Central Coast
The Central Coast Food & Wine Highway: Santa Barbara to Paso Robles
A 4-day Central Coast food and wine road trip from Santa Barbara to Paso Robles: Funk Zone tastings, Santa Maria BBQ, Edna Valley, and Paso wineries.
By Alex Khachigian · Updated September 2026 · 5 min read
The 120 miles of US-101 between Santa Barbara and Paso Robles cross five wine regions, Danish Solvang, Michelin-starred Los Alamos and the home of Santa Maria barbecue.
This four-day itinerary heads north with short drives. It covers where to eat and sleep, reservations and designated drivers.
In This Guide
Before You Go: Timing, Reservations, and Getting Around
Spring and fall are best. Harvest, roughly August to October, brings crowds and higher hotel rates.
Winter weekdays are quietest. Most tasting rooms prefer or require reservations, especially weekends and groups, so book a few days to a week ahead, more for popular Paso estates.
Day 1: Santa Barbara and the Funk Zone
Santa Barbara’s Urban Wine Trail lets you taste county wines on foot. Most tasting rooms are in the Funk Zone, a warehouse district a block from the beach.
For hikes and neighborhoods, see my weekend guide to Santa Barbara.
Daytime: Waterfront and Tastings
Walk Stearns Wharf, then have fish tacos or lunch at the Santa Barbara Public Market. Spend the afternoon at two or three Funk Zone tasting rooms.
Dinner and Where to Stay
State Street and the Funk Zone have plenty of dinner options. Stay downtown to walk everywhere.
Hotel Californian is the splurge by the beach; The Wayfarer is the budget pick. More in my list of boutique hotels in Santa Barbara near the beach.
Day 2: Santa Rita Hills, Solvang, and Los Olivos
Drive north over Gaviota Pass (about 45 minutes) and west on Highway 246 or Santa Rosa Road into the Sta. Rita Hills. This cool-climate appellation is known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Lompoc Wine Ghetto
The Lompoc Wine Ghetto is an industrial park where several small producers pour side by side. You can taste small-lot Pinot and Chardonnay without driving between wineries.
Solvang and Buellton
In Solvang, get aebleskiver or kringle at Mortensen’s or Solvang Bakery. My 48-hour Solvang guide covers more.
In neighboring Buellton, the Hitching Post II, featured in Sideways, grills steak over red oak.
Los Olivos
Los Olivos, five minutes past Solvang, has dozens of walkable tasting rooms along Grand Avenue.
Hotel Corque in Solvang is the moderate stay. The Alisal Ranch is the guest ranch splurge.
Day 3: Los Alamos, Santa Maria BBQ, and Edna Valley
Day three is mostly food: Los Alamos, the Santa Maria Valley, then Edna Valley south of San Luis Obispo.
Breakfast in Los Alamos
Los Alamos is a one-street town. Bob’s Well Bread Bakery does breakfast.
Bell’s is a small Michelin-starred bistro. Book well in advance.
Santa Maria-Style Barbecue for Lunch
Santa Maria-style barbecue is tri-tip grilled over red oak, served with pinquito beans and salsa. Far Western Tavern in Orcutt and Jocko’s in Nipomo are the classics.
Edna Valley Tastings
Edna Valley’s cool ocean air produces crisp Chardonnay and Pinot, and tasting rooms sit off Highway 227.
Stay at Hotel San Luis Obispo, central and polished, or the pink Madonna Inn. More in my guide to where to stay in San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach.
San Luis Obispo Evening
On Thursdays, the Downtown SLO Farmers Market closes Higuera Street to cars for produce, live music and barbecue.
Other nights, Higuera and Monterey Streets have cocktail bars and restaurants. Non-guests can get cake at the Madonna Inn’s Copper Cafe.
Side Trip: ATVs on the Oceano Dunes
The Oceano Dunes near Pismo Beach are 20 minutes south of SLO. My friends and I rented ATVs from Steve’s ATV Rentals as beginners and it exceeded our expectations.
Drivers must be at least 9 years old and 48 inches tall. Go before any wine tasting.
Day 4: Paso Robles
Paso Robles is 30 minutes north on US-101, with hundreds of wineries across oak hills. It’s the warmest region on the trip. My weekend guide to Paso Robles covers hot springs and restaurants.
West Side Estates
The west side, especially the Adelaida District and Templeton Gap, is known for Rhône varieties and hillside estates. Tablas Creek, Justin and Daou are the big names; one estate tasting fills a morning.
Tin City and Downtown
Tin City, an industrial cluster south of town, has small-producer tasting rooms, a brewery and a cidery.
Downtown Paso centers on a shady park ringed by tasting rooms and restaurants, good for lunch or a picnic.
Sensorio After Dark
Sensorio is a large outdoor light installation east of town; book tickets online. Hotel Cheval is walkable to downtown, and Allegretto Vineyard Resort is the resort option.
Food and Wine Etiquette on the Central Coast
Tasting room staff are often the winemakers or their families. Pouring out or using the spit bucket is fine.
Many wineries waive tasting fees with a bottle purchase. My California wine country guide compares this region with Napa and Sonoma.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need for a Central Coast wine road trip?
Four days covers Santa Barbara, the Santa Ynez Valley, Edna Valley and Paso Robles. With three days, pick two regions.
Do Paso Robles wineries require reservations?
Many do, especially on weekends and for groups of six or more. Book a few days ahead, more during harvest and holidays.
What is Santa Maria-style barbecue?
Beef, usually tri-tip, grilled over red oak with salt, pepper and garlic. It’s served with pinquito beans, salsa, grilled bread and salad.
Is Santa Barbara or Paso Robles better for wine tasting?
Santa Barbara County is best for cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and walkable tasting. Paso Robles is warmer, known for Rhône blends, Zinfandel and Cabernet at larger estates.
Can you do this trip without a car?
Only in Santa Barbara, on the Urban Wine Trail. Drive between towns and book a tour or driver for Santa Ynez and Paso.
Destination guide
My Santa Barbara County hotel, Airbnb and tour picks
