48 Hours in Agoura Hills: A Summer Weekend Done Right

Friday Evening: Settle In and Sip

Pull off the 101 before the sun drops completely and let the pace shift immediately. Friday evening in Agoura Hills is best spent with a glass of something good and zero agenda. Head over to Woodland Hills Wine Company on Ventura Boulevard, where the selection skews thoughtful without being pretentious. The staff genuinely knows their inventory — ask about anything from the Central Coast appellation and you'll get a real answer, not a rehearsed one. Pick up a bottle to enjoy later back at your accommodation. The shop has a compact but well-curated footprint, so browsing takes maybe twenty minutes, which is just about right before dinner hunger sets in.

Woodland Hills Wine Company — Arrive between 5 and 6 PM on Fridays when foot traffic is light and the staff has time to walk you through what's new on the shelf.

After wine shopping, make your way to Lovi's Delicatessen on Calabasas Road for a low-key, satisfying dinner. It's open until 8 PM daily and the vibe is exactly what you want after a drive out of the city — counter service, generous portions, no fuss. The deli fare is solid and consistent. Grab a table if one's open, or take it back to wherever you're staying and crack that bottle from Woodland Hills Wine Company.

Lovi's Delicatessen — The hot items move fast toward closing time, so aim to arrive by 7 PM if you want the full selection.

Tip: Friday parking on Calabasas Road is straightforward — the small strip lots fill quickly after 6:30 PM but street parking a block north is almost always available.

Saturday Morning: Move Your Body Early

Summer mornings in the Santa Monica Mountains are genuinely one of the better things Southern California offers — cool, golden, and quiet before the day heats up. Get out by 7:30 AM at the latest. Before you head for the trails, swing by Dino Mart on Las Virgenes Road for water, sunscreen if you forgot yours, and whatever passes for breakfast on the go. It's a no-frills stop but reliably stocked for exactly this kind of early-morning errand.

Dino Mart — Located right on Las Virgenes Road, it's a natural stop on the way toward the trailheads — don't overthink it, just grab water and go.

Tip: Summer heat in the Santa Monica Mountains can climb fast after 10 AM. Plan to be back at the trailhead no later than 11 AM if you're doing anything strenuous.

Saturday Mid-Morning: Gear Check and Culture

Once you're back from the hills and cleaned up, the stretch of Ventura Boulevard through Agoura Hills is worth a slow cruise. Kennedy Surf Skate Bikes at 22026 Ventura is a genuinely good local shop — the kind that stocks boards and bikes for people who actually ride them, not just for display. If you've been thinking about adding a cruiser to your weekend kit or need to replace anything before a beach run later in the week, this is the right stop. The staff rides, which makes a difference. Nearby, ValSurf rounds out the outdoor gear picture if you're thinking ahead to the coast — wetsuits, surfboards, and accessories for the Malibu sessions that logically follow a weekend in the hills.

Kennedy Surf Skate Bikes — Saturday mornings are a good time to browse without the weekend afternoon crowd — the staff is more available and the selection on the floor is at its fullest.

ValSurf — If you're planning a Malibu day after this weekend, ValSurf is an ideal spot to rent or buy before you get to the coast and face beach-adjacent pricing.

For something at a different tempo, Totally Art on Ventura Boulevard runs drop-in workshops and has a gallery space that's genuinely worth ten minutes of your time even if you're just looking. In summer, they often have classes running Saturday mornings — painting, mixed media, that sort of thing. It's the kind of place that makes you wish you'd signed up in advance. Check their schedule before you arrive. Jefrees Old House adds another creative layer to the morning — the art gallery occupies a historic space and mixes vintage works with contemporary pieces in a way that feels curated rather than cluttered.

Totally Art — Summer Saturday workshops sometimes sell out — check their schedule online the week before and book ahead if anything catches your eye.

Jefrees Old House — The vintage works here have a strong regional sensibility — worth a visit even if you're not in the market to buy.

Saturday Afternoon: Slow Browse and Unexpected Finds

The afternoon heat is your cue to shift into a lower gear. Dove Hill is an antique shop that rewards patience — the inventory turns regularly and the pricing is honest. Go in without a list and you'll likely come out with something. This is genuinely one of those shops where you handle things, put them down, and then circle back twice. Summer afternoons here are quieter than weekends closer to the holidays, so you'll have room to browse without bumping into everyone else doing the same thing.

Dove Hill — Bring cash — some of the better vintage pieces here are priced for negotiation and cash transactions tend to move faster.

If you've got a dog along for the weekend — and plenty of people do bring their dogs to Agoura Hills, given the trail access — this is also a good window to stop at Niky's Sports on Ventura Boulevard for any outdoor supplies you need, or to treat your travel companion to a proper groom at Pars Grooming & Daycare, which offers a full suite of services and a daycare component if you want a few hours of solo time later.

Niky's Sports — The staff here can advise on local trail conditions and gear appropriate for summer hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Pars Grooming & Daycare — Call ahead to book a Saturday afternoon grooming slot — weekend appointments fill up fast, especially in summer.

Saturday Evening: Garden, Roses, and a Good Pour

For the evening, R&B Roses Garden Bar on Agoura Road is one of the more pleasant ways to spend a summer sunset in this part of the world. It's a garden center and nursery that also serves wine and light fare in an outdoor setting — the combination sounds unlikely but works completely. The rose garden backdrop as the light fades is legitimately beautiful, and the wine list is approachable. It's a place you'll want to linger, so don't make any tight plans afterward. Arrive around 6 PM to claim a good spot before golden hour.

R&B Roses Garden Bar — The outdoor seating fills up on summer Saturday evenings — arrive early and plan to stay through sunset, which is worth every minute here.

Tip: R&B Roses Garden Bar is on Agoura Road in Calabasas — plug the address in before you leave, as the signage can be easy to pass on the first drive-by.

Sunday Morning: Easy Exit, Good Sandwich

Sunday mornings in Agoura Hills have a genuine ease to them. Before you load up the car and head back toward the freeway, stop at Dan's Super Subs on Ventura Boulevard. It's a classic deli counter doing what classic deli counters do — serious sandwiches, no frills, fast service. Order the largest thing that sounds good to you and eat half before you get on the 101. The other half travels well. It's the right note to end a weekend on: full, satisfied, already thinking about coming back.

Dan's Super Subs — Sunday mornings are steady but not overwhelming here — you'll get your order without a long wait if you arrive before 10:30 AM.

Tip: The 101 heading east back toward LA moves smoothly on Sunday mornings until around noon — time your departure by 11 AM to avoid the early afternoon crawl through Calabasas and Woodland Hills.