Long Beach Weekend Itinerary: Stratford Square

We’ve got a spot in Long Beach that can make for a perfect Sunday, starting with coffee, ending with beer, with a great farmer’s market, wine and cheese shop, and pizza in between. Where? Head to the Stratford Square neighborhood located near the southeast corner of the Long Beach Airport, and start at the intersection of Clark Avenue and Spring Street.

BREAKFAST AND COFFEE

Start your Sunday with breakfast at Coffee Parlor (2944 Clark Ave), where you can pair your cappuccino or cold brew with a breakfast burrito or horchata French toast, along with other tempting menu items. The restaurant prides itself on using local ingredients and cooking everything from scratch, so you’ll have a delicious start to your day. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the Quencher, an iced Mexican Coke with a double shot of espresso float.

FARMERS MARKET

Next, head across the street to the Green Acres Farmers Market, which is held in the parking lot at the corner of Clark and Spring (5000 E Spring St) from 8AM to 1PM on Sundays. You can find fresh fruits and vegetables as well as baked goods, roasted nuts, honey, fresh cut flowers, and other goodies, plus live music. As Long Beach farmers markets go, this one is smaller and relatively uncrowded for a more relaxed, stroll-and-shop experience.

MIDDAY BREAK

Wine Cheese Etc. (2938 Clark Ave) is a lovely place to shop for wine, cheese, and cured meats, as well as cookbooks and other culinary gifts. There’s gourmet groceries of all kinds, like chili crisp, truffle honey, and stuffed olives. Create a cheese and charcuterie board for later, or pick up a few of their grab-and-go sandwiches for lunch. Choices include the Truffle Shuffle with Italian cold cuts, provolone, and garlic-truffle sauce, and the Hambitious Sandwich with rosemary ham, whipped brie, and sour cherry jam. The shop is open from 11AM to 6PM on Sundays.

PIZZA

Pizza Parlor (2936 Clark Ave) is one of several restaurants raising Long Beach’s profile as a destination for pizza lovers. Their menu of artisan-made pizzas on naturally leavened sourdough crust offers many traditional choices, and also unique signature creations, like the LA Taco pizza, featuring birria, queso fresco, pickled red onions, and cilantro, and the BTSC made with bechamel sauce, sausage, purple sweet potato, and pickled chilis. And don’t skip dessert–Pizza Parlor’s panna cotta and tiramisu are as much a reason to go as the pizza.

READY, STEADY, GO!

Finish your day with a relaxing stop at Steady Brewing (2950 Clark Ave), a local brewer that originated in Fountain Valley and opened a tap room in Long Beach in 2018. The Long Beach location features 17 beers on tap, six packs to go, and welcomes customers to bring their own food from neighboring restaurants. Sit at the bar or communal tables and booth lounge indoors or picnic table seating outdoors.

About the Author

Claire Atkinson

Claire Atkinson is a Southern California native who has lived in Long Beach for 20 years. She spends her free time visiting local parks, farmers markets, and museums, and loves learning about Long Beach history and culture.