Find the best Cambria restaurants and what to do in Cambria for a weekend. This post shares a full weekend itinerary so you won’t miss anything!

Your Guide On What to Do in Cambria

There are many Cambria restaurants, sights, and stops worth noting, so I’m here to help you figure out what to do in Cambria. I recently spent a weekend in Cambria, a Central California coastal town in San Luis Obispo County. If you’re interested in visiting this part of California, you’ve come to the right place. I’m going to share all of the details you need to know to make the most of your time in Cambria, so sit back, relax, and continue reading.

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Getting to Cambria

When planning my weekend trip to Cambria I learned it’s almost exactly halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. So if you ever have the need to meet somewhere in between these two major California cities, you now know the perfect meeting point.

Coming from San Francisco I had a 3-4 hour road trip ahead of me. I left the city around 9 in the morning and made it to Cambria by 1 p.m., just in time to grab some lunch. I really wanted to drive all the way down Highway 1, but a big portion of the road was still shut down after being damaged by a mudslide last year. The Highway 1 drive along the California coast is gorgeous, so I highly recommend it if you are able to take that route. When planning your trip, just be sure to check for road closures in advance.

Cambria Weather

I visited Cambria during the month of January and was impressed by the decent weather considering it was the middle of winter. The sun was out during the day with temperatures in the high 50s and a constant breeze. In the evening, the coastal wind would pick up quite heavy though and a jacket was definitely necessary. Even though I wasn’t there to experience ideal summer beach weather, I can clearly see why Cambria is an appealing travel destination all year long.

While I loved my winter weekend getaway in Cambria, I know some of you are looking to hit the beach when you visit the coast. Luckily Cambria would also make an excellent summer trip. Based on the information available online, it looks like Cambria’s summer temperatures are in the high 70s on average. For anyone who lives in the scorching hot Central Valley of California, which is where I’m from, the 70s in the summertime is a welcome event. So if you’re looking for a coastal city to enjoy the summer sun without suffering in 100+ degree temperatures, Cambria would be the perfect place. As a San Francisco resident, my summers are now full of fog and cloudy skies, so I might need to escape back down to Cambria myself this summer.

Where to Stay in Cambria

Oceanpoint Ranch

I spent my weekend in Cambria at Oceanpoint Ranch. Just steps away from the Pacific Ocean, this property offers easy access to the beach but also provides an extreme sense of privacy. There are a number of other hotels that line the road along the coast directly across from the beach, but Oceanpoint Ranch is tucked back a bit, surrounded by tall trees that shade the ranch and make you feel like you’re miles away from civilization.

I love that Oceanpoint Ranch is able to provide a refreshing dose of silence, yet I was just two minutes away from Main Street and the heart of Cambria. Oceanpoint Ranch has beautiful guest rooms, numerous lawn games, a year-round heated pool, and fire pits that turn on every night if you want to hang out or roast s’mores. This is one of those hotels that you don’t want to leave. I find it funny when I travel and end up wanting to spend all of my time at the hotel. It can be so conflicting because I want to go out and explore, but then the lazy and/or exhausted version of myself wants to kick back and enjoy the serenity of a clean and cozy hotel room.

Guest Rooms at Oceanpoint Ranch

My room at Oceanpoint Ranch was such a dream. If you’ve heard me talk about lodging before, you know I love and appreciate thoughtful interior design. As cheesy as it may sound, creative spaces leave me feeling inspired so I feel like I just radiate happiness and good vibes when I’m in a beautiful room. That said, the guest rooms at Oceanpoint Ranch are so my style.

The design felt like a healthy mix of rustic-ranch and mid-century modern. The black and white headboard along with the ranch-themed wall decor above the bed was given a modern twist when paired with the bright, bold comforter and the sleek modern accent chairs. I just adore how these two themes were combined in this room and found it to be perfectly and tastefully done.

