13 Best Restaurants in Cayucos: A Central Coast Local’s Guide
Cayucos may be a small beach town, but there are a surprising number of good places to eat packed into just a few blocks. You can start your morning with blue corn waffles or a traditional breakfast, pick up pizza or seafood near the Cayucos pier, and end the day with dinner overlooking the ocean.
Living just down the coast, I am in Cayucos often. Sometimes I come for a walk along the beach or to take photos, and sometimes, quite frankly, I come because I want breakfast.
I have eaten at several of the restaurants in this guide many times, while others are places I have watched become local favorites or still have on my own list to try. I will tell you which is which rather than pretending I have eaten everywhere.
If you only have a day in town, these are the Cayucos restaurants and food stops I would have on your radar. If you’re planning a full day here, pair this restaurant guide with my Things to Do in Cayucos guide for beaches, the pier, antique shops, Estero Bluffs and more local favorites.
Short on Time? My Cayucos Picks
| Looking For | Try |
|---|---|
| My favorite breakfast/brunch | Hidden Kitchen |
| Early breakfast | Sea Shanty |
| Bakery and pastries | Bijou Bakery |
| Coffee | Cayucos Coffee |
| Weekend brunch | Lunada Garden Bistro |
| Ocean views + live music | Schooners |
| Best drinks + parade viewing | Beach Bums |
| Casual seafood | Duckie’s Chowder House |
| Pizza by the pier | Pie in the Sky |
| Burger | Moseys Burgers |
| Something sweet | Brown Butter Cookie Company |
Breakfast, Brunch & Coffee
1. Hidden Kitchen
Best for: Blue corn waffles and a leisurely breakfast
Hidden Kitchen is the Cayucos restaurant I return to the most. I have eaten here more than ten times, and honestly, I have yet to find much on the menu that I don’t like.
My usual choice is the Santa Lucia Scramble, with scrambled eggs, sautéed peppers, onions and mushrooms, Havarti cheese, avocado and Hidden Kitchen’s sauces. I also like the Big Falls Bowl when I want something different. If you’re sharing, the blue corn waffles are big enough for two, and I sometimes finish breakfast by splitting a Prefumo Protein smoothie for dessert.
Local Tip: Hidden Kitchen is popular and there is almost always a line. I find the best time to go is right when they open. Another good option is around 2 p.m., when the crowds usually start thinning out before they close at 3 p.m.
My picks: Santa Lucia Scramble, Big Falls Bowl, blue corn waffle to share and Prefumo Protein.
If you’re heading farther north, Hidden Kitchen also has a weekend location in Cambria. I cover it, along with several of my other favorites, in my guide to the best restaurants in Cambria.
2. Sea Shanty
Best for: An early, traditional breakfast
When I want breakfast earlier, I go to Sea Shanty. Breakfast starts at 8 a.m., an hour before Hidden Kitchen, which makes it a better choice if you want to eat and get on with your day.
The two restaurants are completely different. Hidden Kitchen is my choice for a slower, more creative brunch, while Sea Shanty is an old-school breakfast place with the kind of menu you expect from a traditional coastal diner.
I usually order either the Vegetable Scramble, with peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, salsa and cheese, or Eggs Florentine.
Sea Shanty has been family-owned since 1983, and it still has that slightly quirky, classic Cayucos feel.
My picks: Vegetable Scramble or Eggs Florentine.
3. Bijou Bakery
Best for: Almond croissants and an early morning pastry
For something lighter, my pick is Bijou Bakery, tucked into the historic Cass House property.
My weakness here is the almond croissant. This is the kind of place I like when I want a pastry and coffee rather than sitting down for a full breakfast.
Bijou specializes in French-inspired pastries, and it opens at 7 a.m., making it one of the best options in Cayucos if you are up early. Just don’t arrive too late expecting the full selection. The bakery notes that it operates while supplies last.
My pick: Almond croissant.
4. Cayucos Coffee
Best for: A simple coffee stop
Sometimes I don’t want breakfast at all. I just want coffee and to get down to the beach.
At Cayucos Coffee, I keep it simple and order an Americano. It is an easy stop when I am walking around town or heading toward the pier, and it fills a different need from the sit-down breakfast places on this list.
