Paso Robles Winery & Travel Guide

When you think of California wine country, your mind typically goes to Napa or Sonoma. However, the central coast of California is becoming increasingly popular and well-known for its winemaking. Located 3.5 hours from Los Angeles and San Francisco, Paso Robles is a relaxed wine country experience for wine novices and experts alike.

Even if you aren’t the biggest wine aficionado, there is still plenty to do along the central coast. In my opinion, Paso Robles feels a bit like Napa’s younger, more laid-back sibling. The town itself is small and charming, and the area is home to over 200 wineries of all different sizes. If you’re ready to plan your central coast wine tasting experience, read on for all the details you need to know.

Paso Robles Winery & Travel Guide

Where to Stay

There are several charming boutique hotels and B&Bs in the Paso Robles area, and several new hotels opening as the region becomes more developed and popular for tourism. However, if you can snag one of the 8 rooms at Geneseo Inn, do it! Located on the Cass Winery Property, Geneseo Inn is a charming boutique B&B and my favorite place I’ve stayed in Paso Robles. Each room is an individual shipping container situated directly off the vineyard.

Breakfast is brought to your room every morning (the eggs benedict were unreal!). You get to enjoy views of the vineyard and hills behind it as you have your morning coffee. The property also offers plenty of activities (from horseback riding to archery). They also have ample space to relax with a bottle of your favorite Paso wine. I can’t recommend it enough! Unfortunately, the rooms do book up several months in advance, but the experience is truly worth it.

For more walkable options, I have also heard great things about Hotel Cheval and The Piccolo, located conveniently in downtown Paso.

Where to Eat

The dining scene in Paso Robles is fairly limited, however, there are some standout options (and also some that are a bit hit or miss).

Fish Gaucho – a trip to Paso isn’t complete without a meal at Fish Gaucho. After a day of wine tasting, this is the spot to hit if you’re hungry and need a break from wine. They have great lunch specials, but we usually go for dinner. The happy hour is phenomenal, in particular their margaritas and ahi crudo. Their tacos and burritos are delicious as well, albeit a bit more pricey than your local taco stand.

Red Scooter – this casual deli is extremely popular among tourists and locals alike. During lunch hours there is typically a wait, but the line moves fast. I love their salads and sandwiches for a quick meal or to bring in the car on our drive home.

Les Petites Canailles – French food that is on the higher end for Paso. Nice if you are looking for a splurge or a special occasion meal. The best wine list I’ve seen in Paso.

Thomas Hill Organics – I really wanted to love this restaurant – although the food is decent (if you’re familiar with California style cuisine that is based in local and organic produce), and the service was poor enough to leave a bad taste in our mouths. We would try it again because the patio is cute and our waitress was so sweet, and hoping the problems were simply due to someone having an “off night.”

Paso Robles Wine Tasting

I was blown away when I first learned Paso Robles is home to over 200 wineries! We tend to gravitate towards smaller, family-owned boutique wineries and tastings, but there are so many great tasting rooms of all sizes. Paso wines are quite different than Napa/Sonoma – Rhone varietals are very popular here, which means (in my wine novice terms), bigger and fruitier reds than Northern California.

Most wineries will have a GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) blend, so that’s always a great place to start if you don’t know what to try. The region isn’t as known for their Pinots or white wines, but you can find both if you try – just keep in mind the climate and terroir is quite different than Napa, so the wines will be significantly different in taste.

Paso Robles Winery

Our favorite tasting rooms in Paso are Clos Solene, Law, and Torrin – all are reservation only and are not sold in large quantities outside of their membership. These are on the higher end of Paso wineries, but they are worth the price and experience. I’m no sommelier, so I won’t attempt to describe the wines, but they are (in my opinion), delicious! Especially if you love red wine.

For something a little more laid back, I’d recommend checking out Tin City. We love this bright and lively corner of wineries in Paso. It feels a bit like the Funk Zone in Santa Barbara, where there are several tasting rooms of up-and-coming winemakers in a condensed, walkable area. The sheep’s milk ice cream at Negranti is not to be missed, either! Our favorite wineries in Tin City are Benom and Jacob Toft.

If it’s your first time in Paso and you want to get a feel for the region, you may also want to check out some of the larger and more established wineries. I’d suggest L’Aventure (French style winemaking in Paso), Daou for the views alone, and Booker.

Of course, don’t drink and drive! Uber is an option in Paso, or you can always book a private driver for the day. Most wineries will also allow you to split tastings if you want to try the wines but don’t want the entire tasting for yourself.

If you’re staying in the region for longer than a few days and want to take a break from wine tasting, I’d suggest driving to the beaches in San Luis Obispo for a day or two. Cambria, Morro Bay, and Avila Beach are small, quaint beachside towns worth a visit. I’ve also been dying to visit and stay at the Madonna Inn for an evening.

What are your central coast must-dos?