E.A.T. Marketplace
Temecula is farm country as well as wine country, and E.A.T. Marketplace is where that agricultural heritage shows up on the plate. At the northern end of Old Town Front Street, this eatery, café and bakery has spent years building relationships with local growers to serve food that comes from close to home.
The story of E.A.T. Marketplace
Chef Leah Di Bernardo moved to the Temecula region in 2002 and founded Temecula Valley Slow Food in 2006, part of the international Slow Food movement that champions local, seasonal and sustainably produced food. E.A.T. Marketplace grew out of that work and the family’s deep roots in the local food community. The business says it has built its menu around local growers for more than sixteen years.
The philosophy is clear: every dish is part of a larger goal of making eating closer to home part of everyday life. Regenerative agriculture, ethical sourcing and community food independence are not marketing words here — they are the foundation of the menu.
What to eat
As a café and bakery as well as an eatery, E.A.T. is versatile. Mornings bring coffee and baked goods; midday brings seasonal dishes built from what local farms are harvesting. Because the menu follows the growers, it changes with the seasons — spring greens, summer tomatoes and stone fruit, autumn squash and citrus in winter. Ask what is fresh that day; the answer is the best guide to ordering.
Why it matters for visitors
A day in wine country can be heavy on rich food. E.A.T. offers a fresher, lighter counterpoint that still feels special, and it gives visitors a taste of the agricultural Temecula Valley beyond grapes. It is also a meaningful way to support local farms while you travel.
Tips for visiting
- Go early for the best of the bakery case.
- Order seasonally — ask what came in from local farms.
- Pick up picnic provisions before a winery visit.
- Walk Front Street afterward; E.A.T. sits at the start of Old Town.
Who will love E.A.T. Marketplace
Food lovers who care where ingredients come from, health-minded travelers, and anyone looking for a fresh, unhurried breakfast or lunch will enjoy E.A.T. It is a perfect first stop on a chauffeured day: breakfast and coffee in Old Town, a few baked goods for later, then the top comes down and we head for the vineyards.
It also suits travelers who like to learn about a place through its food. Chef Di Bernardo’s long involvement in Temecula’s slow-food community means the menu tells a story about the valley’s farms, growers and seasons — a different kind of tasting from the wineries, and one that rounds out a visit.
If you are planning a picnic at a winery that welcomes them, E.A.T. is a smart place to stock up before you set off.
Planning your visit
Temecula’s dining scene is busiest on Friday and Saturday evenings and during event weekends such as the Rod Run, Barrel Tasting and the holidays, so reserve ahead whenever a restaurant takes bookings. Many Old Town kitchens open their patios on warm evenings, and a table outside on Front Street is one of the best ways to people-watch. If you are pairing dinner with wine country, plan the tastings for the afternoon and dinner after sunset, and let a driver handle the gap between the two. Groups celebrating a birthday, bachelorette or rehearsal dinner should call ahead to ask about large-party seating, set menus and corkage if you are bringing a bottle from a winery visited that day. Parking in Old Town fills quickly on weekend nights, which is one more reason a chauffeured arrival is the relaxed option.
Best time to go
Weekday lunches and early dinners are the easiest times to get a table; Friday and Saturday evenings, holiday weekends and event days in Old Town are the busiest, so reserve ahead when you can.
Make a day of it
A sample Temecula day built around E.A.T. Marketplace:
- Late morning — chauffeured pickup at your hotel and a slow cruise up Rancho California Road.
- Afternoon — two winery tastings with a lunch stop in wine country.
- Golden hour — drop-off on Old Town Front Street for photos with the car.
- Evening — E.A.T. Marketplace, then a ride back to your hotel with the top down.
E.A.T. Marketplace at a glance
| Category | Farm-to-table eatery, café & bakery |
|---|---|
| Address | 28410 Old Town Front Street, Suite 112, Temecula, CA 92590 |
| Area | Old Town Temecula |
| Good to know | Built around local growers, regenerative agriculture and ethical sourcing |
| Website | eatmarketplace.com |
Getting to E.A.T. Marketplace in a 1969 Cadillac
Old Town Temecula is compact and walkable, but parking on Front Street fills quickly on weekends and during events. Arriving by chauffeured 1969 Cadillac solves that neatly: your driver drops you at the door, waits or circles back, and collects you when you are ready — and a red convertible on Front Street’s Western boardwalks makes for the most photographed arrival in town.
Chauffeured hire is $325 per hour with a three-hour minimum, booked and protected through DriveShare. Tell us where you want to go and we will build the route — E.A.T. Marketplace plus a winery or two, a sunset stop and a ride home.
Book the '69 Cadillac on DriveShare
More things to do nearby
- 1909 — restaurants
- Baily's Old Town Temecula — restaurants
- Luke's On Front — restaurants
- East Coffee — cafes & sweets
- Le Coffee Shop — cafes & sweets
All things to do in Temecula → · Month-by-month events calendar → · Temecula wineries →
Frequently asked questions
Where is E.A.T. Marketplace?
E.A.T. Marketplace is at 28410 Old Town Front Street, Suite 112, Temecula, CA 92590, in Old Town Temecula.
What is E.A.T. Marketplace known for?
E.A.T. Marketplace is known as Old Town Temecula’s farm-to-table eatery, café and bakery, founded by Chef Leah Di Bernardo, with a menu built on relationships with local growers, regenerative agriculture and ethical sourcing.
Can I arrive at E.A.T. Marketplace in a classic car?
Yes. 1969 Caddy offers a chauffeured red 1969 Cadillac DeVille convertible from $325 per hour (three-hour minimum), booked on DriveShare. We plan the drop-off and pickup around E.A.T. Marketplace and can add nearby wineries to the same booking.
Arrive at E.A.T. Marketplace in style.
A chauffeured 1969 Cadillac convertible for your Temecula day — booked on DriveShare.