My pick: Americano.
Lunch & Dinner in Cayucos
5. Lunada Garden Bistro
Best for: Weekend brunch and a relaxed garden setting
I have eaten at Lunada Garden Bistro, and my pick here is the Chilaquiles Verdes.
They are made with crispy tortilla chips, tomatillo salsa, eggs, onion, queso fresco and Mexican crema, with black beans on the side. You can also add carne asada.
Lunada feels a little more tucked away than many of the restaurants along Ocean Avenue. It occupies Cayucos’ historic Way Station building and gives you another option when you want to slow down and have a proper sit-down meal.
My pick: Chilaquiles Verdes.
6. Schooners
Best for: Ocean views, live music and a lively Cayucos afternoon
I have walked past Schooners countless times but haven’t actually eaten there yet. That said, it is hard to ignore. It always seems to be happening, especially when there is live music, and it is one of my son’s favorite places to hang out with friends.
The location is a big part of the appeal. Schooners sits right by Cayucos Beach, with views toward the ocean and pier, and it runs live music throughout the year. Its Beachside Live series brings free concerts to the restaurant during the warmer months, along with recurring open-mic and other music nights.
The menu leans toward seafood and American classics, including fish and chips, clam chowder, burgers and other coastal favorites.
Schooners also has four remodeled beachfront suites right next to the restaurant. Some overlook the beach, while another is just steps from Cayucos Pier. That could actually be a fun option if you want to stay right in the middle of town.
Local tip: Check Schooners’ live music schedule before you go.
7. Beach Bums Bevs & Bites
Best for: Drinks, ocean views and the Fourth of July parade
Beach Bums is a great place to stop for a drink and enjoy the view from its upstairs deck overlooking downtown Cayucos and the beach. It is more of a casual hangout than a full restaurant, with drinks, light bites, sports and occasional live music.
It is also an especially fun spot during Cayucos’ Fourth of July celebration. The town parade travels along Ocean Avenue and passes directly by Beach Bums, giving the elevated deck a great vantage point. Later in the evening, Cayucos launches its annual fireworks show from the pier, which is also visible from the downtown waterfront area.
Local Tip: July 4 is one of the busiest days of the year in Cayucos, so do not expect to simply walk in and grab a prime deck table. For the full parade schedule, fireworks times, parking and other tips, see my guide to celebrating the Fourth of July on California’s Central Coast.
8. Duckie’s Chowder House
Best for: An easy seafood lunch by the pier
Duckie’s Chowder House is another Cayucos institution that I haven’t personally tried yet, despite walking past it plenty of times.
Its biggest advantage may be the location. Duckie’s sits right at the front of Cayucos Pier, so if you are already spending time around the beach, it could hardly be more convenient. The restaurant is open daily and specializes in the sort of casual seafood that makes sense in a little California beach town.
This one remains on my list, particularly for a bowl of chowder on one of those cool, foggy Cayucos days.
9. Pie in the Sky Pizza
Best for: Pizza by the pier
I haven’t tried Pie in the Sky yet either, but every time I pass it, it seems to be busy. And really, pizza and the beach are a difficult combination to get wrong.
This little walk-up spot near Cayucos Pier specializes in naturally fermented sourdough pizza. It is relatively new, opening in 2024, and its location makes it especially tempting for an easy lunch you can eat outside rather than committing to a sit-down restaurant.
This is high on my list to try next.
Local tip: Their schedule is limited and they can sell out, so check current hours before going.
10. Mosey’s Burgers
Best for: A casual burger near the beach
Mosey’s is another place I haven’t eaten at yet, but this little burger spot always seems to be buzzing when I am in town.
The menu is intentionally simple, built around smash-style burgers made with fresh beef, grilled onions, cheddar, pickles and house sauce. Even the fries get some special attention here. They are cut fresh and cooked in beef tallow.
It is at 101 D Street, just off Ocean Avenue, and it has become one of those places I keep passing and thinking, I really need to stop here next time.
Mosey’s also has a second location in Morro Bay, so if you’re spending more time along this stretch of the Central Coast, take a look at my guide to the best restaurants in Morro Bay for more places to eat nearby.
