"The Hacienda" Hearst's
own hunting lodge in Jolon, California
Now... just my favorite Cambria places to eat and drink, but soon...the
Complete List of Cambria Restaurants, Delicatessens, Bakeries, Food Stands, Tea & Espressso Bars and any other kind of place to enjoy food or drink in Cambria California!!!
There are some restaurants in Cambria, not too far from Hearst Castle that I would call really great places to eat! Many good restaurants and some truly unique places to eat and enjoy gourmet espresso coffees, European teas and deserts which can enhance your central California coast vacation that are not too far from the William Randolph Hearst California State Historical Monument Visitors Center.
Is the page you want? This is a listing of restaruants in Cambria California which is a quaint village about 9 miles from Hearst Castle Visitors Center. There is also a page listing restaurants and snack bars at or very near Hearst Castle, places to eat at the Castle, in San Simeon or San Simeon Acres.San Simeon & Hearst Castle Restaurants & Snack Bars; or if you are heading north on the Scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1 maybe you would like to preview the best Big Sur / Monterey Restaurants list.
Complete Directory of All Cambria Restaurants, Cafes, Delis, Snack , Tea and Coffee Bars near Cambria, California.
Food and Drink in Cambria; so many places to eat, drink and delight the pallet, not just restaruants and bars!
In a tourist oriented town like Cambria opportunities to delight your palate abound, especially in the summertime. Cambria California has many restaurants and some new ones are always coming and old ones going. In addition to the full-meal sit-down restaurants there is take tasty food take away opportunities like delicatessens and scrumptious fast food taco stands, and establishments with small limited seating and menus like bakeries, coffee bars and a unique English tea themed place called the Tea Cozy; and I havent even mentioned wine tasting and related local wine, beer and cocktail prospects.
Dining and Drinking Options in Cambria: Cambria has scads of restaurants these days but if youre a tourist I would stick with the guaranteed winners which are listed on this page if for some reason a great Cambria restaurant you think should be included gets left off contact me. The truth is there are many wonderful options to a full on sit-down meal and so many lovely places in Cambria to go sit and enjoy a takeaway meal.
One of my favorite places to get a cold take-away meal is Sotos Market & Deli (2244 Main St - East Village, Cambria, 8o5-927-4411), a longtime historic downtown Cambria mainstay; the market has evolved over the years and now caters more to the Deli crowd; pick up a piece of fresh ripe fruit, a deli-sandwich, chips and drinks and find a close by bench or head out to one of Cambrias many beautiful picnic spots like Shamel Park or Leffingwell Landing! Its fun to just browse through Sotos open air market even if you dont need to buy but Sotos is not the only place in Cambria to get great cold deli take-away food there is also theFrench Corner Bakery (2214 Main Street,805-927-8227) & Sandy's Deli & Bakery (604 Main Street, 805-927-3000) which have some limited indoor and outdoor seating. If you are looking for a sensory and culinary adventure with an added delicious cuisine return, then go the 2:30/5:30 Friday Cambria Farmers Market in the Veterans Memorial Hall parking lot (1000 Main St; West Village Cambria). They have the expected fresh fruit and flowers plus fresh baked goods, hot BBQ, freshly prepared seafood and more
Cambria Coffee Roasting Co Outdoor & Indoor Seating
Thomas Savarino & Friend
photo by Brian Herbst
Early in the day my idea of a great breakfast is a strong European style coffee and a pastry; Cambria has several options but my favorite is the Cambria Coffee Roasting Company (761 Main St, 805-927-0670) which gained popularity and notoriety years ago when it was know as the Coffee Den.
If you would like to have a fun lunch with the feel of an authentic old fashioned English tea house try the comfortable atmosphere and scrumptious British cuisine at the Tea Cozy (4286 Bridge St, 805-927-8765). Originally founded and eventually made famous and successful by some recent UK immigrants, the new owners of this business continue the British flavored legacy of this wonderful English style Tea and Luncheon House. Give your tastebuds a British treat and come home with a British gift like a tea cozy.
