The Locals Guide To Dining In San Simeon
In the heart of the Central Coast, you’ll find the town of San Simeon with its breathtaking coastlines, jaw-dropping ocean views, coast wildlife, and enchanting historic landmarks. Whether your visit involves a cruise on highway 1, a trip to Hearst Castle, Piedras Blancas, the beach, or a peek at the elephant seals in action, San Simeon offers a nice selection of fine-dining and lodging if you decide to extend your stay and do some exploring.
Enjoy a hearty meal by the ocean as you sample the local and seasonal cuisine from some of the best restaurants in town. Ready to dive in? Let’s take a quick look at the local’s guide to dining in San Simeon:
Sebastian’s Café
442 Slo San Simeon Rd, San Simeon, CA
The lunch at Sebastian’s Café located at Hearst Ranch Winery is sure to satisfy any appetite. Drink in the ocean views on the outdoor patio as you pair their wide range of local wine with a delicious Hearst Ranch Tri-Tip sandwich, a juicy burger or some tasty fish tacos.
Manta Rey Restaurant
9240 Castillo Drive, San Simeon, CA
The Manta Rey Restaurant, located two miles from Hearst Castle, offers stunning views of the coastline and breathtaking evening sunsets as you sample their fresh seafood, steaks, decadent desserts and a wide variety of local wines.
Cavalier Restaurant
9415 Hearst Dr, San Simeon, CA
The Cavalier Restaurant is a family-style restaurant, located at the Cavalier Oceanfront Resort (Best Western). It is a local favorite for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Locals recommend specials like the Pacific Snapper or Country Fried Chicken plates.
Big Sur Restaurant
9290 Castillo Dr, San Simeon, CA
Big Sur Restaurant is a traditional breakfast, lunch, & dinner art-filled diner serving American roadside classics like hearty pancakes & eggs, omelets, burgers & seafood. They are also vegetarian-friendly.
Ragged Point Restaurant
19019 Highway 1, San Simeon, CA
The gourmet restaurant at Ragged Point Inn & Resort is the ideal place for a special romantic escape. Savor seasonal California Cuisine paired with the finest regional wines as you and your significant other enjoy the amazing sunset over the Pacific or an after-dinner moonlit stroll through the well-landscaped grounds. If you’re in the mood for something a little less formal, check out the Resorts very own Wine Bar, Espresso Bar, and Sandwich Stand for a quick bite before hitting Highway 1.
El Chorlito Mexican Restaurant
9155 Hearst Dr, San Simeon, CA
For authentic Mexican food al fresco, El Chorlito’s ocean-view patio is an excellent dining choice. Explore numerous house specialties such as homemade vegetarian salsa, Chicken or Hearst Ranch Top Sirloin Fajitas, or lamb shanks in a mild tomatillo sauce. Be sure to enjoy your meal with the house specialty and local favorite, the “Agave Wine Margaritas” made with Los Cabos Agave Especial Wine.
Sunset Grill
9070 Castillo Dr, San Simeon, CA
Enjoy one of the heartiest breakfast plates in town at the humble Sunset Grill at Motel 6 in San Simeon before touring The Castle, hitting the waves or exploring the areas many hiking trails. The menu is quite extensive if you have picky eaters in your crew, but the breakfast buffet is where you’ll spot the locals sampling the house specialties (pancakes and waffles, Eggs Benedict and biscuits and gravy) to help jump-start their busy day.
San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill
9520 Castillo Drive, San Simeon, CA
The San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill located at San Simeon Lodge is a full-on restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus comprised of appetizers, premium steaks, seafood, and a tasty dessert menu along with a diverse selection of wines. They claim to offer ocean views at every table. The bar offers great happy hour prices as well as some entertainment events on the weekend. Located one block from the beach and two miles from Hearst Castle. Do you have a favorite San Simeon restaurant in mind that features ocean views or delicious menu options that didn’t make our list? Share your San Simeon dining secrets in the comments below.
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