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

OpenTable

Updated December 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!

Barley & Boar

4.9

4.9 (241)

$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

lesley

Dined 2 days ago

Great night! Great burger and wonderful service at the counter.

Mama's Meatball

4.8

4.8 (1128)

$30 and under

Italian

San Luis Obispo

About the restaurant

There are many Italian Restaurants in San Luis Obispo, but if you're looking for a truly authentic Italian dining experience, then you should consider Mama's Meatball Restaurant. Rated among the best San Luis Obispo restaurants, Mama's Meatball uses the freshest, quality ingredients grown locally to create some of the most outstanding dishes you could find in San Luis Obispo eateries. For your convenience, Mama's Meatball offers dine-in, takeout and delivery service. Mama's Meatball is one of the few restaurants near Mission San Luis Obispo, and a block away from hotels in downtown San Luis Obispo to offer private dining options and banquet accommodations for corporate parties and family celebrations. Click here to request a quote for your next private event. Check Out Charity Water! https://www.charitywater.org/mamas-meatball

Top review

DonVIP

Dined on Nov 24, 2024

Always one of my favorites. Staff and food are great!!

Mistura

4.8

4.8 (1638)

$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

MikeVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent food by people who were very proud to share the culture and culinary experience with guests. I tried food I’ve never had before, and loved every bit of it.

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Experience

Chef's Table

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

4.7

4.7 (4517)

$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

Steven

Dined 1 day ago

Madonna Inn delivered another terrific dining experience. We've been coming for a birthday dinner every year for 28 years now. The place is always decorated cleverly for the season and the atmosphere is very festive. The wait staff was excellent and very attentive especially since it was a very busy night. We'll be back!

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4.6

4.6 (1187)

$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

Lori

Dined 6 days ago

Dinner with friends and it was great. Food was above average. Definitely recommend the scallops. Our server Doug was great. Price points were good with drinks and food. We will be back.

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CRISPY BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Parchetto

4.6

4.6 (105)

$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

Greg

Dined 1 day ago

Good service and good food. Beautiful bar and the drinks are tasty.

Cielo

4.5

4.5 (545)

$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

Jodi

Dined 3 days ago

We had a simple dinner of a bowl of French Onion soup with bread. All delicious! And treated ourselves to Tiramisu - fabulous! Highly recommend!

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Lure Fish House - San Luis Obispo

4.5

4.5 (53)

$30 and under

Seafood

San Luis Obispo

About the restaurant

Welcome to Lure Fish House, if your preferred reservation time is not available about half of our overall seating is unreserved for walk-ins. Our bar and oyster bar areas offer our full service menu and are open seating in order of arrival. Lure Fish House is a Ventura California based family-owned restaurant featuring the freshest sustainable seafood from trusted sources. Our Arizona Lure has its seafood order prepared in our own Ventura California seafood cutting facility and is directly driven to Arizona about 15 hours after it is ordered from the chef in Scottsdale. We feature organically grown local produce and wines from local vineyards whenever possible. We also feature a full bar with specialty cocktails made with freshly squeezed fruit juices and a raw bar serving a variety of fresh chilled seafood and oysters.

Top review

GayleVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Cioppino was excellent, generous portions of fish, shrimp, scallops, clams, and mussels. Appetizers were amazing: calamari, fish skewers, shrimp. Service was great. Great suggestions. My first time here. Will return!

Ciao Papi

4.4

4.4 (45)

$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

Nilda

Dined 5 days ago

Delicious food- especially the shrimp scampi dish! Drinks were also excellent! Beautiful setting and our server was great. Will definitely return!

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Experience

Apéro

The Oak Grill

4.3

4.3 (377)

$31 to $50

Bistro

San Luis Obispo

About the restaurant

The Oak Grill Features new Californian cuisine showcasing the freshest ingredients from the Central Coast, celebrating each season with its unique offering and flavor profiles.

Top review

MarkVIP

Dined on Dec 5, 2024

Pleasantly surprised. We stayed at the Hotel Cerro and ate here expecting a hotel restaurant experience but actually the food was very high tier and delicious. The Branzino was a piece of whole fish super meaty and well roasted. Service was great as well. Very well cooked food and we will be back sometime again. The restaurant is a tad bit noisy even with only a few people cause of the brick walls and high ceilings. It's slightly odd that they don't allow same day OpenTable reservations since it was pretty empty when we went. The one negative I'll mention is that they kept the temp really cold for some reason like it almost felt unheated. Not sure why. Turn up the temp guys! Anyway, good food and that's what matters and the rest of the stuff can get worked on.

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