Eat & Drink

A food city with its own rules

Come hungry for long-table Basque dinners, chile verde, tri-tip, historic counters and the unpretentious spots locals defend by name.

Basque dinner

Start with soup, beans and salsa before the main course arrives. Wool Growers and Pyrenees keep the boarding-house tradition alive.

A family-run east Bakersfield institution for sandwiches, pasta, steaks and an old-school market next door.

From handmade tortillas to birria and chile verde, some of the city’s most rewarding meals come without ceremony.

Smoke, oak and generous plates define the local style — especially when tri-tip is involved.

Cocktail bars, breweries and patios cluster within an easy walk of the Fox Theater and Padre Hotel.

The smiling-face cookie is a hometown icon, baked in Bakersfield since 1945.

Keep exploring

Tell her who you’re with, what you like and how much time you have.