Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in San Luis Obispo / Paso Robles? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Il Cortile Ristorante

4.8

4.8 (4088)

$50 and over

Italian

Paso Robles

About the restaurant

Welcome to Il Cortile Ristorante, Downtown Paso Robles' newest fine dining Italian restaurant. We invite you to join us to enjoy our seasonal menus created with the freshest ingredients available sourced by our surrounding local and regional landscapes by Executive Chef Santos MacDonal, providing a melody of exceptional homemade pastas, fresh seafood, top quality meats and antipasti. A top destination for exquisite wines, picturesque landscapes and beautiful weather, Paso Robles provides the perfect pairing for Il Cortile's rustic Italian fine dining.

Top review

Peggy

Dined 2 days ago

Outstanding experience. Food is unparalleled. Always attentive service.

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4.8

4.8 (1625)

$31 to $50

Peruvian

San Luis Obispo

About the restaurant

The word Mistura brings together the essence of Peru, a vision of its people and cuisine, a wondrous blend of cultures of priceless heritage. Our Mistura is a modern Peruvian restaurant that is as lively as the country and biodiversity it celebrates. Mistura captures the multicultural spirit of Peru, combining its native Incan and Pre-Columbian culinary heritage with the Italian, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese influences that embody the country's flavorful cuisine. Mistura is an authentic tribute to the diversity of Peruvian food, proposing familiar yet unexpected and adventurous flavors.

Top review

Margaret

Dined 7 days ago

The menu was challenging initially (in a good way)! I LOVE going somewhere with new & different menu items, learning about new food….especially when the waitstaff is SO helpful, so professional, offering fabulous suggestions throughout the meal. Can’t wait to return and enjoy one of your delicious Pismo Sours 😄

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Experience

Chef's Table

Bear & The Wren

4.8

4.8 (119)

$31 to $50

Pizzeria

San Luis Obispo

About the restaurant

A kindly-crafted wood fired eatery combining modern style with an aged finish. Located at The Creamery Marketplace, tucked behind the intersection of Higuera and Nipomo Streets, we offer an experience unlike any other. Our open-concept kitchen boasts an impressive wood fired oven were we craft hand-made Neapolitan style pizzas to order. Soft lighting, low music, and a relaxed atmosphere can be found throughout our indoor dining space. Garage style doors roll up to reveal outdoor dining on our bricked patio where heaters warm up the cooler months and an upbeat, lively feeling resonates throughout the spring and summer seasons. Full service is available at the bar, seating is first come, first serve. We welcome you to join us for dinner, Tuesday-Saturday from 4-10pm.

Please Note: Our seating is a mix of tall tables with barstool style seating, as well as standard height tables with traditional chairs. Our outdoor patio also includes two large tables with bench style seating.

Top review

Lauravip

Dined 3 days ago

Detroit pizza was amazing!! We had the Elote seasonal one. Highly recommend Roasted squash and peach/tomato and burrata sides. S’mores dessert was also delicious!

Barley & Boar

4.8

4.8 (207)

$31 to $50

Distillery

Atascadero

About the restaurant

Barley & Boar is a cozy boutique pub located in downtown Atascadero. We distill our own liquor, brew our own beer, and craft our own delicious fare from fresh and local ingredients. Dinner is full service, and our bar is open until midnight.

Join us monthly as we change our menu to showcase what’s in season.

Top review

Rolfevip

Dined 2 days ago

Always great food starting with the bread & butter and the ribs. The Beef was spectacular this evening and as always the service was excellent.

Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House, at Madonna Inn

4.6

4.6 (4422)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

San Luis Obispo

About the restaurant

Enjoy an award winning dining experience in our world-famous pink and gold Steak House - offering a comfortable and opulent dining atmosphere. Indulge in a delicious oak-pit-barbecued steak, fresh seafood, chicken, or vegetarian entrees. Featuring a superb wine list, decadent world-famous desserts and a whimsical, European atmosphere. Boutique shopping makes for a fun experience before or after you dine with us.

