Sunkist Studios guidebook

Erika
Sunkist Studios guidebook

Food scene

Good cocktails and plates, cool vibe. In the ‘Village’ of Arroyo Grande.
87 locals recommend
Mason Bar and Kitchen
307 E Branch St
87 locals recommend
Good cocktails and plates, cool vibe. In the ‘Village’ of Arroyo Grande.
Lovely little Italian restaurant in the Village.
21 locals recommend
Gina's Italian Cuisine
138 East Branch Street
21 locals recommend
Lovely little Italian restaurant in the Village.
A safe bet for lunch and dinner. Enjoy the wide selection of beers while a village rooster or two struts around outside.
78 locals recommend
Rooster Creek Tavern
200 E Branch St
78 locals recommend
A safe bet for lunch and dinner. Enjoy the wide selection of beers while a village rooster or two struts around outside.
Excellent restaurant in Arroyo Grande near Grover. Top notch Californian food. Call or get there early as there’s often a wait.
134 locals recommend
Ember Restaurant
1200 E Grand Ave
134 locals recommend
Excellent restaurant in Arroyo Grande near Grover. Top notch Californian food. Call or get there early as there’s often a wait.
Tasty, inexpensive little Mediterranean cafe/restaurant in the Arroyo Grande Village. Remember to grab the sauces!
29 locals recommend
Jaffa Cafe
206 E Branch St
29 locals recommend
Tasty, inexpensive little Mediterranean cafe/restaurant in the Arroyo Grande Village. Remember to grab the sauces!
Homemade ice cream, local favorite. In the Village.
34 locals recommend
Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab
114 W Branch St
34 locals recommend
Homemade ice cream, local favorite. In the Village.
Nice little local brewery in the ‘Village.
13 locals recommend
Humdinger Brewing
116 W Branch St
13 locals recommend
Nice little local brewery in the ‘Village.
Cute cafe in the Village for a cup of joe and muffins!
31 locals recommend
Cafe Andreini
131 E Branch St
31 locals recommend
Cute cafe in the Village for a cup of joe and muffins!
Tasty Mexican, in the Village
14 locals recommend
Villa Cantina
106 E Branch St
14 locals recommend
Tasty Mexican, in the Village
Santa Maria style bbq and huge tri-tip sandwiches in a modest, no-frills place (though the rustic barroom has its charm and is where you can enjoy an Old Fashion or a beer while you wait). A favorite of carnivorous locals. Located in nearby Nipomo.
79 locals recommend
Jocko's
125 N Thompson Ave
79 locals recommend
Santa Maria style bbq and huge tri-tip sandwiches in a modest, no-frills place (though the rustic barroom has its charm and is where you can enjoy an Old Fashion or a beer while you wait). A favorite of carnivorous locals. Located in nearby Nipomo.
If you’re in Pismo, and like tacos, this humble hole in the wall offers the best taco selection on the central coast- 15 different kinds of tacos! Order to go and enjoy at the Pier!
12 locals recommend
Papi's Grill
1090 Price St
12 locals recommend
If you’re in Pismo, and like tacos, this humble hole in the wall offers the best taco selection on the central coast- 15 different kinds of tacos! Order to go and enjoy at the Pier!
Wonderful cafe in Pismo for breakfast.
22 locals recommend
Honeymoon Cafe
999 Price St
22 locals recommend
Wonderful cafe in Pismo for breakfast.

Sightseeing

Less than a mile away, cute little farm and shop where you’ll discover local produce, an assortment of gourmet foods, various gifts including garden gifts, and a "Critter Corral" of farm animals. Enjoy the relaxing browse!
Windmill Farms
1275 N Thompson Ave
Less than a mile away, cute little farm and shop where you’ll discover local produce, an assortment of gourmet foods, various gifts including garden gifts, and a "Critter Corral" of farm animals. Enjoy the relaxing browse!

WIneries

Great wines for tastings, and spacious seating. Only a mile away!
19 locals recommend
Peacock Cellars
1543 Los Berros Rd
19 locals recommend
Great wines for tastings, and spacious seating. Only a mile away!
Scenic winery for tastings; bring a picnic! Close by.
49 locals recommend
Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
453 Laetitia Vineyard Drive
49 locals recommend
Scenic winery for tastings; bring a picnic! Close by.

