Enjoy Food and Wine in California's Hidden Gem: Paso Robles

Wine tasting

The number one reason to visit Paso Robles is to taste wine! There are over 400 wineries in Paso, meaning there is a winery for every palate and personality. It also means deciding where to go can be overwhelming. This is where a travel advisor can help! By asking you a few questions about your drinking and price preferences, they can create a perfect itinerary for you.

Standard practice is to visit two to three wineries in a day. Almost all wineries request, if not require, reservations in advance. Many wineries offer special tours or elevated tastings that can be unlocked when booking through the right advisor. Don't forget to schedule a lunch spot at a winery — not all have food on site so confirm in advance. Another great option is to arrange sandwiches from locally owned and operated Red Scooter Deli — check with your wineries about who might have a picnic area you can use.

Olive oil tasting

It’s not just wine that grows great in a Mediterranean climate, but olives, too! Paso is blessed with several great olive oil producers that offer tastings of their wares. Visit Kiler Ridge Olive Farm to taste a variety of olive oils, finishing with vanilla ice cream, sea salt and olive oil. They offer an incredible and in-depth tour of their production facility as well — be ready to learn!

Soak in the natural hot springs

Soak in a natural hot spring jacuzzi tub at River Oaks Spa, where indoor or outdoor private rooms are available. All spa services include a short soak, or you can book an hour in the tub with up to six guests. Check out the packages for a romantic massage and soaking combination.

Walk through a Field of Light

Sensorio is an enchanting light-based art installation that is best viewed around sunset. Food and beverages can be purchased onsite, or you can have an early or late dinner in Paso. Make an evening of it, arriving to walk the paths in the final daylight, experience the transition to night and then walk through what will feel like a completely new exhibit as the glowing colored lights take over from the sun's rays.

Spend a day in Tin City

You may want to take an Uber in and out of this industrial park turned adult playground on the edge of Paso. Packed into a few blocks of steel buildings are countless fantastic winery tasting rooms, a rocking brewery, a cider house, a distillery, a pasta maker and Italian market, an ice cream shop, lots of food trucks, often live music and a cheese and charcuterie vending machine.

Take a tour of the Firestone Walker Brewery

Started in 1996, this brewery has grown to be internationally acclaimed. Take the hour-long tour through their production facilities and learn not only about how beer is made, but also about how they are making it in the modern age. Then head over to the tap room to enjoy a great meal and some great beer!

Take a horseback ride

El Paso de Robles, the official name of the town, translates to The Pass of the Live Oaks. This beautiful oak tree can be found all over the area. Take a trail ride through Live Oak Forests, or get deeper into the wine region by riding through a vineyard. No experience is needed on these guided rides and this is an amazing way to take in the beautiful scenery of the region.

Escape to the coast

Head out to the coast to escape the heat. Spend a day in Morro Bay, where you can rent a boat or paddle boards to toot around the bay visiting with the otters and the seals. Check out the Absolution Cellars tasting room, where art lover and winemaker Dirk Neuman makes incredibly small lot wines from spots all over the Central Coast area. Then head to Dockside 3, a casual seafood restaurant with all seating outside on the dock. The oysters are fantastic, and, even as a devoted fresh oyster eater, I tell you — the BBQ oysters are not to be overlooked.

Visit Hearst Castle

Another coastal escape, Hearst Castle is not to be missed. This incredible home was built by William Randolph Hearst and is filled with incredible art and artifacts. There are a variety of tour options, but I recommend the Cottages and Kitchens Tour, which focuses on the private guest homes on the property and includes a look at the wine cellar. If you have a little more time and stamina, the Designing the Dream tour focuses on the incredible work done by the pioneering female architect Julia Morgan over the three decades she worked building Hearst Castle. Don't forget to add in a quick visit to the elephant seals, who have a large habitat just a few miles north of the castle on Highway 1.

Day trips

Paso Robles sits four to five hours north of LA and three hours south of San Fransisco. It's a 2.5-hour drive from Santa Barbara and five hours from Yosemite.