How about Cambria's hot take-away food like pizza, burgers, or Mexican?
JJ's MENU
There are several places to get pizza in Cambria, JJs Pizza (805-927-3084, 2380 Main St) is probably the best and most popular pizza place in Cambria; atmosphere is like a typical pizzeria, good place for families, kids, and yes they do deliver. They have other menu options too like burgers, chicken strips, sandwiches and salads. The very best hamburgers and cheeseburgers in Cambria are at the Main Street Grill (805-927-3194), but try the "Pig", it's pulled barbecued pork on a french sub-roll, ymmmm...or for a real adventure take the scenic drive up to the Ragged Point Inn Snack Bar they have great hambugers, hot doges and a million dollar view too!!!
If you are in the mood for Mexican food when in Cambria you have numerous choices. All of the Mexican food places most of the time good; your choice depends on what size you are looking for and what you like; I am going to list them from small to large: Boni's Tacos is just a trailer set up in the parking lot downtown East Village Cambria but the food is exceptional, so if you want to picnic, Boni's Tacos could be for you, no alcohol. Bonis parts their taco trailer at two locations depending on the day: Tuesday-Friday 9:00am-3:30pm, 2405 Village Ln and Saturday & Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm, 2253 Main St; Phone orders: (805) 909-7651/ 909-7652; Information: 602-2475. Medusa's Sunshine Taqueria is located in a building (1053 Main St, 805-927-0135); take the food away or you can eat there but the seating is quite limited; homemade salsa, apesadumbrado ningunos Margaritas, cerveza y vino solamente. Las Cambritas (2336 Main St, 805-927-0175) is the first truly sit-down Mexican restaurant on the list and it also has the full bar that will mix you that stiff Margarita you are looking for. The back patio is pleasant place if the weather is nice. They sometimes have live music and it can be a fun place to party.
The most elegant Mexican restaurant in the area is a short drive north of Cambria in San Simeon acres; the El Chorlito Mexican Restaurant (9155 Hearst Drive,805-927-3872) is the biggest and has the best atmosphere and most extensive menu (California New Mexico Style Cuisine), they do not have hard liquor but they have beer, wine and what they call Margaritas de Vino, a house specialty they mix from Los Cabos Agave Expecial, Dry Vermouth, Triple Sec plus Sweet and Sour Mix. This is also the longest established Mexican restaurant, in business for over 30 years. There is only one Asian restaurant in Cambria that I know of, the Wild Ginger Cafe (2380 Main Street, 805-927-1001), a pet friendly place with a patio out back; they do lunch, dinner every day but thursday and don't take reservations.
Find a little taste of the past at Mozzis Saloon (2262 Main Street, the original saloon established in 1866) is the last of the cowboy bars in Cambria which once had 5 saloons. If youre a history buff you should go into Mozzis Saloon after sundown and buy an old cowboy a beer, hell tell you all about the Good Ole Days when Cambria was a country town and Mozzis was the cowboy bar; have yourself a hotdog and a good ole time. If you are not into cowboy there are numerous places to drink and party in Cambria; a couple of the most popular would be Las Cambritas, the Cambria Pines Lodge Lounge, and for good food, sports TVs as well as cocktails from a full bar there is the West End Bar and Grill (774 Main St 927-5521).