11. Cayucos Sausage Company
Best for: Sandwiches and picnic supplies
Cayucos Sausage Company isn’t a traditional restaurant. It is a butcher shop and full-service deli specializing in house-made sausage, meats and deli food.
I haven’t tried it personally yet, but I like including it because not every meal in Cayucos needs to involve sitting in a restaurant.
Pick something up here, walk a few blocks toward the water, and you have an easy beach picnic.
12. Cafe Della Via
Best for: An Italian dinner
Cafe Della Via has been sitting on my own restaurant list for a while.
It specializes in traditional and Italian-inspired dishes, with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, and unlike many Cayucos restaurants, this one is primarily a dinner destination. It currently opens Wednesday through Saturday beginning at 5 p.m.
I haven’t eaten here yet, so I can’t give you a favorite dish. But when I finally get there, I’ll come back and update this section.
Something Sweet
13. Brown Butter Cookie Company
Best for: Cayucos’ most famous sweet treat
Okay, this isn’t technically a restaurant, and I have another confession: despite living nearby, I still haven’t tried a Brown Butter Cookie.
I know. I need to fix that.
The Brown Butter Cookie Company actually started in Cayucos in 2008, when sisters Traci and Christa Hozie began offering a brown butter shortbread cookie as a sample in their small shop. Customers kept buying them out, and eventually the cookie became the business.
Their signature Original Brown Butter Sea Salt Cookie combines browned butter, vanilla and sea salt, and the original Cayucos shop is still on North Ocean Avenue.
More Cayucos Food Stops Worth Knowing
Cayucos Candy Counter
If you still have room for something sweet, Cayucos Candy Counter is an easy stop while walking downtown, with display cases filled with chocolates, truffles and candy.
Which Cayucos Restaurant Should You Choose?
If this is your first visit to Cayucos, I would choose based on the kind of day you’re having.
For a slower breakfast or brunch, Hidden Kitchen is my personal favorite. If you want to eat earlier, go to Sea Shanty. For a pastry and coffee, stop at Bijou Bakery.
If you want the full beach-town atmosphere with ocean views and live music, Schooners is the obvious place to check out. Pie in the Sky makes sense for a casual pizza near the pier, while Duckie’s is convenient when seafood and chowder sound better.
For brunch in a quieter setting, I like Lunada Garden Bistro.
And apparently I need to eat at Brown Butter Cookie Company before someone takes away my Central Coast local card.
A Few Things to Know About Eating in Cayucos
Cayucos is still a small town, which is part of what I love about it. But that also means you should not assume every restaurant will be open every day or late into the evening.
Some businesses have limited days, seasonal schedules or simply sell out. If you are driving specifically to Cayucos for one restaurant, check its current hours before you leave.
The nice part is that once you’re here, almost everything in downtown Cayucos is within an easy walk of the beach and pier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best breakfast in Cayucos?
For me, it is a choice between Hidden Kitchen and Sea Shanty. Hidden Kitchen wins when I want a leisurely breakfast with something different, particularly the Santa Lucia Scramble or a blue corn waffle. Sea Shanty is my choice when I want a traditional breakfast or need to eat earlier.
Where can I eat early in Cayucos?
Bijou Bakery opens at 7 a.m. Wednesday through Monday and is closed Tuesdays, followed by Sea Shanty’s breakfast at 8 a.m. Hidden Kitchen opens at 9 a.m.
Which Cayucos restaurant has the best ocean views?
Schooners is one of the obvious choices if you want to combine food, drinks and a view of the beach. Hidden Kitchen also has a beachfront patio, although I think of it more as a breakfast and brunch destination.
Where should I eat near Cayucos Pier?
Duckie’s sits directly at the front of the pier, while Schooners and Pie in the Sky are also within a very short walk.
Final Thoughts
For such a tiny beach town, Cayucos gives you a surprising number of choices.
If I were planning my own food day, I would probably start with the Santa Lucia Scramble at Hidden Kitchen, grab an Americano from Cayucos Coffee later in the day, and try to finally knock one of the restaurants on my ever-growing Cayucos list off the list.
And that may be the best part about writing this guide. I already know it isn’t finished. There are still places here I need to eat.