24hrs in Solvang, California
Solvang is a quaint little Danish town in southern California's Santa Ynez Valley. Just off highway 101, a winding road takes you to a place all among its own. With architecture reminiscent to the classic Danish style, its just as charming as one would imagine. Living in California, I had visited Solvang a handful of times, stopping in to buy a must-eat Kringle, but never having the opportunity to stay and enjoy what it had to offer. This past weekend, Kevin and I took advantage of a few days off to head down the 101 and stay a few nights in downtown Solvang.
While I didn’t get a chance to do any wine or beer tasting (a big drawl of Solvang) Kevin did plenty and has the scoop for the places to go and ones to pass on. I however, did get to enjoy plenty of Danish pastries and delicious eateries to fill you in for your next trip. To see where we suggest staying, eating, and drinking in Solvang keep reading!
where to stay in Solvang
THE LANDSBY
1576 Mission Dr,
Solvang, CA 93463
Let me preface this by saying there are several places to stay within downtown Solvang. The Landsby, however, far exceeds them all with its attention to detail and modern yet approachable decor. We were more than comfortable with our accommodations and found our stay at the hotel to be very well rounded. The hotel itself is positioned conveniently walking distance from plenty of restaurants, tasting rooms, and Solvang’s famed downtown shopping.
The other thing that we loved about the hotel was how open it was. The hotel centers around a courtyard with plenty of outdoor furniture and fire pits which are perfect for enjoying an afternoon or after-dinner glass of wine. Just inside the courtyard is the hotel restaurant, Mad and Vin, and while we didn’t sit down for their dinner service we did order from the happy hour menu! Kevin made a point of saying that the Duck-fat fries were among the best he has ever had. They we’re the perfect balance of crispy and creamy, and made for a great pre-dinner snack.
WHERE TO DRINK IN SOLVANG
MAD & VIN
1576 Mission Dr,
Solvang, CA 93463
Mad & Vin is the bar and restaurant within the Landsby lobby. As can be seen from the pictures the aesthetic continue throughout the hotel! After a long afternoon of strolling through downtown we decided to pop in at happy hour (4-6pm) and grab a small bite and beverage. Even though we were able to grab a seat, it was clear this was a very popular spot, both for guests and those not staying at the hotel. Kevin ordered a purple haze cocktail (with gin) and said it was incredible - just look at the garnish!
Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company
12363 Alamo Pintado Ave,
Los Olivos, CA 93441
There are few places that Kevin requests are, “must-stop,” locations, but Figueroa Brewing was definitely one of them. He had tasted a few of their beers (they have a LOT) in the past and really enjoyed them, so whilst we were in the area I knew we’d be stopping by. This particular taproom was just outside of Solvang in Los Olivos (which is darling!) and took about a 15-20 minute drive to get to from where we were staying. I’m so glad we came on the day is wasn’t raining, because it allowed us to sit outside on their patio and catch some rays.
We ended up heading to the taproom just before lunch, and even for a Friday before noon, there was still a steady flow of foot traffic. The staff at this particular location was super friendly and helpful with suggesting different beers to try based on Kevin’s taste. Not only that, but when it came time to purchase it was WAAAY more affordable than some of the prices we’re used to in Northern California! We’ll definitely be back post-baby and try to explore Los Olivos a bit more!
SANGER FAMILY WINES
1584 Mission Dr,
Solvang, CA 93463
Full disclosure, even though I wasn’t tasting I knew I had to check out the interior of Sanger Family Wines! Their tasting room is a decor-lovers dream and full of personalized touches. Kevin ended up tasting a couple of varietals, and wasn’t keen on the Syrah, but did enjoy a glass of the Cielo Rubio! For being a Friday the wine room was pretty quiet, but the staff was more than attentive and helpful! I think this would be a great place to check out during the warmer seasons when you can enjoy a glass or tasting on their outdoor patio!
WHERE TO EAT IN SOLVANG
PAULA’S PANCAKE HOUSE
1531 Mission Dr,
Solvang, CA 93463
Most times before we go on trips we scout yelp, do research online, and get recommendations from family and friends. Paula’s Pancake house came highly recommended time after time! I’m a huge breakfast fan so it was a no-brainer to make this our first meal on our trip. After reading other reviews it was clear that the Danish pancake was the way to go, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! This super thin pancake was delicately made and topped with a dollop of house-made whipped cream and fresh strawberries! For such a sweet sounding meal, the overall taste was surprisingly light.
Even with a bit of syrup the overall taste wasn’t too sweet, which was a win in my book. Kevin opted to get the same with a side of eggs and sausage. He agreed with my review of the danish pancake, but said to skip the eggs as they were a little rubbery.
THE SOLVANG BAKERY
438 Alisal Rd,
Solvang, CA 93463
This bakery was the #1 request suggested by both family and friends! In fact, my sister-in-law had her wedding cake made here! The exterior of the Solvang Bakery is just was charming as the Danish treats are delicious. We had a few take-home pastries that were a must including the oatmeal cookie and Danish jam cookie, which pretty much melted in your mouth. The Danish Crisp (pictured) was the perfect addition to a cup of coffee and made my morning that much sweeter.
Mortensen’s Danish Bakery
1588 Mission Dr
Solvang, CA 93463
This was one of the bakeries that I had visited on a previous trip to Solvang. I knew going in that we’d be leaving with Kringle in hand and a few additional pastries. We had planned on stopping in on the morning of our last day in town so the Kringle would be fresh and we could enjoy the pastries for breakfast. Well, that didn’t quite go accordingly. We were up and walking around in search of coffee around 8:30am and unfortunately many of the pastries were not ready and wouldn’t be out of the oven for another hour 1/2!
Call me crazy (or just a very hungry pregnant lady) but, I was shocked that a bakery wouldn’t be ready to go with fresh pastries before 8 AM. This may just be the slower pace of Solvang, but word to the wise, don’t anticipate having Mortensen’s baked goods before 9 AM. We did return several hours later and picked up their famed Kringle and a couple of bear claws, which were delicious. If you are in the market for a hot cup of coffee with a side of sweet pastry check out Birkholm’s Bakery & Cafe, which is right down the street from the Solvang Bakery.
Leonardo’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
1632 Alamo Pintado Rd
Solvang, CA 93463
After our first full day exploring downtown Solvang, both Kevin and I were pretty hungry for a legit meal. We had been munching on pastries for much of the afternoon, and an Italian meal sounded like the perfect solution to satisfy our hunger. We were between two places and ended up selecting Leonardo’s thanks to its classic menu offerings. Don’t let the strip-mall location of Leonardo’s make you think twice about dining there. This white-table cloth location was PACKED with eaters, and the smells wafting out of the kitchen were enough to make us salivate on the spot. One other thing I need to say about this place is just how friendly and warm each member of the staff was to us. We were immediately greeted, placed at our desired table, and drink orders taken.
We were both torn on what to order because everything sounded delicious, but settled on splitting a Caesar salad, wood fire pepperoni pizza, and the bolognese pasta. I can honestly say that after enjoying just about every last morsel I still am dreaming of going back! The pizza was perfected cooked, complete with a crisp wood-fired edge and perfectly appointed with just the right around of sauce to cheese ratio. The bolognese was divine, and melt in your mouth good, the serving was very generous as well!
Happy Travels,
Kelly & KEvin