The vaulted ceiling with exposed wood, along with the corner fireplace, really had me feeling the mid-century modern vibes. Yes, you heard that correctly—I had a fireplace. So not only was the design on point, but the room was so cozy. It’s hard not to love a room with a fireplace, especially when it’s a gorgeous room with a fireplace. Note that not all of the rooms at Oceanpoint Ranch have a fireplace, so if you’re interested in one be sure to make that request when booking.

7200 Moonstone Beach Dr, Cambria, CA 93428

Lunch at Main Street Grill

After being on the road for four hours, I was ready to eat. The first stop for me was a no-brainer—Main Street Grill. This spot was a must and a special one for me because its sister restaurant is across the street from my college campus and it was a crowd favorite. The menus at the restaurants are nearly identical, so I was able to enjoy my favorite college meal, the tri-tip sandwich and a basket of perfectly seasoned fries. Very nostalgic.

For those who are wondering what the sister restaurant is and where it’s located, there are actually a few. The best one (I’m biased) is Doghouse Grill in Fresno, California, located across the street from Fresno State’s campus, which is where I went to college. Cal Poly alum, like my boyfriend, will argue that Firestone Grill is where it’s at, which is another sister restaurant that’s located in downtown San Luis Obispo. All of the above serve the popular menu items and all locations are awesome. There’s now the fourth location for anyone who is ever in Bakersfield, California, which I have yet to visit myself.

Tip: I mentioned it above, but if you are visiting Main Street Grill or any of its sister restaurants, you must eat a tri-tip sandwich. I repeat, eat the tri-tip sandwich. And a basket of fries, of course.

603 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428

Hotel Check-In

After I finished lunch, it was time to check in at Oceanpoint Ranch. The official check-in time is at 3 p.m., but I was able to get in a little early by calling to see if any rooms were ready yet. I already went over awesome this property is, so I won’t say much more about that here. I will note that parking is plentiful, which is really nice. Living in the city, I’m not used to being able to drive my car up and park directly in front of where I want to be. So do not worry about having any difficulty with parking or having to hike a mile with your luggage, there are parking spaces steps away from every guestroom.

Sunset Walk at Moonstone Beach Boardwalk

Another perk of staying at Oceanpoint Ranch is the private walking trail that leads from the property to Moonstone Beach. Once you cross the road, you can stroll down the mile-long boardwalk that runs along the beach. This is an activity that can be done at any time of day, but I intentionally planned to head to the beach an hour or so before sunset because I love the lighting at that time of day. I told myself that I would walk the boardwalk during sunrise too since it was so close to our hotel—seriously, who am I kidding? My bed at Oceanpoint Ranch was way too comfortable to get me, an already terrible morning person, outside that early.

The coastline surrounding Cambria is rocky and dramatic, in a beautiful way. I loved how looking down the coast I could see uniquely-shaped rock formations and cliffs, a look that I feel is very characteristic of and special to this region of California. I highly recommend following the boardwalk along the beach and stopping to explore your surroundings along the way. Assuming the weather is decent—basically meaning as long as it’s not raining—this walk is so lovely. You can stroll for a bit, stop and take photos if that’s your thing (it’s definitely my thing), or take a break on one of the many benches along the path of the boardwalk.

Dinner at Sea Chest Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant

Near the other end of the boardwalk, nearly a mile from Oceanpoint Ranch, we came across a restaurant that had quite the crowd outside. It was a little before 5 p.m. and the sun was about to set when we spotted a line of people outside Sea Chest Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant, located just across the road from the beach. Why are they all standing out there in the parking lot lined up like it’s Black Friday? I couldn’t help but wonder what the deal was, so I did a quick Google search of the restaurant, of course.

