Yes it gets very crowded on wknds & holidays. Yes there's a wait to order, and again for your order to be ready. But all of it really isn't that bad... because this is the absolute best clam chowder on the West Coast - and anything west of the Mississippi. (For anything east of the Mighty Miss, you have to go to Massachusetts or Delaware!) Been here twice (Apr2025(2) & July2025 (5 of us)), line out the door & around the corner but it moved quickly and our order was taken 15 minutes later in both visits. The chowders,, calamari, and fish & chips arrived 15-20 minutes later and by then we already had a choice among 3 tables or counter seats opening up! Get the chowder loaded or not; scoop it up w/sourdough or not... any which way, it's way way beyond any chowder you'll ever have (except for a few very comparable venues on the East Coast). Fish & Chips were also exceptional! FYI - there are many along the Central CA Coast who also serve clam chowder... after sampling nearly 3 others hoping to find similar top-notch chowder, no one comes close to Splash!

Located near the pier in Pismo Beach. The clam chowder did have many clams, seems there were more porato chunks than clams. There was line to get in, so I was expecting amazing clam chowder, so I was disappointed to find it to be mediocre at best. The seafood salad was huge with lots of shrimp and crabmeat(surimi?). The staff are very efficient and got people their food quickly, so the line does move quickly. I was there on a Saturday in October and the place was packed, making it hard to find an open table. I can't imagine what it's like in July!

We finally made the stop at Splash Cafe in Pismo Beach and there was no question what we were ordering. We came for the clam chowder and it totally lived up to the hype. It was rich and creamy with the perfect thickness that made every bite feel hearty and satisfying. The flavor was spot on too with a great balance of cream, herbs, and just enough clam without being too overpowering. We did not get it in the bread bowl this time, just a regular cup with a side of their bread, but that was more than enough to hit the spot. The bread had a soft inside with a slight crust on the outside and dunking it into the chowder was just so good. Every dip soaked up the chowder perfectly and gave it a satisfying bite that kept us going back for more. My wife and I finished it quickly and looked at each other like yep, that was worth it. The place itself has a fun beachy vibe with surf-themed decor and a laid back energy. It gets a bit crowded but the line moved pretty fast and the staff kept things moving. Definitely worth stopping in if you are in Pismo. Next time we are getting the fully loaded bread bowl for sure.

Dude. The best clam chowder bread bowl I've had. Hands down. It's an award winning clamp chowder 18 years running. This is a must here. The lobster roll was also legit. It's a cold roll with mayo and celery. So damn good. I can eat that every day. I have to come back to try the fish and chips. It was worth the 3 hour drive from LA.

Everyone comes to Splash Cafe for their award winning clam chowder. I thought it was good but a bit heavy on the cream for me. What was really a surprise win for me was the chili cheese fries. They have a bean chili and it wasn't too heavy but was very filling. Parking is available as street parking adjacent to the restaurant but during the Saturday afternoon those spots were filled and I had to circle around the neighborhood given how busy the beach was. There's a line as patrons order outside and pick up their food on the other side of the building.

My favorite place in Pismo for clam chowder soup and best onion rings! My daughter ordered a chicken sandwich and loved it! The ahí tuna tacos are amazing! So close to the beach! Small place had to wait for a table but not bad the wait time. The ambiance is enjoyable!

I love visiting Pismo Beach, and every trip includes a few must-stop spots—Splash Café is always at the top of that list. It’s usually busy (as expected!), but for years I’ve been coming here for their loaded clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl, and it never disappoints. On this visit, it was my friend’s first time. They weren’t feeling too hungry, so I went in solo to grab my usual. After getting my food, I joined them outside to eat—plenty of counter seating was available, but I wanted them to try a bite. Well… let’s just say they ended up eating most of it and absolutely loved it! The toasted sourdough, the clean, rich flavor of the chowder—it’s just unbeatable. And don’t skip their hot sauce—it’s made from carrots and adds the perfect kick. I’ve tried clam chowder in plenty of places, but nothing compares to Splash’s. Please never change—so I always know where to find the best clam chowder on the west coast!

We highly recommend this famous homemade cinnamon roll shop. It is a delicious pastry that you should not and cannot miss while in Pismo Beach or the surrounding area. This cinnamon roll shop is only two minutes away from Pismo Beach by car. The cinnamon rolls are handmade and baked fresh daily using Betty’s original recipe. All the flavors we have tried were wonderful so it is tough to pick a favorite. The pecan cinnamon with frosting is one of our favorites. It is very satisfying with plenty of nuts. The frosting on the top gives it a rich and uniquely sweet flavor. This cinnamon roll is a perfect dessert after we have In-N-Out burgers. It is not only a great dessert, it is also the best cinnamon roll I've ever had.

Located right by the beach, on Dolliver St. near Pismo Ave, across the street from the city's public parking lot. There is street parking, but can be difficult to find an available spot. I walked here since our hotel was at a walking distance. This was the perfect spot to stop by after lunch. Its name says it all, Cinnamon Rolls galore! Topping choices of 'cream cheese, pecans, walnuts, almonds, maple bacon, frosting with cherries, carrot cake, or simply original'. They also serve 'coffee, tea, hot chocolate, frozen lemonade, soda, milk, juice, and espresso drinks'. Prices are reasonable. I tried their 'Pecan and Frosting with Cherries' because I couldn't make up my mind. Warm and lightly toasted yet so soft inside. They were both delicious but the Cherries one was my favorite, Service was fast and efficient, there was a long line, however the cashiers moved the line fast. Some tables outside if you want to eat there. I walked to the pier plaza and sat on a bench to enjoy my cinnamon rolls. Overall, I had a good experience here and definitely recommend.

Old West Cinnamon Rolls is such a charming little spot in Pismo. The staff were incredibly sweet and very kind as they helped us choose a roll. You can tell they care about making sure people enjoy their visit. We went with a classic cinnamon roll with icing, and the flavor of the cinnamon was rich and satisfying. The roll itself was soft and fluffy, and the icing was definitely the best part. It was creamy, smooth, and just the right amount of sweet to bring it all together. That said, my wife and I kind of shot ourselves in the foot. We got our cinnamon roll cold and we’re not sure if that is how they normally serve it or if we were supposed to ask for it to be heated. We ended up warming it up when we got home about four hours later. It still tasted good, but we could tell it was not the fresh experience we had read about. Even with that, we would absolutely recommend this place. The quality is clear and next time we will definitely make sure to enjoy it warm and fresh. It is a solid stop for anyone visiting the area.

Absolutely delicious rolls, worth the 10min wait in line. Soooo good. Make sure to ask for utensils during the order. Buns come out quickly, coffee, even a drip, takes a while. Only two small tables and a bench outside, which fill up quickly. Don't plan to eat here if you can help it. Take it to go!

I have to say that I am not big on cinnamon rolls but I thought they were good. But not like omg I have to visit here if I am in Pismo Beach. Lemonade was overly sweet.... But I guess it has to be... Otherwise you can't taste it after eating the cinnamon rolls. It's a very charming place though. You can watch them make it and they sell a bunch of related stuff like cinnamon and frozen cinnamon rolls and hello Kitty toys and other plushies. There are a few tables outside on the sidewalk and bathroom inside. The mural outside is very pretty and it's fun to take pictures while waiting for the food.

You can share one, but you won't want to. These delectable rolls are great for picnics, going on the road, beach bonfires and camping, or just good ol' self care. My husband was on a road trip and brought a huge box home. It took three people a good three days to plow through them. I must say ordering too many is not a real thing because when you get a hankering for another, it'll most likely be there.

Ok, it was a bummer that we had to wait in line a long time, like almost 30 minutes- but that was because of the massive amount of rolls people ahead of us ordered, in addition to their coffee orders. So I get it. When we finally ordered it was very quick to get our rolls. It's a Pismo staple and a tourist destination, but above all, really tasty. And it's fun to watch them prepare them as you wait in line. And the smell of cinnamon rolls baking- there are worse places you can spend your time. We got ours to go and walked to the pier. Great place!

