. had to say, I must add that the fake downtown is "good enough" to actually serve as a hangout for various groups of teens and adults, and by virtue of this fact alone can be regarded as a success. It's not Amsterdam, but not bad for a squaresville strip mall. read more

Great service... We came in, busy line. Moved very quickly with every employee having a smile on their face. Will def return to this location read more