Hiking Trails

Ontario Ridge Trail via Shell Beach Road. Amazing ocean views! Moderate level.
27 locals recommend
Ontario Ridge Trail
Ontario Ridge Trail
27 locals recommend
Ontario Ridge Trail via Shell Beach Road. Amazing ocean views! Moderate level.
Easy walk across a small pretty lake; you can keep going on the deck path through the sand dunes and out to the ocean.
48 locals recommend
Oso Flaco Lake
3098 Oso Flaco Lake Rd
48 locals recommend
Easy walk across a small pretty lake; you can keep going on the deck path through the sand dunes and out to the ocean.
Easy stroll on hills and through oaks, towards San Luis Obispo.
7 locals recommend
Johnson Ranch Trailhead
5190 Ontario Rd
7 locals recommend
Easy stroll on hills and through oaks, towards San Luis Obispo.
Rent some bicycles in Avila Beach and enjoy the easy ride on this paved trail along sycamores (nice for walking as well). About midway along the trail, there’s a little deli to grab a bite or a glass of wine.
21 locals recommend
Bob Jones City to the Sea Bike Trail Park & Ride
7009 Ontario Rd
21 locals recommend
Rent some bicycles in Avila Beach and enjoy the easy ride on this paved trail along sycamores (nice for walking as well). About midway along the trail, there’s a little deli to grab a bite or a glass of wine.
It’s also called Madonna Mountain Loop. Moderate level. Wider-sized trail. Check “All Trails” for directions on accessing the trail.
37 locals recommend
Cerro San Luis Obispo
37 locals recommend
It’s also called Madonna Mountain Loop. Moderate level. Wider-sized trail. Check “All Trails” for directions on accessing the trail.
Moderate level. Bishop Peak trail is a local favorite, has great views, and is a good workout too.
30 locals recommend
Bishops Peak Trail Head
Brittany Circle
30 locals recommend
Moderate level. Bishop Peak trail is a local favorite, has great views, and is a good workout too.
Maybe the best scenic hike on our central coast, and definitely worth the 50 minute drive. Wide, easy stroll on a large bluff overlooking the ocean. You can also walk down to pebbly-beaches at a couple of areas, and drive to some others. There are also higher elevation trails nearby- particularly Valencia Peak.
12 locals recommend
Bluff Trail Montana De Oro
Bluff Trail
12 locals recommend
Maybe the best scenic hike on our central coast, and definitely worth the 50 minute drive. Wide, easy stroll on a large bluff overlooking the ocean. You can also walk down to pebbly-beaches at a couple of areas, and drive to some others. There are also higher elevation trails nearby- particularly Valencia Peak.

Beaches

The next beach over from Oceano Beach, Grover Beach is a nice walking beach to enjoy. There is also a wooden/plank strolling path for those who don’t want sand in their toes, or for those in wheel-chairs, etc.
37 locals recommend
Grover Beach
37 locals recommend
The next beach over from Oceano Beach, Grover Beach is a nice walking beach to enjoy. There is also a wooden/plank strolling path for those who don’t want sand in their toes, or for those in wheel-chairs, etc.
Touristy, busier beach town, with shops, eateries, and a pier. Better surfing here than the other beaches, with surf rentals and lessons available.
186 locals recommend
Pismo Beach
186 locals recommend
Touristy, busier beach town, with shops, eateries, and a pier. Better surfing here than the other beaches, with surf rentals and lessons available.
About 20-25 minutes from the Studio, Avila Beach has a couple of beach spots and piers. It’s the best for year-round weather (almost always sunny in Avila even when the other beaches are overcast). Downtown Avila is cute and has eateries, some shops, and a pier (and is slightly less busy than Pismo). There’s the nice Bob Jones Trail (referenced elsewhere in this guidebook) which is a walking/bicycle paved trail that connects from the downtown area (bike rentals in town). Kayak rentals are also available in town. Also in Avila, down the road nearby, is another, larger pier that has a couple of eateries (we like MerSeas) and lots of lazy seals basking and barking in the sun. There’s also a dog beach in that area of Avila.
329 locals recommend
Avila Beach
329 locals recommend
About 20-25 minutes from the Studio, Avila Beach has a couple of beach spots and piers. It’s the best for year-round weather (almost always sunny in Avila even when the other beaches are overcast). Downtown Avila is cute and has eateries, some shops, and a pier (and is slightly less busy than Pismo). There’s the nice Bob Jones Trail (referenced elsewhere in this guidebook) which is a walking/bicycle paved trail that connects from the downtown area (bike rentals in town). Kayak rentals are also available in town. Also in Avila, down the road nearby, is another, larger pier that has a couple of eateries (we like MerSeas) and lots of lazy seals basking and barking in the sun. There’s also a dog beach in that area of Avila.

Golf

26 locals recommend
Monarch Dunes Golf Club
1606 Trilogy Pkwy
26 locals recommend
20 locals recommend
Blacklake Golf Resort
1490 Golf Course Ln
20 locals recommend
21 locals recommend
Cypress Ridge Golf Course
780 Cypress Ridge Pkwy
21 locals recommend

Neighborhoods

Cute and quaint village scene in Arroyo Grande, with eateries and some shops.
48 locals recommend
Village
48 locals recommend
Cute and quaint village scene in Arroyo Grande, with eateries and some shops.