I quickly learned that Sea Chest Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant has quite the reputation in Cambria. Apparently, it’s so popular that guests will start to line up outside the front door an hour before it opens, especially on busy nights like Friday. It was almost 5 and the restaurant opens at 5:30 p.m., so I figured, hey, why not? When in Cambria…

We waited in a spirited line for 30 minutes (seriously, the people in this line were really excited and having a great time; you can tell this is their thing—they’ve done this before.) The doors opened promptly at 5:30 p.m. and we were immediately seated. Many of the dining tables offer great views of the ocean, so we were able to catch the most colorful part of the sunset from our seats. For dinner, we shared a plate of calamari strips, Rockefeller oysters, shrimp cocktail, and clam chowder. This is an excellent spot for seafood fans. The menu featured so many different types of fish.

Tip: If you like oysters, definitely order oysters here! And if you don’t know if you like oysters, this is a good place to test the waters.

6216 Moonstone Beach Dr, Cambria, CA 93428

Post-Dinner Party

I guess it depends how you define ‘party,’ but my Friday night consisted of me hanging out in front of my ultra cozy fireplace in my room at Oceanpoint Ranch. It’s hard for me to imagine a better Friday night (can you tell I’m getting older?) Traveling can get the best of you. While it’s full of fun and excitement, it also can be exhausting when you’re constantly on the move. So I really wanted to take advantage of this weekend away and make it a priority to squeeze in a little R&R. Plus, I don’t have a fireplace at home in San Francisco, so can you really blame me for being so obsessed with this room?

Saturday // Day Two

Cambria Coffee Roasting

I really enjoy a kick of caffeine to start off my morning, especially when I have a full day of exploring ahead of me. I am so not interested in Starbucks, so I always do my research to try to find a local coffee roasting company if possible. Luckily, I didn’t see a single Starbucks in or around Cambria, which is a pleasant surprise since there is generally one per block.

At Cambria Coffee Roasting, coffee is roasted in-house and you can even purchase their blends. If you need a snack with your beverage, there were a variety of treats for sale at the counter is well. I enjoyed an almond milk latte while sitting in the sun at one of the outdoor tables along the sidewalk. It’s a great spot to sit, sip, and people watch while the town starts to come to life.

761 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428

Walk Around the Historic District

There are some really amazing buildings in Cambria. I love photographing cool architecture and city scenes when I travel so I was completely drooling over how charming the downtown scene is. Like, it’s the kind of place you’d want to do an engagement photo shoot or something (sorry, I think of just about everything in terms of photo-taking potential and opportunity.)

In addition to the over cuteness and charm that I’ve clearly expressed, there’s a really neat historical side to it all. Some of the buildings date back to the 1800s and much of the architectural style is inspired by Cambria’s history as a mining town. If history is your jam, I recommend Cambria’s DIY Historical Walking Tour, which can be found in the Visit Cambria app. Yes, they have an app—how cool is that? The app’s historical tour will give you details on 28 local landmarks. You can learn and wander at your own pace.

Lunch at Indigo Moon

Indigo Moon is the cutest little spot! Except it’s not all that little; I was impressed by how much space they have. The interior is really neat and cozy, it feels like you are dining in someone’s home, which I loved. I went to Indigo Moon for lunch and had a delicious tuna sandwich and fries, but the restaurant also offers a brunch and dinner menu so you could enjoy it any time of day.

Indigo Moon has a wine and cheese shop next door to the restaurant, which I hear is the original location, predating the restaurant. It’s another adorable space with an awesome outdoor seating area to take advantage of if the weather is nice. You could stop at the wine and cheese shop before or after your meal. It’s always a good time for a little wine and cheese.

Wine Tasting at Cutruzzola Vineyards

A trip to California’s Central Coast is never complete without wine tasting (unless you’re under 21, of course—no wine tasting for you.) Cutruzzola Vineyards is one of only two estate vineyards located in Cambria. Their vineyard is just outside of town, located a few miles from the coast. The weather in this area creates perfect growing conditions for Riesling and Pinot Noir, which I was happy to taste plenty of.

