The Pacific Coast Highway stretches for nearly 700 miles along the California coast. Also known as Highway 1, it travels all the way from Orange County in southern California to Mendocino County in the north, traversing some of the state’s most gorgeous coastal scenery along the way. A bucket list journey for avid road-trippers and a drive that gets its fair share of attention in pop culture, the highway takes you through can’t-miss spots such as Carmel-by-the-Sea, Bixby Bridge in Big Sur and the Hearst Castle. Of course, you’ll see a lot of beaches along the way, too.
As you explore, you’ll likely get hungry, though, but stopping for a bite to eat doesn’t mean giving up the spectacular views. There are plenty of spots where you can enjoy a meal and the scenery, simultaneously. Here are some of the best restaurants on Pacific Coast Highway, as rated by fellow travelers and foodie experts, with a mix of fine dining and more casual options, for something for every palate and budget.
Pacific Coast Grill
In Cardiff, the aptly named Pacific Coast Grill sits right on the ocean, with award-winning dining experiences both indoors and out. With thousands of positive Google reviews that just about all mention the restaurant’s views, you can just about rely on getting a table with a good line of sight toward the beach.
Don’t worry, though—reviewers rave just as much about the food. The restaurant, originally founded in 1995, focuses on all things fresh and local and some of its long-standing, favorited menu items include the shrimp dumplings in a port wine sauce, sesame-crusted ahi and West Coast oysters. For those who don’t care quite as much for seafood, the restaurant also serves up some Hawaiian-style baby back ribs.
The Deck on Laguna Beach
As you could probably expect from the name, The Deck on Laguna Beach is right on the beach and one of the few in this section of the Pacific Coast Highway to have such a close-to-the-water spot. With a large number of positive Google reviews, including quite a few that really go on about the views and location, it’s a safe bet for a great meal during your journey.
In addition to serving on the actual outdoor deck, the restaurant also serves some adjacent bungalows, if you want to rent a spot and stick around for a full beach day, as well as provides room service for the similarly adjacent Pacific Edge Hotel. As for the menu, expect things to be pretty casual, with favorites including the Hawaiian tuna poke, Dungeness crab louie salad and Laguna cioppino, with its mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops and a daily chef’s choice fish served in a tomato saffron broth.
Bluegold and LSXO
For upscale eats with a view and a Michelin-approved speakeasy tucked away inside, head to Huntington Beach, where you’ll find Bluegold. It’s a light, airy space that offers high-end, farm-to-table cuisine, including steaks, a raw bar and hearth oven-baked pizza. The restaurant also serves a classic brunch on the weekends.
In contrast, the aforementioned interior speakeasy LSXO serves classic Vietnamese cuisine in a 28-seat, intimate space. You will still get some great views within this smaller venue, but just how great the view is will depend on your individual table. Additionally, because this hideaway is so small, the wealth of positive reviewers on Yelp heavily recommend making a reservation in advance. Try the dumplings, spring rolls and shaky shaky beef.
Having trouble deciding between reservations at Bluegold and LSXO and the menus alone aren’t enough to persuade you either way? Well, there’s a reason that the Michelin Guide points readers in the direction of LSXO—and that’s an endorsement that many foodies can’t ignore.
Nobu Malibu
If you consider yourself a serious foodie and you’ve yet to visit one of the growing number of Nobu outposts, this is your chance. If you indulge in just one fine-dining experience during your Pacific Coast Highway road trip, let it be a stop by Nobu Malibu, with its impressive ocean views.
As is the case with all Nobu restaurants, the focus here is sushi, but other forms of cold seafood, whether that’s fresh oysters or ceviche, abound. If you’re not much on sushi, cooked seafood like Maine lobster and Dover sole are also up for grabs, as is Wagyu steak.
Field & Fort
Yes, we all probably think of ocean views when we say “best views along the Pacific Coast Highway,” but open your mind a bit and consider other spectacular views that might be an option. At Field & Fort, you can dine in a beautifully appointed garden, among the lemon trees and flowers. You’ll quickly see why this eatery—which is also half lifestyle store—is a favorite with both foodies in the know and celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow.
While the menu is seasonal, you can expect fresh-leaning, healthful options like sweet and savory porridges for breakfast, roasted beet or cauliflower salads and burrata or mushroom tartines. Grab one of the café’s “feast” options and head out on a picnic, if you really do truly prefer those ocean views and you’ll have more than enough for two to share, with options such as a whole rotisserie chicken served alongside roasted cabbage and potatoes.
Caruso’s
Caruso’s, which sits within the luxury Rosewood Miramar Beach property, has earned itself an enviable Michelin star, as well as a Michelin green star, a recognition that indicates a restaurant has shown significant commitment to sustainability. With an elegant dining room that overlooks the Pacific, the only thing that will even slightly distract you from the views is the artistic plating. This is fine dining at its true finest.
The menu is seasonal, offers plenty of seafood and takes Italian inspiration. Choose from a three-course, four-course or eight-course dinner menu. As an example, the three-course experience starts at $165 per person and allows you to choose one antipasti, a first course, second course and dessert. Your options might include hand-pulled burrata and peaches or Tzar Nicolai caviar with white asparagus, pickled shallots and cured eggs; California king crab cappelletti or tagliolini ai porcini; Santa Barbara white bass or Channel Island halibut; and, finally, gelato or peaches with a brown butter cake.
Roy’s at Pebble Beach
I’m not normally going to recommend a restaurant overlooking a golf course, but hear me out here. Beyond the view of the links is the Pacific Ocean and Roy’s at Pebble Beach is one of the most highly rated restaurants in the area. Not only do travelers give it rave online reviews, but the restaurant boasts a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence honor, too. That’s not to mention that Roy himself is a James Beard Award winner.
Like all Roy’s outposts, this one focuses on all things Hawaiian fusion. Expect sushi, poke, plenty of seafood and Hawaiian-inspired eats like Hawaiian-style fried rice and swordfish and short ribs surf and turf. Settle in with a Hawaiian-inspired cocktail or two, too, like a Mai Tai made with fresh fruit juice.
Mission Ranch
Another unique restaurant that provides views near the Pacific Coast Highway, just not of the immediate water, Mission Ranch allows you to dine as you gaze out over the ranchlands (and associated livestock), with the ocean in the far distance. The restaurant requests no cell phone usage on the premises, too, so you’ll finally get a quiet moment of soaking in the scenery without being tempted to post away.
Expect more casual vibes here, with classic American fare on the menu and entrees like slow-roasted prime rib, rack of lamb and smoked pork ribs.
Address: 26270 Dolores St, Carmel, CA 93923
Mersea’s
If no view is too close to the water for you, why not go out actually on the water to chow down? This is exactly what you can do at Mersea’s, a bit of a side quest off the Pacific Coast Highway, though not far at all.
The seafood restaurant is literally on a pier jutting out into the water and the family-friendly menu puts fresh seafood at its center, with classics like fried fish and chips, crab cakes, clams and seafood tacos.
Sierra Mar
Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur perches on a cliffside, giving you unparalleled views, plus an award-winning, seasonal and sustainable prix fixe menu. Make sure you snag your reservations in advance (some reviewers report doing so months ahead of their meal) and then sit down to enjoy fare such as sea bass tartlets, abalone and king trumpet skewers, sourdough with olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar, lamb with pesto and smoked Greek yogurt and Earl Grey ice cream.
Have special dietary needs? A vegetarian tasting menu is also available and reviewers note that it’s particularly creative and inventive, a refreshing change in a fine dining landscape wherein that’s more often not the case.
Address: 47900 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
