Davis Commons

Davis commons is a decent little shopping center. It includes a Whole Foods, Pinkberry, Habit Burger, Pluto’s, Mikuni’s, Gap, Bath and Body and The Melt. This place has ample seating in its outside courtyard and has another nice little setting area right around the corner from Whole Foods. It’s a nice spot to stop in a grab a bite to eat and do a little shopping. It’s right on the edge of the UC Davis campus and located off First street in downtown Davis. Make it a great place to start a night out in Davis. The only reasons this place doesn’t get more stars is the parking situation. The lot here has a two hour max from 8am to 5pm and is patrolled by the city which strictly enforces the two hour limit.

Davis Commons seems to have the right vibe and look for a small town like Davis. It isn’t very big, but neither is Davis. Although Davis residents often pride themselves in being in an area full of mostly local businesses, making residents have to drive to Woodland or Vacaville for *any* major store is a bit of a drag. Davis Commons has a good mix of major retailers (Gap) and more local stuff (Plutos).
Unlike some of the older strip malls on the edges of town, Davis Commons feels cohesive and not just like a random collection of stores plopped down. This small mall was clearly made with love and attention to detail, and it’s a beautiful place to be. The outdoor corridor between the two buildings is gorgeous, as is the outdoor seating for the restaurants, the buildings themselves, and the sculptures surrounding it.
On a nice day, the grassy area outside of the Davis Commons is a beautiful place to lie down and read a book!