Top review

Joanna

Dined 5 days ago

Lovely dinner in cheesy but charming steakhouse. Food was delicious with large portions plus comes with sides, salad and bread. You won’t leave hungry. It was a quiet Sunday night but there was still a one man’s band and people dancing. Great people watching as well. Will definitely be back!

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4.6

4.6 (1175)

$31 to $50

Californian

San Luis Obispo

About the restaurant

The heart and inspiration for Granada is the beloved and pre-existing Granada Bistro. This space has been renovated and re-imagined in industrial chic design, serving seasonal, farm-to-table ingredients sourced from Central Coast farmers and purveyors. Dishes inspired by Mediterranean culture, French and Spanish cuisine. Small plates, charcuterie and the freshest local seafood, meats, and produce are complemented by an eclectic wine list including Spanish and French selections, and a range of the Central Coast’s finest artisan wine producers.

Top review

Sylvievip

Dined 3 days ago

Beautiful patio - service was great and delicious dishes. My husband loved the tri-tips (great quality meat, perfectly cooked) and I had the roasted eggplant parpadelle. Cooked to perfection fresh and flavorful pistachio pesto - highly recommend the Granada bistro.

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4.5

4.5 (525)

$31 to $50

Italian

Atascadero

About the restaurant

Cielo Ristorante is an Italian-inspired concept located in the heart if Atascadero. We have curated a distinct menu showcasing Italian dishes with a modern twist. We are the perfect place to come and enjoy with your loved ones.

Top review

Julius

Dined 5 days ago

The pasta dish was delicious, the service was fabulous and the ambience was exceptional.

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4.4

4.4 (32)

$30 and under

American

Paso Robles

About the restaurant

Drenched in sunshine and style, Ciao Papi is a poolside restaurant + cocktail bar at the swankified River Lodge hotel in Paso Robles wine country. The California-Italian kitchen serves up all-day eats + drinks designed by the culinary team behind the beloved Bistro + Nightcap at Granada Hotel in San Luis Obispo.

Always al-fresco. Open to the public.

Top review

katievip

Dined 2 days ago

This restaurant is a breath of fresh air !! Love , Love the setting . It’s so pure and unique .. please keep going !🩷

Parchetto

4.4

4.4 (53)

$50 and over

Californian

Paso Robles

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of Paso Robles, CA, Parchetto (pronounced Par-kett-o) offers an exquisite dining experience, blending the elegance of fine dining with the ambiance of casual cuisine. From the moment you step into this charming environment, you will be welcomed by a warm inviting, atmosphere that harkens back to a different time. The décor combines elements that were restored from a century ago with contemporary touches that exude elegance without pretense.

At Parchetto, impeccable service and sumptuous cuisine come together to create a dining experience that is both sophisticated and comfortably relaxed.

Top review

Laurie

Dined 2 days ago

Overall a good experience. Our reservation was at 6pm on a Wednesday so the restaurant wasn’t too busy. The menu was diverse the food was delicious. The servers were polite and accommodating. I look forward to my next visit to Parchetto and hope to see Carol and Santos and congratulate them on there latest adventure. TY

Custom House

4.0

4 (127)

$30 and under

Seafood

Avila Beach

About the restaurant

Welcome! Our Central Coast beach-side location holds beautiful views with a casual atmosphere. An excellent dining experience is our top priority. Our menu has something for everyone…fresh fish, hand cut steaks, refreshing salads and our specialty appetizers. We offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. Come and have a drink at our cocktail bar, or dine on our outdoor patio while gazing out across the beautiful San Luis Bay.

Top review

Peggy

Dined on Sep 8, 2024

This is a great place for for a relaxing afternoon. Our server was on top of his game. Great view and ambience. The food was pretty good and we also had two scoops of ice cream for our B’dAy guys. They share the same birthdays!!!!

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