Cutruzzola Vineyards has a tasting room conveniently located in downtown Cambria. We stopped in for an Estate Wine Tasting, which includes five tastings for $12. The tasting fee is waived if you purchase two bottles of wine, and it’s hard to leave without purchasing anything because the wine is so good. I myself left with a bottle of 2014 Riesling Estate and a bottle of their organic craft cider. If you’re interested in stopping by for a tasting you may request an appointment online, but walk-ins are welcome too. The tasting room is open every day from 11 am to 5 pm.

555 Main Street Cambria, CA 93428

Afternoon Snack at Robin’s Restaurant

When I travel I’m all about ‘snacking’ throughout the day. So was it time for a meal? Not really. But I have only a couple of days so I need to eat smaller meals throughout the day so I can try all of the restaurants I want to try. We decided to head to Robin’s Restaurant for a snack after hearing so many good things from the locals.

The entire setting here is so lovely. From the street, the exterior is covered in greenery and charm, and the interior and patio reflected the same style. We shared a calamari appetizer here and finished it off with a vegan sundae. A VEGAN SUNDAE. Is this the best day ever? I think so. As someone who cannot have much dairy (ice cream is a definite no-no) this seriously made my day. Restaurants hardly ever have vegan items on the dessert menu, so for this alone, I am head-over-heels forever-in-love with Robin’s. And it was really delicious at that.

4095 Burton Dr, Cambria, CA 93428

Beer Flight at 927 Beer Company

Time to continue on with the tastings, but this time with beer instead of wine. Lovers of craft beer will want to check out 927 Beer Company’s Micro Brewery and Taproom, local and family-owned. Located just off of Main Street, 927 Beer Company has a cozy tasting room that is the perfect place to gather with a group of friends. I really enjoyed the setting and loved that it wasn’t too loud like breweries can sometimes be, so we were able to enjoy ourselves and hold a conversation. They have quite a few beers on tap, so a flight is the way to go. Why limit yourself to one option when there are so many tasty selections?

821 Cornwall St, Cambria, CA 93428

I spotted a large roadside sign for Centrally Grown when we were first arriving at Oceanpoint Ranch. After a quick online search, I was immediately intrigued by the ocean views from the property, being that it was perched up on a hill. During our visit to Cutruzzola’s tasting room, Centrally Grown was recommended so we knew we had to check it out.

Dinner starts at 5 p.m. but we arrived around 4:15 in hopes of snagging a seat with a view. Lucky us—we were able to get the best table in the house. In addition to the absolutely stunning view, I love that Centrally Grown aims to serve dishes that are created using ingredients that are harvested locally. For dinner, we shared a tasty ceviche and seafood linguini pasta, which was generously filled with so much delicious seafood. The restaurant has hours and menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a Sunday brunch and a market and cafe that is open throughout the day.

7432 Exotic Garden Dr, Cambria, CA 93428

Campfire and S’mores at Oceanpoint Ranch

I may have mentioned this briefly earlier in the post, but I must remind everyone that Oceanpoint Ranch has campfires where you can make s’mores! How amazing is that? There are a few fire pit locations scattered throughout the grounds of the property, so one is within reach to each and every room at the ranch. If you don’t have your own s’mores supplies, you can purchase some at the front desk in the lobby.

If s’mores aren’t your thing, simply gathering around the toasty fire and enjoying the sounds of the crashing ocean waves is equally as pleasant too. I’m telling you guys, Oceanpoint Ranch really takes the cozy ranch vibes to the next level.

Want to explore beyond Cambria? Check out these amazing things to do in the Central Coast.

Sunday // Day Three

Morning Beach Walk

I know that in theory vacation is supposed to be a time to relax and catch up on some much-needed sleep, but it’s so difficult for me to sleep in when I’m traveling because the morning is my favorite time to explore. Trust me, this is a big commitment because I am not a morning person in any way, shape or form—that’s how much I enjoy spending my mornings exploring when I’m traveling. The streets are quiet, most people are not out and about yet, and the morning light makes everything look so magical. As someone who’s really into photography, it’s worth it to take advantage of the beautiful morning light.

