I continue to be in awe of our city, the great things that happen in it, and the dedicated entrepreneurs and teams working behind the scenes to bring us locals exciting, delicious, and novel experiences. Right now, five businesses and events have piqued my interest, and they may pique yours too. So here’s my latest list of things to be excited about, because we don’t gatekeep Fresno’s awesomeness around here!
1. Batter Up Pancakes has a new location!
I love a good breakfast spot, but on a busy morning it feels like we just don’t have enough in town. The waits can get long, especially on weekends and special occasions. My husband loves a good breakfast, so celebrating Father’s Day or his birthday means breakfast or brunch. A good eggs benedict, or a twist on one, is definitely the way to his heart.
Batter Up is a long-time, successful restaurant that started in northeast Fresno at Cedar and Nees, then grew to Fowler and Herndon. Now it has a third location in the Loma Vista neighborhood near Shaw and DeWolf, an area that’s quite short on breakfast spots. Families out that way have a shorter drive to Batter Up’s gigantic pancakes, sticky-sweet French toast, and all their other beloved menu items. The new location is officially open!
2. Mirror Coffee is getting a home of its own.
Mirror Coffee, my personal favorite local coffee shop, is currently a pop-up inside Moto Deli across from Fresno High. Around the start of the new year, it will move into its own brick-and-mortar location. It’s owned and operated by Katie Friesen, who managed The Revue in its most recent iteration before it was sold to Component Coffee. Mirror offers housemade syrups and unique drinks like the fall Five Spice Latte, Maple Bacon Latte, Sweet Corn Latte, Vanilla Americola, and Lavender & Rose Latte, to name a few. It’s an absolute gem, and Katie has a real eye for the details that make a place feel cozy and welcoming. I can’t wait to see what she does with her new space at 1468 N Van Ness Ave, Fresno, CA 93728, in Van Ness Village between the Tower District and Fresno City College.
3. Zaytoona is open again.
Zaytoona, the gift shop and perfume bar formerly in River Park, has reopened at Campus Pointe, combined with owner Sumer Rasheed’s other business, Collect Coffee. Now you can enjoy a delicious coffee, make your own natural perfume or scented candle, and shop for gifts all in one beautiful space. Zaytoona focuses largely on natural products made without preservatives or artificial ingredients, and part of the shop is dedicated to infused, cold-pressed California olive oils. I loved making perfume with my mom for Mother’s Day in the old shop, and I can’t wait to visit the new one!
4. Forever Vintage’s Holiday Shopping Event
Forever Vintage has become my most-shopped local vintage store thanks to its ever-changing selection and reasonable prices. I find new treasures practically every time I go, which, frankly, is often, since it’s just a few doors down from my other beloved spot, Mirror Coffee, in its current location. This Friday night (Nov. 13th) from 5 to 8pm, they’re hosting their annual Christmas Open House, with everything on sale and special refreshments. Buying vintage is a wonderful way to give special, unique gifts for the holidays, not to mention a sustainable one. I’m sure it will be a fun event!
5. The Golden Hour’s Holiday Season Kickoff Dinner
For the first time since they opened, The Golden Hour is hosting a special four-course dinner with cocktail pairings to kick off the holiday season on the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving. The Golden Hour has become one of my husband’s and my favorite places in town. The atmosphere is perfect, the speakeasy vibe is a treat, and it’s a great place to chat and catch up over drinks that are always perfectly chilled, crisp, and deliciously balanced. A $40 reservation secures your spot and goes toward the final cost of $125 per person, which includes a filet mignon main course and four cocktails. You can learn more on their social here.
Whether you’re sipping a new latte, hunting for vintage treasures, or toasting the season with a cocktail in hand, I hope this list gives you a few reasons to get out and enjoy our city. Fresno is full of people pouring their hearts into what they do, and the best way to say thank you is to show up. I’d love to hear what you’re looking forward to, so tell me in the comments!
- 5 Things to Look Forward to in Fresno Right Now - November 12, 2026
- Meet This & That: Echo Avenue’s New Father-Daughter Vintage Shop - November 5, 2026
- Pull Up a Chair: Monstera Coffee Studio Is Clovis’s Cozy Backyard Hangout - October 29, 2026
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