Mr. Ricks

Even along the paradise road of Highway 1, it’s rare to find a bar and grill as close to the ocean as Mr. Ricks in Avila Beach. In fact, Mr. Ricks is the only full bar on the Promenade in Avila Beach. This is the ideal place to find yourself after a long day of surf and sun. Just walk a few feet from the sand, and you’ve arrived! Mr. Ricks has quenched the thirst of Avila Beach locals and visitors for decades with a selection of beer, wine and cocktails. Beer is definitely king here, with 16 local, domestic and imported brews on tap, plus 20 more in bottles. The big names here are local favorites Firestone-Walker Brewing, SLO Brew and Figueroa Mountain Brewing. Other California picks include Topa Topa Brewing Company and Lagunitas, plus macrobrews like Pacifico, Modelo and Coors.

Come during happy hour on weekdays for specials on pitchers of beer, in addition to cocktail specials and appetizers. Mr. Ricks’ experienced bartenders shake up tasty classic beach cocktails like Pink Mermaids, Beach Front Mai Tais, and their signature drink, the Coronarita. The “Rick’s Bloody” — a Bloody Mary made with Absolut Peppar vodka and all the fixings — is the stuff of legends. For wine drinkers, the bar serves a house cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc. In addition to drinks, Mr. Ricks offers a menu of tasty pub food and classic beachside fare. Tuck into a plate of nachos, fish and chips, a burger with onion rings, or a salmon Caesar salad. Take in the ocean view with seating on Mr. Ricks’ patio, or even through the wide-open accordion doors from inside the bar. The patio is also dog-friendly, and the menu even includes a doggy dish of chicken and rice for four-legged friends. Don’t miss live music throughout the week, with acoustic sets on the patio on Sunday afternoons.