Paso Robles is truly a gem of a town, and is so beautiful to visit during spring time. It’s not as well known as places like Napa within California, but the wine and food scene is still thriving and growing. We decided to plan a weekend in Paso Robles, and I am now sharing a quick travel guide on where to stay/ things to do/ places to eat.
If you’re coming from Orange County, I suggest taking the longer, but scenic route up via the 101 so you can enjoy the green rolling hills and blue oceans. Also, the 154 highway has a nice view point! If you’re coming from NorCal, the 101 is the easiest way, but you all know about PCH up North. The drive will certainly be longer, but you’ll also get to pass through places like Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel-by-the-sea, and Big Sur!
Place to Stay:
Paso Robles Inn: This hotel is located in the heart of downtown Paso Robles, where you can walk to all the trendy restaurants and bars within minutes. Considering the hotel is right in downtown, I was impressed with the amount of space this hotel had, along with the rooms. In the middle of the grounds there is a beautiful garden where you can take a stroll or enjoy a nice cup of coffee in the morning. Some of their rooms are even named after famous Paso wineries. We had the opportunity to stay in the Daou Winery room, which included a king sized bed and a gorgeous patio with a hot tub! Definitely a romantic room. Also, the hotel staff were so friendly and welcoming, which is always an added bonus when staying somewhere! Also, make sure to check out their old ballroom, which has a lot of great photo opportunities. It reminded me of something right out of the 1930’s. Make sure to book your room with the link associated here: Paso Robles Inn Website!
Places to Eat:
Thomas Hills Organic Bistro: This is the place to go if you’re craving organic, fresh food! Debbie Thomas, the super sweet owner of Thomas Hills Organic Bistro, opened up this bistro almost ten years ago, where she would use ingredients pulled right out of her farm! When the restaurant started to grow, she had to close the farm, but continued the farm to table concept, where all her dishes use biodynamic, chemical-free ingredients. The farm-to-table movement is huge now, but it was really cool to meet someone who was well ahead of this curve. We had a delicious meal and ordered fresh stuffed stone fruit, dungeness crab cakes, and a very moist locally-sourced pork chop. The fruit was fresh and crisp and the vegetables were so flavorful! All our dishes were also presented beautifully. Debbie actually uses edible flowers picked right out of her garden to add color and boldness to her meals. We ended the meal with a mouthwatering flourless chocolate torte. This soft, moist cake is topped with whiskey soaked cherries and vanilla bean gelato. And again, the presentation was impeccable. They added edible flowers with raisins that really tasted amazing!
Paso Robles Steakhouse: When I discovered there was a steakhouse at our hotel, I was stoked to try it out! Head Chef Kyle made us a custom menu that showcased some of their more popular dishes, but also some new items that he may add to the menu, in the near future. We started off with a few appetizers, enjoyed a delicious meal, and ended with two tasty desserts, which we of course fought over. Below is a photo of our custom menu, which they made specifically for me and Akshay!
We were blown away by the level of thought that went behind each of these items! Some of our favorites were the bacon wrapped dates, pea gnocchi, and of course the petit New York filet. The bacon wrapped dates were accompanied with brie cheese, which I thought was a very unique pairing, but surprisingly delicious! The pea gnocchi and scallops was an explosion of creamy flavors, and truth be told, Akshay and I pretty much licked the plate clean! (Akshay’s note: the pea gnocchi dish was insanely good. In a weekend filled with really good food, it might have been my favorite dish.) The petite New York steak was coated with a crispy peppery seasoning and cooked to perfection.
And last, for dessert, we devoured chocolate paves (reminds me of chocolate mousse, but shaped in cubes) and a pea pistachio cake. I had never had a cake made out of peas and was pleased at how soft and spongy it was!
We could see the creativity behind Chef Kyle’s menu. There were so many unique (and tasty) pairings of ingredients that I would have never dreamed of combining! I loved the idea of being able to sample so many different items. If you are ever in Paso Robles, this restaurant is a definite must eat. You won’t be disappointed! And make sure to sit next to the windows so you can have a nice view of the garden. Here is the link to the website: Paso Robles Steakhouse!
Cowgirl Cafe: Looking for a hearty breakfast to start your day? This is the place to go! It has an eclectic interior with country elements. We ordered strawberry pancakes and the Giddy-Up Breakfast (3 eggs, Canadian bacon, sausage links, crispy bacon, potatoes, and toast). To be honest, the pancakes were a bit dry and we expected a bit more from them. The portion sizes are huge, so come hungry, or split an entree! (Akshay’s note: this was my least favorite place we ate at. Decent, but compared to the Steakhouse and Thomas Hill, it wasn’t close.)
Things to Do:
LXV Wine Tasting Room: If you’re looking for something unique and authentic this is the place to go! Here, they do wine tasting paired with Indian spiced cheeses! Neeta, a Level 1 sommelier, is the owner of this beautiful wine tasting room, located in downtown Paso Robles. The style is very rustic with Indian elements and they are actually opening up a beautiful garden patio in the summer. Neeta took the time to share her knowledge on Paso Robles wine country and how the grapes vary between the East and West regions. She is the one who actually made us realize that we needed to come back to Paso Robles, so we can really explore the wine country and get a better feel for the different types of wine Paso has to offer! The wine tasting was a mix of different red and white wines paired with neutral cheeses tossed in Indian spices. We were surprised by how well spicy Indian flavors could pair so well with soft, fruity aromas. If you are interested in learning about the wine that you are tasting and hearing it from someone who is very passionate and knowledgeable, then LXV is a must-see!
Tin City: If you’re short on time, I strongly recommend checking this place out. It’s a street filled with locally crafted beers, spirits, and wines. It has an industrial vibe to it and is a really great place to taste test different types of alcohol. We started off at Field Recordings. (that period is part of the name) where we shared a wine tasting. We ended up purchasing a bottle of the Gruner, and 3 weeks after this trip, ordered another four bottles! (Akshay’s note: yeah, because Tika drank the Gruner we were supposed to share while I was out of town.) Field Recordings. really had a great personality and charm to it! Afterwards, we made our way to Wine Shine, where we enjoyed another shared tasting of different types of brandy. I don’t normally drink hard liquor, but this was a fun experience, and I really liked the name Wine Shine! We snacked on an Indian roll from a food truck that was actually really good as well, since many of the places don’t have food. And last, we ended our adventure at the Tin City Cider Co, with a flight of different ciders made from the best California apples. There were various flavors and types, and we ended up sticking with lighter flavors like strawberries and rosé. We only had time for three, but there are so many options here and definitely worth a visit!
Spending a day and a half in Paso Robles is honestly not enough time. Unfortunately, we were not able to make it out to the actual wineries, but we had such a splendid time hanging out in downtown. If you do want to see the wineries, I suggest making a 3-4 day trip out here. Paso Robles is a very quaint little town with so much charm and character. I can’t wait to come back!
I need to go here! Food looks so yummy!
You would love Paso!! Wine and yummy food!