This place was fantastic! Great service, very clean, and top notch food. We visit pismo often but have never tried the Cracked Crab. Safe to say we will be back every time we visit! Brandy was our server, she was very gracious and polite. She made our experience very comfortable, especially with a us having a young child, it can be rare to feel welcomed. I got the King crab dinner, 10/10, crab was cooked perfectly and it was the perfect serving for the price. My husband got the shrimp pasta and he said it was also a great choice. If you are in Pismo skip Ada’s and spend the extra buck at Cracked Crab!

First time visiting and the food was amazing!! So many choices but with my server, Tabitha’s help, I ordered the clam chowder, steamed clams and Alaskan Bairdi Crab dinner. The food was excellent, but the clams were to die for!! Served in a white wine cream sauce with a perfect kick of cracked pepper! So perfect to dip the delicious sourdough rolls and even enhanced the crab meat which was delicious in its own right. Couldn’t get enough of it! Generous servings too! Can’t wait to come back and try some of the other offerings. Highly recommend, but be aware, the place is small so they don’t accept reservations and there is always a line. Fortunately for me, the line on a Tuesday evening (around 5 pm) was not long. Thank you Tabitha and everyone at the Cracked Crab!!

We tried the crab and seafood, starting with the crab bisque and the seafood bucket for two, which included dungeness crab, shrimp, corn, hot links, and potatoes. While the bisque had good flavor, it was quite watery and could have benefited from a thicker consistency. The seafood bucket was plenty for both of us, but we found the taste to be quite plain, primarily seasoned with Old Bay. We compared it to places like Kickin' Kasian and other Asian Creole crab houses, which is why we felt a bit underwhelmed by the flavor. On a positive note, the service was very pleasant; our server was attentive, and the atmosphere was lively. The music featured a nice mix of laid-back songs from the past, including tracks from The Beach Boys.

We were lucky it wasn't the weekend, because we got a parking spot right out front and there wasn't much of a wait for seating at dinner. I had the bairdi crab and my husband had the chicken (he is NOT a seafood fan). My food was excellent, and my husband said the chicken was very good, and much better than expected since this is a seafood restaurant. The waitress was excellent and really fun, she put my bib on when she brought me the crab-eating tools. The crab was firm and moist but not waterlogged at all. The shells snapped and the meat pulled out cleanly so it was really easy to eat, and I didn't need anything but the cracker to get to every scrap of meat. I heard people around us talking, and someone commented that their steaks were very good, so they must have chefs that know more than just seafood. So just GO!

Everything about this place is amazing. Our waitress was phenomenal, the food was heaven. We loved that the owner even came by to check on Everything. I highly suggest that you don't miss out on this memorable spot when in Pismo.

Great bucket for one that feeds two easily. Corkage on Tuesday free. Server was very good.

Food was not bad. The accommodation for a big group was The wait time was reasonable

Saw a few bunches today and a handful flying around! Such a beautiful day. Be sure to stop by the booth for some monarch butterfly merch! Makes for a great gift + supports the park!

What a beautiful place to intertwine with nature! I visited in early November so it was just the beginning of the season. There was a great horned owl napping in the trees. The staff were very nice & knowledgeable. Fun merch for my granddaughter too. A very peaceful place to visit :)

I loved this little park. I appreciated all the QR codes with information on the Monarch butterflies. I learned a lot. The little store is small and cute. All money goes back to the butterflies and the park. I will return when the butterflies start to migrate back to hibernate. This is a fantastic park.

Unfortunately we are to early to see the butterflies but the park is still beautiful and the eucalyptus trees smell Devine. We walked over to the beach and got to enjoy the view

We visited on the first day of the season and listened to a volunteer talk, when passing by the area. There was a thick marine layer and only a few butterflies fluttering around. A photographer pointed out a cluster of Monarchs high in the canopy, which was helpful. Other than that we did not see anything like the numbers of previous years!

Loved this place great for families. I would to come back during migration which is November- February. The walking trails take you right to the beach.

Nice little area, with a gift shop. Didn't see many monarchs when we went but got excited for the ones we saw. They were beautiful

A lot of the stores don’t open at 10 like all the others. Better options to shop at since the last time I visited. Other than that, 3 stars just for the fact 60% of the stores were still closed at 10:30.

Let me tell you what I love this place. It has the clothes that I like to wear at outstanding prices. Over here at the Pismo Outlets. I shop at carter's, hurley, O'Neill stores. The best deal that I got over there was a deal that Hurley was giving away. The deal consisted of a hat, a shirt, pants or shorts, with slippers, for a low amount of 59.00. Now if you know Hurley they have good quality clothes that you need to check out. Trust me you will not be disappointed at the outlets. O'Neill's was three shirts for 33 or 40% off either or score. So next time in the area check them out. Stay blessed God bless

Great clean place to shop. Lots of different stores and brands to choose from. Some excellent places to eat!!

Take your family to see the stars and stay for the friendly clean camping. Stunning views! Just a short walk to the beach, shop's and restaurant's. Stroll down the pathways to storefront shopping.

The place needs more restrooms on both ends of the outlet. Decent shopping, but with the were more restaurants in the outlet it's self that's walking distance.

It's beautiful here. Really sweet people. These are the boujie stores only So CA people can afford 🤣

Not what I imagined when I think of outlets. Not many stores and area is kind of sketchy. Prices seemed a bit like regular retail. Save yourself the trip and skip these.

After a 5-hour drive, stopping here was an absolute breath of fresh air! I was truly in awe of the stunning views and how clean and well-maintained everything was—from the park grounds to the restrooms. The lawns were perfectly manicured, and the surrounding flowers added such a beautiful touch. The kids had a great time stretching their legs, playing, and enjoying breakfast at one of the shaded picnic tables. Being able to walk right up to the edge, listen to the waves, and watch the birds—and even spot a few otters—was incredibly relaxing. Such a peaceful and refreshing stop. I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone passing through!

This beauty is located in the Shell Beach area, adjacent to 'Margo Dodd Park' where you can admire the caves better, (even more if you bring your binoculars). Plenty of parking. There's a kid's playground, walking trails, benches, lots of grassy areas with flowers, and stunning ocean views. Such a nice, family friendly atmosphere with a relaxing vibe. My dog had a good, happy walk here. The entire park is very clean and nicely taken cared of (but the sea smell was a bit strong for my sensitive nose). I was happy to see a lovely memorial bench area for 'Kristin Smart' as I followed her case since day one. It is a peaceful place to remember her as she loved the beach. Overall, it has always been a nice, relaxing time here and will visit every time we're in town.

This was such a cool place to visit. We have a van and we love to visit parks (city, state, and national parks)! The name intrigued us and we had to visit this cool park. We observed many birds flying over and landing on a large rock viewable from the edge of the park! We spent about six hours at the park and enjoyed all of the ammenities available to park visitors. Ammenities include clean bathrooms, a playgound, walking paths which lead to beautiful overlooking views of the horizon/ocean. If you passing through Pismo Beach, check this place out!

Beautiful park and playground for the whole family. The kids had a blast on the playground and then went on a walk with the paths along the ocean. A little scary with little ones because you are by a ocean cliff so keep them close:)

Definitely worth the visit. Unique scenic coves with lots of seagulls and pelicans. Great place to enjoy the beautiful view and relax for a while.

We came too late for tidepooling. Check the tides schedule. It’s a bit of a walk, south of the parking lot to the hotel, then down the stairs to a pebbly beach. Very cool cave and crashing of waves! The lower step where the stairs ends is steep- be careful! Gorgeous spot for picnic lunch! Even on Labor Day there was parking available and open picnic tables.

Cute park with a dinosaur theme that has a beautiful ocean view! Restrooms were clean and my grandkids really enjoyed it. There's a trail along the bluff where you can see kayakers and LOTS of birds sitting on the rocks.

Business trip here and it was time to check out Giuseppe's Cucina Italiana! We arrived around 5pm on a Friday night, we didn't have reservations and upon being greeted we were immediately able to be seated. The server was friendly and attentive. The food arrived roughly 20 minutes after we ordered, I ordered Nonnas Meatball, the flavors were great, the portion was good. The homemade noodles tasted good. My fiance ordered Raviolis and they were perfect. I did order a drink, it was amazing, I was pleasantly surprised. (See videos below) The ceiling has a cool pulley system for it's fans! Cool to see, atmosphere is great! Check them out!