If you would rather taste the future of the central coast you may need to do a little wine-tasting. The California central coast is becoming famous for its superior wine grapes and world class wines. You dont need to leave the area to wine-taste; San Luis Obispo County has almost 200 wineries, many welcoming visitors to wine tasting rooms for sampling prize-winning wines. The two closest local wineries have tasting rooms in San Simeon and Harmony; Hearst Ranch Wines now offer wine tasting at the historic Sebastian Brothers General Store (805-927-3307)in the old village of San Simeon and Harmony Cellars (805-927-1625; Toll Free 800-432-9239)is just south of Cambria. If you would rather Cambria has several wine shops which have tastings one of the most popular is Fermentaions (4056 Burton Drive, 805-927-7141,Toll Free: 800-446-7505)and there is Madelines too. If you are looking for a real adventure or road-trip you may want to head inland towards Paso Robles Wine Country (Interactive Wine Country Map) on a wine tasting tour.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
The Ragged Point Inn Ocean View Resort: The perfect place to vacation and enjoy good food and drink after your Hearst Castle tour is the Ragged Point Inn Ocean View Resort! Take the scenic 15 mile journey up the Pacific Coast Highway 1 and enhance your Hearst Castle Country vacation by viewing the beautiful Pacific Coastline featuring the striking Piedras Blancas Lighthouse and interesting Elephant Seal Rookery along the way then enjoy the great food and drink and the best ocean view in the area at the Ragged Point Inn and Resort.
Ragged Point Inn Restaurant
Not in Cambria but worth the beautiful drive: Ragged Point Inn Restaurant, Ragged Point Espresso Bar, Ragged Point Inn Hamburger Stand
Reservations Telephone:
805-927-5708 Ragged Point Inn Restaurant, Hamburger Stand, Espresso Bar are all part of the wonderful Ragged Point Inn and Resort 15 miles north of Hearst Castle on Pacific Coast Highway 1.The Ragged Point Restaurant is a unique all glass ocean view restaurant serving great California style cuisine for breakfast lunch and dinner or if you would rather fast food they have an excellent hamburger stand and also an indoor espresso bar featuring gourmet desserts. The Ragged Point Inn and Resort is the perfect place to enjoy some great food, drink and a breathtaking California Coast Pacific Ocean view while relaxing after your Hearst Castle tour.
Pet Friendly, you can have your well behaved dog with you on the outdoor patios and picnic areas when dining at the Ragged Point Inn Ocean View Resort.
Ragged Point Inn and Resort
19019 Highway 1 Ragged Point, California 93452 Restaurant Phone: 805-927-5708
RESERVATIONS YES
Telephone: 805-927-3535
A wonderful lunch and dinner house in an exotic garden setting with a full bar and happy-hour; the uniquely designed restaurant, Hamlet at Moonstone Gardens has a commanding view of the Pacific Ocean and its all glass front is designed to take advantage of it, there is an ocean view from every table, those indoors as well as those on the outdoor patio. They call their menu continental, I would describe it as contemporary coastal American, it features skillfully prepared dishes using the freshest ingredients California has to offer. The house specialties include mouth-watering Rack of Lamb, tender filet mignon, seafood dishes and fresh caught fish of the day (weather permitting) and for desert homemade lemon ice cream topped with raspberries.
The restaurant is just off Pacific Coast Highway 1 but hard to see from the road, it is up on a bluff and the driveway (Exotic Gardens Dr) is directly across the highway from the northern end of Moonstone Drive; actually easy to find, take Moonstone drive north till it intersects highway 1, stop at the sign then proceed carefully across the highway and take driveway to the top of the bluff. The restaurant is just off Pacific Coast Highway 1 but hard to see from the road, it is up on a bluff and the driveway (Exotic Gardens Dr) is directally across the highway from the northern end of Moonstone Drive. Sorry no pets allowed and it is NOT wheelchair accessible.
Hamlet at Moonstone Gardens
7432 Exotic Gardens Drive Cambria, California 93428 Phone: 805-927-3535
Reservations Telephone:
805-927-3859 Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill is centrally located across from Cambria's beautiful Moonstone beach and serves breakfast, lunch or dinner daily and a Sunday brunch. They serve seafood, steaks, chicken, pork, and pasta but the main attraction of this restaurant is ocean view, there is a large outdoor patio (No Dogs) where you can catch breathtaking views of Moonstone Beach while you dine. Hearst Castle State Historical Monument Visitor Center is about 7 miles north of the Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill ocean view restaurant.
Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill
6550 Moonstone Beach Dr Cambria, California 93428 Phone: 805-927-3859
The Best Cambria Ocean View Restaurants, Fast Food & Barbecue Favorites:
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The Sea Chest
Sea Chest Oyster Bar and Seafood Restaurant
NO RESERVATIONS Telephone: 805-927-4514 Sea Chest Oyster Bar and Seafood Restaurant is a wonderful little dinner only seafood restaurant on Cambria's beautiful Moonstone Beach which is unique in many ways. You can have some seafood pasta but don't look for the beef at the Sea Chest Restaurant, this is strictly a seafood restaurant with a fun oyster bar. If you want to be assured good seating early you will have to stand in line prior to the restaurant opening at 5:30 or there is a comfy game room should you miss this nightly pre-dinner line up ritual and have to wait for your table.
Hearst Castle State Historical Monument Visitor Center is about 7 miles north of the Sea Chest Oyster Bar and Seafood Restaurant. Sea Chest Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant
6216 Moonstone Beach Dr Cambria, California 93428 Phone: 805-927-4514
Telephone:
805-927-3194
Main Street Grill can be seen from Pacific Coast Highway 1 on the west end of Cambria. This is the best barbecue grill around for miles; best burger and bigest order of french fries on the Pacific Coast; they serve hamburgers, barbecue pork, beef ribs, and chicken slow cooked on an open oak barbecue pit, this restaurant also has beer, wine and big TVs. You will want to dine outside on the patio if the weather is nice. Hearst Castle Visitor Center is just 15 minutes north.
Pet Friendly, you can have your well behaved dog on a leash with you on the outdoor patio when dining at this San Simeon eatery.
Main Street Grill
603 Main Street Cambria, CA 93428-3024 Phone: 805-927-3194
limited seating, best for adults RESERVATIONS SUGGESTED
Telephone: 805-927-4175
If youre looking for a diner that is more than a meal like something more celebratory, Cambrias Madelines Restaurant is a popular West Village dinner house connected with the Cambria Wine Shop. The Wine Shop opens at 11 and the restaurant opens at 5 every day but Wednesday. The Wine shop does tasting as well as selling and features local boutique wines; the restaurant serves up American food with a French influence in a warm friendly atmosphere. Not far off the highway 1 just about 7 miles south of William Randolph Hearst California State Historical Monument, Hearst Castle visitors center.
Madelines Restaurant and Wine Shop
788 Main Street Cambria, California 93428 Phone: 805-927-4175
The Black Cat Bistro,
an American Bistro & Winebar
RESERVATIONS YES: The Black Cat is small and popular so reservations are highly recommended.
Telephone: 805-927-1600 The Black Cat Bistro is a small intimate popular dining place (seating 45) serving in Cambrias East Village since 2002; open nightly at 5 pm, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The Black Cat features traditional American cuisine with a classic French/Euro gourmet influence, resulting in a comforting and delectable dining experience.
The Black Cat Bistro
1602 Main Street Cambria, California 93428 Phone: 805-927-1600
RESERVATIONS ADVISED or go early
Telephone: 805-927-4865 The Sows Ear Restaurant is a unique dinner house that has been a superb dependable downtown (East Village) Cambria mainstay for a number of years. A comfortable intimate eatery with a relaxed charming atmosphere and a warm gas fireplace as a centerpiece. The Sows Ear kitchen emphasizes country freshness with distinctively prepared American style cuisines and fresh seafood; featuring early bird dinners, and nightly specials in addition to their usual delicious foundation appetizers, diners and deserts. Substantial Wine and Beer list, this restaurant best suited for adults.
Sow's Ear
2248 Main Street Cambria, California 93428 Phone: 805-927-4865
RESERVATIONS YES
Telephone: 805-927-0371
Good for adults and families with children
A iconic downtown breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant (East Village) Cambria mainstay for years; Linns started out at a long time standing small produce farm and Farm Store (Linn's Fruit Bin Farmstore ) up Santa Rosa creek and has been serving tasty meals out of their Cambria restaurant kitchen since 1989. Linns Restaurant has many farm fresh influenced American country food choices with the emphasis on combining the freshest local ingredients available with unsurpassed service and value for an uncompromising dining experience. No alchol served.
