Cayucos: The Last Of The California Beach Towns – located on California’s scenic Central Coast, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Cayucos sits quietly between the Pacific Ocean and the rolling hillsides of open ranch land and is what some people call “the last of the California beach towns.” Listen to the quiet and stillness that only a small town in an untouched countryside can provide. Cayucos is perfect for those who deal with the frustrations of life in the fast lane in crowded cities. Peaceful, underdeveloped ranch lands with cattle grazing on oak-crested hills provide a great respite. There is virtually no city noise, no traffic, no pollution and no crime in Cayucos. Cayucos, the tiny beach town that sits at the foot of the hills with its toes in the sand, awaits you and your exploration. So relax and come see what Cayucos Beach CA has to offer you. For a list of all the area beaches << Click Here >>.
Cayucos Beach Weather (When to Visit)
Cayucos weather is mild all year long.. Located on Coast Highway One between Monterey County and Santa Barbara County, this area of the coast enjoys almost ideal weather and over 300 days of sunshine per year. The terrain is made up of gently rolling hills and sand dunes, lush foliage and vineyards. It is known to have some of the best weather on the Central Coast. Cool ocean breezes keep temperatures from becoming too hot in the summer and the latitude and oceanic effects keeps things mild in winter. Low clouds and patchy fog are often reported often on summer days, but it almost always burns off by noontime. It can be rainy from November through March. The busiest month for tourism in Cayucos, CA, US is June, July and August. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months.
Cayucos Beach Best Area Beaches
Cayucos Beach
Cayucos BeachThis is a gradually sloping beach so at low tide it’s wide and at high tide it’s almost entirely wet. There are large rocks in the surf in several spots along Cayucos Beach and the massive Morro Rock is visible in the distance to the south.
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Cayucos State Beach
Cayucos State BeachIt is known for its fishing pier, beautiful beach and historical buildings. Many of the buildings left over from the prospering old town still stand as a variety of shops such as restaurants, antique stores, and specialty items. The sandy beach offers mild weather, water sports such as surfing and swimming, and tide pooling. Lifeguards are on duty during peak summer months.
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Estero Bluffs State Park
Estero Bluffs State ParkEstero Bluffs State Park allows visitors to explore the landscape and beaches on the northern end of Cayucos. Whether hiking the four miles of trail, watching whales, birds or tide pools, everyone is invited to enjoy this precious stretch of unspoiled California coastline.
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Morro Strand State Beach
Morro Strand State BeachThis beach is a coastal frontage park featuring outstanding picnic sites. A three-mile stretch of beach connects the southern and northern entrances to the beach. Fishing, windsurfing, jogging, and kite flying are popular.
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Toro Creek Dog Beach
Toro Creek Dog BeachToro Creek is the ideal off leash dog beach, with plenty of room to let your furry friend run off some energy. This white sandy beach fills the gap between the north and south sections of Morro Strand State Beach between Morro Bay and Cayucos. There’s a self-serve dog washing station at Lemos on your way back into town.
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Best Cayucos Restaurants
Sea Shanty $11 – 30
Located right off of South Ocean Avenue, Sea Shanty has some of the best locally caught seafood in Cayucos and is welcoming to our four legged friends. Enjoy a burger or classic fish and chips with some local beer or wine, and top it off with some of their famous desserts. Telephone: 805-995-3272 Web: Sea Shanty.
Schooners Wharf $11 – 30
Schooners Wharf is one of the best restaurants for seafood and cocktails on the Central Coast and has an extraordinary view of the beach and Cayucos Pier. Be sure to make a reservation because this restaurant fills up quickly. Between their great food, views, cocktails and reasonable prices there is no way you can lose! Telephone: 805-995-3883 Web: Schooners Wharf.
A Deli and Pieman Pies Under $10
This place is perfect if you’re in the mood for a delicious, hearty breakfast or lunch. A Deli and Pieman Pies is famous for their build your own omelets and their pot pies with warm and delicious crusts. And if those don’t fill you up, they also have an assortment of pies for your enjoyment. Telephone: 805-995-1804 Web: A Deli and Pieman Pies.
Duckie’s Chowder House $11 – 30
Duckie’s is a great place to visit, relax and enjoy the flavor of a small California beach town called Cayucos. They serve outstanding seafood, sandwiches, beer and wine. But the chowder is everyone’s favorite! Telephone: 805-995-2245 Web: Duckie’s Chowder House.
The Cass House Grill $11 – 30
The Grill at the Cass House offers a menu using selectively sourced ingredients from the bounty of the Central Coast. They source from local farms, the Cass House Garden, and familiar purveyors who share their appetite for food made with care. They invite you to gather in the pavilion and enjoy a meal prepared with seasonal ingredients complemented by the flavors of our wood burning hearth. Telephone: 805-995-1014 Web: The Cass House Grill.
