Fill up on these 3 Central Coast foodie road trips

When it comes to road trips, food sometimes takes a back seat to the sights, sounds, and scenery along the way, with meals often relegated to quick stops to fill our stomachs and stretch our legs. But we’re ready to flip the road trip script with 3 Central Coast drives built around eating fabulous food, from roadside tacos to fine-dining feasts. Each segment is worthy on its own, but combining them is even more delicious. Here’s where to drive and dine from Santa Barbara to Carmel.

Snag a reservation at Loquita (3), a lively upscale restaurant in the buzzy Funk Zone that honors Santa Barbara’s Spanish roots with a menu of classic tapas, paellas, and cheese and charcuterie plates, all tailored for sharing. Pair your meal with a craft cocktail, farmers market sangria, or sherry flight. Dinner daily.

Reserve ahead for a meal at the rustic-chic S.Y. Kitchen (5), where local ingredients shine in Italian plates of oak-grilled meats, house-made pastas, and dinner-only wood-fired pizzas. Lunch and dinner daily.

This boutique hotel in Santa Ynez (formerly the Santa Ynez Inn), designed after a historic turn-of-the-century wine country inn, exudes old-world charm while offering luxe amenities like marble bathrooms with steam showers and heated floors and an on-site spa.

Take advantage of the complimentary made-to-order breakfast, evening wine hour, and nightly dessert reception. The property’s adjacent restaurant, The Victor, serves California-inspired cuisine for dinner and weekend brunch. Rates start at $350, plus a $40 daily amenity fee; AAA discount available.

Bob’s Well Bread Bakery (6) is the place for pastries (don’t sleep on the kouign-amann, a flaky French layered cake) and an all-day menu until 3 p.m., including egg dishes and sandwiches made with Bob’s naturally fermented breads. Breakfast and lunch. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Michelin-starred Bell’s (7), from chef Daisy Ryan and her husband, Gregory, has built a devoted following for its French-inspired bistro dishes that showcase local ingredients.

Reserve well ahead for the $110 5-course prix fixe dinner (either in the intimate dining room or on the covered back patio) that kicks off with an indulgent Santa Barbara uni canapé layered with crème fraîche and caviar. There’s an à la carte menu at lunch, when the restaurant keeps some tables available for walk-ins. Lunch and dinner. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

At Full of Life Flatbread (8), dig into pizzas baked to perfection in a wood-burning stone oven, fresh salads, and weekly seasonal specials that celebrate local farmers and fishers. Dinner only Thursdays and Fridays. Lunch and dinner Saturdays and Sundays. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

Cowboy-chic and centrally located, the kitschy-cool property is a great place to hang your Stetson in the laid-back town of Los Alamos. Smack-dab in the middle of Bell Street, it’s within walking distance of acclaimed restaurants, tasting rooms, and quirky antique and vintage shops. Grab a glass of local wine or beer from the on-property Bar Alamo and pull up a chair by the firepit. Rates start at $200.

Soar on California’s longest zip line, clocking in at 3,360 feet at Highline Adventures (9) ($139 for 3 zip lines). Opened in 2023, the Buellton outfitter also offers a multilevel adventure course ($37–$79) and enchanting protea flower walking tours ($45). Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

The year-old Æbleskivehuset (10) in Solvang turns out delectable aebleskiver—puffy Danish pancake balls—made with eggs from area farms. They’re traditionally served with raspberry jam and powdered sugar, but they’re even better with house-made Danish ice cream. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Fresh-picked produce from the owner’s Edna Valley farm combine with family recipes from southern Italy at Giuseppe’s Cucina Italiana (2), which churns out an array of house-made pasta dishes. Go with the butternut squash–filled ravioli di zucca or the Tortellini Giuseppe in a pancetta-laced pink sauce, and finish with the signature mascarpone carrot cake.

For stone-fired pizza or other takeout meals, stop by Giuseppe’s Express across the street. Giuseppe’s Cucina Italiana: dinner daily; lunch on weekends. Giuseppe’s Express: lunch and dinner daily.

Nate’s on Marsh (5), which joined SLO’s hot dining scene in late 2021, occupies a historic residence with indoor and outdoor dining spaces and a bustling bar where you can feast on a contemporary Italian-leaning menu that showcases regional ingredients.

