Guidebook for Arroyo Grande
Food Scene
Award Winning Clam Chowder. They have the best clam chowder I've ever had.
Website: https://www.splashcafe.com/pismo-beach.php
83 locals recommend
Splash Café Pismo Beach
197 Pomeroy AveAward Winning Clam Chowder. They have the best clam chowder I've ever had.
Website: https://www.splashcafe.com/pismo-beach.php
Latin-inspired dishes & fresh seafood.
Breathtaking sunset view overlooking Shell beach & cliffs.
Reservation is recommended.
Website: https://ventanagrill.com
96 locals recommend
Ventana Grill
2575 Price StLatin-inspired dishes & fresh seafood.
Breathtaking sunset view overlooking Shell beach & cliffs.
Reservation is recommended.
Website: https://ventanagrill.com
Fresh caught seafood cooked to your style. Their BBQ Oysters are to die for.
Bustling, informal spot on the water with upfront Morro Rock view.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/5DTcDtRQZ4ERcoqx6
45 locals recommend
Tognazzini's Dockside Restaurant
1245 EmbarcaderoFresh caught seafood cooked to your style. Their BBQ Oysters are to die for.
Bustling, informal spot on the water with upfront Morro Rock view.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/5DTcDtRQZ4ERcoqx6
Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica
849 Monterey StServing specialties from Italy’s Pugliese region.
One of the best hidden spots around. Serves award-winning burgers. They are never frozen, fresh, juicy, crispy, and filled with magical heavenly deliciousness.
Must try: their Heart Attack burger (for obvious reasons) Fried egg, bacon, avocado, cheese and Sylvester sauce. Yumm
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/yBAkKNuAPiLeTeXq5
51 locals recommend
Sylvester's Burgers
1099 Santa Ynez AveOne of the best hidden spots around. Serves award-winning burgers. They are never frozen, fresh, juicy, crispy, and filled with magical heavenly deliciousness.
Must try: their Heart Attack burger (for obvious reasons) Fried egg, bacon, avocado, cheese and Sylvester sauce. Yumm
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/yBAkKNuAPiLeTeXq5
Authentic Mexican restaurant servs traditional dishes such as carne asada tacos and enchiladas.
Their tacos are just $2 each include steak, chicken, chorizo, carnitas (pork), cabeza (brains), tongue and shrimp.
Taco Tuesdays will mean $1.49 prices for tacos. Other dishes include enchilada combo plates for $11.49, breakfast burritos for $7.50 and tostadas for $5.50.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/e126S2fvH7bYYyfi9
12 locals recommend
Efren's Deli
1720 Beach StAuthentic Mexican restaurant servs traditional dishes such as carne asada tacos and enchiladas.
Their tacos are just $2 each include steak, chicken, chorizo, carnitas (pork), cabeza (brains), tongue and shrimp.
Taco Tuesdays will mean $1.49 prices for tacos. Other dishes include enchilada combo plates for $11.49, breakfast burritos for $7.50 and tostadas for $5.50.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/e126S2fvH7bYYyfi9
Best raw oyster ever!!!
$15 for half a dozen. Fat babies & Paradise are our favorites.
And their Hangar Steak Au Poivre topped with caramelized spring onions and quail is so delicious.
39 locals recommend
Oyster Loft
101 Pomeroy AveBest raw oyster ever!!!
$15 for half a dozen. Fat babies & Paradise are our favorites.
And their Hangar Steak Au Poivre topped with caramelized spring onions and quail is so delicious.
o Award-winning burgers.
o Must try: their Heart Attack burger (for obvious reasons). Fried egg, bacon, avocado, cheese and Sylvester sauce.
51 locals recommend
Sylvester's Burgers
1099 Santa Ynez Aveo Award-winning burgers.
o Must try: their Heart Attack burger (for obvious reasons). Fried egg, bacon, avocado, cheese and Sylvester sauce.
Parks & Nature
The only place you can drive your car on the beach.
You can also rent and ride dune buggies and ATVs on the beach.
At night, bring some firewood, a blanket & your favorite drinks and gather around a fire pit.
There is a small cost per vehicle to drive on the beach and it is recommended you have a larger vehicle before attempting to drive on the dry sand; you don’t want to get stuck in the dunes.
Oceano Beach
The only place you can drive your car on the beach.
You can also rent and ride dune buggies and ATVs on the beach.
At night, bring some firewood, a blanket & your favorite drinks and gather around a fire pit.
There is a small cost per vehicle to drive on the beach and it is recommended you have a larger vehicle before attempting to drive on the dry sand; you don’t want to get stuck in the dunes.
