Photo credit: Courtesy of See Monterey
A Central Coast Graze
A weeklong road trip designed for food and wine enthusiasts who crave authentic, inspired local flavors.
California’s Central Coast is the ultimate playground for food and wine lovers. It starts with the land, where farms and ranches have thrived for generations and continue to yield top quality produce. The sea is equally bountiful, with sustainable fisheries and aquaculture operations providing fresh catch year round. Add an ever-evolving wine industry with roots going back to the 1800’s, and you have all the ingredients for a one-of-a-kind culinary culture serving up a distinctive taste of place. From humble taquerias and rustic barbecue joints to Michelin-starred restaurants and artisanal bakeries, dining is always a palate-pleasing adventure on the Central Coast. This itinerary is for culinary-minded travelers who enjoy “collecting” delicious experiences, breaking bread with locals and sipping soulful wines. The journey starts in the Santa Cruz Mountains and winds south through Monterey County, SLO CAL and Santa Barbara County, ending in the strawberry fields of Camarillo.
Photo credit: Lester Estates by Garrick Ramirez, courtesy of Visit Santa Cruz
Day 1: Santa Cruz Wine Country
Start your adventure exploring the wineries of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, one of California’s oldest wine-growing regions dating back to 1868. Enjoy a leisurely tasting at respected Lester Estate Wines; book ahead to explore the stunning property aboard a restored 1981 Land Rover Defender, visiting a secluded redwood meadow, where wines are paired with bites prepared by a resident chef. Founded by married U.C. Davis grads in 1988, the long beloved Storrs Winery & Vineyards has a beautiful new tasting room set amidst rolling hills in Pleasant Valley. Don’t miss Corralitos Market & Sausage Co., known for exceptional sandwiches and hot dogs prepared with meats from the in-house butcher and locally sourced ingredients. If you have one more sipping stop in you, head further east along scenic Browns Valley Road to soak up the ambience of Windy Oaks Estate, a premier pinot noir producer. Head back towards the coast to unwind for the evening.
Driving Time: 45 minutes
Overnight: Seascape Resort in Aptos or Pajaro Dunes Resort in Watsonville
Photo credit: Pezzini Farms courtesy of See Monterey
Day 2: Moss Landing to Carmel
Start your day in Moss Landing, a quaint Monterey County fishing village that’s also home to the largest sea otter population in the region. Grab breakfast and a strong brew at The Power Plant Coffee + Store and then have a wander around the working harbor. If you want to get out on the water, rent kayaks for a paddle or take a guided boat tour of the Eckorn Slough with Monterey Bay Eco Tours. No matter how you opt to work up an appetite, dig into fresh catch on the deck at Sea Harvest, a restaurant and fish market known for its fish tacos, seasonal crab and catch of the day.
Head south to Castroville, a small agricultural community dubbed the “artichoke capitol of the world.” Visit Pezzini Farms, growers of heirloom green globe artichokes with an extensive gourmet food selection to shop. Snap photos with the giant artichoke at The Giant Artichoke Restaurant before getting back on the road to Carmel-By-The-Sea.
After getting settled at your hotel, delve into Monterey County’s terroir at one of the many tasting rooms on Carmel Village’s “Wine Walk” and then treat yourself to a Michelin-starred dinner. One-starred Chez Noir offers a modern, seafood-centric menu showcasing pristine ingredients sourced from the Monterey Peninsula. At two-starred Aubergine, chef Justin Cogley curates a different eight-course tasting menu nightly, drawing inspiration from the natural surroundings and local ingredients, including Monterey Bay abalone and seaweed foraged from Carmel Beach.
Driving Time: 50 minutes
Overnight: Carmel-by-the-Sea
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Restaurant at JUSTIN
Day 3: Carmel Valley to Paso Robles
Pack your bags and start the day at Earthbound Farms, a 2.5-acre farm stand with gardens, an organic grocery store, kitchen and deli. After wandering through the herb garden, labyrinth and berry patch, fuel up on wholesome breakfast fare. Just down the road is sustainably-farmed Folktale Winery & Vineyards, where you can sip a glass of bubbles or try their pinot noir and chardonnay. And/or book ahead for a private tasting at 750-acre Holman Ranch estate–upgraded options include a “Hike & Sip” and vineyard tour with a wine cave tasting.
Continue along East Carmel Valley Road, enjoying the scenic route through rural countryside and eventually connecting to US-101 South towards Paso Robles. Spend the afternoon exploring the local makers in Tin City, a modern converted industrial marketplace filled with more than 40 small production wineries, culinary artisans, breweries and eateries.
For dinner, plan ahead to secure a booking at SLO CAL Michelin-starred standouts, Six Test Kitchen in Tin City or The Restaurant at JUSTIN overlooking the acclaimed winery’s vineyards.
Driving Time: 2.5 hours
Overnight: Paso Robles or Atascadero
Photo credit: Crista Renee Pfleeger courtesy of Morro Bay Oyster Co.