Best Italian in SLO! SLO has a plethora of great authentic Italian restaurants, and having frequented almost all of them, I always say Giuseppe’s is my favorite. The carbonara and flatliner combination is to die for. The wait is always super long since they don’t take reservations, but the wait is well worth it.

Delicious! Wait staff on 🔥 fire! Evan and Luka were fabulous. Highly recommend the squash blossoms. Heavenly. Also had the pasta tagliatelle bolognese and a garlic/ clam pizza Both amazing Hubby loved the Spumoni dessert! The garlic sauce with the bread is sooo garlic utterly fabulous…. We miss Gino the accordion player. But Joe your staff is top notch

My Grandson & I hadn't been there in years We drove up just to eat dinner, and the place was packed. Waiting for a table is always well worth it...the entire staff is amazing & spot on even with a packed restaurant. I had the brown butter raviolis, which were delicious. N8 had pizza and loved his dinner. We will return again soon. Our waitress is just the best!!

Julia, was absolutely amazing. Incredibly attentitive, noting when I needed more of something without being overbearing. Next time I visit hope she's still there and will request her section. She made a recommendation for the capesante e gambleri and it did not disappoint. The scallops and prawns were cooked to perfection. I also had the seasonal salad and the beets melted in my mouth. The whole salad was a symphony of flavor.

We went on a busy Monday evening for our 8th year anniversary and it was good. We made a reservation in person. It was an hour 15min wait but we were at the beach while we were waiting so everything ended up great.

So, I had the Italian sub, citrus beet salad and a small drink. The all of it delicious! The sandwich was smaller than expected. The beet salad was to die for! Ill be making that at home. But the price. Really? Thirty one dollars for a sandwich, side and drinks? Fool me once, shame on you! I might, and that's a might, come back for the sandwich but I'm not dropping $31 on a meal again. Nope.

Everything is scratch made, the owner Brooke was very helpful and nice.... I had the scratch made bologna sandwich, it was mind blowing! My wife had the scratch made Chicken and dumplings, and they were fantastic! They also sampled their Tomato bisque... Again delicious! Highly recommend!

Walked in on a Friday night and were seated in less than 10 minutes - great start! **Drinks:** The Busy Bee cocktail and Mexican lager were perfect. **5 stars.** **Appetizers:** The home-baked sourdough bread? Absolutely delicious. **5 stars.** **Food:** Tried the duck ramen and ratatouille, both incredible. **5 stars.** **Everything else:** Service, ambience, vibes? All top-notch. **5 stars.** Our server even invited us back for lunch, mentioning they serve the same amazing menu at more affordable prices Thursday through Sunday. We’ll definitely be back to try more!!

Everything here is so good!! All homemade and wonderful. The service was very nice, great outside seating, and great drinks. We loved the chicken and waffles, chicken and dumplings and the chocolate chip bread pudding!

I was surprised to see I hadn’t rated this amazing local gem yet! We love their food. Whether I’m there on a romantic date with my husband or a fun evening with friends, Spoon Trade is simply awesome. Tonight we had the tomato soup - a surprisingly delicious dish - the best tomato soup I’ve had. We also had the sourdough cheese appetizer - sourdough cubes with cheese, hot out of the oven and over-the-top delicious. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable, and they understand the wine menu as well as the awesome local farms the restaurant gets their food from. If you’re visiting, Spoon Trade should be part of your experience of the Central Coast. If you live here and haven’t had a meal there, why wait? :)

The food was absolutely delicious - we tried tomato salad, grilled sourdough, artichoke, and chicken tenders with honey and mashers from the kids menu. Everything was great and flavorful. Hostess was very sweet and engaging 💕

The place where the menu reflects the genius, creativity, passion of a chef that has a great love of food. Grateful he shares this experience of delicious food. Respect💗👍🏻

The Spoon Trade is an absolute gem! From DAY ONE, the food has been consistently amazing. Every dish bursts with flavor and creativity. Jake and Brooke, the owners, are some of the best and sweetest people I have ever met; their talent shines through every dish, and their caring, humble nature makes you feel right at home as soon as you walk in. It's heartwarming to see them helping out the staff when needed and engaging with all the customers to create a family-like environment. Our server, Drew, not only provided detailed descriptions of the menu but also made the experience so much fun. I can't recommend this restaurant enough!! You won't find anything like it.

The staff was very warm and friendly. I really enjoyed their clam chowder, and the vongole was one of the best I’ve ever had with lots and lots of clams. The pizza, however, was pretty underwhelming.

I'd like to start off by saying the service was great. Our waitress was very kind and knowledgeable. Unfortunately, the food was absolutely terrible. My hubby got the halibut and I had the garlic noodles and we both thought both of our entrees were terrible. I was very upset because we just spent $100 on food that was absolutely terrible. We both left with 80% of our food still on the table after we left. It's really disappointing because we go to Ada all the time and her such great things that we wanted to try it out and it was really disappointing. I would definitely not recommend this place to anyone. Also they're espresso. Martini was disgusting. Espresso martini was very sad

Celebrated our granddaughters 18th Birthday, we had the most wonderful experience and delicious meals. We were very happy with everything. Highly recommend 🌹 Rosas.

Great Italian restaurant that has been there for years. The food is still good as always. Fresh bread is delicious. Lamb chops were delicious.

We ate at Rosa’s Italian Restaurant today and were both disappointed. The ‘lasagna’ had nothing to do with an authentic Italian lasagna. It was missing the béchamel sauce, and the proper layering wasn’t there either. Instead, there was a thick layer of ricotta cheese between clumsily stacked lasagna noodles — something I’ve never seen in a lasagna before. Charging $25 for this in an ‘Italian’ restaurant is a bold move. The service was generally good and very friendly, but it would have been helpful if the server had checked in during or after the meal to ask if everything was okay, so we could have shared our concerns.”

Great place. The tiramisu was excellent, as were other dishes like the ravioli alla zucca and the burrata with tomato. The pizza crust could be better, but it wasn’t bad. There are plenty of gluten-free options… not just pasta and pizza, but also some other dishes and a few desserts. The service was excellent: our waiter was always helpful and quick. Portions are quite large, especially for those not used to them. Overall, for an Italian restaurant in California, it’s definitely worth recommending.

We started off with a couple of perfectly made cocktails. Our server Casey was amazing and treated us like royalty. His busser Emilia was at the table right when we needed a refill on water and additional napkins. Clean, quiet and accommodating atmosphere. Food was generously portioned and delicious. If we lived in the area we probably eat here 2-3 times a month.

Beautiful beach, able to park on the beach ⛱️ Perfect weather when we went. Waves were amazing, not too high or low, just perfect. Sand is soft, and the beach is clean and has no bad smell. We're able to BBQ at the beach.

This place was so much fun and different than other beaches. You can just drive up to the shore and set up your stuff. No need to carry all your stuff from the car to your spot. Dogs are allowed but you should keep them close due to all the trucks driving by. The water was clean and sand was very soft. I would highly recommend this beach.

The sunsets are amazing. You can park your car close by and soak in the beach vibes or enjoy the view from your car.

The beach is so nice..the weather was like 70 degrees so I didn't get in the water. Only 4x4 vehicles can be driven in the dunes. Other vehicles will get stuck. But the sunset was gorgeous! Will come back.

If you are an outdoors person or family, this is a wonderful place to go to for vacation, just to get away from the city, just to have a little time of refuge. A wonderful experience where you can go and ride or rent quad's. You can park directly on the beach take out your chair, sit down and watch the waves. Dig a pit, start a fire for cooking or stay warm. Day and overnight passes are really adorable. This has been my go to place for a very long time. Try it you might like it.

We rented atv for an hour. It was fun. They take you through shuttle to the atv area from the beach. Must try once.

Remember to air down before getting to far, other than that great experience!! The checking in was no problem. People are very helpful. Until next time✌🏼

Such a unique camping experience! We car camped on the beach for one night. It was awesome waking up to the waves. Be aware that nights can be cold by the water, so bring layers. Also you will have sand everywhere!! There were no facilities if you camp on the beach; there is little privacy, and you would have to walk a bit. We had so much fun in the morning frolicking in the sand dunes!!