Best Cayucos Bars
Full Moon Tasting Room – Wine Bar and Bistro
Start your night out at Full Moon Wine Bar and Bistro, where they showcase local wines and knowledge to guests without the hassle of driving to multiple wineries. Their visitors enjoy hand selected boutique wines from Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Barbara and surrounding areas, as well as some highlights from around the world. Share some of the handmade dips, cheeses, tapas of meats and other specials while enjoying a comfortable European-inspired atmosphere with an ocean view. Telephone: 805-995-0095 Web: Full Moon Tasting Room – Wine Bar and Bistro.
Old Cayucos Tavern & Card Room
Historic tavern on old Pacific Coast Highway 1. Pass through the swinging doors located just beyond the hitching posts and wagon wheels to be taken back to 1906. Upon entering, grab a drink, check out the murals, and make your way back to the poker room. Happy hour M-F and on Fridays and Saturday’s live music (8 PM), dancing and Texas Hold’em starts around 9 pm. Telephone: 805-995-3209 Web: Old Cayucos Tavern & Card Room.
Schooners
Located in picturesque Cayucos, California, Schooners restaurant and bar has offered guests an unforgettable dining experience since 1993. Embracing a nautical theme reminiscent of the early history of the Central Coast sailors and fishermen, Schooners boasts the best ocean views of any restaurant in the area. Gaze into the deep blue and enjoy your favorite cocktail with their famous calamari strips or ahi egg rolls. Happy Hour Monday-Thursday 3pm-6pm & Sunday 8pm-Close. $2 off drafts, $5 house wine, $8 Bloody Mary, Margarita or Long Island. Telephone: 805-995-3883 Web: Schooners.
The Libertine Pub
The Libertine Brewing Company has a number of locations through out the Central Coast region. Serving unique and delicious barrel aged wild ales has been their priority since the beginning. Their new locations have built on that pursuit by offering incredible beers from all over the world with tasty locally sourced fare to compliment! Telephone: 805-548-2337 Web: The Libertine Pub.
Cafe Della Via
Cafe della Via offers a little touch of Italy on the Central Coast. Not only do they offer a wide variety of traditional and fusion dishes, but they are also proud to host a handcrafted list of excellent wines to enjoy alongside your meal. From the moment you step through the door and throughout your entire dining experience, they hope you feel welcomed and just like family. Telephone: 805-995-1610 Web: Cafe Della Via.
Best Cayucos Area Hotels
My girl friend has been bugging me to go kayaking and scuba diving for years. We may actually have enough money in a couple months or so. I have looked at scuba diving equipment and I know it can get kind of expensive. How much does it cost to rent scuba diving equipment?
Rental equipment prices can vary and it greatly depends on which equipment you rent. But on average think about $50 per person for rental. If you charter a boat for diving, sometimes it will be included in the price. It is a blast and certainly not too highly priced. Thanks for visiting Cayucos Beach CA.
My sister lives in California, and I have visited many times, but hate to say that I have not seen many beaches at all there. On my next visit to see her, I think the Cayoucos beach sounds like a wonderful option! Thanks for sharing this unknown (at least to me) gem 🙂
You are so welcome Christen. This whole area has hidden gems. You will have a wonderful time exploring and relaxing. Thanks for visiting Beach Travel Destinations.
The state of my dream Cali, I’ve never been there but I will for sure. Definitely, you have made a great review detailing bars, restaurant… I love fishing and it’ll be a big pleasure to fish there.
Oh, you will really enjoy the fishing here. The area is great for fishing, and of course beautiful beaches and so much to see. Thanks for visiting Cayucos Beach CA.
Coming from europe I know a lot of people including myself with a long list of places they want to visit while traviling through the USA and especially along the coast. Cayucos Beach has just made his way onto my list 🙂
Great, central California is a great area to vacation to. So much diversity and beauty. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to ask. Thanks for reading about Cayucos Beach CA.
This sounds fabulous, I was in LA way back in 2009 and ran out of time to explore the central coast, even though I had heard so many fantastic things (Santa Barbara!) So I plan to bring the family back in the next few years and will be putting Cayucos Beach on a must see list. 300 Days of summer sounds amazing, and so many great attractions to visit and enjoy. Thanks for compiling this list.
Yes, it is wonderful. You and your family will have a wonderful time in Cayucos. Thanks for visiting Beach Travel Destinations.
Wow, this sounds like paradise! Didn’t know there was such an unspoilt place along that stretch of coast. I usually try to avoid the tourist hotspots when going on holiday although that’s not always possible. If I go to Cayucos in spring or autumn, I should have perfect conditions there. I just find it really amazing how much you can do there, so you don’t have to make the tough decision whether to go to a water sport destination or a national park for hiking – you can do all of it there.
