The San Luis Obispo Guide
One of many cute little wine towns sitting just 3 hours north of LA
Hey there hi there!
I’ve vowed to take an annual solo trip up to the Central Coast of California, and this year’s trek was nothing short of special, life-affirming, chakra-realigning, etc etc. Though I covered quite a bit of ground over the course of 72 hours (see highlights HERE) - this guide will solely be focused on San Luis Obispo! Let’s get into it.
A Little About SLO
San Luis Obispo is primarily known as a college town - home to Cal Poly SLO. It’s also a mission town covered with beautiful architecture, vineyards, and rolling hills. This is a great place to visit if you’re looking to do some wine tasting, boutique shopping, and maybe take in a little dose of California history & architecture too! If you time it right, SLO is only a 3 hour drive away from Los Angeles.
Stay
The Wayfarer San Luis Obispo - #Sponsored | Coming out of my visit to the Central Coast last year, I was very lucky to partner with Pacifica Hotels for this year’s trip! I stayed at The Wayfarer in SLO and it was such a treat. I loved taking a bike ride for my morning coffee & donut run, and exploring the common areas during my stay - cozying up by the fire to read, sipping on a crisp blonde ale on Schoolyard’s cute back patio, and posting up in the vibey co-working area to get a bit of work done. Also loved the surf-themed gallery wall in my room that climbed all the way up to the ceiling!
Food & Drink
Field Day Coffee & Bottle Shop - one of my favorite spots in the city got a serious upgrade since the last time I visited! What was once a little coffee garage space has now expanded into a full blown indoor/outdoor cafe + bottle shop. Happy for them! The coffee is great, and I absolutely plan to pop by for a glass o’ vino next time I visit
Firestone Grill - a SLO institution known for their tri-tip sandwich. I got pulled pork this time around and it was also delish.
SloDoCo - Donuts galore! Recommend trying one of their seasonal flavors if you pay ‘em a visit - I loved the “pumpkin pillow”!
There are a plethora of wineries & breweries in SLO, I highly recommend doing a little research before you visit and picking a couple based on your taste - but see my faves below (and a couple I plan to hit next time further down in the guide)
Antigua Brewing - blonde ales are my beer of choice and they do that very well here!
Dunites Wine Company - low-intervention wines in DT SLO
Points of Interest
Shopping
Ah Louis Store - a rotating boutique pop up that is currently decked out for the holidays (see pic above) and has over 600 types of ornaments! The cutest and great for souvenirs year-round
Growing Grounds - the dreamiest garden store. Another great place for a souvenir, I love their plant accessories!
Boo Boo Records - the most epic record shop!! You could be here for hours
Junkgirls - a quintessential small town staple kitschy gift shop
Blackwater - boutique & gift shop with plants, vintage and more
Sights
San Luis Obispo Mission - you can take a tour here, or just wander the grounds on your own! Beautiful area right at the edge of downtown
SLOMA - Fun name heh. A small modern art museum with rotating exhibits, recommend checking what’s on before you go!
There are tons of hiking trails in the area if you need a little nature in your life! See HERE for some ideas but I personally have a soft spot for nearby Montaña de Oro State Park. Absolutely stunning coastal views for sunset!
On My List to Try Next Time
Jan’s Place - a vinyl bar
Bread Bike Bakery - breads & “California-style” pastries
High Street Market & Deli - sandwiches
Nightcap - cocktail bar with $9 martinis every night 6-7 PM
Mistura Restaurant - Peruvian food & Pisco distillery
Sally Loo’s Wholesome Cafe - health-forward seasonal breakfast & lunch
Linnaea’s Cafe - quaint neighborhood cafe
KBRG Coffee Lab - coffee
Shindig Cider - cider with extra fun labels
City Farm SLO - I’m so bummed I didn’t have time for any farm visits on this visit! Especially during fall with pumpkin patches running abound :)
SLO Public Market - indoor food hall
Nearby Towns to Visit
More on these towns in a future TTS but feel free to DM me with any specific questions or recs in the meantime!
Avila Beach
Pismo Beach
Cayucos
Baywood-Los Osos
Paso Robles
Morro Bay
Whew that was fun! Here for any q’s, lmk lmk - if you want some more Central Coast reading material, check out my Cambria guide HERE! See you soon pardners!