This is the only place is California to go to the sand dunes and the ocean when you are camping, the weather is normally cold but enjoyable if you take firewood, there is the option of buying firewood and other services for camping. Great place to get out of the city and have a great time with the family riding ATVs at the sand dunes! Make sure to take plenty of firewood if you're planning to be there for a few days! Big place plenty of space for camping!

This campground was very clean and was a nice place to camp for a first time camper. The bathrooms and showers were cleaned regularly and they were very nice. The walk to the beach was nice find that we could drive on the beach was nice but also shocking. My friend and I have never seen so many intact sand dollars and they were so pretty. Warning: BEWARE of the squirrels! They crawl up onto the table and go through your things. I kept our food not the coolers in the car and that seemed to be the safest way. Hope to come again soon! Hopefully, the weather next time will be warmer.

One of the few, if not the only place to drive on the beach in California. The campground is nice if the beach camping is too windy and cold. Grass tent sites were a bit lumpy due to ground squirrels, but still grass tent sites! Oceano is smaller, easier to get in, and more cozy than the nextdoor "main" Pismo Beach campground

Good camping spot. Easy to access the beach (10min walk) and good lake view and clean restrooms. But beware of mosquitoes

We had a great stay at Oceano Campground. One of the beach access paths was closed during our visit, so it ended up being a bit of a hike — but it was totally worth it. Once we got to the beach, it was so peaceful I actually fell asleep right there! There were a lot of cars driving on the beach; the ranger said we could take our own car out there, but we opted to walk instead. We also brought our dog, and everything went smoothly — no issues at all. The paid showers were huge, clean, and super hot, which I personally loved. My husband prefers a cooler rinse, though, and there was no way to adjust the temperature, so just something to keep in mind depending on your preference. The campground was a bit loud, especially being there just before the 4th of July — lots of families and friend groups enjoying themselves. It wasn’t overwhelming, though, and there was plenty of space and walking trails nearby if you wanted some quieter moments. Overall, a solid beach camping spot with good facilities and a mix of activity and peaceful nature time. We’d definitely return!

Nice campground but they drive heavy equipment through the campsites early in the mornings to and from the equipment yard next to it.

Rock & Roll Diner is a cool railroad car diner, but the menu is trying to do too much, in my opinion. Breakfast all day would be ideal. We tried to customize a burger with their black bean patty and lettuce wrapped, but didn’t come out too well. The bean patty was more like falafel. The clam strips were good. I’ll have to try again, for breakfast, cause that’s what we wanted, but hopefully better next time.

I stopped in for a quick bite. I would come again for the atmosphere for the entertainment of eating in derailed train car. I wanted to love this place, but as soon as I walked in I was not so “greeted” by an unfriendly face. She had two other tables and was in the weeds. I quickly ordered my food as she seemed inpatient. I ordered the tri tip plate. I was nervous because this seemed like the kind of place that has so many food options, food gets over processed. I was right. Bad idea. The best thing on the plate was the chili beans, the tri tip was God awful, over cooked way too much Worcestershire way too much salt, the mashed potatoes where runny possibly box potatoes idk. The gravy had been sitting in too long and my food was cold. Except for the trip tip which may have been microwaved. The salsa was awful as well, the tomatoes were sinking and soggy. Anyway. Never mind I would never go back. One positive thing because I hate to make bad reviews on restaurants the restroom was super clean ! The server didn’t ask me how my food was and then she was very sweet by saying thank you as I stood up to leave, when I was finished.

Got a new discovery today! I wasnt sure if I would like to try for my brunch hunt reviews. But this is actually an awesome place! The kind of diner’s I have wanting to experience! Here’s my review: Pancakes: i have tried the best pancake before thats really fluffy and just melts, so I would give this only ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 it’s not bad Bacon: Easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 they did it perfectly. Not greasy. When I asked for crispy, it is crispy. Egg: though eggs look like easy to make, it’s not. I wanted mine over-medium but it’s quite close so it’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 The staffs are great. Fast service. I love the interiors of this adaptive-reuse of a train car!

Food was alright. But the staff got very aggressive especially when I asked for extra napkins. They also tried to chase away, see the included photo. Highly recommend to never go

Great food and super friendly staff. Seeing reviews saying the staff is aggressive makes me really confused. All were very nice and welcoming. Food is always great here. Been here about 5 times and will continue to come back!

Cute, neat little place. The chicken salad was good for something light - but $17. The kids chicken nuggets were not hand made but frozen, pre-made nuggets which is a big deal to me. I prefer to be able to order my kids real food and think kids menus should reflect that. The place is EXPENSIVE for a diner! $3.50 for drinks and kids meals do not include drinks. We paid $70 for 4 people.

This diner is incredibly endearing with so much history and character as well as a varied menu and attentive servers. I was seated right away and checked on regularly. I was there for Sunday brunch and had a very good vegetable burrito with home fries and champagne. I left very satisfied and charmed by the whole experience.

I have purchased season passes for my mom, husband, and I for a few years now. We always said we wanted to see certain shows, but rarely actually made it to any of them until we bought passes. I love the seat selection and the ease of booking the shows online (and far in advance, as we have favorite seats 😊). This years shows have been great and we love all the new additions to the already amazing cast! We always look forward to joining the snack line for the popcorn and goodies, as well as beer and champagne. Such a fun time and I am always looking forward to the next one! Keep it up! You guys rock!

I went to a melodrama performance for the first time and absolutely loved the experience! The actors were amazing, the story was so fun, and at the end I even got to take a picture with them, they were all so kind. I also loved the intermissions, seeing the cast helping out in the kitchen was such a unique touch. Definitely recommend going at least once! 🤩

Just went to see the show Bonnie & Hyde and it was fantastic!!! At one point I was laughing so hard I was crying! Totally worth the price of admission for that one moment! But seriously, such a unique experience. Love the small theatre vibe, the actors & actresses working in the kitchen is a fun too. We all know how popular the upcoming Holiday show is , and it is has become a tradition for so many. But this was a reminder that it's worth it to step out and check out the other shows as well throughout the year! Happy 50 Year Anniversary!!!

We had the pleasure of attending the newest production of Bonnie & Hyde last night. A hysterical rendition of the two stories combined. We laughed throughout, which was/is much needed these days! The vaudeville was on point for the typical grade school experience. The talent is real and so engaging! Do yourself a favor and grab your friends and family and head to the Great American Melodrama now! Cheers to the cast & crew!

We have attended several performances and enjoyed every one of them. It’s a small atmosphere, the actors are great and they have a simple menu of food. I would highly recommend this fun event.

Old fashioned theatre melodrama and vaudeville very entertaining good seating from individual seats and tables for four. Limited audience Has a bar bee and wine hot dogs pretzels nachos. Very cozy all speech is without sound equipment. Music piano and vocals. Actors are excellent enthusiastic great singing and variety of performances Costumes backdrop is very good No photos of live performances Would strongly in encourage attendance Location in Oceano is very central easy to locate good parking in area Dress is casual and audience participation encouraged

I went with friends and we all had a good time ! The play was written well, and the cast was great. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I recommend it highly

Awesome experience Aiden and his coworker were super helpful, friendly, told me about all the deals and made my birthday extra special. Thanks guys! I’ll be back to sign up for the rewards program next time!

Great place for a burger, fries and onion rings. Shakes are really good too.

This location offers Ziggy's, which is all vegan! They have an ordering kiosk there with everything from Ziggy's. Anthony was so helpful, kind, and accommodating, ensuring we got the vegan versions of what we ordered and that we had anything else we needed. He is an excellent employee and has a very welcoming vibe! Highly recommend stopping in for some delicious vegan food! Kid-friendly location as well.

The food tasted really good and the service was really good. They were generous in providing side sauces. The only problem was that my sandwich did fall apart. Nonetheless, it was great. The atmosphere is a little outdated, but it is clean on the inside. They have a mushroom special on Mondays; half off on mushroom burgers or fried mushrooms. They have a vegan menu with fully vegan ingredients. Grade: A- Rating 4.0 Would return: Yes

We stop here every time we visit the coast. We will actually drive out of the way to come by. The burgers are so fresh and delicious. It does take a bit to receive your food, but that is because everything is made to order. They now have some vegetarian options as well. There are a ton of pictures on the wall of people that visit on their birthdays.

