The Perfect Weekend Getaway in Paso Robles, California
Hotels, wineries, restaurants, and things to do—this travel guide this beautiful part of Central California has you covered.
Genesseo Inn
I’ve lived in California for over a decade, but it took me a few years before I finally made it to Paso Robles and the surrounding area. Once I did, I was hooked. Not only is it an easy, drivable weekend destination from San Francisco and Los Angeles (hey there, meet-me-midway getaway) but it has excellent wineries, affordable boutique hotels, and more than a few exciting food and bar openings over the past few years.
Paso Robles is now one of my favorite places for a weekend getaway, especially if I want to hang out in wine country the high prices of Napa, or can’t make up my mind between wine country and the coast—since Paso has a bit of both. Plus, the wine scene here is a bit more experimental (more on that in a bit) which adds to the fun.
Does this sound like your speed? Then use my travel guide to Paso Robles, California to plan your perfect getaway.
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Paso Robles Hotels: Where to Stay
When I travel, I prefer unique, boutique hotels that capture the character of the area I’m in. Paso Robles has several great options like this, ranging from budget to luxe. While it’s easy to stay in downtown Paso for walkability and quick access to restaurants and bars, you’ll also find some truly relaxing, “getaway” hotels outside of town on vineyards and ranches. These are some of my favorites:
Farmhouse Motel: $$ A cheap and cheerful, renovated motel by the hotel group Nomada (love them!)
Stables Inn: $$ This is a central, affordable boutique hotel with fire pits and cozy rooms. Stylish yet affordable.
Hotel Piccolo: $$ a new, modern hotel in downtown Paso. It’s a bigger spot but affordable and centrally located.
Farm Blanc and Rouge: $$$ for a rustic stay on a farm, just outside of town. I haven’t stayed here yet but heard great things from friends in the travel space.
Kindred Oak Farm: $$$ for a peaceful bed and breakfast on a farm outside of town.
Paso Robles Inn: $$$ this historic inn has gotten a facelift, and is a central, stylish place to stay.
Gennesseo Inn: $$$ an 8-room bed and breakfast steps away from the vineyards. We stayed here last time we were in town and can’t say enough great things about the rooms, location, service, and generous breakfasts!
Hotel Cheval: $$$$ Stable’s more upscale sister property, also central and downtown.
Sirena Vineyard Resort: $$$$ a luxurious stay on a winery right in the middle of the vineyards.
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Where to Eat in Paso Robles
S'Aranella
Il Cortile
Over the past few years, I’ve watched as Paso Robles’ food scene grew from good to great. So much so, that it earned a spot on Eater’s list of the best food cities of 2025. From award-winning wineries and Michelin-starred restaurants to laidback brunch spots and old-west-inspired, pioneer-esque saloons, Paso has a bit of something for everything. Below are a few highlights not to miss:
Brunch, breakfast, and coffee
The Nest is a hip and modern, diner-style breakfast spot in nearby Atascadero. The food is good but plan for a leisurely visit—the few times I’ve been here the service wasn’t super fast.
Paso Market Walk is a casual food hall with breakfast/lunch options, wine bar, and coffeeshop. I usually swing by for breakfast or lunch, especially since the coffee shop at the center of the building, JoeBella is one of the best spots for espresso-based beverages in town. Grab a drink and a pastry from Just Baked bakery, then settle in for breakfast on their shady outdoor lawn.
Brunch serves (you guessed it), breakfast and brunch. Their s’mores french toast is a seriously decadent dish, though savory-breakfasters might prefer the bacon breakfast pizza. Usually a line on weekends.
If it’s just coffee you’re after, Spearhead is an excellent downtown option.
Lunch + Dinner
Pier 46 Seafood Co. is one of my favorite spots in the area for a casual bite in Templeton (just down the road) like fried clams.
The Backyard on Thirteenth for a casual, outdoor beer garden with po’boys and mac n’ cheese.
Etto Pasta is an Italian spot and the best place for a bite if you’re spending the day at Tin City, a walkable industrial area with a collection of shops, restaurants, tasting rooms, and a brewery just outside downtown Paso.
JUSTIN winery has an on-site restaurant if you’re looking for a meal out in the vineyards.
Niner winery also has a full lunch menu. I haven’t been but it was recommended to me by a local winemaker.
Parchetto is a newly opened restaurant by the the team behind local favorite Italian restaurant Il Cortile (had some excellent handmade pasta here!). Parchetto opened in 2024 as a Californian bistro, serving farm-to-table dishes, imaginative cocktails, and locally-sourced wines.
