Paso Robles

With its red-brick Carnegie Library anchoring a grassy town square, Paso Robles lies just off U.S. Highway 101 at the southernmost tip of the Salinas Valley. This San Luis Obispo County town first became a tourist magnet in the 19th century, thanks to its mineral hot springs—which you can still experience at the Paso Robles Inn—but Paso Robles (pronounced as either “ROH-buhlz” or “ROH-blays” by various locals) really found its magical elixir as the local vineyards multiplied.

Wineries in Paso Robles

Here in the heart of Central California’s wine country, more than 250 wineries spread across seven different growing regions, each with its own microclimate and terroir. More than 14 wineries have tasting rooms in Paso Robles’ tidy downtown, but sippers with a taste for exploration can roam vineyard-dotted Highway 46, winding west to the Cambria coast.

For sustainability-minded oenophiles, the area is a boon: Pioneers of sustainable winemaking techniques such as Hope Family Wines, Tablas Creek Vineyard (the first ever regenerative organic vineyard), and AmByth Estate (the first biodynamic vineyard) are here, and in 1994 a farmers’ network was founded to further environmentally sound approaches to the craft. Today the group numbers around 140 farmers, so Earth-friendly pours from SIP (Sustainability In Practice)-accredited wineries are abundant. (Visit SLO CAL has an informative blog post about the movement and the region’s SLO CAL Sustainable Wine Trail.)  

Expect to find a lot more than Pinot Noir. Take a walk around the beautiful gardens and massive sculptures at Sculpterra Winery, or catch a concert at Vina Robles’ outdoor amphitheater. At Tin City, check out more than 20 emerging boutique wineries—among them Aaron Wines, ONX, and Field Recordings—packed together in an industrial-chic warehouse district. Savor the Old West ambience at Tobin James Cellars, where a restored stagecoach stop now serves as a guest house, or tour the wine cave at Eberle Winery. If you want to stay overnight among the vines you can do that too—in a vintage Tinker Tin trailer on Alta Colina Wine's property, or at the charming Clark House, ONX Wines’ five-bedroom farm-style home (looking for a romantic getaway? The Clark House Apartment will fit the bill).

Paso Robles Distilleries and Breweries

Leftover grape juice from the region’s wine production isn’t wasted. It makes up the base alcohol for distilled spirits, which you can sample at various stops along Paso Robles Distillery Trail. Sip Wine Shine’s mango mule, Krobar’s gin and rye whiskey, Manucci Spirits’ grappa and limoncello, and Re:Find Distillery’s vodka. Most distillery tasting rooms are located on vineyard grounds, “just around the back” from the wine-tasting rooms.

Beer drinkers aren’t left out of the fun. Firestone Walker Brewery is the biggest and oldest brewery in Paso Robles, but for atmosphere, it’s hard to beat the al fresco beer gardens at Silva Brewing or BarrelHouse Brewing Company (if you like sour barrel-aged beers, BarrelHouse is your spot).

Restaurants in Paso Robles

With so many beverage options, don’t forget to eat. Savor upscale Italian cuisine—truffle risotto and osso buco—at downtown’s Il Cortile, or score an authentic Mexican meal at Órale Taqueria or Habaneros. Perennial favorite Hatch serves up craft cocktails and wood-fired rotisserie chicken, while farm-to-table restaurant Thomas Hill Organics specializes in cuisine that capitalizes on the bounty of the Central Coast. Drop by Paso Market Walk, an inviting 16,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor marketplace, and you’ll find an array of sustainability-minded purveyors. Refuel at one of the market’s eateries offering everything from “Japanese soul food” to vegan delicacies to baked goods, have a craft brew at Hog Canyon Brewing Company, or pick up such local staples as wine and olive oil to take home.

If you are looking to splurge and can make reservations in advance, Paso Robles has two Michelin-starred restaurants that are definitely, as the Michelin guide says, worth a detour. Consider The Restaurant at Justin, where each of the four courses served are paired with wines from Justin Vineyards, and Six Test Kitchen, in the aforementioned Tin City makers’ market.

More Things to Do in Paso Robles

Nourish your artsy side at Studios on the Park, an open-studio center where working artists ply their creative trades. Chat with a sculptor, take a drawing class, or buy a painting for your living room. Soak until your fingers pucker at River Oaks Hot Springs spa, where 10 private tubs are fed from springs bubbling up at 117 degrees Fahrenheit. Massages, facials, and body wraps are available too. And for those who love steel and chrome, the Woodland Auto Display and Estrella Warbirds Museum share one location, and it’s packed with World War II planes, antique motorcycles, military Jeeps, beautifully restored Indy race cars, and vintage roadsters.

Hotels in Paso Robles

When you’re ready to call it a day, rest your head in luxury in one of 16 tasteful rooms at the equestrian-themed Hotel Cheval, a stroll away from downtown’s restaurants and shops (don’t miss the nightly s’mores service), or the dog-friendly Allegretto Vineyard Resort, with its rambling courtyards and Tuscan-inspired terrazzo patios and fountains. For a close-to-the-land vibe, book a stay at Rêves de Moutons, a sheep and goat dairy farm about a dozen miles outside of downtown Paso Robles; lodging in retro campers or the main farm house is offered, as well as farm tours.

Things to Do Near Paso Robles

The Central Coast can claim more than its share of compelling destinations. Drive 30 miles south and you’ll hit San Luis Obispo, a city  known for its charming downtown area, featuring boutique shops, restaurants, and a historic mission. Head 30 miles east, and you’ll land in Cambria, a picturesque coastal town with a vibrant artistic community; troll along nearby Moonstone Beach, visit art galleries, and dine at excellent seafood restaurants. Less than 10 miles north is San Simeon, which is the perfect place to stay while visiting Hearst Castle and Piedras Blancas Rookery. Head south from Paso Robles, and you'll arrive at Morro Bay, known for its iconic Morro Rock. This distinctive coastal town offers kayaking, bird-watching, fresh seafood, and a photo-op-read harbor. Cycling enthusiasts can get pointers on touring the regions here.