Eating & Sleeping
Half Moon Bay 3
5 Flying Fish Grill Seafood, Mexican $$
(www.flyingfishgrill.net; 211 San Mateo Rd/Hwy
92; dishes $5-16; h11am-8:30pm Wed-Mon)
The tastiest seafood shack around is actually
inland from the ocean: duck inside this colorful
hacienda for fish tacos, crabby, cheesy bread
and grilled fresh catch.
5 Half Moon Bay
Brewing Company Brewpub $$
(www.hmbbrewingco.com; 390 Capistrano Rd, off
Hwy 1; mains $11-21; h11:30am-9pm Mon-Thu,
to 10pm Fri & Sat, 11am-9pm Sun) At Pillar Point
Harbor, kick back with dynamite local brews
and just-OK seafood and burgers on a heated
outdoor bay view patio.
4 Beach House at
Half Moon Bay Hotel $$$
(%650-712-0220; http://www.beach-house.com;
4100 N Cabrillo Hwy/Hwy 1; r $185-385; Ws)
Overlooking the bay from the oceanfront bluffs
near Pillar Point Harbor, all of these loft-style
suites have down comforters and gas fireplaces
to keep you toasty in the fog.
Pescadero 4
5 Duarte’s Tavern American $$
(%650-879-0464; http://www.duartestavern.com;
202 Stage Rd; mains $11-40; h7am-9pm) Some
of the coast’s freshest seafood, along with
artichoke and green-chili cream soups and
olallieberry pie, grace the menu at this 1894
tavern. It gets jammed on weekends, so make
reservations.
4 Costanoa Lodge Cabin, Hotel $$
(%650-879-1100; http://www.costanoa.com; 2001
Rossi Rd, off Hwy 1; cabins $89-219, r $179-279;
cW) Down bedding warms up canvas-tent
cabins, while communal ‘comfort stations’ offer
24-hour dry saunas, fireside patio seating and
hot showers. Lodge rooms with fireplaces are
not as Spartan. It’s 9 miles south of Pescadero
State Beach.Pigeon Point 5
4 Pigeon Point
Lighthouse Hostel Hostel $
(%650-879-0633; http://www.norcalhostels.org/
pigeon; 210 Pigeon Point Rd, off Hwy 1; dm
$25-30, r $73-177; iW) On a quiet windswept
coastal perch, this ‘green’ hostel inhabits the
historic lightkeeper’s quarters. It’s popular
(especially for its clifftop hot tub), so book
ahead.Santa Cruz 8
5 Picnic Basket Deli, Bakery $
(http://thepicnicbasketsc.com; 125 Beach St;
menu items $4-10; h7am-9pm Sun-Thu, to
midnight Fri & Sat; c) Locavarian kitchen
across the street from the beach boardwalk
makes creative sandwiches, soups and baked
goodies from scratch. Zany artisanal ice-cream
flavors like avocado, cherry balsamic or sea-salt
olive oil are addictive.4 Dream Inn Hotel $$$
(%831-426-4330; http://www.dreaminnsantacruz.
com; 175 W Cliff Dr; r $200-380; aiWs)
Peering down on the wharf, this retro-chic
boutique hotel is as stylish as Santa Cruz gets.
Hilltop rooms have all mod cons. Drop by ocean-
view Aquarius restaurant (dinner mains cost
$15 to $30) and lounge for happy hour.4 Pacific Blue Inn B&B $$
(%831-600-8880; http://pacificblueinn.com;
636 Pacific Ave; r incl breakfast $189-239; W)
Downtown courtyard B&B is truly ecoconscious.
Refreshingly clean-lined rooms have pillowtop
beds, fireplaces and flat-screen TVs with DVD
players. Free bikes to borrow.CENTRAL.CALIFORNIA.14
.ALONG HIGHWAY 1 TO SANTA CRUz