I think I might go there for my next autumn vacation and take my family. Do you think it’s a good place for teenagers as well? And which hotel do you think would be most suitable – do they all accept guests under 18?
My teenage son loves visiting California. But he loves to do water sports, surf and play at the beach. So if your teenagers like this sort of stuff, they will have a blast. All hotels listed accept guests under 18. All of the hotels I have listed are the top hotels in the Cayucos area, so it would be hard to pick a favorite. But next time I visit, I plan on staying at the Pier View Suites. Thanks for stopping by Sammy.
What a beautiful beach it is! I have not visited California yet. But when I’ll plan to visit here with my family, I’m going add this beach in my list.
You have explained here everything about hotels, activities, bars, attractions. It’ll surely help us plan our stay at Cayucos Beach. Thanks for sharing.
I am glad you enjoyed reading and learning about Cayucos Beach CA. It is a beautiful part of central California. Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you for putting this all together… Information overload… but worth the time to look through it all. This article and crossing it with Yelp reviews…. has helped me find what I needed for my road trip down the West Coast. Thank you – Jesse I can’t wait till next summer!!
Great, glad I could help! Enjoy your trip!
I grew up in Oregon and never been to California. Next summer I am putting a road trip together to take my Jeep and family on the Rubicon Trail and visit a number of beaches south along the coast. This post has definitely helped guide my where-to-go’s. Thank you -Jesse
You are welcome, and boy you will have so much fun! Being a fellow Jeep owner, I know that driving along the California and Oregon coast would be so much fun! Thanks for stopping by and reading about Cayucos Beach CA.
You have unveiled a great destination here, and you have nailed it also, by providing all the information needed, from where to stay to what to do, places to visit etc.
You are definitely the Travel Consultant to go to when it comes to going on a trip!
Thank you, Leah, as usual!
Thank you Pable for visiting Cayucos Beach CA and taking the time to leave me comments. You will not be disappointed in a vacation to the wonderful coastal community of Cayucos!
There is so much to see in California! The state has such a long coastline. The Harmony Headlands State Park seems so scenic and placid. I would love to walk along the beach there and visit the ranch house. So much marine life and trails to see too. I have some family out in California. Perhaps one day I will see it. Thanks again for sharing another great beach!
Well if you have family in California and you have not visited this area, you definitely must put it on your bucket list to do. You will love the beauty and the wonderful beach here.
Wow, reading this, I really feel the urge to go on vacation.
You make Cayucos Beach California very inviting as a holiday destination.
Excellent description of the area attractions and things to do. Exactly the info that I’m always looking for when scouting around for holiday destinations.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers 🙂
Glad you enjoyed reading about Cayucos Beach CA. Truly a great area to enjoy the natural beauty of the state and the wonderful beaches. Thanks for stopping by.
There is virtually no city noise, no traffic, no pollution and no crime in Cayucos, amazing. That is good as far as tourism goes. According to the video, it looks like Cayucos is a great place to surf. Are homes located on the beach or are they hotels? Hard to tell. Great weather all year round. Very peaceful place to take a vacation especially in California where it is difficult to get away from the crowds.
You are going to find homes and hotels on the beach. There is a mix of both. Yes, this place is hard to beat…so peaceful, beautiful, and then you have the great beaches 🙂 Thanks for visiting Cayucos Beach CA.
Leahrae. I just want to pack my bags and head on over for a holiday. I would love to sing in the Old Cayucos Tavern so might have to do some marketing on how to get me there
This is such a great place and a must visit for me
Thankyou
Wow, that would be so cool to sing in the Old Cayucos Tavern! And then to just enjoy the whole area with the beauty and the beaches. Would definitely make a great vacation for you! Thanks for stopping by.
What?? No city noise, no traffic, no pollution and no crime in Cayucos? Never heard of such a thing. Every time I read one of your posts, you describe it in such a way that I feel like I’m there. I love that it has mild winters and not-too-hot summers. I’ve always wanted to go Kayaking, so this would be a great place to do it.
Deli and Pieman Pies sounds like my kind of place, cheap, with a variety of hearty foods. Thanks for the great review.
You are so welcome Shalisha and thank you for visiting Cayucos Beach CA. I know, it has everything and as a bonus, nothing to destroy the beauty and peacefulness. The Deli and Pieman Pies is a great choice too 🙂
Cayucos Beach California is certainly a place that sounds interesting. I like that long pier and can imagine fishing there with no worries or thoughts about the big cities which or off in the distance. What I am wondering is whether or not there are any grills close to the pier for a quick lunch or dinner. You mentioned picnic facilities but not what those included.
It is a wonderful and interesting coastal beach destination! Unfortunately, you won’t find grills close to the pier. Your quick lunch or dinner is going to be something brought along for the cooler 🙂 Thanks for visiting Cayucos Beach CA.