S'Aranella is a newish Spanish tapas place. Was impressed with the paella (actual Socarrat!) and cocktails.
Les Petites Canailles is by the same group as S’Aranella and a great option for an upscale, farm-to-table French dinner in town.
in bloom is known for its locally sourced, Californian cuisine. Atmosphere is sophisticated but laid-back, wine selection is excellent, and I love the vinyl records setting the mood.
After Dinner Drinks
After dinner grab a drink at Eleven Twenty Two, a new(ish) speakeasy in downtown Paso Robles, or mosey on over to Pine Street Saloon, a classic karaoke dive bar.
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Wineries + Tasting Rooms
Cass Winery (Genesseo Inn)
If you like wine, leave room for at least a couple of tastings during your time in Paso. It was known for its Zinfandels but these days you’ll find a pretty wide variety of varietals here.
Can’t miss wineries
My personal favorite is Tablas Creek, which is at the end of a quiet, rural road and known for its Rhone-style blends. Reservations are recommended for tastings, though they do accept walk-ins. Worst case, they’ll let you grab a bottle and sit outside at one of their picnic tables to enjoy.
The popular Tin City complex is a must if you want to try a variety of tastings without driving between a bunch of wineries. I really love Field Recordings and Hubba Wines—both of which bring a bit of a fresh and youthful contrast to some of the more established wineries in the area.
There’s also a strong French contingency in Paso Robles, most of whom bring French tradition and Californian experimentation together to make some pretty amazing wines. If you’re going to visit one, make it Clos Solène. The family-owned winery does private tastings of their beautiful, French-inspired wines on their property outside of town. A new tasting room is also in the works.
Other notable wineries to visit
Turley Wines: A family-owned winery with excellent old vine Zins and petit syrahs. Love how approachable the tastings are here, and it’s a beautiful setting.
JUSTIN: It’s a bigger wine brand, but their large estate out in the vineyards offers a well-rounded and unique experience for visitors. It’s also home to a one Michelin-star restaurant and a hotel where you can spend the night. With so much going on, you could easily make it your only stop of the day.
Epoch Estate: Epoch has been making wine since 2014 on the site of the historic York Mountain Winery, which was one of California’s first wineries, established in 1882. The setting and the wines are worth going out of your way for.
LXV Wine: Swing by the tasting room in downtown Paso for LXV Wine, an Indian-owned winery focused on making wines from small-lot, sustainable vineyards in the AVA.
Parrish Family Vineyards: Like the rest, expect good wine and beautiful views at Parrish. But I also love it because of their a la carte lunch options on Saturdays and Sundays
📍Download the digital guide + Google Map list
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Save time planning and download this digital travel guide + curated Google Map List to seamlessly access all of my top restaurants, hotels, and things to do in Paso Robles from your phone, tablet, or computer. In this digital guide, you’ll receive:
A downloadable 4-day travel itinerary with direct Google Map links to each stop, so you can quickly and easily navigate while on the road.
A Google Map list with 50+ recommendations such as:
Restaurants and cafes
Things to do
Wineries + tasting rooms
Valuable insights and tips for each point of interest to help you make the most of your trip in real-time.
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Things to Do In + Near Paso Robles
Downtown Paso Robles and its main square is cute and worth wandering around, popping into smalls shops and boutiques, though it’s hard to fill more than an hour or two with this. However, one of my favorite reasons to spend a weekend in Paso Robles is that it actually makes a central and easy home base for exploring some other nearby areas. Here are some of the best things to do nearby, and within a 45-minute drive.
Nearby…
Horseback riding with Central Coast Trailrides, a company that organizes guided tours of the nearby nature by horseback.
Biking the backroads. Bring your own bike or rent one, and spend a day biking around Paso Robles. However, summers get hot 🥵 here. If it’s between June - August, you’re better off swapping your bike for a pair of hiking shoes and driving to coastal Montaña de Oro State Park, where temps can be as much as 30 degrees cooler.
… go bike the vineyards. We did an ebike bike tour in a vineyard with VineCycle, owned by a husband-wife duo who will take you out into the vines for a guided ride.
Tour the nearby farms. It’s not just wine that grows here, Paso is a major agricultural region. Swing by lavender farms like Hambly, or farm stands with organic produce, like Templeton Family Farms (closed Sundays) or Mount Olive (open Sat + Sun). There’s even a farm trail map if you want to spend an entire day bouncing around.