So if you’re a morning person, or if you’re not one at all like myself, I suggest trying to head out for a morning walk along the coast in Cambria. If you’re staying at Oceanpoint Ranch like I was, you can throw on a jacket and head out in a matter of minutes. It’s hard to beat being woken up by the sound of the ocean and the crisp, salty ocean breeze smacking you in the face.

Breakfast and Coffee at Lily’s Coffee House

In the spirit of wanting to try something new, I went to a different coffee house for my Sunday morning caffeine fix. Lily’s Coffee House is an adorable spot on Main Street with seating on an outdoor deck covered by umbrellas and charming decor. I enjoyed and almond milk latte along with a breakfast burrito and side of fruit. At the counter, there was an impressive display of house-made baked goods that I would have loved to try if I had the time and stomach space.

2028 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428

Browse The Shops at The Garden Shed

Right next to Lily’s Coffee Shop (actually, Lily’s may be considered a part of this bunch) you will find a group of fun, artsy, independently-owned shops in the hippest and greenest setting imaginable. This is the type of place that I get sucked into and am then not seen or heard from for hours on end. Full of gorgeous plants, handmade creations, and many things you never knew you wanted and needed so badly, you’re bound to fall in love with a few things. The Shops at The Garden Shed are the perfect place to stroll through after coffee and breakfast at Lily’s. I wish I could travel back in time to December because I would have done so much of my Christmas shopping here.

A few of my favorites from the Shops at The Garden Shed:

JunkGirls — This place is fascinating! As a lover of all things creative and DIY, JunkGirls is like a dreamland for me. The owners create beautiful art, furniture, decor items, and more by recycling and repurposing vintage finds. All of the creations here are so unique and beautiful, the artistry of it all is truly admirable. Not only is everything here lovely, but the entire concept left me feeling so inspired. You have to see it for yourself!

Cambria Garden Shed — The dreamiest plants and gardening items can all be found here. In addition to all of the beautiful garden goodies, Cambria Garden Shed had an amazing selection of hand lotion, soap, and those types of items that make perfect gifts. This shop left me feeling really bummed that I do not have any yard space at my San Francisco apartment because I would have really liked to come home with some pretty garden decor from here.

2024 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428

Lunch for the Road at Boni’s Tacos

I’m a true California girl and therefore a harsh critic when it comes to Mexican food. I grew up around some of the best and have such an appreciation for Mexican cuisine. It’s hard to find top-notch taco spots, but oh-em-gee, Boni’s Tacos in Cambria is the real deal, y’all. This place is so good, it’s honestly some of the most satisfying Mexican food that I’ve had in quite some time. We grabbed a taco, gordita, and burrito before we hit the road and I am oh-so-happy that we did. The al pastor here is absolutely incredible and is a must-try on whatever you decide to get.

There are two locations, one of which is open Monday through Friday, the second is open Saturday and Sunday. Both locations are listed below. I went to the second location, the one open on the weekends. Note that this location is a taco truck with outdoor seating. I’m not sure what the setting is like at the first location since I didn’t go to that one. But seriously, it doesn’t matter, you need to go eat these tacos regardless.

2405 Village Lane, Cambria, CA 93428 (Open Monday-Friday)

2253 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428 (Open Saturday-Sunday)

Other Ideas on What to Do in Cambria

I just loaded you up with a weekend full of ideas on what to do in Cambria, but there are plenty of other options you could incorporate as well depending on your own personal taste. For additional sights, activities, restaurants, and shopping options, I highly recommend checking out Visit Cambria’s website. The entire site is so well organized, you can really plan your time in Cambria catered to your personal interests and preferences. As mentioned in another section of this post, you should also download Visit Cambria’s app which is super handy when you’re out and about and want to quickly look something up or get more information on a location.

 

Disclaimer: Travels and Treats was hosted as a guest of Visit Cambria. As always, all opinions, sassy remarks, and rambling thoughts are entirely my own.

Have you ever been to Cambria? What are some of your favorite stops along California’s Central Coast?

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