Restaurants in San Simeon combine fresh Central Coast ingredients with locally-caught seafood, stunning Pacific Ocean views and a diverse array of cuisines. Enjoy a variety of flavors in San Simeon, including fresh-caught fare, farm-to-table, pub grub, Mexican dishes and more. Home to world famous Hearst Castle, a visit to San Simeon is incomplete without a taste of Hearst Ranch Beef or Hearst Ranch Wine, both easily accessible to hungry travelers. Enjoy a delicious taste of local history paired with Highway 1’s stunning coastal views. Whether you prefer an oceanfront table, sunny patio experience or a casual booth, you’ll find exactly the meal you’re craving at the best restaurants in San Simeon.
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Explore Dining in San Simeon and Ragged Point
Cavalier Coastal Kitchen
Panoramic views overlooking the Pacific Ocean make Cavalier Coastal Kitchen in San Simeon a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Perched on a bluff along the San Simeon coast, this American cuisine restaurant is located on the Cavalier Oceanfront Resort premises. Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as tasty appetizers, drinks and dessert. This restaurant is known for its laid back, family-friendly vibe and budget-friendly menu. Look for dishes served with Hearst Ranch beef, as well as locally-caught seafood and fresh vegetarian choices. The Cavalier Restaurant also serves celebrated Central Coast wines, including Hearst Ranch Winery offerings. Order a glass of local wine, a pint of local beer or a craft cocktail and settle in for a comfortable and delicious lunch or dinner. Visitors can also stop in for breakfast and fuel up for the day ahead. Find Denver omelets, French toast and breakfast burritos at Cavalier Coastal Kitchen as well as coffee, tea and espresso drinks.
Seaside Foods at Sebastian’s
Visitors seeking an authentic taste of Central Coast bounty are in for a treat at Seaside Foods at Sebastians in San Simeon. Located within the newly renovated Sebastian’s General Store, this casual farm-to-table restaurant invites guests to relax in its outdoor beachside seating area. Here, visitors can enjoy nourishing dishes crafted with local produce and proteins, including delicious artisan sandwiches, salads and sides. Enjoy a meal at a seaside picnic table or take your order on the road—all to-go packaging is eco-friendly and biodegradable. While Seaside Foods favorites include hot sandwiches laden with Hearst Ranch beef meatloaf and caramelized onion (the “Hot Rancher”) or juicy Mexican white shrimp and local Cayucos Hot Sauce (“The Shrimp”), the menu also features popular kids items like peanut butter and jelly, decadent desserts of all kinds and elevated snacks perfect for hungry travelers on the run. Whether cycling Highway 1, exploring Hearst Castle or wine tasting, San Simeon visitors are encouraged to refuel with a satisfying coastal lunch at Seaside Foods at Sebastians. Plus, find the same culinary crew operating “The Cruiser” food truck parked at nearby Hearst Ranch Winery tasting room.
Big Sur Restaurant
Situated just four miles south of Hearst Castle, Big Sur Restaurant is a welcoming stop for visitors seeking a classic American diner experience. Located adjacent to Days Inn on the east side of Highway 1 in San Simeon, Big Sur Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner conventionally positioned between several Highway 1 sightseeing destinations. Enjoy old time favorites like chili cheese fries, pot roast, and cobb salad. A range of tastes are on the menu, including gluten free and vegetarian options. Parents will appreciate the kids’ options, with choices like burgers, spaghetti, chicken tenders and grilled cheese. Adult entree portions tend to be generous across the menu, so plan accordingly. This is especially true for breakfast items like steak and eggs, country fried steak and pancake stacks. For visitors looking for smaller dishes, the “light dinners” menu is ideal. Otherwise, enjoy barbecue, fish ‘n chips, burgers, sandwiches, salads and soups along with local wines and imported and domestic beer.
