Any trip to the central coast instantly brings me back to my time in San Luis Obispo. Nestled just thirty minutes north of SLO is the sleepy ocean-side town of Cambria. If the winery-lined drive or scenic ocean views aren’t enough to get you to take a weekend away maybe this post will. When Kev and I set our sights on doing a bit of exploring in Cambria we were looking forward to a relaxing break from the craziness of the city, and boy did we get that. We headed out on a late Thursday afternoon, making our ritual stop for burgers and fries at In-n-Out to fuel our drive.
 

A handful of podcast and plenty of Christmas tunes later we arrived hungry (always), and a bit tired to the El Colibri Hotel and Spa in Cambria. The weather had been less than desirable on our drive, thanks to an unexpected downpour so the warm and festive lobby was a welcomed sight. Once we had checked in we headed to our room, which in my opinion was more along the lines of a huge master suite. We dropped our bags, hung up our wet coats and instantly turned on the fireplace. The one thing I’ve learned to love throughout our travels is a fireplace, especially when traveling to cooler climates.

The room was large, inviting, and perfect for our weekend away. The staff was nice enough to welcome us with a bottle of Pinot noir (our fav!) which was the much needed after being in the car for so long. I had done a bit of research on Yelp and pinpointed a few restaurants located close to our hotel. Luckily, the location of the El Colibri is near downtown, which was nice and convenient when shopping or heading out for food.

FOOD

Main Street Grill: I could easily contribute at least 5 constants pounds of the freshmen 15 to my love for Firestone grill. So when Kev found out that the company’s sister restaurant was located in Cambria I was already making my order. All jokes aside it's a delicious lunch and a must-stop during our time in Cambria. I’d recommend order the steak sandwich and splitting a basket of fries!

603 Main St Cambria, CA 93428

Robins: We headed to Robins for dinner on our last night in town. We were a bit unsure on what cuisine of having, and the menu at Robin’s hit every box! The upscale bohemian vibes were complemented with an indoor/outdoor dining area complete with heaters. The staff was incredible and made our experience one of the best we’ve had in a very long time. I went with the cioppino while Kevin ordered the steak, both were fantastic!

4095 Burton Dr Cambria, CA 93428

Las Cambritas:  On our first night in town, we were both craving Mexican food. I'm pretty picky when it comes to Mexican food so I'm always a bit hesitant to try new places. Being that both Kevin and I were pretty hungry we settled on Las Cambritas to its tantalizing pictures. I'm soo glad we did because the food was uhh-mazing! The carne asada platter was very well seasoned and generous in size, not to mention the fresh tortillas! 

2336 Main St Cambria, CA 93428

French Corner Bakery: Before heading out on the road we made sure to stop by the French corner bakery to pick up a few pastries. The small shop is located on the corner of main street and is a must stop for bread and sweets. The cinnamon rolls we light and sweet, which paired perfectly with a cup of french roast!

2214 Main St Cambria, CA 93428

Linn's Easy As Pie Cafe: If you've ever been to the central coast then I'm sure you're familiar with Olallieberry jam. Linn's makes some of the best I've ever had!

4251 Bridge St Cambria, CA 93428

We made it our morning ritual to grab a light bite from the breakfast bar in the lobby and complimentary coffee to go and walk along the beach. The ocean is lined with a wood plank walkway which hugs the coast. It gives you gorgeous views of the pacific and is also a great way to get in a bit of exercise! We had a bit of Christmas shopping left to do and made a point to head downtown to check out the boutiques and shops. I instantly feel in love with the charming shops and genuine owners who gave us further recommendations on where to eat while we were in town.

We also happened to be luckily enough to experience the El Colibri's spa services during our stay. It's been years since Kev and I have treated ourselves to a massage and it was truly a wonderful experience. Both of us opted to enjoy the hot stone massage which was out of this world! Their spa is located within the hotel and complete with private steam rooms and a spa - a must try indulgence!

On a whim, we decided to head to Cambria’s annual Christmas Market, which is famous for their light show. Upon arriving I was instantly put into the holiday spirit, especially after ordering a mulled wine for our walk through the light tunnel. If you happen to be in Cambria for the holidays I would HIGHLY recommend checking it out. There were people of all ages and the light displays were pretty incredible!   

After waking up on our final morning and taking our walk along the beach we left feeling refreshed, and more like relaxed than we’d been in a long time. The break from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco was much needed and it showed! I’d love to hear if you’ve traveled to Cambria or the central coast! What are your favorite stops or wineries along the way?

xoxo,

Birdie

A Huge thank you to Pacifica Hotels for sponsoring my stay at the El Colibri Hotel & Spa.