Opens for the season around end of October
A Brush with the Butterflies is in November
Butterfly Grove Closes between March and October
141 locals recommend
Monarch Butterfly Grove
400 South Dolliver StreetOpens for the season around end of October
A Brush with the Butterflies is in November
Butterfly Grove Closes between March and October
Located at the corner of Cliff Street and Shell Beach Road, Shell Beach. Take a picnic basket, bring your cameras and enjoy breathtaking sunset views. Observe dolphins, whales, sea otters and other sea life as well as sea and shore birds.
66 locals recommend
Dinosaur Caves Park
2701 Price StLocated at the corner of Cliff Street and Shell Beach Road, Shell Beach. Take a picnic basket, bring your cameras and enjoy breathtaking sunset views. Observe dolphins, whales, sea otters and other sea life as well as sea and shore birds.
Lopez Lake
Lopez Drivezip-lining and water park with other fun daytime activities.
Sightseeing
Fishing, kayaking, surfing, or scuba diving. For a more relaxed afternoon walk the pier and then head to the downtown area for shopping.
109 locals recommend
Pismo Beach Pier
100 Pomeroy AveFishing, kayaking, surfing, or scuba diving. For a more relaxed afternoon walk the pier and then head to the downtown area for shopping.
Drive down to Ocean Boulevard where parking and a set of stairs provide access to the sandy beach below. There’s a perfect lookout gazebo in Margo Dodd park.
43 locals recommend
Shell Beach
Drive down to Ocean Boulevard where parking and a set of stairs provide access to the sandy beach below. There’s a perfect lookout gazebo in Margo Dodd park.
Hidden paradise on the Central Coast with its boutique surf shops, amazing dining, breathtaking beaches and activities.
329 locals recommend
Avila Beach
Hidden paradise on the Central Coast with its boutique surf shops, amazing dining, breathtaking beaches and activities.
Entertainment & Activities
Visit https://www.slocal.com for more info.
Sell fresh local produces.
You can also pet & feed goats, chicken, ostriches, ponies and cows.
144 locals recommend
Avila Valley Barn
560 Avila Beach DrSell fresh local produces.
You can also pet & feed goats, chicken, ostriches, ponies and cows.
Takes place every Thursday evening from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (weather permitting and excluding major holidays) on Higuera Street between Nipomo and Osos streets.
The Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market is undoubtedly one of the most treasured events on the Central Coast and has a long history of bringing locals and visitors together to eat, shop, listen to music and connect with their community.
150 locals recommend
Downtown SLO Farmers' Market
Higuera StreetTakes place every Thursday evening from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (weather permitting and excluding major holidays) on Higuera Street between Nipomo and Osos streets.
The Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market is undoubtedly one of the most treasured events on the Central Coast and has a long history of bringing locals and visitors together to eat, shop, listen to music and connect with their community.
Carrizo Plain National Monument
17495 Soda Lake RdAmazing blooming wild flower fields.
Located just ten miles east of Arroyo Grande, Lopez Lake Recreation Area is one of the top choices for camping and leisure trips. With 22 miles of shoreline and summer lake temperatures around 70, there is something for everyone; camping, fishing, boating, skiing, sailing, zip lining
7 locals recommend
Lopez Lake Recreation Area
6800 Lopez DrLocated just ten miles east of Arroyo Grande, Lopez Lake Recreation Area is one of the top choices for camping and leisure trips. With 22 miles of shoreline and summer lake temperatures around 70, there is something for everyone; camping, fishing, boating, skiing, sailing, zip lining
Essentials
Vons
1758 W Grand AveSupermarket chain similar to Safeway
Trader Joe's
955 Rancho PkwySpecialty grocer with housebound items.
Unassuming but extensive local market caters to Mexican cooks looking for all the right ingredients.
A tiny cafe inside offers a menu of old-world Mexican cuisine such as machaca, mole, and ceviche, plus a nacho platter big enough for two.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/ydjz3M9xzdy2K4AT8
Central Market
2061 Cienaga StUnassuming but extensive local market caters to Mexican cooks looking for all the right ingredients.
A tiny cafe inside offers a menu of old-world Mexican cuisine such as machaca, mole, and ceviche, plus a nacho platter big enough for two.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/ydjz3M9xzdy2K4AT8
Warehouse-like supermarket chain for produce, meats & packaged foods
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Ye4SHR3xkmM84mzs9
7 locals recommend
Smart & Final Extra!
1464 E Grand AveWarehouse-like supermarket chain for produce, meats & packaged foods
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Ye4SHR3xkmM84mzs9
Okui's Strawberry N Fruit Stnd
1234 Highland WayStrawberry farm
Quick stopover drive-thru vegetable stand offers a wide variety of farm fresh fruits and vegetables, local snacks like strawberries, peaches, Paso almond brittle, a wide range of fruit jams and savory sauces.
Hayashi Vegetable Stand
2876 Cienaga StQuick stopover drive-thru vegetable stand offers a wide variety of farm fresh fruits and vegetables, local snacks like strawberries, peaches, Paso almond brittle, a wide range of fruit jams and savory sauces.