Linn's Restaurant
2277 Main Street Cambria, California 93428 Phone: 805-927-0371
RESERVATIONS ADVISED
Telephone: 805-927-5007
Located on a corner in a beautiful old historic adobe building of the East Village in Cambria, Robin's Restaurant has been committed to creating wholesome & authentic international dishes since 1985. Robin's delicious fare runs the gamut from Indian spiced lamb and sweet pea phyllo rolls, to wonton ravioli stuffed with local heirloom autumn squash; the seasonal menus are prepared from scratch using many fresh and local wholesome ingredients. They have something to suit any and every pallet: homemade curries, scrumptious seafood, international deli salads and delicious homemade desserts. Their commitment to exceptional food & friendly professional service keep delighted clientele visiting time & time again.
Robins Restaurant
4095 Burton Dr Cambria, California 93428 Phone: 805-927-5007
MAKE RESERVATIONS for the interior but the patio is first come first seated...
Telephone: 805-927-4200 ext 2111
Located above the East Village on Burton Drive at the top of Cambrias Lodge Hill the restaurant at the Cambria Pines Lodge serves tasty all American food, full breakfast buffet, followed by lunch and dinner every day of the week. The setting is beautiful and dining at the lodge is an old Cambria tradition for locals and travelers alike. The owners place great importance on the beautiful ornamental gardens of the lodge and the organic kitchen garden that helps support the menu of the restaurant. The restaurant serves a full range of wines and beers and adjoins the lounge which has a full bar for cocktails and often live music.
Pet Friendly, you can have your well behaved dog on a leash with you on the beautiful outdoor patio when dining at this gracious Cambria California eatery, seating is first come first served, sorry no reservations for the outside seating.
Cambria Pines Lodge Restaurant
2905 Burton Dr. Cambria, California 93428 Phone: 805-927-4200 ext 2111
Historic Sebastian's General store turned Sebastian's Bed and Breakfast turned Sebastian's Gifts and Coffee Shop now reopen under new management as Sebastian's General Store, Caf and Hearst Ranch Wine Tasting Room!
Not in Cambria but worth the drive: General Store and Caf, Historic Sebastian's (1852) a California State historical monument in San Simeon, California.
No reservations are usually necessary but you may want to call ahead to double check current hours and menu:
Telephone: 805-927-3307 The wonderful historic Sebastian's Store (1852) in the old village of San Simeon is now reopen again under new management and name calling themselves Sebastian's General Store and Caf as and you can enjoy a wonderful lunch featuring free range Hearst beef and including wine and beer; even if you are not hungry it is a must stop even if it is just to browse their eclectic collection of antiques some of which are for sale; and you should go to eat, the food is delicious! Sebastian's Cafe now features delicious entrees prepared with pasture raised 100% grass fed beef from the Hearst Ranch serving up a great lunch with beer, local wines and espressos; the newest amenity of San Simeons Sebastians General Store and Caf is the addition of a wine tasting room for Hearst Ranch Wines (805-927-4100) Hearst Ranch Wines.
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Is the page you want? This is a listing of restaruants in Cambria California which is a quaint village about 9 miles from Hearst Castle Visitors Center. There is also a page listing restaurants and snack bars at or very near Hearst Castle, places to eat at the Castle, in San Simeon or San Simeon Acres.San Simeon & Hearst Castle Restaurants & Snack Bars; or if you are heading north on the Scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1 maybe you would like to preview the best Big Sur / Monterey Restaurants list.
If you are in the mood for Mexican food when in Cambria you have numerous choices. All of the Mexican food places most of the time good; your choice depends on what size you are looking for and what you like; I am going to list them from small to large: 
Pet Friendly, you can have your well behaved dog with you on the outdoor patios and picnic areas when dining at the Ragged Point Inn Ocean View Resort.
