Downtown Paso Robles provides a walkable wonderland of restaurants, boutique shops, wine tasting rooms and art galleries to explore. Known for its old fashioned charm and modern business district, the downtown center runs from 7th to 15th Street and is bordered by Spring Street to the West and Riverside Avenue to the East. Surrounded by rolling hills and populated by friendly folks, you’ll find much to savor all in one easy-to-stroll setting.
Explore Downtown Paso Robles
Downtown City Park
Nestled at the heart of downtown Paso Robles, Downtown City Park offers up an oak-studded green space between 11th and 23th Streets. Home to the Carnegie Library and the Paso Robles Historical Society headquarters, you’ll also find a playground at the park with areas for ages 5-12 and 6-13 months. A block over on 13th Street, explore a time-honored Children’s Museum complete with a real-life fire truck and interactive displays. Music lovers will enjoy Concerts in the Park, hosted each Thursday night in the summer. Plus, a community Farmer’s Market is held at the park Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon. With so many walkable events and businesses located along park, you’ll never need to get behind the wheel to enjoy all downtown has to offer.
Shop Downtown Paso
Kahuna’s Surf & Sport
Kahuna’s Surf & Sport is your one-stop shop for coastal provisions, showcasing a wide array of California casual clothing plus surf, skate and outdoors gear. Family owned and operated since 1993, you’ll find hats, footwear, camping supplies, accessories and all the items you need to enjoy the beach or hiking trail in style. Whether you’re looking for outerwear to hold up to the elements or just a fun bikini and beach cover-up, you’ll find it on display at this locally loved surf shop.
Firefly Paso
Fireplay Paso is known for its whimsical ambiance and unique women’s wear, accessories and home goods. Run by an artsy mother-daughter duo since 2006, you can expect a wide array of gifts, handmade products and quirky children’s items. Shop a colorful array of vintage inspired clothing designers, plus jewelry, kitchen goods and bath and body products all collected under one enchanting roof.
Bijou on the Park
Bijou on the Park is the go-to place to quality women’s clothing to suit any and all occasions. Whether you’re looking for a casual outfit to wear during a day of wine tasting or a formal dress with upscale accessories to match, you’ll find it here alongside shoes, lingerie and more. Offering up an eclectic mix of on-trend and classic styles, this locally-owned shop aims at providing its clientele with timeless, elegant pieces.
Studios on the Park
At Studios on the Park, you’re not just able to watch resident artists craft incredible works of art–you can also take home that creativity. Home to a multi-faceted gallery, children’s art classes and educational workshops, this is not your average art shopping experience. With a well-stocked gift shop featuring everything from oil paintings and sculpture pieces to handmade jewelry and greeting cards, you’re sure to find an artistic souvenir that undoubtedly reads “Paso.”
Relics Antique Mall
At Relics Antique Mall, bygone treasures are dusted off, polished up and given a brand new life. Shop an array of vintage clothing, toys, furniture and housewares all housed in this friendly antique mall. It’s easy to lose a few hours searching through the ever-changing bins and booths: You just might find a rare, one-of-kind piece that’ll pull the whole room together.
Dine Downtown Paso
The Steakhouse at Paso Robles Inn
The Steakhouse at Paso Robles Inn serves up a classic “meat and potatoes” experience with an upscale twist. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner at the historic Paso Robles Inn, you’ll enjoy a hearty comfort food meal with a side of warm hospitality. Whether you dig into a signature premium choice, hand-trimmed steak or enjoy appetizers and a cocktail, you’ll taste old school Paso Robles with a modern upgrade.
Paso’s Pizza Kitchen
Paso’s Pizza Kitchen encourages patrons to come extra hungry and leave extra happy. Serving up sizzling hot pizzas and calzones plus pasta dishes and sandwich options, you’ll savor a true family-friendly feast downtown Paso Robles. Choose a classic pie to share with friends or go for one of the eatery’s unique creations, like the Tex Mex, Chicken Alfredo, Shrimp and Pesto or Louisiana Cajun, just to name just a few.
Touch of Paso
Touch of Paso might be home to the best breakfast downtown, according to many locals. Featuring a home-like ambiance, this cozy brick establishment serves up fluffy egg omelets, decedent Benedicts and a slew of spicy Spanish breakfast staples like Huevos Rancheros and Chilaquiles. If sweet is more your style, go for the breakfast croissants, Belgian waffles or hot cakes drizzled with delectable maple syrup. Lighter fare options plus lunch items like artisan-crafted sandwiches, wraps, burgers and salads round out a truly crave-worthy menu.
Paso Terra
Paso Terra spotlights modern seafood dishes inspired by classical French cooking techniques. When paired with an extensive wine list, the results are downright mouthwatering. Helmed by Chef Andre, who trained in France in the early 1970s, each plate offers up a compelling play of taste, texture and presentation. Specializing in seafood dishes–including salmon tartare, traditional paella and Monkfish curry–you’ll come away with a refined and inspired taste of the sea.