Day 4: Paso Robles to Pismo Beach
In the morning, head to the coast via CA-41 South for sea breezes and a caffeine infusion at Scout Coffee’s flagship roastery and bakery in Morro Bay. Meander around the eclectic village and then go down to the Embarcadero to rent kayaks for a paddle out to see Morro Bay Oyster Co.’s sustainable aquaculture operation–its Pacific Gold oysters (available at the storefront and by appointment) are a chef favorite. You’ll find plenty of other fresh seafood options at the harbor, too.
If you’re still hungry, grab picnic fixings in downtown San Luis Obispo on your way to Chamisal Vineyards, located in one of the region’s newest AVAs, San Luis Obispo Coast, and home of the very first vineyard planted in the Edna Valley. Next, make your way to Tolosa Winery, which gets equally high marks for its commitment to environmental stewardship as its chardonnay and pinot noir vintages.
From there, it’s a short drive to Pismo Beach where you can settle into your seaside lodgings and catch the sunset on the pier. For dinner, try the famed, award-winning clam chowder at casual Splash Cafe, or sit down for leisurely bites at Oyster Loft or Pequin Coastal Cocina.
Driving Time: 1.5 hours
Overnight: Pismo Beach
Photo credit: Bien Nacido Estate
Day 5: Pismo Beach to Santa Ynez Valley
Drive Highway 1 South to Oceano for coffee and breakfast at Deltina Coffee Roasters, with an optional stop to witness the vast expanse of the Oceano Dunes–the only beach in California you can drive on. As you head south on PCH, stop at one of the many farmstands including Hayashi Fruit Stand, a multi-generational family farm dating back to the 1940s with a cult following for its strawberries.
Continue traveling through the rural agricultural zone until you arrive in Guadalupe, a tiny, under-the-radar coastal town known for its authentic Mexican cuisine and access to the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve. Nosh on tacos at El Tapatio, Nardos or La Pasadita Oaxaqueña and check out the murals.
When ready for wine time, head east on Betteravia Road which will become Foxen Canyon Road en route to The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido Estate. Taste Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills wines overlooking the legendary vineyard planted in 1973–now one of the world’s most single vineyard designants. Carry on to Cambria Estate Winery, another iconic winery in the Santa Maria Valley AVA, which was the Central Coast’s very first AVA established in 1981.
Take Palmer Road to US-101 South, stopping in the foodie haven of Los Alamos for a walkabout in the western one-street town, home to Michelin-starred Bell’s and a smattering of boutique wine tasting rooms. Carry on to the day’s final destination, Buellton. Get checked into your accommodations and beeline to Hitching Post 2 (a key location in the Academy Award-winning film Sideways) for their world-famous Santa Maria-style barbecue.
Driving Time: 1.5 hours
Overnight: Buellton
Photo credit: Courtesy of Rosewood Miramar Beach
Day 6: Santa Ynez Valley to Santa Barbara
Check out and have breakfast at Ellen’s Danish Pancake House, a Santa Ynez Valley institution influenced by the neighboring Danish village of Solvang’s heritage. Drive winding Santa Rosa Road for a tasting at Peake Ranch, where you can see the adobe that once housed the original Sanford tasting room featured in Sideways. Down the road a ways, The Hilt Estate is another esteemed wine producer in the heart of the cooler climate Sta. Rita Hills AVA.
Keep the bucolic scenery flowing, hopping on Highway 1 heading towards Santa Barbara. If the rugged coast and a burger with a cult following is calling, turn off on Jalama Road to the Jalama Beach Store and Grill, a destination in its own right for the “World Famous Jalama Burger.”
Continue on to Santa Barbara and get checked into your hotel. Walk around the Funk Zone neighborhood or Presidio District to browse the shops and drop into one of the many urban wine trail tasting rooms. Do dinner on the higher end of the spectrum with a Michelin-starred dinner at Caruso’s at Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito or a multi-course sushi feast at Silvers Omakase. Or, go casual at the late Julia Child’s favorite local spot, La Super-Rica Taqueria, on Milpas Street.
Driving Time: 1 hour (or 2.25 hours with Jalama detour)
Overnight: Santa Barbara
Photo credit: Courtesy of Visit Camarillo
Day 7: Santa Barbara to Camarillo
Catch the sunrise on the waterfront and see the fishermen bringing in their hauls at the Santa Barbara Harbor. Have breakfast at On The Alley or Dart Coffee Co., walk it off on the Breakwater or rent bikes for a cruise along Cabrillo Boulevard.
Check out and head south on US-101 to Oxnard for a DIY tasting tour along the vibrant, diverse Oxnard Taco Trail with more than two dozen spots to choose from. Make it a harbor hopping day, and include a stop at Channel Islands Harbor while in the neighborhood.
Get back to the land at the fourth generation family farmers’ The Store at McGrath Family Farm in Camarillo, a regional chef favorite for pristine organic produce. Continue exploring the Camarillo Farm Trail, sampling premium strawberries at Los Posas Berries (or one of the many other farmstands) and getting your hands dirty u-picking whatever’s currently in season.
Settle in at your hotel to get cleaned up for an evening in Old Town Camarillo. Toast to a successful, delicious trip at The Mark, Twisted Oak Tavern or Twenty 88. Cheers!
Driving Time: 1.25 hours
Overnight: Camarillo
By Shannon Brooks
