With weathered brick, historic false-fronts, and a horseshoe-shaped town square, Old Town Temecula can feel like you’re stepping onto an Old West movie set. To fully immerse yourself in it all, choose a dining establishment with a colorful history, there are several. Below are some favorites, with ideas for what to sip and eat, plus a little history into what makes each one special.
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1909 in the Old Machado Building
Tucked into the Machado building, 1909’s home has lived many lives. First built in the 1890s, it has been a store, church, and saloon. It was rebuilt in 1909 after a fire (hence the name), and the current remodel includes murals along the back wall that trace the story of Temecula Valley. In the 1960s and 70s it was a place of bar brawls and deemed “too dangerous for any respectable woman to go inside” says former mayor James Stewart. Bullet holes can still be seen in the ceiling.
1909’s menu includes modern cocktails and serves up an eclectic collection of cuisines — Korean fried chicken, Shrimp & Crab Empanadas, Ahi Tuna Towers, and of course, more than one solid burger plate. It’s one of our favorite local gastropubs. 28656 Old Town Front St, Temecula, CA 92590
Small Barn in the Historic Knott Family Homestead
Small Barn is a contemporary upscale restaurant, built on the grounds of the original Knott family homestead, who were some of Temecula’s first entrepreneurs. They purchased this former blacksmith shop in 1912 and, in support of the growing interest in automobiles around the country, turned it into an auto repair shop that operated until 1967.
Today, Small Barn houses a stylish, mostly al-fresco restaurant that boasts a farm-to-table menu of elevated classics, like a roasted half chicken, Branzino filet, or a Barn burger. They also create a seasonal cocktail list and create an environment that’s perfect for date nights and celebratory dinners. 28535 Old Town Front St, Temecula, CA 92590
Big Nose Winery Inside the Old Hotel Temecula
Big Nose Winery keeps things intimate. They have a charming tasting room where owners Roger and Janice Mattar, or on weekdays their son Matthew, pour tastings. The tasting room sits in the Hotel Temecula, a landmark that was rebuilt in 1891 after a fire, that has anchored the Front and Main Street part of town for well over a century. The Mattars have turned their tasting room into a lovely slice of living history and the back courtyard into a welcoming outdoor seating area. On weekend evenings, you’ll find live music outside to enjoy while you sip on one of their 14 award-winning wines. Big Nose is one of several new tasting rooms and wine lounges that opened in the last couple of years in Old Town. Don’t miss their 2021 Sumptuous, a Cabernet/Teroldego blend, or the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, both Silver Medal Winners at the Orange County Fair. 42100 Main St Suite D, Temecula, CA 92590
Pamec Winery Adjacent to Hotel Palomar
Pamec Winery focuses on small-batch, natural wines which they serve in a relaxed patio setting. It’s a perfect spot for people watching or for grazing on small bites from their on-site food vendors while you linger over your glass. Pamec’s home is just outside the historic Hotel Palomar, another of Old Town’s early inns and hotels with roots in the 1920s-era development of the district. 28522 Old Town Front St STE 3, Temecula, CA 92590
Swing Inn Café in the Historic “Mother’s Cafe” Building
The Swing Inn’s menu blends diner classics with Texas-style barbecue. There’s a healthy dose of nostalgia inside this long-running local café. Unlike some of the other eating establishments that have seen many uses, The Swing Inn has always been a western cafe tracing back to 1927, when it was known as Mother’s Cafe. The oldest parts of the current building, including the lunch-counter, reach back decades, and the venue’s continuity as a family-run operation is part its local appeal. The current owner is Dean Norris, who is famous for his role on AMC’s Breaking Bad. The Swing Inn is part of Old Town’s thriving brunch scene. For the perfect Swing Inn experience, try the New Orleans Benedict, which includes slow-cooked pulled pork on a buttermilk biscuit, plus one of their giant Famous Old Town Cinnamon Buns for the table. 28676 Old Town Front St, Temecula, CA 92590
Temecula Olive Oil Company at the Welty Building
Temecula Olive Oil Company is a much-loved olive oil tasting bar and shop. The olive tree farm is in nearby Aguanga, and their Old Town shop resides in the historic Welty building constructed in the 1890s. The Welty served as a frontier mercantile in the early 1900s, and the upstairs rooms once sheltered travelers.
Along with olive oil, vinegars, prepared foods, and olive-based gift items, the Temecula Olive Oil shop sells baguettes and their own label of wine. Purchase one of each at the shop counter enjoy them with your olive oil purchases out on the wood veranda. 28653 Old Town Front St, Temecula, CA 92590
The Merc Community Theater in a Historic Mercantile Building
If you’d like to end your day in Old Town with a little music or comedy, visit The Merc. This intimate 48-seat concert venue is in a restored brick mercantile building, and features local performers and touring acts. They have regular jazz nights, country nights It’s a great place to pair a glass of wine with a show, and hang out in a building that’s been part of Old Town since the 19th century. 42051 Main St, Temecula, CA 92590
