California Coast Road Trip: Best Restaurants on Pacific Coast Highway

Enjoy celebrity chef Michael Chiarello’s fresh take on Spanish-style tapas at Coqueta on the San Francisco waterfront. The restaurant also boasts a creative cocktail menu and an extensive, well-curated wine list.

On a lush hillside in Santa Cruz, Shadowbrook Restaurant is serviced by its own picturesque cable car. Once inside this establishment, which opened in 1947, diners are treated to fresh fish, seafood and char-grilled filet mignon.

In the mood for French bistro fare? Get a table at La Bicyclette in Carmel-By-The-Sea. The restaurant is known for using local, seasonal ingredients to create fresh salads, pizzas, burgers and more. The dishes here are as beautiful as they are tasty.

Go rustic with a wood-fired pizza at Big Sur Bakery in Big Sur. The restaurant is much more than a traditional bakery, serving grilled meats and fresh, locally grown vegetables. The restaurant serves family-style meals in a 1930s ranch house.

Heading south toward San Simeon, don’t miss Sebastian’s General Store and Cafe. Sip wine from the tasting room while dining on a grass-fed beef burger. The cafe is popular with tourists visiting Hearst Castle.

Seafood lovers won’t want to miss the Galley Seafood Grill & Bar on beautiful Morro Bay. The waterfront restaurant features seasonal ingredients treated with minimal preparation, like the selection of “naked” fish served simply with light sauces on the side.

As you continue your drive south, sample Mexican flavors at Shoreline Beach Cafe in Santa Barbara. The beachfront eatery will have you sampling fresh fish and seafood with your toes in the sand. Bring the family – the extensive kids’ menu has something for all appetites.

End your culinary road trip with a stop at Shutters on the Beach, an upscale hotel in Santa Monica. The casual beachfront cafe and bar is a travelers’ oasis. Stop in for a glass of rosé or for breakfast, lunch or dinner for farm-to-table plates like roasted rainbow cauliflower or handmade ricotta ravioli. Catch a view of the sunset from the patio for an incredible end to your day.

Rent a car at San Francisco International (SFO) or Los Angeles International (LAX) airports and experience all that Highway 1 has to offer on your own schedule. Always select a designated driver when you’re driving and dining.