Buona Tavola
Buona Tavola invites patrons to linger over their meal in much the same way the Italians do. Originally opened in San Luis Obispo a decade ago, thisl Italian food favorite has now expanded to downtown Paso Robles–which is great news for you. Dig into freshly prepared antipasti, hand crafted pastas, generous main courses and famous desserts, including Chef Varia’s delicious tirami su. Featuring famously good Italian food, a full bar, and a casual yet elegant environment, you’re always welcome to pull up a chair at this time-honored table.
Fish Gaucho
At Fish Gaucho, Mexican-inspired recipes and an impressive tequila selection come together with fiery, Chef-driven passion. Enjoy a creative cocktail shaken with premium tequila or mezcal and fresh-squeezed citrus or go for one of the restaurant’s many cold craft beers. Whether you nosh on sushi-grade ahi tacos, octopus ceviche or a plate of sizzling carne asada, you’re sure to experience a unique mix of spice and refreshment with every bite.
Downtown Paso
Paso Market Walk
Paso Market Walk is a modern market experience featuring an array of food, drink and shopping offerings under one well-curated roof. Wake up with hot fresh coffee and muffins from JoeBella Coffee Roasters, grab a vegan panini from The Vreamery or enjoy a classic roasted turkey sandwich from Third Degree Grill. Paso Market Walk is also home to craft brewery Hot Canyon, cidery SLO Cider, fine cheese courtesy of Lou Lou Cheese Girl, ramen from Momotaro Ramen, baked goods from Just Baked and chilly treats crafted by Leo Leo Gelato. The market’s onsite sit-down restaurants showcase a broad array of flavors: Finca offers up “Cocina California” fare with an ingenious taco window while In Bloom champions seasonal, farm-to-table selections. Finish your stroll through Paso Market Walk at The Wine Merchant, where you can enjoy a glass or bottle paired with a light, vegetable forward menu (regional oysters served on the weekends). Plus, with home and garden gifts provided by Gather Garden Co., you can easily take home a market momento to remember.
Tasting Downtown Paso
Paso Robles is known for its award winning wine region, and this claim to fame is well reflected in downtown’s tantalizing tasting offerings. Many local wineries feature tasting rooms in the heart of downtown, including Tudor, JUSTIN and Copia, among many others. With a density of wine tasting rooms all within walking distance, you can conveniently experience world class wines without the need to hail a ride. In fact, Central Coast Food Tours offers up a popular food and wine walking tour of downtown Paso Robles that allows you to sip, swirl and savor to your heart’s content. Looking to travel the globe via your next taste? Head to Taste in the Alley, where wine selections span local and worldwide regions. If you’re interested in boutique wineries, Paso Underground is the perfect place to explore the “garagiste” side of the industry.
For the Beer Enthusiast
Downtown Paso Robles boasts a dynamic craft beer scene. When a cold one sounds good, Streetside Ale House features a rotating, 25-tap bar paired with top notch food all overlooking Downtown City Park. You can also find your next favorite brew at The Pour House, home to live music, trivia, comedy nights and more.
Cocktails in Downtown Paso
Craft cocktails are shaken, stirred and savored in downtown Paso Robles: Delectable drinks and fried comfort food are a winning combination at Hatch in downtown Paso Robles. Nearby, Eleven Twenty Two offers up a modern speakeasy experience dripping with 30s era swank. Where cowboys and winemakers rub elbows, Pine Street Saloon is a historic dive bar where the beer is cold and the conversation is hot. Shaking up exotic concoctions alongside Polynesian small plates, Cane Tiki Room provides a tropical getaway in an unlikely setting.
Events in Downtown Paso
Community events abound in downtown Paso Robles, where local color is celebrated by locals and travelers alike. In fact, Downtown City Park hosts an array of free and public events: Enjoy Concerts in the Park every Thursday evening during summer; sample artisan-crafted provisions at the annual Olive and Lavender Festival; or view works of art on display at Art in the Park events, hosted multiple times a year.
When to go
Anytime is the right time to visit downtown Paso Robles, where skies are sunny year round. That said, here’s a few tips for staying comfortable on your adventure. Thanks to its high desert climate, Paso Robles can be blazing hot in the summer and chilly in winter. In addition to this seasonal change in temperature, the swings in temperature from day to night can be dramatic, too. While this might be a fabulous recipe for growing wine grapes, visitors should consider packing the right clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat, warm jacket and comfortable walking shoes. When high temperatures strike during the summer months, locals and visitors are known to head to the coast. Enjoy a scenic drive along the Highway 46 West wine trail, which terminates at iconic Highway 1. From there, explore San Simeon’s Hearst Castle and Elephant Seal populations as well as enchanting coastal communities like the hamlet of Harmony, Cayucos, Cambria and Ragged Point. Paso Robles visitors can also find relief from the heat by heading over the Cuesta Grade to Edna Valley’s coastal wine region to the south. Located just six miles from the Pacific, Edna Valley’s milder temperatures produce superb cool climate varietals like pinot noir and chardonnay.
