Melissa’s guidebook for Orcutt and the Central Coast

Melissa
Melissa’s guidebook for Orcutt and the Central Coast

Hiking

Easy hike/walk through the hills with beautiful views! Close to the studio, just across Rice Ranch Road.
Orcutt Hills
Easy hike/walk through the hills with beautiful views! Close to the studio, just across Rice Ranch Road.
Great hiking trails
6 locals recommend
Los Flores Ranch Park
6245 Dominion Rd
6 locals recommend
Great hiking trails
A gorgeous hike above Pismo Beach with wildflowers (in the Spring) and wide views of the Pacific Ocean.
53 locals recommend
Pismo Preserve
80 Mattie Rd
53 locals recommend
A gorgeous hike above Pismo Beach with wildflowers (in the Spring) and wide views of the Pacific Ocean.

Food scene

Delicious Italian Food
16 locals recommend
Trattoria Uliveto
285 Broadway St
16 locals recommend
Delicious Italian Food
Historic restaurant with homestyle breakfasts.
26 locals recommend
Kay's Orcutt Country Kitchen
135 E Clark Ave
26 locals recommend
Historic restaurant with homestyle breakfasts.
Everything served all day. If you go for breakfast, be sure to get their Raisin Cinnamon French Toast.
11 locals recommend
Jack's In Old Orcutt
156 Broadway St
11 locals recommend
Everything served all day. If you go for breakfast, be sure to get their Raisin Cinnamon French Toast.
The best sushi place around!
Mikado Sushi Japanese Restaurant
209 Town Center E
The best sushi place around!
Delicious Mediterranean food with a fantastic outdoor eating atmosphere.
8 locals recommend
The Garden Mediterranean Restaurant & Cafe
122 E Boone St
8 locals recommend
Delicious Mediterranean food with a fantastic outdoor eating atmosphere.
Fabulous food with a southern vibe.
Chef Ricks Ultimately Fine Foods
135 E Foster Rd
Fabulous food with a southern vibe.
For a fabulous bowl of clam chowder or fish n' chips, visit Splash Café. But allow yourself some time, there's usually a line dine the street (and that was before Covid!)
83 locals recommend
Splash Café Pismo Beach
197 Pomeroy Ave
83 locals recommend
For a fabulous bowl of clam chowder or fish n' chips, visit Splash Café. But allow yourself some time, there's usually a line dine the street (and that was before Covid!)
At the Port San Luis Pier (in the parking lot) enjoy this local favorite for fish 'n chips and other great seafood.
18 locals recommend
Fat Cats Cafe
3920 Avila Beach Dr
18 locals recommend
At the Port San Luis Pier (in the parking lot) enjoy this local favorite for fish 'n chips and other great seafood.
Eat on the pier overlooking the water! Fabulous food, vibe and view of Avila Beach!
39 locals recommend
Mersea's Seafood Restaurant
3985 Avila Beach Dr
39 locals recommend
Eat on the pier overlooking the water! Fabulous food, vibe and view of Avila Beach!

Beaches

A beautiful walk on a boardwalk across the lake, through the sand dunes to the ocean.
48 locals recommend
Oso Flaco Lake
3098 Oso Flaco Lake Rd
48 locals recommend
A beautiful walk on a boardwalk across the lake, through the sand dunes to the ocean.
Avila Beach is south facing so if it's windy, this beach is more protected. There's great tide pools when the tide is out. Go a little further down the road to Port San Luis to see seals lazing around.
329 locals recommend
Avila Beach
329 locals recommend
Avila Beach is south facing so if it's windy, this beach is more protected. There's great tide pools when the tide is out. Go a little further down the road to Port San Luis to see seals lazing around.
Excellent beach for surfing, shopping and dining.
186 locals recommend
Pismo Beach
186 locals recommend
Excellent beach for surfing, shopping and dining.
Walk or drive out on the pier, you can fish, enjoy shops and dining, kayaking, paddle boarding. Most of the year you'll see and hear otters basking on the floating docks just off the pier! There's kayak and paddle board rentals available at The Mermaid Market open from 5:30am-7pm
Port San Luis
Walk or drive out on the pier, you can fish, enjoy shops and dining, kayaking, paddle boarding. Most of the year you'll see and hear otters basking on the floating docks just off the pier! There's kayak and paddle board rentals available at The Mermaid Market open from 5:30am-7pm

Wine Tasting

33 locals recommend
Presqu'ile Winery
5391 Presquile Dr
33 locals recommend
Costa de Oro Winery
1331 Nicholson Ave
23 locals recommend
Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard
6200 Foxen Canyon Rd
23 locals recommend
7 locals recommend
Zaca Mesa Winery
6905 Foxen Canyon Rd
7 locals recommend
14 locals recommend
Foxen Vineyard & Winery
7600 Foxen Canyon Rd
14 locals recommend

Sightseeing

Call to schedule a hiking or van tour. (Cannot drive there on your own.) OR, and my favorite way, rent paddle boards or kayaks and get there from the sea! https://www.pointsanluislighthouse.org/
35 locals recommend
Point San Luis Lighthouse
1 Lighthouse Rd
35 locals recommend
Call to schedule a hiking or van tour. (Cannot drive there on your own.) OR, and my favorite way, rent paddle boards or kayaks and get there from the sea! https://www.pointsanluislighthouse.org/
Seasonal, Oct-Feb. See all the Monarchs that migrate here!
141 locals recommend
Monarch Butterfly Grove
400 South Dolliver Street
141 locals recommend
Seasonal, Oct-Feb. See all the Monarchs that migrate here!

City advice

Don't miss

Farmer's Markets

- Orcutt Farmer's Market on Tuesday mornings. 4852 S. Bradley - Santa Maria Market Wednesday 12-4. 201 Town Center W. Santa Maria -San Luis Obispo (SLO) Farmer's Market. Thursdays 6-9pm on Higuera (downtown SLO). Live music, vendors, entertainment - Avila Beach Farmer's Market - May 6 - Aug 26, Friday evenings 4-8 pm. Live music, hand-crafted artisan foods, produce, restaurants. Located right at the beach! Get dinner and watch the sunset.