Sunset Grill & Ale House
Travelers looking for a chill place to savor a hearty breakfast or satisfying dinner will find a table ready at Sunset Grill & Ale House in San Simeon. Attached to San Simeon’s Motel 6, this understated eatery is decorated with large-scale photos of waves and wall-mounted surfboards. The easygoing atmosphere is perfect for sipping a beer and noshing on pub food or enjoying breakfast and hot coffee in the morning. Find classic breakfast orders like eggs benedict, sausage scramble, Belgian waffles and oatmeal. Visitors can also order the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, an economical way to fuel up for the day. Dinner entrees include herb garlic shrimp pasta, a fisherman’s platter with fresh-caught seafood, Barbecue Chicken Pizza and veggie burgers. Beer lovers will delight in the list of imported, domestic and locally-made beers, while wine enthusiasts are sure to appreciate the local wine options.
El Chorlito
Named for the beloved local shorebird Snowy Plover, El Chorlito serves up California and New Mexican food in San Simeon. The terracotta Spanish-style building sits along the frontage road and Highway 1, conveniently located about four miles south of Hearst Castle. This is a great option for visitors who love Mexican food, with a menu featuring nachos, tortilla soup, burritos, tacos and enchiladas. The leafy garden patio allows for an ocean view and is shaded beneath a generous pepper tree. Each table is covered in ceramic mosaic and strings of market lights glow above after sunset. This is an ideal place to relax after a day of exploring Hearst Castle, strolling Hearst State Beach or fishing off the San Simeon Pier. Margaritas, beer or wine served from a full bar. Visitors are invited to bring pups to the dog-friendly patio and kid-friendly, gluten-free and vegetarian options are available.
Manta Rey Restaurant
Manta Rey Restaurant in San Simeon serves up fresh ocean fare with a foodie twist. Owned and operated by the De Alba family, many dishes have gained a local following, including locally-caught sand dabs, chardonnay-poached salmon and coconut shrimp. The interior centers around wide circular picture windows facing the sea. Snag a window table set with white linens and fine stemware for dinner with a stellar view. The menu highlights fresh seafood and premium-grade steaks, as well as housemade desserts and local wines. Kids can enjoy the high-quality fare, too, with elevated options like calamari and chips and linguine alfredo available. All dishes are artfully plated, with sauces and vegetables featuring a kaleidoscope of color. Visit for a candlelit evening and be sure to ask about dessert. The Manta Rey is known for serving tasty handmade treats like housemade orange ice cream with raspberry sauce, flourless chocolate cake and creme brulee.
San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill
San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill boasts ocean views from every table in the restaurant. Attached to the San Simeon Lodge, find top shelf breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, plus appetizers, drinks and dessert. Entrees center on steak and seafood dishes like hearty fish ‘n chips and top sirloin and scampi. Dine on Maine Lobster Tail, bouillabaisse, or linguine pescatore, all favorite dishes for traveling seafood lovers. Also find draft beer, local wines and premium cocktails from the full bar (serving happy hour every day from 4 to 6 p.m.). For lunch, try one of the San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill’s fresh sandwiches, which range from BLTs and tuna melts to burgers and fried chicken. Breakfast includes hearty egg dishes, as well as a full range of griddle favorites like French toast, pancakes and waffles with boysenberry syrup. The restaurant also offers a pool table for a little friendly competition, as well as big screen TVs to catch the big game.
Ragged Point Restaurant
Ragged Point Restaurant serves farm-to-fork cuisine paired with a million-dollar ocean view on Highway 1. Attached to the iconic Ragged Point Inn, this historic property has served deliciously fresh fare alongside local wine and beer for decades. Dine inside with spacious, glass-walled views of the Pacific Ocean below, or sit outside on the patio beside a crackling fire pit. This full service restaurant serves farm-fresh breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as popular drinks and appetizers sure to please. Choose from favorite entrees like ceviche, the short rib sandwich and soba noodle salad with Shiitake mushrooms. Each dish is beautifully plated, seasonal and colorful. Travelers are invited to select a bottle from an expansive wine list or order up a pint of local craft beer. While everything tastes better with a jaw-dropping view, the cuisine at Ragged Point Restaurant is well worth the drive all on its own.
