Guide to Big Sur Restaurants
Great views from Outstanding In The Field
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Where to Eat In Big Sur
One of the best things about Big Sur, California is the area’s amazing food and wine. I’m here to recommend some of the central coast’s most incredible restaurants. These must-eat spots should be on everyone’s Big Sur itinerary. From classics like Nepenthe Big Sur to the area’s only omakase sushi bar to an annual food event that must be experienced to be believed. If your travel plans include Big Sur, be prepared to enjoy some amazing local cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You’ll even be able to take in some stunning ocean views and enjoy outdoor seating while you peruse that extensive wine list.
Cafe Kevah
A Guide To Big Sur Restaurants:
My list includes a variety of restaurants and bars serving everything from small bites to Michelin-worthy meals ensuring you’ll have a full range of options for dining in Big Sur. I’m kicking off this list of the best places to eat in Big Sur not with a restaurant, but with an annual food event that is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
While there are plenty of great restaurants in Big Sur, the most impressive meal I’ve enjoyed in Big Sur was courtesy of Outstanding in the Field. Perhaps it’s because this was also the weekend my fiancé proposed. But I think I would have been wowed regardless by the food and spectacular setting of this meal. Outstanding in the Field tours the world putting on their amazing dining experiences. The Big Sur event with gorgeous Pacific Ocean views is easily one of their most popular annual events and sells out quickly. If you’re interested in attending I would sign up for their mailing list.
Outstanding In The Field Bus
Their dinners bring top chefs together with local farmers and food lovers for an amazing long-table dinner. I’ve attended several of their other events, including their dinner on a Palm Springs date farm. But this spectacular dinner featuring beef from the cliffside grassland, owned by the Big Sur Meat Company, was by far the most impressive dining experience.
Grilled fish from Outstanding In The Fie;d
For this meal, we met in a parking lot and were driven up to the event space in an accessible van. However, the only bathrooms available at the event were porta potties and not wheelchair accessible. Please check with the organizers before purchasing your tickets to confirm the accessibility of the location and other info. Their events are frequently thrown in farmlands and other remote areas that are not readily accessible.
Ribeye and whipped potatoes at Nepenthe Big Sur
Nepenthe/ Cafe Kevah
A must-experience for any Big Sur trip, Nepenthe is a cozy restaurant/ bar perched high on the edge of a cliff and offers some of the best Big Sur views. The dining room is a magnificent indoor/outdoor space. You have full panoramic views of the Pacific from their wide-open outdoor patio.
Cafe Kevah is also on the Nepenthe property and offers a smaller breakfast/ brunch menu. In addition to two restaurants, there’s also a gift shop offering books about the local area, souvenirs, toys, and more. It’s a great spot to stop after enjoying your Big Sur lunch, especially if you’re visiting with family and looking for something special to remember your trip by.
Designated handicapped parking and an ADA-accessible ramp to Nepenthe are accessed via the Handicapped/Delivery driveway off the main parking lot.
Big Sur Restaurants - Nepenthe outdoor patio
Fun Nepenthe fact, Orson Welles and his wife at the time, Rita Hayworth, bought a Big Sur cabin on an impulse during a trip down the coast in 1944. Though the couple never spent a single night there, the property later became the location for Nepenthe.
I highly recommend the Rib Eye at Nepenthe. I also recommend the dirty vodka martini with blue cheese olives.
Address: 48510 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Steak with Foie Gras at Big Sur Bakery
The Big Sur Bakery
One of the best restaurants on Highway 1, The Big Sur Bakery has tons of amazing reviews and offers delicious gluten-free baked goods for those of us with wheat allergies or celiac disease. They also have a sit-down restaurant open nightly for dinner. With dishes like grass-fed short ribs and potato dumplings, your taste buds will thank you. The menu changes regularly to reflect the freshest local ingredients. The dining room feels magical and cozy.
If you have mobility issues there is accessible parking at the top of the driveway near the restaurant.
Address: 47540 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Big Sur River Inn And Restaurant
I noted the Big Sur River Inn in my guide to the best places to stay in Big Sur guide for its awesome accessible features, but they also have a bomb-ass burrito bar and offer a patio overlooking the Big Sur River where you can sip your adult beverages. So if you’re looking for restaurants in Big Sur with a view of the relaxing river, this is the spot. They also have a great breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu.
I’d also like to give Big Sur River Inn huge props for its accessible website design. (Something I promise I’m learning how to design on my own blog.) I love to see these smaller Big Sur vacation spots stepping up and offering accessible sites and recognizing accessible tourism.
Address: 46800 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Welcome to Big Sur sign
Big Sur Roadhouse
Located across the street from Glen Oaks Big Sur, the Big Sur Roadhouse is wheelchair accessible, offers outdoor seating, and is the first new restaurant to open in Big Sur in 10 years! The Big Sur Roadhouse features delicious California cuisine with fresh, local ingredients. The seasonal menu is filled with locally sourced, organic ingredients. The guy who used to run Big Sur Bakery opened this place and it’s every bit as amazing. It’s accessible, far more affordable, and utterly delicious.
