Super excited for the first monthly blog! What a great month May has been around the Central Coast. The rains have stopped and now we once again get to experience the beauty of the wildflowers and our wonderful days of sunshine!
Our goal is to highlight some of the many fun events and activities in the area (such as wine tasting!), and to review some of the restaurants, bars and breweries we visited this month. The Central Coast continues to surprise with inventive new eateries and watering holes, along with the tried-and-true places that we love to return to time and time again!
Our first highlight this month is a visit to SLO Public Market. SLO Public Market is a great stop on a sunny day (and not bad on a cloudy day either). There's a food court with an array of restaurants to please any pallet, including Baht, Veg on the Edge, Humble Oven, Jay Birds Hot Chicken, Central Coast Creamery and Deli, Night Shift Cookie Company, Perfect Scoop Ice Cream, Mama Ganache Chocolates and Bing Bao Buns. In addition, they have added Todo Bueno upstairs for great tacos! You can sample local craft beer at Bottlecraft. If you prefer an outdoor setting, you can take your food to the large patio area where you can also enjoy the other restaurants around the patio, such as Kraken Coffee, The Neighborhood Acai and Juice bar, Kitchen and Vine, Cali Tacos Cantina and Rambling Spirits Distillery. If you're craving a burger, walk across to Brooks Burgers! The SLO Public Market is a great family spot for good food, drinks and shopping and it's dog friendly too. They also host fun events, so check their calendar and the rest of their website for more details.
SLO Public Market | Shopping, Boutiques, Fresh Markets, Wineries, Breweries, Coffee & More
Next up, for a great date night we highly recommend Nate's on Marsh! This charming spot in a former downtown home is so welcoming -- you feel like you're at a friend's house for cocktails and a great Italian dinner! We started with yummy martinis, warm bread and ricotta olive oil, and appetizers. We highly recommend the Polpette (meatball) with fresh burrata mozzarella to start -- it's large enough to share! Ask for the soup of the day for a seasonal variation. Then dive into pastas and the great wine list! The Cacio e Pepe was a perfect blend of creamy and peppery! The Mushroom Carbonara featuring mighty cap mushrooms and pancetta was delicious. The Etto craft pastas add a special organic touch to the meal. End with a coffee and scoop of the day! Nate, the owner, and his very friendly staff are the perfect complement to the warm atmosphere! A little gem worth stopping for in downtown SLO!
Each month we drive to Cayucos for a grooming appointment at N'Style K9s for our little loveable labradoodle, Gabby. We take advantage of the opportunity to visit our favorite coffee shop, Luna Coffee Bar. Great espresso and breakfast / lunch options. We recommend the cinnamon vanilla latte, the breakfast toast, and the turkey bacon melt -- always on point. We love strolling through the antique stores and walking down the pier and along the beach. On some days you'll be lucky enough to find the Chu-Chews Churros pop up near the pier. We always go home with some irresistible cookies from Brown Butter Cookie Company. If you fancy a beer, stop into Schooners and enjoy one of the best beach bar views you'll find on the Central Coast (look for whale spouts!). Duckies is a favorite for clam chowder or shrimp tacos and for people watching.
Cayucos is one of our favorite places -- it brings back great beach trip memories for our family.
Rounding out the month of May we had a day out in downtown Morro Bay for "Art in the Park" -- an interesting and eclectic exhibition by local artists. We took advantage of the location to visit a couple of the quaint and wonderfully quirky shops and restaurants on Main Street -- an area that reflects the local vibe of this wonderful coastal fishing village. Stop in at the Coalesce Book Store for a trip back in time to the days of independent bookstores. Be sure to wander out back to check out the Garden Chapel. Then go next door to Top Dog Coffee House & Cafe for an espresso, a mimosa, pastry or sandwich! Sunshine Health Foods and Shine Cafe and Deli are a great for the healthy options to take home or enjoy on a sidewalk table. Before leaving go to Babydudes and grab the best chocolate chip cookie you may ever have!
Thanks for coming along on our journeys. Leave a comment or a suggestion for future stops on the Central Coast.
Add comment
Comments
Love your blog!