Eating & Sleeping
San Diego 1
5 El Agave Mexican $$$
(%619-220-0692; http://www.elagave.com; 2304 San
Diego Ave; dinner mains $21-39; h11am-10pm)
With nods to Spanish, Mexican and Hispanic
traditions, El Agave’s hybrid menu is best known
for soulful mole sauces. The bar’s 2000 types of
tequila will make you swoon.
4 Cosmopolitan Hotel B&B $$$
(%619-297-1874; http://www.oldtowncosmo.com;
2660 Calhoun St; r incl breakfast $185-290;
aW) Service may be spotty, but this 1870s
hotel livens up Old Town’s atmosphere with its
saloon and restaurant. Overnight upstairs in
antique-furnished rooms, some with balconies.San Juan Capistrano 2
5 Ramos House Café Californian $$
(www.ramoshouse.com; 31752 Los Rios St; mains
$13-18, weekend brunch $35; h8:30am-3pm
Tue-Sun) Famous for earthy comfort food
flavored with herbs from the garden round back,
this 1881 adobe is across the railroad tracks
from the mission.
Los Angeles 3
5 Philippe the Original American $
(www.philippes.com; 1001 N Alameda St; mains
$4-12; h6am-10pm; c) From LAPD officers to
suited-up attorneys, everyone loves Philippe’s,
where the French-dip sandwich was invented
over a century ago. Order at the counter, then
hunker down at communal tables above a
sawdust-covered floor. Cash only.Santa Barbara 4
5 Bouchon Californian $$$
(%805-730-1160; http://www.bouchonsantabarbara.
com; 9 W Victoria St; mains $25-36; h5:30-9pm
Mon-Thu, 5-10pm Fri & Sat, 5-9pm Sun) French
cooking with a California fusion spin marries
farm-fresh produce, locally ranched meats and
regional wines in a flowery setting.4 Inn of the
Spanish Garden Boutique Hotel $$$
(%805-564-4700, 866-564-4700; http://
spanishgardeninn.com; 915 Garden St; d incl
breakfast $250-525; aiWs) Elegant
Spanish Revival style downtown hotel has two
dozen romantic luxury rooms and suites facing
a gracious fountain courtyard.San Francisco 7
5 Pancho Villa Mexican $
(www.sfpanchovilla.com; 3071 16th St; mains$5-9; (^) h10am-midnight) The savior of cash-
strapped Mission District hipsters, this taquería
delivers tinfoil-wrapped San Francisco–style
‘super burritos’ with a worthy condiments bar.
Long lines move fast.
4 Inn San Francisco B&B $$
(%415-641-0188, 800-359-0913; http://www.innsf.
com; 943 S Van Ness Ave; r incl breakfast $120-
285; iW) Well maintained and packed with
antiques, this peaceful Victorian mansion has a
garden hot tub and genteel guestrooms (some
shared baths) with comfy beds.
Sonoma 8
5 Cafe La Haye Californian $$$
(%707-935-5994; http://www.cafelahaye.com; 140 E
Napa St; mains $19-30; h5:30pm-9pm Tue-Sat)
Dishing up earthy New American cooking, the
tiny dining room gets filled cheek-by-jowl, but
its flavor-packed locavarian menu is worth
reserving well ahead for.
4 El Dorado Hotel Boutique Hotel $$$
(%707-996-3220; http://www.eldoradosonoma.com;
405 1st St W; r $165-225; aWs) Ultra-stylish
design touches make up for compact rooms, as
do private balconies overlooking the courtyard.
Book ahead for the Californian wine-country
kitchen downstairs.
SOUTHERN.CALIFORNIA..
28
.MISSION TRAIL