This place is so fabulous. Close to the beach and a different daily special. We did mushroom Monday. 🍄 Everthing you order is made fresh as you order it. Fun atmosphere and friendly stafff.

I stumbled upon this local gem. Lucky for me. A massive fresh burger with all the fixings and the best garlic fries I’ve ever had. I’m a fan and joined the VIP club! Corbin at the cash register was great - friendly and helpful. I’ll try everything on their menu bc it’s apparently not just a burger place.

If you can come here don’t hesitate and do it! We stayed only one night and wish we would have stayed at least three. Sleeping next to the ocean is insanely soothing, relaxing, peaceful, all the good feelings 🩵❤️ we didn’t even ride any atvs and we had a blast.

Father’s Day weekend, very busy but not chaotic. Everyone had a great time! Beach was very drivable with 4wd, wouldn’t recommend for 2wd unless you stick with the compacted dirt. Caution:⚠️ the dune grass is FILLED with ticks! Found 12 on our kids… Otherwise a great day! Bring jackets as the wind is pretty chilly toward sunset.

Those of you who have not come here I suggest you do. There is an eerie energy here and only ignorance would disagree with that statement. To me it seems haunted but I am what is called a Sensitive and can feel what others cannot. I am able to track, both people and wildlife and can attest that this Nature Preserve is abundant in a variety of life. The seagulls are very happy here as are the crows. The yapping of coyotes can be heard at different times in both early morning as well as night. The wind rearranges the dunes often and erases evidence of life overnight. The Rogue waves hit occasionally and spontaneously and one must always think safety first. This particular part of the ocean has a force that can be felt as well as seen. The waves crash into each other and the cross current fights for its lane. Wind surfers defy the odds and jump the waves and sail like dare devils in the air. The big trucks come through showing brawn and handsome physiques. Bonfires seem a nightly occurrence and picnics are every week. The bathrooms are non gender and there is a cold shower available in the open. This is a very kool place! I look forward visiting here several times a week taking pictures and hoping for a sight of wildlife never seen before. During the night while observing the moon and stars I have seen both airplanes and unidentified flying craft. It is easy to distinguish between the two. I am in awe of my discoveries here. Such a beautiful fascinating landscape.

This is the first entrance to drive on the beach. You pass Fins restaurant, stop in for some really good clam chowder. Park by Fins and walk the boardwalk through the dunes or head to the beach. There are no cars north of this entrance, so enjoy a stroll. Pick up sand dollars or colorful rocks on your way to the pier.

Had a great time visiting, driving on the sand and in the dunes and exploring this reserve. Pay attention to tides and be careful if you don't have experience or the right vehicle or tires. Very informative at front entry and this visit was the highlight of our stay at Pismo Beach! Will be back to enjoy the ocean, sand and dunes!

We stopped by here on our road trip from Texas to Cali, well worth the stop!!! I took a Honda pilot trail sport and it did just fine, highly recommended for 4wd vehicles.

Beautiful place for a day trip or weekend! The dunes look amazing right next to the water. Parking is easy and if you park on the sand (4wd/awd only as san can be loose and deep(tesla and even a truck got stuck) it’s $5 a day. Lots of restaurants nearby so getting food is easy. Would recommend fins for their mahi mahi tacos & clam chowder!

I've been coming here since I was a kid. Be nice to the lady at the register, I like her.

I haven’t been there for a while, but Lucy was running the joint when I was there and you want to find better food, better salsa, and reach right in the beer chest and just grab a beer… They have specials every day and I got to get back there!

This is my favorite taco place in the Central Coast! I've went several times in the past 6 months and every time I was given something delicious. According to the nice woman who owns the place (Lucy?), this is a husband and wife run buisiness. She owns the one in Oceano, and he manages the one in Grover. While I prefer the Grover locations' al pastor and increased menu variety, this location is my favorite when I want the basics! Service has always been great, despite my gringo spanish! You can tell the woman who owns the place truly loves it and puts her soul into it. In her words, she tries to make it "a little bit of Mexico, right here". For that reason, the atmosphere is endearing and relaxed. The dining room set up is bare bones, but you don't need much more when you're surrounded by the market and can get whatever you need! If I'm ever back in this area again, La Tapatìa in Oceano is going to be the first place I go to!

The food is good but if you eat it there you're eating inside a market and there are few tables. The last time I got food there the lady at the deli wasn't too friendly. Maybe it was a bad day. On the market side the man who rang me up was really nice. The market itself is very small and carries more specialized items catering to the Hispanic culture.

This place has by far the best tacos in the central coast. It's a mom and pop shop convenience store. This place offers a good menu. Walk in head to the back order your food. Grab your drink from the variety of store fridges. Enjoy your food and drink. Pay before you leave. This is the way it is actually done in Mexico. Even at taco stands in the street. Order your food grab a drink. Enjoy the food and flavors. Pay before you leave.

When I first started eating there over a year ago, the food, quality & price were all above & beyond what I could've asked for. Within the past months that I've eaten there, the quality of food seemed to go down as the prices went up. It gets so busy in there now that the cook is in a hurry & doesn't seem to take as much time and care with the food as she did before. The older man who works the register in the front of the store has always been rude & over charged us on multiple occasions. Long story short, my wife & I will be finding a new Mexican restaurant as they're everywhere around here!!!

This place has great food. It is definatley a must. Price is affordable. Small seating area. The lady is really friendly. Understands english but predominate Spanish. It's a great place to find all your Hispanic fixing. The food is delicious. I mainly go for the tacos, occasionally a quesadilla.

What a beautiful evening, Food was well worth the 30 minutes wait. We had a fantastic waitress named Chelsea who was kind funny and most of all accurate with our order. Loved the fact it was a 6 minute walk from our campsite.

Good menu, has the regular items but also different items you might not expect. Had the Mexican veggie bowl, generous portion and very tasty. Tortilla chips and two salsas, red & green, were also brought to the table. Salsas were also tasty, maybe could use a bit more heat. Good service and the decor is a traditional Mexican theme, casual, comfortable, inviting. This is my new favorite Mexican restaurant in the five cities area.

Just love the ambiance..a true delight with an authentic Mexican flare! We sat at the bar and the bartender was very friendly and service was good. The chips, salsa and fresh Pico de Gallo was great! However, the food was mediocre at best, I'm sad to say. The carnitas was dry and the chili relleno was doughy. The salad and Chipotle dressing was excellent!

It was an excellent meal. Piping hot and fantastic flavor. Big enough portions to take leftovers home for another meal.

First time here and the service was already great, every staff was friendly and the whole entire restaurant is unique. Mostly I love to point out the retro vibe feeling and the wall art from every corner. They have some sort of shrine thats set up beautifully, the fake animals got me but I love it. Mainly the geometric style art near some tables is an eye cathcer for me. I had a quick appetizer and beers from draft. The beer was cold and its supposed to, because I've had some drafts thats not up to cold temp before on other bars. Overall, I love the restaurant and it was live on a normal weekday.

Chips were cold, food was barely warm, not tasty at all. Very disappointed. Margarita was good, but small for $14.00. Load inside even though we went early ish.

Always fun and good food! Staff is friendly and accommodating. Food and drinks are great!

Celebrating Our 10th Anniversary with an Unforgettable Dinner Yesterday, September 5, 2025, my husband and I decided to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary at this restaurant. First of all, I want to say that the service was exceptional. Our waiter, sorry I can’t recall his name, was incredibly kind. He was probably in his forties and mentioned that his wife was half Chilena. He truly elevated our experience to another level. We were traveling along the Pacific Way toward San Francisco and spent the night in Pismo Beach to see the dunes. We chose this restaurant and had a wonderful evening. We started with oysters, and our waiter impressed us with his knowledge about the different varieties, their origins, flavors, "colors" and his recommendations. We ate them all raw and loved them. I ordered ceviche and later another raw dish, while my husband ordered three rounds of oysters from different places, all recommended by our waiter. We also enjoyed a couple of cocktails: I had a cherry cocktail, and my husband had his favorite Cocktail "special unknown" ask for it if you know?. When we mentioned we were celebrating our anniversary, the waiter brought us a small treat, complimentary. We ended up staying for more than two hours, right by the beach, enjoying the evening, the view, the people, and the amazing service. Great food, great company, and a memorable conversation. This is an excellent place, don’t miss the chance to come here, order an appetizer, enjoy a couple of cocktails or wines, and savor their raw dishes. We also tried the tuna tower, which was just as delicious as everything else.

