House SLAW GuideBook to Pacifica
coffee
5 minutes downhill from the house, Soul Grind is a **great** place, with a great laid-back vibe, to grab locally-roasted coffee and a variety of breakfast foods from amazing pastries to omelettes.
25 locals recommend
Soul Grind Coffee Roasters
5400 CA-15 minutes downhill from the house, Soul Grind is a **great** place, with a great laid-back vibe, to grab locally-roasted coffee and a variety of breakfast foods from amazing pastries to omelettes.
place to grab a beer
outdoor, Covid-safe, laid back beer garden; a perfect place to grab some light bar food and try some local beers on tap.
12 locals recommend
Humble Sea Brewing Co.
5560 Pacific Coast Highwayoutdoor, Covid-safe, laid back beer garden; a perfect place to grab some light bar food and try some local beers on tap.
the BEST place to grab a bean burrito and a margarita late at night. Voted by many to be the best Taco Bell in the WORLD, this Taco Bell is literally on the sand and not only do you get the most amazing views of the surf and surfers, but you can also purchase beers to tap and margaritas to go with your gordita! And it opens until 11pm every night.
59 locals recommend
Taco Bell
5200 CA-1the BEST place to grab a bean burrito and a margarita late at night. Voted by many to be the best Taco Bell in the WORLD, this Taco Bell is literally on the sand and not only do you get the most amazing views of the surf and surfers, but you can also purchase beers to tap and margaritas to go with your gordita! And it opens until 11pm every night.
the best place to grab some local beers and chill. There are firepits and adirondack and folder chairs. Totally casual. It's a vibe.
OceanCiders
the best place to grab some local beers and chill. There are firepits and adirondack and folder chairs. Totally casual. It's a vibe.
Supermarket
Grocery shopping doesn't get more interesting than at a Grocery Outlet. Stocked with the usual milk, eggs, veggies, fruit, and meat, Grocery Outlet has a wide variety of packaged foods that comprise flavors that may not have made it yet mainstream. Prices are lower than typical supermarkets and it's always an adventure.
12 locals recommend
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market
125 Hickey BlvdGrocery shopping doesn't get more interesting than at a Grocery Outlet. Stocked with the usual milk, eggs, veggies, fruit, and meat, Grocery Outlet has a wide variety of packaged foods that comprise flavors that may not have made it yet mainstream. Prices are lower than typical supermarkets and it's always an adventure.
Things to Do
Sea Bowl
4625 CA-1a large bowling alley. A great place to spend an afternoon.
My kids have hosted several birthday parties at Surf Camp Pacifica. The instructors are patient and experienced - they bring everything - wetsuits and surfboards. Call ahead to schedule a surf lesson, you won't regret it. It's super fun and safe.
Surf Camp Pacifica
5200 Pacific Coast HwyMy kids have hosted several birthday parties at Surf Camp Pacifica. The instructors are patient and experienced - they bring everything - wetsuits and surfboards. Call ahead to schedule a surf lesson, you won't regret it. It's super fun and safe.
OK... this is a random suggestion. But if you like to play tennis, this is actually a GREAT place to play tennis in the area. Why? 1) It's located deep into the valley of Pacifica so the weather is really nice (not foggy like the coast) and is sheltered from the wind, 2) nicely maintained courts (some high schools have poorly maintained courts, these are nice), 3) there is 1-2 courts that have decent lighting at night, and 4) there is always a free court.
Terra Nova High School
OK... this is a random suggestion. But if you like to play tennis, this is actually a GREAT place to play tennis in the area. Why? 1) It's located deep into the valley of Pacifica so the weather is really nice (not foggy like the coast) and is sheltered from the wind, 2) nicely maintained courts (some high schools have poorly maintained courts, these are nice), 3) there is 1-2 courts that have decent lighting at night, and 4) there is always a free court.
Hiking
a very do-able hiking area that has views to die for. This is good for kids and adults - a lot of paved paths with view up to San Francisco and down to Pedro Point (the house)
86 locals recommend
Mori Point
Mori Point Roada very do-able hiking area that has views to die for. This is good for kids and adults - a lot of paved paths with view up to San Francisco and down to Pedro Point (the house)
Behind the Ace Hardware store (across the street from Grocery Outlet) is a dirt path that leads into the forest and mountains behind our home. There are miles and miles of beautiful hikes - if you go right at the first main junction, you will head into the Pedro Point Headlands. If you go left, you will go eventually to the interesting Devil’s Slide trail (which is the old highway after the mudslide took it out). Both of these trails are on Google Maps.
9 locals recommend
Pedro Point Headlands
Behind the Ace Hardware store (across the street from Grocery Outlet) is a dirt path that leads into the forest and mountains behind our home. There are miles and miles of beautiful hikes - if you go right at the first main junction, you will head into the Pedro Point Headlands. If you go left, you will go eventually to the interesting Devil’s Slide trail (which is the old highway after the mudslide took it out). Both of these trails are on Google Maps.
This is a super-interesting and beautiful and somewhat hidden trail. This used to be the highway that navigated around this area but was regularly closed due to mud-slides. In 2013, the current tunnel was completed and the old highway was transformed into this beautiful, fully-paved trail that wraps around the mountain and hugs the coast, giving pedestrians/cyclists and amazing view.
You can get here two ways: the easiest is to drive about 2 miles south of the house and right before the tunnel entrance, there is a parking lot. From there, you can park and walk the 1.2 miles (one direcdtion).
Second way, is to hike there from the house. Start from behind the Ace Hardware store (across from Grocery Outlet), and walk up in to the hills. At the main trail junction, go left and walk and walk... and you will eventually get the the parking lot as well (This is about 2.5 miles to the parking lot).
