Back To The Grind
Downtown Riverside, Riverside
Bar in Riverside, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Campus-Edge Café-Bar
Why go
Back To The Grind on University Avenue is Riverside's reliable all-day café-bar: casual, walk-in friendly, priced for repeat visits. It's not a destination cocktail bar, but for coffee, a relaxed drink, a lived-in atmosphere near UC Riverside, the value-to-experience ratio is hard to argue. No reservation needed.
About Back To The Grind
The Verdict
Back To The Grind is worth a second visit; and probably a third. Riverside's coffee and culture crowd has made this University Avenue address a reliable stop, the reason people come back isn't novelty. It's consistency at a price point that holds up against most comparable spots in the Inland Empire. If you're comparing it against more polished cocktail bars or craft beer taprooms in Riverside, Back To The Grind occupies a different lane: it's a community café-bar hybrid where the value-to-atmosphere ratio is hard to beat for daytime and early evening visits.
What To Expect
The address on University Avenue places Back To The Grind squarely in the orbit of UC Riverside, which shapes the crowd, the pace, the pricing. Expect a mixed-use space where coffee, food, drinks share the menu; the kind of venue that works for a solo afternoon with a laptop as well as a casual evening out with friends. It's not trying to be a destination cocktail bar in the way that Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu or Jewel of the South in New Orleans are, that's the point. For Riverside, it fills a gap: an approachable, all-day spot with enough character to justify repeat visits.
On the drinks side, don't come expecting a curated by-the-glass wine program with the depth you'd find at a dedicated wine bar. Back To The Grind's strength is breadth and accessibility rather than sommelier-level curation. If a serious wine list is your priority, you'll need to look elsewhere in Riverside's bar scene or consider the Riverside wineries guide for a more focused experience. For craft cocktails with more program depth, Julep in Houston is a useful benchmark for what a serious bar-focused venue looks like at the next level.
Booking & Logistics
No reservation is needed. Walk-in availability is the norm, booking difficulty is low. This is a drop-in venue: show up, find a seat, order at your own pace. The University Avenue location is central enough to Riverside that it works as a starting point before dinner or a wind-down after an afternoon in the area. Check the Riverside restaurants guide and Riverside experiences guide if you're building a longer evening around it.
Practical Details
| Detail | Back To The Grind | Typical Riverside Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Booking required | No | Varies |
| Price range | Budget-friendly | Budget to mid-range |
| Leading for | Daytime, casual evenings | Evenings, groups |
| Drinks focus | Coffee + casual drinks | Beer, cocktails, or spirits |
| Walk-in friendly | Yes | Usually |
For a broader picture of what Riverside has to offer, see our full Riverside restaurants guide, our full Riverside hotels guide, and our full Riverside bars guide.
Planning details
- Location
- 3575 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92501
- Website
- facebook.com/backtothegrind
- Phone
- +1 951 784 0800
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Back To The Grind reads like a neighbourhood living room rather than a polished concept bar. The independent café-bar format emphasizes accessibility over precision, so the room feels informal and welcoming: students drift in between classes, longtime regulars settle into familiar corners, and the space flexes to accommodate different groups throughout the day. Rather than chasing refinement, the venue leans into its role as social infrastructure for University Avenue, offering a relaxed, low‑pressure atmosphere that encourages lingering and repeated visits without pretense.
Best For
This is a true all‑day spot that functions equally well for morning coffee runs, midday study sessions, casual lunches, and evening drinks. The description highlights steady foot traffic 'from morning through late evening' and the café‑bar’s ability to absorb both coffee‑shop and bar rhythms, making it a dependable choice for anyone looking for a comfortable place to work, meet friends after classes or shifts, or wind down at night. It suits solo visitors and informal gatherings alike.
Ordering Tips
Expect a straightforward, approachable menu that shifts with the day: coffee and daytime staples in the morning and more bar‑oriented options later on. The write‑up emphasizes flexibility over polish, so prioritize what fits your moment—grab a quick cup and a corner table for studying, or come back in the evening for a relaxed drink. Because the room reconfigures around its patrons, treat the visit as improvisational rather than formal: order simply and linger as the neighbourhood pace dictates.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cozy and inviting with vintage charm, creative decor, and a welcoming atmosphere for studying, relaxing, or socializing.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Pub
- Late Night
- Open Until 2am
- Music
- Live Local Music and Open Mic
- Live Music
- Yes
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar; Notable alternative
- Euryale Brewing Company; Notable alternative
- Gram's BBQ Restaurant & Catering; Notable alternative
- Palenque kitchen by Mezcal; Notable alternative
- Thompson Brewing Company; Notable alternative
Bar context
Within Riverside's casual bar and dining scene, Back To The Grind occupies the most accessible price point. If you want a Southwest-leaning food-and-drink experience with more menu ambition, Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar is the better call. For craft beer with a taproom feel, both Euryale Brewing Company and Thompson Brewing Company offer a more focused beer program than Back To The Grind's general drinks menu.
If you're after food with your drinks and want something with more substance, Gram's BBQ Restaurant & Catering delivers a clearer food identity, while Palenque Kitchen by Mezcal is the stronger option if mezcal or a more curated spirits list matters to you. Back To The Grind wins on flexibility and low friction: it's the easiest to walk into, suits the widest range of occasions, asks the least of your wallet.
The practical recommendation: choose Back To The Grind for a low-commitment afternoon or early evening. Choose any of the alternatives when you want a venue with a stronger single focus, whether that's beer, BBQ, or spirits. See our full Riverside bars guide for a complete comparison across the city.
Explore Riverside
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Back To The Grind guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Back To The Grind
| Venue | Awards |
|---|---|
| Back To The Grind | No published awards |
| Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar | No published awards |
| Euryale Brewing Company | No published awards |
| Gram's BBQ Restaurant & Catering | No published awards |
| Palenque kitchen by Mezcal | No published awards |
| Thompson Brewing Company | No published awards |
Comparing your options in Riverside for this tier.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Back To The Grind have happy hour deals?
Specific happy hour pricing isn't documented for Back To The Grind's University Avenue location. That said, coffee-focused venues near UC Riverside typically run student-oriented promotions, so it's worth asking at the counter when you arrive. Walk-in visits make it easy to check without commitment.
What's the signature drink at Back To The Grind?
No specific signature drink is confirmed in available records for this University Avenue location. Given the venue's reputation as a coffee-and-culture anchor for the Riverside crowd, espresso-based drinks are a safe lead order. Ask staff what's moving that day; drop-in venues like this tend to have rotating specials worth knowing about.
Is Back To The Grind good for a date?
It works for a low-pressure first date or a casual meetup, not a special-occasion evening. The UC Riverside crowd and walk-in format keep the atmosphere relaxed rather than romantic. If you want something with more atmosphere for a date in Riverside, Palenque Kitchen by Mezcal is a stronger choice for that occasion.
What's the crowd like at Back To The Grind?
Expect a UC Riverside-heavy mix of students, faculty, local regulars drawn to the University Avenue address. The pace reflects the campus cycle: busier during term time, quieter in breaks. It's a working-crowd venue; laptops are common, the seating fills around standard campus hours.
Is the food good at Back To The Grind?
Food here supports the coffee programme rather than leading it. Specific menu details aren't confirmed, but for a University Avenue cafe serving the UCR crowd, expect accessible, wallet-friendly options rather than a full kitchen. If food is the priority, Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar or Gram's BBQ are stronger bets nearby.