Visit Field of Lights" at Sensorio (photo above), an outdoor art installation that lights up the landscape at night, and an excellent, all-ages friendly activity to end a day with before or after dinner. There are also food options on site.
Within a 45-minute drive…
Some nearby highlights from downtown Paso Robles include:
Kayak in Morro Bay (45 minutes). You can rent kayaks and go out on your own or book a half-day wildlife kayak tour. The latter is a lovely choice, and will allow you to learn more about the local wildlife. They also have picnic options to make a full day out of it.
Explore San Luis Obispo (30 minutes). The small town of SLO is a 30-minute drive from Paso and equally charming. It’s a bit more of the same, though they have an excellent art museum and a far superior Farmers’ Market compared to Paso on Thursday evenings.
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Paso Robles 3-Day Travel Itinerary
Prefer your recs in an easy to follow, day-by-day itinerary? Here’s a sample itinerary for a long weekend in Paso Robles.
Hike along Montana de Oro State Park
Day 1 (Thursday), drive to Paso Robles
Check in to hotel
Dinner at Il Cortile
Leave early enough to arrive in Paso Robles in the early afternoon and check into your hotel and stretch your legs with a stroll around the main square. If you’re hungry or just in need of a quick afternoon pick-me-up, swing by Paso Market Walk for a snack, late lunch, coffee, or glass of wine.
Grab dinner at Italian restaurant, Il Cortile in downtown Paso. While most other places close around 9pm, this one is open until 10pm, making it a good choice for a post-8pm dinner.
Day 2 (Friday), spend the day wine tasting
Wine tasting at Tablas Creek, Clos Solène, Turley, and/or Tin City
Lunch at Etto or Niner
Dinner at Les Petites Canailles
After dinner drinks at Eleven Twenty Two or Pine Street Saloon
Start your day with breakfast at your hotel or Paso Walk, then head out for a day of wine tasting among the vineyards.
I’d start by driving to Tablas Creek since it’s a bit further out, then make your way back towards town. Stop for lunch at Niner then head to Clos Solène (reservations required) or Turley Wines (walk-ins welcome).
After, head back to your hotel in the afternoon to rest up and get ready for dinner. After a long day of tasting, plan to stick around town and walk to farm-to-table French restaurant, Les Petites Canailles, if you’re in the mood for something more upscale date-night vibe, or The Backyard on Thirteenth for a laidback but lively casual option.
Not ready to call it a night after dinner? Go to Eleven Twenty Two, a new speakeasy in Paso Robles, or Pine Street Saloon, a classic karaoke dive bar. Just note that you have an early morning tomorrow :)
Day 3 (Saturday), horseback ride and Sensorio art exhibit
Breakfast at The Nest
Bike or horseback ride
Dinner at S'Aranella or Backyard
After dinner art tour at Sensario
Get up early and stop for breakfast at The Nest in Atascadero (budget about 30-45 mins for breakfast here). The tour starts on the early side and it’s a 25-35 minute drive, depending on where you’re staying.
Morning
Spend today doing something active: go for a horseback ride, take an ebike ride with VineCycle, or (if it’s cool enough), bike the backroads on your own set of wheels.
After your activity, head over to Tin City, where you can choose your own adventure: go wine tasting, visit a brewery, shop a few small shops, or grab lunch at pasta shop, Etto. Then, go back to your hotel to relax.
Evening
Plan for an early dinner in town before driving to Sensorio. Opt for a casual dinner at The Backyard on Thirteenth or saddle up to the bar at S'Aranella.
After dinner, drive to Sensorio Paso Robles. This outdoor art exhibit is a beautiful light show in the hills near Paso Robles, and one of the best things to do in the area. It runs from 6:30-10:30 pm (advanced tickets recommended). Timing is flexible, but try to get here a little before sunset to give yourself enough time to wander.
Day 4 (Sunday), one last brunch for the road
It’s your last day, so take it easy and sleep in before a leisurely check-out. And—especially if you’re heading back to colder weather in San Francisco—you might want to linger in the sunshine for just a bit longer.
We suggest joining the line for brunch at Brunch or Parchetto if you want to stay in town. Or, make the small detour to Parrish Family Farms for a lovely, but not overly fancy, lunch alongside one last glass of wine overlooking the vineyards, or a more casual stop for sandwiches on an organic farm at Mt. Olive.
