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.
I’ve lived in California for over a decade, but it took me a few years to finally explore 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, cute, affordable boutique hotels, plus several 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.
Does this sound like your speed? Then use my travel guide to Paso Robles, California to plan your perfect getaway.
In this article
>>🗺️ Use this guide on the go: Save all of these recommendations (and much more!) directly in your Google Maps app with this curated Google Map List + digital travel guide.
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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—and Paso Robles has several great options like this, ranging from budget to luxe—both in downtown Paso Robles (great for walkability) and nearby in a more nature-centric location, like a vineyard or ranch. These are some of my favorites:
Stables Inn: $$ This is a central, affordable boutique hotel with fire pits.
Hotel Piccolo: $$ a new, modern hotel in downtown Paso.
Farm Blanc and Rouge: $$$ for a rustic stay on a farm, just outside of town.
Kindred Oak Farm: $$$ for a peaceful bed and breakfast on a farm outside of town.
Paso Robles Inn: $$$ haven’t stayed here yet but love the location + historic charm.
Hotel Cheval: $$$$ Stable’s more upscale sister property, also central and downtown.
Sirena Vineyard Resort: $$$$ a luxurious stay on a winery right in the middle of the vineyards.
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Where to eat in Paso Robles
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.
The aptly named restaurant, 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. Both are open for lunch and dinner.
If you’re spending the day at Tin City, a walkable industrial area with a collection of shops, restaurants, tasting rooms, and a brewery that’s a short drive outside of Paso’s downtown area, the best place for a bite is Etto Pasta, which serves Italian fare.
For something more elevated, book a lunch or dinner at the on-site restaurant at JUSTIN winery. Or, make a reservation for brunch, lunch, or dinner at the newly opened Parchetto. The team behind Italian restaurant Il Cortile (also a great option) opened this spot in 2024 as a Californian bistro, serving farm-to-table dishes, imaginative cocktails, and (naturally) a locally-sourced wines.
Dinner
A few other notable restaurants are only open for dinner. Some of my favorites include Les Petites Canailles for an upscale, farm-to-table French dinner in town. Or, head to in bloom for laid-back local fare and great wines with vinyl records setting the mood.
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
Lunch at JUSTIN Wine's estate.
One of the main reasons to visit Paso is for its wineries. I especially love it as a more affordable alternative to Napa.
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 brewery (BarrelHouse), shops, and restaurants, rounding it out as a true one-stop-shop.
A few other notable stops for a day spent exploring the vineyards outside of town include:
Turley Wines: A laidback, 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
Easily save and access all of my recommendations on the go.
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
Hike along Montana de Oro State Park
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 30-40 degrees cooler.
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.
The "Field of Lights" at Sensorio is 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.
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. Yes, 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.
Day 1 (Thursday), drive to Paso Robles
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.
Then, hop in your car and drive the 30 minutes San Luis Obispo to catch their Thursday evening farmer’s market, from 6-8:30pm. Plan to get dinner here while enjoying the entertainment. Alternatively, if you arrive in town late—or don’t feel like making the drive to SLO—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.
💡Tip: Coming from L.A.? Reverse this day and aim to arrive in SLO by 6pm, then check into your hotel on the later side, to spend less time driving.
Day 2 (Friday), spend the day wine tasting
Start your day with breakfast at Paso Walk then head out for a day of wine tasting among the vineyards. Since Saturdays tend to be the busiest day for wine tastings, Friday is an excellent alternative—especially if you plan to play things by ear and try your luck with a walk-in.
I’d start by driving to Tablas Creek since it’s a bit further out, then make your way back towards town with a stop for lunch and more wine at JUSTIN winery (reservations recommended). If that’s not your vibe, skip JUSTIN and instead head to Clos Solène or Turley Wines with a stop at Tin City for lunch at Etto on your way back to Paso Robles.
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), kayaking and Sensorio art exhibit
Wildlife in Morro Bay
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.
9:00 - ~12:30pm | Kayaking in Morro Bay
Meet at State Park Marina, 10 State Park Road, Morro Bay, CA | Google Maps
Start your day with some kayaking in the bay. It starts early, so you can explore the area before the winds pick up. For a full service experience, opt for the guided, half-day wildlife kayak tour with lunch ($160 for two people) to learn about local nature alongside an expert—and not have to worry about food. For a more budget-friendly option, you can also opt for a self-guided kayak rentals ($54 for two people/two hours).
If you opted for the tour without lunch, I’d recommend this for food before heading back inland:
Oyster snack: After, grab an oyster snack at Grassy Bar Oyster Co (open 12-5pm), which serves them raw or baked, before you leave the harbor.
Lunch: The Hidden Kitchen, known for their blue corn waffles and smoothies, and right on the beach in town. It’s one of my favorite restaurants on this stretch of coast.
1:30 - 3:30pm | Explore the coast
Before driving back inland, spend the afternoon exploring a bit more of the coast. From Morro Bay, you can go to Montaña State Park for hiking or hanging out on the beach, make the trek up to Hearst Castle and San Simeon, or just walk around the cute, small town of Cayucos. Don’t wear yourself out too much, though, since you still have one more activity for the evening…
5:00 - 8:30pm | Dinner + Sensorio Paso Robles
Plan for an early dinner in town before driving to Sensorio. If you didn’t eat at The Backyard on Thirteenth last night, this is still a good option. Otherwise, casual eatery The Hatch — which is known for its amazing fried chicken — would be my choice.
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 by 8 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.