Address: 47080 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Stairs at Coast Big Sur
Coast Big Sur
Coast Big Sur is the place to go for a light lunch or breakfast. They also make amazing coffee and delicious house-made ice cream. This restaurant and art gallery is a must-see in Big Sur.
Founded in 1958, the original Coast Gallery was a refuge for artists and writers who migrated to Big Sur after World War II. Commonly referred to as “The Bank,” the gallery served as a place for this community to gather and for their artwork to be sold and exhibited.
One warning as far as accessibility goes, this place has a flight of stairs from the parking lot. I was able to navigate with my cane, but it would be impossible for wheelchair users.
Address: 49901 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Pfeiffer Beach Park
Fernwood Bar & Grill
The Fernwood Bar & Grill is wheelchair accessible. It’s a no-frills pub & grub so no need to dress up if you’ve spent a long day seeing the sights or hiking. If you’re looking for pubs with views, this Big Sur bar is the place to be. The food is hearty and will fill you up after a long day of hiking or visiting the beach. They also frequently offer live music. As my fiance says: “You can probably drink too much and get rowdy here and not feel too bad about offending anybody.” Think Roadhouse vibes.
Address: 47200 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Deetjens Big Sur
Deetjens Big Sur
The restaurant at Deetjen's has a long and colorful history. In 1939 Barbara Blake came to Deetjen's and was captivated by the natural beauty and spiritual quality of Big Sur. This Englishwoman knew how to operate country inns and had funds to invest in the depth of the Depression.
She created the traditional English décor at Deetjens, adding the beautiful old redwood bar from a nearby ranch. Most of her original vision has been preserved over the last 70 years.
Today, you can enjoy home cooking for dinner five days each week (closed Wednesday and Thursday for dinner) in one of their four romantic candlelit rooms. The dinner menu includes simple, hearty cuisine prepared with a homestyle sensibility. The restaurant provides vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Deetjens’ cellar offers a fantastic wine list to accompany your dinner.
Deetjen’s Restaurant also serves breakfast every day of the week. Their Eggs Benedict, fluffy buttermilk pancakes, and breakfast burrito have earned the Restaurant the "Best Place for Breakfast" award in Monterey County!
Unfortunately, the property is not wheelchair accessible.
Address: 48865 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Lookout point along Highway 1
Sierra Mar Restaurant Big Sur
Top of the list when it comes to Big Sur restaurants with a view, Sierra Mar is sure to wow. Located on the Post Ranch Inn property, Sierra Mar is wheelchair accessible. It offers meals made with locally sourced ingredients and an impressive collection of wines. It also features floor-to-ceiling windows and spectacular ocean views. Lunch and dinner are both a prix-fixe menu and don’t come cheap. But if you want to splurge on tasting something truly special, this is the place to do it.
Chef Il Hoon Kang is the Executive Chef of Post Ranch Inn and Sierra Mar. Having joined Post Ranch Inn from Michelin-starred Madera in Menlo Park, California, Chef Hoon worked as the Executive Sous Chef and Chef de Cuisine alongside current Director of Culinary, Chef Reylon Agustin. He’s held top positions at other notable restaurants, including Commis in Oakland (one Michelin star), The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena (three Michelin stars), and Auberge Resort’s Calistoga Ranch in Calistoga.
Address: Post Ranch Inn Big Sur California 47900 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
View of the outdoor patio at Sur House Ventana during the Big Sur Food and Wine Festival
The Sur House at Ventana
Offering a 10,000-bottle wine cellar, craft cocktails, and modern American cuisine with a view, Sur House at Ventana is also wheelchair-accessible. The menu features Big Sur-inspired cuisine and fresh ingredients from their expansive organic garden.
I highly recommend the Ventana Tortilla soup, available at lunch, and enjoying something from the massive wine cellar at dinner. Even if you can’t afford their pricey Big Sur cabins, the sprawling grounds at Ventana are some of the best in Big Sur and it’s worth popping in for a drink to check out the views.
Address: 48123 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Nepenthe entrance Big Sur
Wild Coast Sushi Bar
Located at the popular Treebones Resort, Wild Coast is the only sushi restaurant in Big Sur. The Wild Coast Sushi Bar is an Omakase experience like no other. Delight in an elaborate Fifteen-Course tasting menu artfully crafted and served by Chef Yancy Knapp, which incorporates the highest quality seafood and locally harvested herbs and seasonings, many of which are from Treebones’ own organic garden.
The restaurant is wheelchair-accessible. Warning, the establishment is small, so make sure you book reservations well in advance.
Address: 71895 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Bixby Bridge Big Sur
Final Thoughts On The Best Big Sur Restaurants
When it comes to where to eat in Big Sur, you’ll have a bevy of amazing choices featuring some of the best in the entire state of California. I cannot overstate how tasty everything is.
On top of the many local establishments you always have the Big Sur Food And Wine Festival which features amazing food and wines from local establishments as well as neighboring areas like San Francisco and Monterey.
