San Luis Obispo Destination & Food Guide
If you’re looking to visit California’s Central Coast, add San Luis Obispo to your list! From delicious and unique restaurants in the downtown city center to gorgeous hikes along the coastline, we found this area to be an absolutely wonderful getaway from our current hometown of Los Angeles. Whether you’re planning a California road trip, a local looking for a quiet weekend away, or simply passing through, check out my San Luis Obispo Destination & Food Guide below for our favorite discoveries in the area!
Visit Duration & Time Of Year
We spent approximately 4.5 days here, and found that to be absolutely perfect for the more leisurely pace we had in mind! This allowed us to explore many of the surrounding towns, parks, and attractions without feeling rushed.
We planned our trip for the end of May, and the weather could not have been more beautiful! The days were warm and sunny, and the evenings were quite chilly! Layers are a must, especially for hiking. Warm jackets are definitely important after dark, as well as for any activities by the ocean (where it was super windy, even during the day, making it feel colder than you might guess)!
For any fellow Los Angeles folks: SLO was about a 200 mile journey for us coming from the South Bay area. It took us approximately 5 hours thanks to the usual traffic, but once we were out of the city it was smooth sailing!
Central Lodging Ideal For Day Trips
We found that setting up our home-base in downtown San Luis Obispo was an excellent option! This allowed us to easily walk to many of our dinners, and meant that most of our day trip excursions were only a 20-60 minute drive away! It made everything very simple and flexible.
We stayed at Granada Hotel & Bistro, which was perfectly centrally located. It features a delicious bistro and bar, unique decor, and both indoor and outdoor areas to lounge. We loved having a spot to hang out at the end of the night with books, games, and cozy nooks to relax in.
DESTINATIONS
Montaña de Oro State Park
A visit to Montaña de Oro State Park is an absolutely must, particularly for the incredibly scenic Bluff Trail along the wildflower-covered shoreline! You’ll find incredible views of the California Central Coast complete with colorful plant life, tide pools, and gorgeous rock formations. At an “Easy” difficulty level, the walk along this trail is very leisurely with no significant elevation gain. I would recommend starting at the trailhead near the parking lot for the Spooner Ranch House (not Coon Creek) because you’ll see some of the most impressive views right away! That way you don’t have to complete the whole trail if you don’t want to.
Speaking of the Spooner Ranch House, definitely stop in before your walk for trail information along with a little historical fun…It still contains some of the original decor, furniture, and appliances from the early 1900s!
We explored a few other areas of the park, such as the beginning of Coon Creek Trail, but I would say make the Bluff Trail your priority!
Olive Oil Tasting In Paso Robles
You may already know that Paso Robles is known for its many vineyards and wonderful wines. (Speaking of which, if that’s your thing, please add that to your own activity list!!) On this particular trip we decided to try something different that was personally recommended to us before travel: an olive oil tasting!
Don’t worry, unless you’re really hardcore, you don’t have to drink the olive oil straight (though you totally can if you want to); Bread is provided for dipping!
We decided to visit Pasolivo, where we had the fun sampling an array of olive oils that were all super unique. It’s eye-opening to realize the huge variety in flavor if you’ve never compared them side by side before! (If you’re in need of a souvenir, I highly recommend both their Basil Olive Oil and Garlic Olive Oil…Super delicious!)
Note: You want to visit their Ranch Tasting Room, not the storefront in downtown Paso Robles! You’ll get an incredibly scenic drive through Paso Robles on the way out there.
Hearst Castle
Getting a tour of the iconic Hearst Castle is a must if you’re in the SLO area!
The estate is located in San Simeon, which took us less than an hour to get to from downtown SLO. The views as you climb up to the hilltop by shuttle from the Visitor’s Center are stunning, and the scale and detail of the castle itself are definitely surreal. We chose the “Grand Rooms” tour, which is the most recommended for first-time visitors.
Photos are restricted to personal/private use, so get yourself a ticket and check it out for yourself! It’s a truly unique historical experience!
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Viewing Area
A short drive down the road from Hearst Castle you’ll find the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Viewing Area! Walk along the boardwalk of this scenic (and windy!!) beach to observe the wildly fascinating elephant seals play, spar, and throw sand around. It’s a kick!
Not to worry, they were in their molting season, so though they may look a bit weathered, they were all doing well!
Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
Take a drive up to the city of Cambria (“Pines By The Sea”), for an absolutely stunning walk through Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. This small trail system is very easy to navigate. Regardless of the trails you choose, I highly recommend ending on the Bluff Trail to conclude your walk with the most special views! All the walking here was at an “Easy” difficulty level.
Three Bridges Oak Preserve
The trail system at Three Bridges Oak Preserve was simple to navigate, and also what I would consider an “Easy” difficult level. With both shady and sunny areas, it’s a well-rounded group of short, quiet trails lined with plenty of interesting vegetation, and includes a scenic view at the top of northern SLO!
Morro Rock
You can’t visit Morro Bay without a drive out to Morro Rock! Formed from the remnants of a volcano millions of years ago, this iconic landmark can be spotted along the coastline as you drive towards it. Take a walk around for fun wildlife sightings, such as watching the otters play!