Fantastic, we had some of the best oysters in our lives. The sablefish and scallops were cooked to perfection. No flavours were too dominating and everything was pretty subtle. Leaving us craving for a well deserved dessert. Again the best cream brûlée I’ve had. The caramel basket was delicious and more than we could bargained for! Hoping we can dine here again!

This was our first time here and it was suggested by friends we were dining with. We started off with cocktails at the bar while we were waiting for our table. The view from our table was excellent. Our server was friendly and joking with us. All the food we ordered was delicious. The grilled oysters were excellent. In fact, everything we ordered and sampled was great. We would absolutely return to dine here again.

Beautiful ocean views and a nautical decor begin your experience in this wonderful establishment. The host staff is friendly, and the waitstaff is very professional and knowledgeable. They offer a nice variety of wines, in my opinion, a bit overpriced with Mark ups varying 40 to 100 percent. The cuisine was quite nice. We started with Manhattan chowder, which was loaded with clams. Then, an assortment of appetizers and small plates which included grilled octopus and baby vegetables, braized short ribs with kimchi rice, scallop crudo, ceviche and five different types of oysters. My personal favorites were the octopus, which was tender, flavorful, and well-balanced, and the oysters. I thought the scallop crudo was good but lacking a touch of acid to needed to balance out the sweetness of the meat with the spicy and herb infused oils. Overall, a wonderful experience was had by all.

Outstanding meal, best seafood dinner I’ve had in California. Stunning octopus, mouth watering tuna, sable fish that melts in your mouth. Even tried a peach sake.

I have not had seafood this amazing in a long time. We actually stumbled into this place walking down the beach and glad we did. Mike with the pumpkin 🎃 tie helped make our dinner amazing. Everything went so well we came back a second night. The scallops 👌, the red clam chowder 💯 and drinks perfectly made. Everything went so well we thank you for all the hard work and dedication the whole team puts in because it shows. Oyster Loft is a must try.

Amazing Costumer service ✨ and the best dessert I’ve ever tasted! So rich and flavorful. My only complaint is that I’m pregnant and live 3hrs away and now I’ll be craving the desserts 😭

This attraction is clean and beautiful. Plenty of shops, and eateries with a beautiful view of the ocean. Easy access to the beach and boardwalk. There's benches and tables throughout so that you can relax and enjoy the beauty of Pismo or simply have a relaxing lunch. Also perfect for peaceful walks especially since our hotel is right on the beach so we enjoy the pier plaza a lot.

It's always nice visiting. Pismo beach sign makes a nice place for pictures and they have a small area for young kids to play and climb on a whale

It was a first visit here. Parking was at a minimal. We drove around 3 times and found parking 5 blocks away on the street. There is paid parking closer in which was full. Restrooms are at the entrance of the pier. It was a Tuesday but it was still crowded along the sidewalks of the shops and restaurants. It was windy on the pier. We walked to the end of the pier and had a great 360 view. There were a couple of airstream food trucks on the pier at the entrance. Probably won't visit here again. We were told Avila Beach north of here is better.

This is definitely a nice walk! PSA: no bicycles allowed no skateboards No wheeled devices ADA and strollers are allowed No dogs allowed. Stopped at the Pismo Beach Pier since I’ve never been here. Surprised again that it’s so policed! There are halo cameras everywhere which doesn’t actually make me feel safe at all. Yes it’s beautiful and clean and such but we are losing the capability to have great experiences without being watched all the time. There are sign’s everywhere of what is not allowed. You can breathe, walk and talk quietly that’s about it without being considered loud. Make sure you pay for parking if your not disabled they have someone writing tickets all day. For a quick peaceful moment yes stop by but if your looking for a place to be yourself with out all the rules this isn’t the place for you. Yes it’s beautiful however you cannot fully enjoy yourself if you are someone who is more outspoken and enjoying of all outdoor activities. It’s not as culturally diverse as it used to be from stories of older generations. I felt very uncomfortable walking around with all the folks staring at me yes I’m long haired and tattooed up but that does not mean I’m going to do something to anyone. It’s a shame really how policed this pier is.

Beautiful pier! Went a day before christmas eve so nobody was really there. Parking was easy to find. They had a cool playground for my 2 year old to be distracted. They had this cool concrete slide for kids and adults. Cool little Cafe also available on the pier.

We came here on Christmas Day, restaurants in the area were closed for the holiday but one food truck on the pier was open. There’s is also public parking. Street parking is $6.00 per hour but if you’re willing to walk, there are free street parking nearby about 15min walk to the Pier Plaza. Restroom is clean.

We always love visiting the pier at Pismo Beach. It’s so much cleaner than it’s been in the past. Everything there seemed so new. Everyone was in good spirits and were enjoying walking the length of the pier and visiting the shops. Just a pleasant place to be, especially on a weekday when there weren’t too many people. As always, we cannot wait to return ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nice campground. Walking distance to the beach and the dunes, and to the pismo pier (a mile of beach or so). Lots of walkable trails, from boardwalks to sandy paths. Free camping on parts of the beach. The monarch butterfly sanctuary on one end of the campground is a great bonus! Only issue is some of the campground is a little close to the road which can be loud, especially on weekends. Lots of people run generators too, which can get annoying (solar works great and is silent!) showers are hot, 50 cents a minute!

Great location, cool trails/paths and the ocean, yes… did I say great location and beautiful too. There are improvements that can be made. The first is to plant some trees for more shade. Lots of sites have no tree coverage. Did I mention really great location, you do have to pay to take a shower. No joke. Try to remember to bring firewood because there was none onsite to buy, though it was advertised to have firewood. I just can’t give this place five stars because of the easy improvements out there. Did I mention the butterfly grove?

This has been a family tradition for 3 years now. The showers are nice with private toilets. We love the easy access to the beach and you can actually walk downtown from here. The camp sites are huge.

The parking situation here is horrible! These shady bureaucrats gave my daughter 2 parking tickets in one day! There was nobody at the front kiask when she entered, so she couldn’t pay anyone! There is no possibility of paying online. NO signs posted for no parking or 15 minute parking. They gave her a ticket for no reason as there’s no signs in front of the bathroom saying temporary parking. These shady clowns stole so much $ from us in parking tickets & totally killed our vibe! 🤮

Only $35. Local restaurants, pismo beach pier. Everything is walking distance. Showers, fire pits, and tables. Great place to visit

Update 4/27/25: This is my fifth year coming here and have noticed major changes. 1.) The park enforces are on a constant POWER TRIP. absolutely rude, won't even allow family to load and unload without threatening to ticket. 2.) I have a handicap on my vehicle and I parked in the handicap at the restrooms to shower and got out to a ticket!! Officer Machado badge no.1861 has no sympathy 3.) The police and EMS on the site was excessive. Sirens all night! 4.) Roudy guests blowing up fireworks late at night, startling other guests. It appears more ghetto here. 5.) Some sites had up to 4 cars and some like myself couldn't stop getting harassed while loading and unloading. 5.) Random guy selling firewood approached us and wouldn't let off. I dont like solicitors coming up to me while I'm trying to relax. Not sure i wanna come back. Other highlights: showers use tokens, use bills only it doesn't accept coins. $1 gives you 2 tokens worth 2 minutes each. One shower stole my tokens and never showered me but I let it go. No plug ins so bring solar chargers or box. No hook ups for trailers. Weather is unpredictable. We were mostly cold and had to buy a lot of firewood. There are fire pit on each site. People stay up way past the 10pm quiet time but it wasn't a big deal to us. Check in is super easy and check out as well. We really enjoyed the pathways that led to the beach very pretty. At night you can also walk the beach, it's magical. A few sketchy people but no theft on this trip. I had heard many reviews about theft but thankfully had nothing stolen. Stores are conveniently located. It's a great spot. It feels removed and yet you are so close to the center.