Try the popular salmon piccata, hand-cut pappardelle ragù with local lamb, or creamy Burrata paired with warm bread from SLO’s Back Porch Bakery. Save room for the spumoni ice cream cake. Lunch and dinner. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

This eco-friendly upscale hotel’s central location, a half block from Higuera Street in downtown San Luis Obispo, makes it an ideal choice for those who like to walk to meals and activities. Splash in the rooftop pool, rejuvenate in the steam room, and relax over a craft cocktail and oyster plate at restaurant The Oak Grill. Rates start at $260.

In Cayucos, seek out Hidden Kitchen (7), a cozy, casual spot near the Cayucos Pier known for its organic and gluten-free delights. (It’s a newer offshoot of the original weekends-only location 20 minutes up the coast in Cambria.)

Don’t miss the famed blue corn waffles served savory (topped with eggs and other good stuff like house-made green salsa, caramelized onions, and Anaheim chiles) or sweet with fruit, maple syrup, and grass-fed butter. Breakfast and lunch daily.

At Lunada Garden Bistro (8), dine on the lush garden terrace or in the historic dining room, built in 1876. Seafood (think oysters, clams, calamari, and a rotating daily catch) anchors the eclectic menu, which also includes hearty entrées like rack of lamb, steaks, and French-style duck. Lunch and dinner; breakfast and brunch also served on weekends. Closed Mondays.

Cool off with handcrafted ice cream at Rori’s Artisanal Creamery (9), a vintage-style parlor in Arroyo Grande’s downtown village with unusual flavors like black pepper pistachio. The menu also offers gluten-free, vegan, and kid-size options. Open daily.

Stop at the Visitor Information Airstream near Pismo Beach Pier Plaza (10) for a trail guide and maps. Walk the waterfront promenade, stroll the sandy shore, hit the playground if you’re with kids, or bike the miles of nearby trails. Open daily.

You can practically pluck your meal out of the ocean from your table at Sea Chest Oyster Bar (1), a longtime institution where patrons arrive in the afternoon to snag a spot (no reservations, but you can play cards or grab a glass of wine if there’s a wait).

The real show happens at the wraparound oyster bar, where chefs toss seafood pastas, broil oysters, and cook fresh catches like thresher shark or local snapper. Dinner only. Closed Tuesdays. Cash only.

Madeline’s (2), a wine shop and French-inspired restaurant, is perfect for an elegant lunch or a candlelight dinner with classics such as rack of lamb and duck terrine. Lunch and dinner daily. 

Sidewalk signs point the way to Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ (6), tucked away in an alley near City Park. Some of the region’s best barbecue—from tri-tip to brisket, dry-rubbed and smoked over a wood fire—is served with house-made sides and sauces. Lunch and dinner. Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

For a fitting finale to your foodie road trip, book a table at fun-yet-sophisticated Chez Noir (9), a newish restaurant with outstanding service and food that earned a 2023 Michelin star with a $150 prix fixe–only menu (á la carte items are available at the bar) that elevates Monterey Bay and other Central Coast ingredients to lofty heights. Dinner only. Closed Sundays.

A major property-wide remodel completed in 2020 turned a quaint motel into a contemporary haven at the Crossroads area near Highway 1 and historic Carmel Mission. The décor reflects a midcentury modern look with pops of color, enhanced by local artworks, mosaic floors, and a painted stone fireplace that pays homage to Carmel’s natural scenery and artsy heritage.

Property perks include courtyard firepits, a pool and a hot tub, a restaurant and a bar, and a fitness room with Peloton bikes. Rates start at $239, plus a $29 daily resort fee; AAA discount available. 

Follow the meandering paths through Bruce Munro: Light at Sensorio (10) , an ever-evolving outdoor art installation with more than 100,000 solar-powered lights that come alive at dusk. Also on the grounds: gourmet food and drink, lawn games, firepits, and live music. Hours vary seasonally. Currently open Thursday through Sunday evenings. Adult general admission starts at $45.

Back in 1983, Renee Linn began baking and selling pies filled with homegrown olallieberries (a blackberry-raspberry hybrid), and the popular pie has since become the cornerstone of Linn’s Easy As Pie Shop and Café (11) in Cambria. Open daily.