Downtown SLO
If you’re already staying in town, take a little walk through downtown San Luis Obispo! You’ll find historic landmarks, such as the 1772 Mission, farm-to-table cuisine, and tons of fun shops.
FOOD
SloDoCo
The donut selection at SloDoCo is a ton of fun…You can choose from over 100 different types of donuts! Don’t be surprised if you feel super indecisive looking through the eye-catching and unique choices…They all sounded incredible!
I’m a plain donut girl at heart, as boring as that may be, so I decided to try 2 classics…”Glazed Old Fashioned” and “Glazed Raised”. Judge if you want, I know everything else is “more fun”, but you can’t go wrong with a classic right?! Especially the first time you visit a new donut shop! The Old Fashioned was perfectly crisp and cakey, and the Raised was pillowy soft and light…Honestly very pleased with my choices. I promise to try a more unique flavor on my next visit! 😉
Hidden Kitchen
Located in the small beachy town of Cayucos, Hidden Kitchen is an absolute must-try! Between their incredibly beautiful and nutritious smoothies and their signature blue corn waffles, this super cute spot is an awesome option for anyone health-conscious, or for those simply looking for a unique bite to eat!
I had to try the “Gorda Greens” Smoothie, made with spinach, kale, chard, banana, ginger, spirulina, pineapple, coconut water, and coconut shreds…It was too beautiful not to! It’s wonderfully thick (eaten with a spoon!), sweet, banana-y, and SO refreshing! For anyone afraid of green smoothies, you truly don’t taste the greens at all…I HIGHLY recommend it!
My husband went for a blue corn waffle! He got the “Rancho el Churro” Waffle with cinnamon sugar, butter, whipped cream, and dulce de leche.
Frankie and Lola’s Front Street Cafe
Located in Morro Bay with an excellent view of Morro Rock, Frankie and Lola’s was a great find for brunch! I’m normally a person who loves a sweet breakfast/brunch, but I was really in a savory mood on this day, and both my husband and I got the “Oaxacanero” Breakfast Burrito! It comes with eggs, house-made turkey chorizo, crispy potatoes, and mozzarella, served with guacamole and sour cream. It was super hearty and packed with flavor!
Louisa’s Place
If you’re looking for a classic diner breakfast in downtown SLO, look no further than Louisa’s Place! Centrally located and hustling and bustling with locals and visitors alike, Louisa’s was both super convenient and tasty. We got the “Buckwheat Pancakes”!
Beerwood
Should you find yourself hiking near the close-by city of Los Osos, I could not recommend Beerwood more! It has a super cute outdoor patio and the friendliest people. Whether you’re a beer-lover or not, this chill neighborhood hangout had ridiculously good sandwiches! I got the “Beerwood Grilled Cheese” + Tomatoes & Arugula. It was made with local sourdough, and tons of parmesan, cheddar, and gruyere. The best part? All the crispy cheese caked onto the outside of the thick bread…2 big thumbs up!
Granada Hotel & Bistro
Located in downtown San Luis Obispo, enjoy dinner on the outdoor bistro patio of Granada Hotel & Bistro, or drinks at the cocktail lounge inside! We happened to stay at this hotel (see more on that above), but anyone can stop in for a fabulous meal. I got the “Signature Burger” with house-made remoulade, cheddar, lettuce, homemade pickles, brioche bun, and kennebec fries. My husband went with the “Wild Mushroom Bucatini” which was my second choice…We’ll just have to come back so I can try that next 😉
Mistura
Also in downtown San Luis Obispo, our dinner at Mistura was one of the most unique meals we’ve ever had! They serve modern Peruvian cuisine, which I had never tried before! The decor and vibe is super fun which is always a treat, and the menu is huge, so there’s tons to choose from. I got the “Escabeche” with white sea bass, red onions, red vinegar, olives, and ají amarillo served with purple, red, and sweet potatoes. The marinated fish and veggies were served on top of a little tower of perfectly crisp sweet and salty potatoes…I HIGHLY recommend it!
Nate’s On Marsh
Another downtown SLO option is Nate’s On Marsh, which serves contemporary American-Italian cuisine. The “Caesar Salad” was one of the best I’ve had (totally covered in cheese!), and the “Spaghetti Pomodoro + Meatball” featured the biggest and most delicious meatball of all time.
We will absolutely be back to visit the SLO area again in the future…We truly love the Central Coast! Following any return trips, I’ll be sure to update this list!
I am not affiliated with any of the above establishments. These are simply my personal travel recommendations!
After seeing your pictures and reading your comments, I am so sorry we just drove through that area on the highway when we were out that way heading north. I now have it on my list for a top to-do next time we are in CA! You’re pictures were beautiful. Thank you for your great list of things to do and places to eat.
I also wish we had discovered it sooner! It’s such a great town to know about, and I’m so glad you can now have it on your own list. Thank you so much, I had so many more photos, it was hard to choose which to share! 🙂