We love it here. Bathrooms and SHOWERS!! Every spot is relatively private. Cheapest place to camp in the area. Booked solid on weekends. but you can find spots if you are vigilant. Pet frindly. Close to groceries and gas. And most importantly... the beach!! Enjoy your stay!!

Beautiful preserve with terrific trail options from easy to more difficult. The trails were well groomed and clearly marked with many wildflowers and a couple of snakes. The views of the ocean and coastline are spectacular The parking lot was full when we got there but street parking was available nearby.

Nice beautiful trail made of single tracks and fire roads used mainly by hiker mtb rider small right above price street scan code to park free for three hours moderate to easy climb and views are amazing enjoy

One of my favorite hikes is in the Pismo Preserve. So many different hikes to choose from. All offer breathtaking views of not only into Pismo Beach but also at vantage points capturing Pismo and Shell Beach. Lone Oak and Spring to Spring are my favorite trails. Parking can be hard during the day after 9am and on weekends.

What a lovely hike!! There are various trails based on distance and challenge. Decided to do the Spring to Spring Trail. Its about 3.14 miles. It wasn't too strenuous. Easy enough to take our little senior dog of 12+ years with us. Try to get there early. After 9am, parking can be a challenge.

Arrived around 3pm, as parking opened up from the early afternoon folks leaving. My dog and I took the low road, which maintains a beautiful view of the ocean as is winds up the mountain. Fairly easy trail with a mellow incline. Took my dog and I about an hour in and out, including a few scenic and social stops. Would return for this trail or to try one of the others at this location.

I have never given a hike, such a low score before, until this one, deservedly so! If you like hiking alongside freeway 101 for a minimum of 15-20minutes each way to get away from the noisy freeway ASAP, as share with cyclists very narrow trails with enough room for a single person, this is the hike for you. Unsafe, as some cyclists are racing down the hills. This hike is mostly exposed to the sun and winds, and plants are mostly low shrubs.

Really nice place to enjoy nature with wonderful views. On a bike or simply a hike! The parking lot was full but there is free parking on the other side of the freeway.

This precious gem is located in the Shell Beach area, adjacent to 'Dinosaur Caves Park' with plenty of parking. Here, you can admire the caves in the water (even more if you bring your binoculars). You'll find a gazebo, benches to sit and enjoy the beautiful views and simply relax. This is such a peaceful spot, clean, grassy, and dog-friendly. I liked that the water fountains also have a bottom bowl fountain for the doggies! Such a cool thing to help keep our furry babies hydrated. They also have a poop-bag dispenser in case you forget to bring any. Overall, we enjoyed the tranquil setting of this park dedicated in honor of Margo Dodd, a civic and community leader.

Wonderful little park, this park is the literal translation that big things come in small packages. This has to be one of the most beautiful places to visit in Pismo/ Shell beach, the views are spectacular, especially around sunset.

A gem in Pismo Beach area. Must visit. Great views, and a nice place to walk with views of the cliff and the ocean. Don't miss!

Great little peaceful park with a gazebo, benches and spectacular views of the rocks and ocean.

Very pretty. There were Hundreds of Pelicans there. Totally Awesome.

Beautiful place, amazing vistas. The birds and sea lions were so fun to watch. We went snorkeling and had a fun time even though there was almost zero visibility, and tons of seaweed. It was great riding the swells through the caves and rocks. Great place to kayak. There is a fun park for kids up the street as well, great place to stop for a picnic.

A perfect spot to sit and watch sunset 🌇 on our Anniversary during the Thanksgiving weekend. Awesome views

Love this spot. This is a spot that we happen to run across by accident. And let me tell you what I'm glad we did. The area is clean, in a residential area. You can stand and take beautiful pictures off of the Bluffs or you can go down and enjoy yourself on the beach. It's nice it's quiet. Don't get me wrong there are people on there but it was very peaceful and relaxing. There are a lot of tide pools in rocks to explore, but be very careful. This is a place, a must see

Awesome place. You can just sit on a bench & enjoy the view or have a picnic. They have 3 bbq grills & 4 picnic tables. They also are two sets of stairs, that lead you straight to the beach. One off Morro & Ocean Blvd, the other off Vista del Mar & Ocean Blvd.

We chanced upon this each and was pleasantly surprised. Spent a lazy afternoon just watching the waves and the kids enjoyed hunting for hermit crabs in the tide pool. Be sure to check for daily tide schedule. Plenty of street parking

Found this by accident. This is simply one of the best spots I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen a lot of beach sunsets. Photos don’t do it justice. The people in the community were very nice, wonderful ocean breeze, clean waters, and just the right amount of sun. Please be a respectful member of the community to keep this as wonderful as it is

This little overlook provides an amazing view! It wasn’t super busy, but it’s surprisingly chilly out so it may be that. Plenty of room for the kiddos to run around and play, just be careful of the construction areas!

We stopped here on a recent Wednesday during low tide in hopes of finding some tide pools. There was ample parking along the street during our visit, but only one set of stairs down to the beach was open. Tide pools were plentiful, but not many sea critters to be found. Very pretty spot though, with lots of interesting rock formations on the cliffs.

My favorite spot to catch the sunset 🌅 There is plenty of seating and many friendly folks who are walking their dogs, drinking wine, doing their workout, hanging out with their families, etc. I’ve also hosted a picnic or two here and it’s been great! Perfect spot for a picnic!

This restaurant was absolutely amazing. We visited from the east coast and stayed at the hotel on the property. The views were breathtaking the food was delicious. The presentation staff ambiance was 5 star. Will definitely be returning when visiting Cali. The ceviche was my favorite great app for the table. Also great place to celebrate a birthday. My son loved it they made his birthday special added candles to his slice of cake great dessert options.

Food was amazing! We had the steak, molcajete, a chicken steak dish, pozole. The steak had a delicious glaze on it and a nice smoky flavor and the pozole was seasoned perfectly. Would have had a nice view of the bay except the fog came in. Our server Alberta was so attentive and caring. Our kiddo loved his quesadilla and some of my steak plus the yummy desserts. Definitely coming back.

We had reserved a table on a Friday night and were seated right away with a great view. The wait staff were attentive and the margaritas were very good. The food was fine, but my wife felt her fish was a bit bland and my chili relleno’s cheese inside wasn’t melted. The cornmeal crusted calamari were quite good as were the sauces, although my wife found corn meal vs traditional batter a bit weird. If I came back I’d definitely order something else.

Today's night out was spectacular. The atmosphere, the restaurant, the food, EVERYTHING was 💯. A cheery on top for me was my dish; Choppino which was top tier. I will be back soon enough.

The waiter and food were excellent. He recommended the shredded beef birria tacos, sopes, and lobster mac for dinner entrees. He was not wrong. Amazing Mexican food and freshly made tortillas on the side.

This is one of the most highly recommended restaurants I’ve been to in the U.S. — reasonable prices, excellent service, and delicious food with generous portions. Their complimentary appetizer is freshly baked warm corn tortillas served with four different kinds of sauces — a delightful surprise compared to the typical tortilla chips you get at most Mexican restaurants. The clam chowder is an absolute must-try. It’s the best I’ve ever had — rich in both seafood flavor and creaminess. Every spoonful is packed with a variety of seafood, not just clams but also squid and others. The only slight downside was that the soup wasn’t hot enough when served, but other than that, it was nearly flawless. (4.8/5) The fish and chips, on the other hand, are skippable. The fried fish was quite standard and not particularly special. (3/5) Their pasta was amazing. The sauce and penne were already excellent on their own, but the seafood on top was definitely not an afterthought. Both the shrimp and fish were plentiful and perfectly cooked — tender and flavorful without being overdone. (5/5) Another great touch was the water they served. Instead of the usual lemon slices, they use cucumber slices, which made it taste refreshingly clean. Unlike some restaurants where the water can be slimy or have a weird taste, theirs was genuinely enjoyable. The view over there is also astonishing!