If you are driving up the 101 from LA and want to end up driving along Highway 1 through Big Sur, it is at Paso Robles that you will get on the Highway 46 that connects the 101 to the 1. We are only about 40 minutes away from the start of Big Sur and all the offerings there.

Restaurants

Les Petite Canailles (LPC Paso) — 1215 Spring Street
Chef Julien Asseo trained under Michelin-starred chef Joel Rubechon in Las
Vegas before moving to Paso to open his restaurant and raise his family.

Somm’s Kitchen — 849 13th Street
A wine and food pairing experience led by sommelier Ian Adamo. With only 14 seats and one seating a night, reservations are needed and well worth the
effort. Over eight courses, you will have the chance to taste and be educated on highly allocated wines from iconic producers, rare cult wines and hidden gems.

Six Test Kitchen — 3075 Blue Rock Road, Unit B
Chef Ricky Odbert started this restaurant in his parents' garage in 2015,
and, in 2021, his location in Tin City (an industrial wine area on the edge
of Paso Robles) was awarded a Michelin Star. Experience a man who can make anything out of seemingly nothing — it is an exploration of flavors and
texture.

BL Brasserie — 1202 Pine Street
A classic approach to French cuisine and wine, this has been a Paso staple for over 30 years.

Paso Market Walk — 1803 Spring Street
A variety of options under one roof! Including great Japanese food from Momotaro Ramen, awesome local wines and food from Paso Robles Wine Merchant, fabulous Italian pizza from Via Caravaggio and gelato by Leo Leo to cap it off.

FINCA — 1803 Spring Street, Market Walk
A casual restaurant that highlights Baja- and Sonora-style Mexican food with an emphasis on wood-grilled seafood and carne asada.

In Bloom — 1845 Spring Street, Market Walk
Collaborating with local farms and purveyors, In Bloom's mission is to support the community and let California’s Central Coast shine in every dish, cocktail and glass of wine. Keep an eye out for winemakers — this is a popular spot with many!

Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ — 819 12th Street (located in the alley between 12th and 13th streets)
Wine Country comfort food is offered in a casual and relaxing outdoor
setting. Also, great family meal takeout options — get the pulled chicken
and brisket family combo.

The Hatch Rotisserie and Bar — 835 13th Street
American comfort food is done right here, with an amazing cocktail list and
wines on keg.

Della’s Woodfire Pizza and Cocktails — 831 13th Street
The same great owners and operators of The Hatch, the same great wines and cocktails, but fantastic wood-fired pizzas to eat in or take to go!

Coffee shops

AMSTRDM — 725 13th Street
Great coffee in a relaxed atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating and food options. In the evenings and for weekend brunch, it becomes a piano lounge, with amazing artists lured by the Steinbeck in the corner.

Spearhead Coffee — 619 12th Street
Spearhead roasts their beans onsite, ensuring the freshest coffee. They take their coffee seriously and will not be rushed, and it is worth the
wait — but if you are running short on time, go ahead and skip to Starbucks!

Cheese shops

Vivant Fine Cheese — 821 Pine Street
An amazing selection of cheese from all over the world and a staff that is
knowledgeable about them all! Hang out and taste through your options.

DiRaimondo's — 822 13th Street
When you walk into DiRaimondo’s, you are transported — it could have been
plucked from a French village. The staff is very sweet and will happily
walk you through the offerings. Ask if they have any salted baguettes —
they get them from a local baker and are to die for!

Cured and Cultivated — 825 Riverside Ave #5
Need cheese in the middle of the night? The Cured and Cultivated's 24-hour cheese and charcuterie vending machines located in Paso and Tin City are there for you!

Locally produced sweets

Negranti Creamery — Multiple locations
Specializing in sheep's milk ice cream, this family run business has expanded to three locations around the city, including one in downtown Paso Robles and another in Tin City.

LeoLeo Gelato — 1835 Spring Street
Gelato and sorbetto containing no artificial colors, flavors, corn syrup or other unhealthy additives. Located in the Paso Market Walk.

Just Baked — 725 12th Street & Paso Market Walk
Fantastic cookies, cupcakes and fun holiday-related items. They also make lovely breakfast pastries.