49 locals recommend
Devil's Slide Trail
This is a super-interesting and beautiful and somewhat hidden trail. This used to be the highway that navigated around this area but was regularly closed due to mud-slides. In 2013, the current tunnel was completed and the old highway was transformed into this beautiful, fully-paved trail that wraps around the mountain and hugs the coast, giving pedestrians/cyclists and amazing view.
You can get here two ways: the easiest is to drive about 2 miles south of the house and right before the tunnel entrance, there is a parking lot. From there, you can park and walk the 1.2 miles (one direcdtion).
Second way, is to hike there from the house. Start from behind the Ace Hardware store (across from Grocery Outlet), and walk up in to the hills. At the main trail junction, go left and walk and walk... and you will eventually get the the parking lot as well (This is about 2.5 miles to the parking lot).
This is an AMAZING easy walk/hike about 8 miles south of the house. Mostly paved or on compact dirt, this 6 mile stretch along the Pacific is a perfect way to be active (but not too active) and is accessible by wheelchairs and strollers alike.
I would start out at Half Moon Bay Beach ($10 entry) and walk NORTH (toward SF). It is a 3 mile flat, mostly paved trail that takes you along the cost. At the end you will come to a lot of food options:
Ketch Harbor Pub - for seafood on a great outdoor patio area
La Costanera - for Peruvian food
Ocean Ciders - for a cool outdoor, beer garden right on the beach.
The walk back - an easy 6-mile walk with a reward and stop in the middle!
8 locals recommend
California Coastal Trail
1001 Miramontes Point RdThis is an AMAZING easy walk/hike about 8 miles south of the house. Mostly paved or on compact dirt, this 6 mile stretch along the Pacific is a perfect way to be active (but not too active) and is accessible by wheelchairs and strollers alike.
I would start out at Half Moon Bay Beach ($10 entry) and walk NORTH (toward SF). It is a 3 mile flat, mostly paved trail that takes you along the cost. At the end you will come to a lot of food options:
Ketch Harbor Pub - for seafood on a great outdoor patio area
La Costanera - for Peruvian food
Ocean Ciders - for a cool outdoor, beer garden right on the beach.
The walk back - an easy 6-mile walk with a reward and stop in the middle!
Beach
This is our favorite local beach - about a 5 minute drive from the house, this beach requires a little bit of work. You park at the top and take a steep ladder/steps down to a vast beach protected by cliffs. Grab some a picnic from Grocery Outlet, bring a blanket AND a parka (beaches up here are COLD) and spend a lovely afternoon.
44 locals recommend
Montara Beach
Cabrillo HwyThis is our favorite local beach - about a 5 minute drive from the house, this beach requires a little bit of work. You park at the top and take a steep ladder/steps down to a vast beach protected by cliffs. Grab some a picnic from Grocery Outlet, bring a blanket AND a parka (beaches up here are COLD) and spend a lovely afternoon.
This beach is literally 5 minutes downhill from the house. There are always surfers on the south side of the beach, and is very busy on weekends with surf lessons and families. This is the also the beach with the famous Taco Bell.
109 locals recommend
Pacifica State Beach
5000 California 1This beach is literally 5 minutes downhill from the house. There are always surfers on the south side of the beach, and is very busy on weekends with surf lessons and families. This is the also the beach with the famous Taco Bell.
A GREAT, quiet, sandy beach. Not a lot of crowds, but beautiful stretch of beach. Montara, Linda Mar and others tend to be full of people (which is nice too) but this is a secret gem.
12 locals recommend
Miramar Beach
A GREAT, quiet, sandy beach. Not a lot of crowds, but beautiful stretch of beach. Montara, Linda Mar and others tend to be full of people (which is nice too) but this is a secret gem.
Restaurant
Good Asian food is hard to find in Pacifica (the nearby Panda Express is good and, in its own way, satisfying; but let's agree that it is Chinese food the way Chipotle is Mexican). So this place actually does deliver via DoorDash/UberEats, and it is the best "ethnic" restaurant in the area. The fresh rolls are fresh and the pho is pretty good.
Oasis Vietnamese Cuisine
549 Oceana BoulevardGood Asian food is hard to find in Pacifica (the nearby Panda Express is good and, in its own way, satisfying; but let's agree that it is Chinese food the way Chipotle is Mexican). So this place actually does deliver via DoorDash/UberEats, and it is the best "ethnic" restaurant in the area. The fresh rolls are fresh and the pho is pretty good.
A great place to get breakfast and brunch - from delicious pastries to avo toast to salads and french toast, this is a laidback, outdoor seating neighborhood anchor. The surfer, chill vibe is absolutely contagious and the coffee is roasted on prem and equally chilly and yummy.
25 locals recommend
Soul Grind Coffee Roasters
5400 CA-1A great place to get breakfast and brunch - from delicious pastries to avo toast to salads and french toast, this is a laidback, outdoor seating neighborhood anchor. The surfer, chill vibe is absolutely contagious and the coffee is roasted on prem and equally chilly and yummy.
A somewhat upscale Peruvian, seafood restaurant located about 10 miles south of the house. It is a beautiful, open-spaced restaurant with great service. The food is also top-notch with great ceviche, adobo and great mixed drinks.
Added benefit is that it is a beautiful drive down the coast to this restaurant.
70 locals recommend
La Costanera
260 Capistrano RdA somewhat upscale Peruvian, seafood restaurant located about 10 miles south of the house. It is a beautiful, open-spaced restaurant with great service. The food is also top-notch with great ceviche, adobo and great mixed drinks.
Added benefit is that it is a beautiful drive down the coast to this restaurant.