Great Mexican fusion cuisine and solid service. Filet Minion special was outstanding and good kids choices. For the fans of Old Fashion - you have to try theirs.

If you want that old style real, unprocessed taste (and kick), of the way coffee used to be, get it here!! The scones are on the menu but sell fast,(not too sweet just right) so get yours before they're all gone. Great old west setting and old authentic machinery. The smell will take you back in time to a place where coffee was just beginning and at it's purest state.

Awesome coffee and bought coffee beans as well. They provide coffee grinding service too.

Probably my favorite coffee spot on the central coast. This place makes me feel like I’m actually in civilization lol after being gone for 20 years there is very limited coffee options until you get into AG / SLO - sorry if I sound bougie but it’s the truth. They have fire organic coffee here and they make tasty non-caffeinated drinks for kids we got something they called a vanilla steamer it was really good. This place has the raw beans right there in the sacks, the coffee roaster right there in the middle of the room, and a bunch of bulk coffee for purchase as well. If you like good coffee you won’t be disappointed. They have another location in SLO too.

The coffee was okay, but I’ve had better.

Hands down, this is the best coffee in town! It’s a dark, rich, and freshly brewed house blend that’s brewed to perfection. And the best part? The consistency is impeccable, every cup is just as delicious as the last.

Coffee and a cinnamon roll, anyone??? One of the top roasters on the Central Coast paired with Old West Cinnamon Roll company, don’t know of a better way to start a relaxing morning on vacation.

I got an unexpected day off and thought it would be perfect to start with coffee. When going to a new coffee shop, I always start with a latte. I think you can tell a lot about the shop and the coffee by the quality of a simple latte. This one was absolutely delicious. Coffee was rich but not bitter. Perfect amount of coffee to milk. I love that they roast their beans on the premises. And in fact I took home a bag of their medium roast to use as my day off coffee at home. The staff member who helped me was cheerful and pleasant. The setting was very comfy. I will absolutely be back.

The only basketball court in town open to public. Great space, amazing staff (a star for each) but why is it only open when school is in session?! When are the kids supposed to use it, if open gym is only open during school hours and never on holidays, weekends and not during the Christmas or summer break? This community center is under the supervision of Lucia Mar School District, so it’s funded by our taxes, but can never be used by our school aged children 😐

The basketball court is never open, and the hours for using any of their amenities are super weird and wonky. Since it is a community center, the hours need to be more open and available to the community. However, the basketball court, when actually available, is clean and nice.

Great place to catch a game with my daughters travel ball team.

Lobby area is fantastic and well taken care of. However the basketball courts have confusing lines with close blues being used for different courts. Good for shooting around but can be hard to tell lines apart in real play.

Great place for indoor basketball 🏀

Its likely you've been to a wedding reception or basket/volleyball game here. Stay tuned may be hosting wrestling matches soon!

The staff is super helpful when you need them !

Great card room with a variety of poker games and blackjack. Plenty of tournament play to hone your skills. Pleasant professional staff, dealers, and servers. Great selection of beer, wine, and drinks. Very laid back atmosphere and you'll always feel welcome and fit in.

The place will try to cash you out with $20 bills...uh I'm not taking 6K in 20s. Maybe you should not have so many credit players!

Awesome people! Best poker Action in town!

A treasure house of information about Oceano's train history, as well as other Oceano history, such as the Dunites who lived in the Guadalupe Dunes decades ago. The friendly bearded man on duty today was a wealth of knowledge, and took us and others on a tour of the relocated and reconstructed train depot. Plenty for kids to enjoy. Don't miss this if you are in town or passing thru.

Went to a small craft show. The small museum was cool to see.

Learn about local history here at the Train Depot. Open on Saturdays

Great rebuild of an old and important stop in the central coast.

Great and informative tour!

What a wonderful little museum! I've lived in the area all my life but learned so many things I never knew. We actually ran out of time before seeing everything. Fun to play tourist in your own area, will definitely go again to see the rest!

Interesting venue. The Oceano Sea Breeze Market was there, which would have been better with more vendors, but the space was too small for more tables/displays. Confusing Parking signage...

We had an absolutely amazing flight with Jordan that day! He was an Ace Pilot who gave us an incredible tour of the Pismo Coastline. The video they put together for us was perfect and we couldn’t be happier! Getting to fly in a classic 1942 Boeing Stearman was a real treat. They are super friendly and professional. We will absolutely go again on another anniversary.

This was one of the best experiences of my life. I recommend it to everyone. Jordyn, hopefully I spelled his name right, is an amazing pilot. Very smooth handling of the biplane. Now I can scratch riding in a WWII plane off my list.

I am reviewing this from my dad's point of view who took a ride on one of the planes while we watched. The pilot was courteous, friendly, on time, and made the experience so awesome. The flight delivered as promised and everything was just as he said it would be. The scheduling was easy with many options for flight times... even last minute. Would definitely recommend! If you decide to get a video, stay on top of it. They know the videos tend to go to spam, but if you wait too long to make sure you received it, they may not have it. They only keep videos for 30 days.

Nothing like being in an open cockpit flying over the beautiful central coast. Owners Jordan and Kandis were very professional, fun and safe (including Covid guidelines). Highly recommended!

Great experience. Jorden was a great pilot and made sure we had a good time with nice weather. My dad had gone 25 years ago with his dad and wanted to experience it again with his kid. So it was a great time. If you’re in the area be sure to do this.

Wonder experience in this WW ll training aircraft . Plane looks meticulously cared for and our Pilot Jorden was very professional and very nice . 4 stars only because they could really bring a lot of value to this wonderful ride if the pilot could communicate with passengers during flight . A little narration on Jordens part would gone a long way with us . Still was fun and worth it !

Best flight in the universe! Jorden is a very good pilot; my nephew had the time of his life flying out of Oceano.

We always enjoy visiting this lodge. The people are friendly and the location is awesome.

Rain or shine a great place to go! We enjoy the area and friends always make it fun.

Fun Fun Fun Richard and Nancy are the best hostesses ! Thank you for your kindness

Friendly people, great organization with fun events all the time. Sundays, sister's Thai food. Excellent. Had the pumpkin chicken curry, yum

Friends asked us to join them, great visit and drinks.

Richard greeted us when we arrived, got us parked and showed us where everything was. Had a great week there and would definitely stay again

Great location. Nice bar and lodge. Excellent staff

A nice and educational visit; a bit of history that gives you a better understanding of the dunes' history. Furthermore, they have a neat aerial map of the entire coastline from Pismo Dunes to Point Sal; this gives you info where off road vehicles can and cannot drive.

Pretty cool place to stop in and get the best info about the area

Cool place! Very nice and helpful rangers.

(Translated by Google) Good information received by a very friendly volunteer (Original) Goede informatie gekregen door hele vriendelijke vrijwilliger

Tried calling from outside of the store to make an order, saw the owner answer my call and immediately hang up on me without speaking after 20 minutes of trying to get through. When I got my food the fish had freezer burn, and was as dry and about as flavorful as cardboard. Not going back.

Food was very good but a couple of things could be improved. Ordered posole and got two very small pieces of meat with a ton of hominy and a little bit of soup. Flavor was good just would have wanted more meat and soup. Rice was ok, meat was super tasty in the tacos.

Had the chili Verde tacos and chicken tacos. Tuesday is taco Tuesday 2.50 each. Excellent flavors! Totally would recommend and definitely will visit again. Staff super nice and welcoming.

I ordered the Chile relleno, my friend had the same but with meat. She liked hers, I thought mine was OK and it seemed like it was premade and reheated as the batter was soggy and warm not hot if it was just out of the fryer. Music was too loud to have a decent conversation. Seems like it’s a local hangout - not for me.

This is my go-to place. Though I wish they still provide free chips and salsa.

For was great, service was crap. We got served ave that was the last time we seen the waitress. No check up on a 40 min visit, not once. When we left and said bye and got nothing in return.

Carne asada fries are 10/10, fully loaded, enough for 2 to share. The service was great, food was delicious, everything was so flavorful. I can't wait to go back! I am visiting from Michigan, but I'll be sure to stop here the next I'm in the area!