Best of SLO County 2021: Drinks

Best North County Bar

Pine Street Saloon

1234 Pine St., Paso Robles

(805) 238-1114

[email protected]

pinestreetsaloon.com

@pinestsaloon

facebook.com/pinestreetsaloon/?ref=br_rs

Best North Coast Bar

The Siren

900 Main St., Morro Bay

(805) 225-1312

[email protected]

thesirenmorrobay.com

@thesirenmorrobay

facebook.com/thesirenmorrobay

Best San Luis Obispo Bar

Sidecar Cocktail Co.

1040 Broad St., SLO

(805) 439-3563

[email protected]

sidecarslo.com

@sidecar_slo

facebook.com/sidecarslo

Best South County Bar

Mason Bar & Kitchen

307 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande

(805) 202-8918

[email protected]

masonbarag.com

@masonbarandkitchen

facebook.com/MasonBarAG

Best South Coast Bar

Mr. Rick's

404 Front St., Avila Beach

(805) 595-7425

mrricks.com

@mr.ricks_bar

facebook.com/MrRicksBeachBar

Best Barista

Eric Pettis at Blackhorse

1065 Higuera St., SLO

(805) 783-1300

blackhorsecoffee.com

facebook.com/Blackhorsecoffee

Best Cup of Coffee

Scout Coffee Co.

1130 Garden St., SLO

880 Foothill Blvd., SLO

(805) 439-2175

[email protected]

scoutcoffee.com

@scoutcoffee

facebook.com/scoutcoffee

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I've tried pretty much every coffee shop in town (and I have an espresso machine at home, so you know I'm serious), and it's hard to find much to complain about at any of them. They all bring something a little different to the table, whether it's ample study space or out-of-the-box drinks. At Scout, the coffee itself shines. Whether it's an Americano or, my personal favorite, a Gibraltar, you can count on Scout to serve an unbeatable drink that hits like nowhere else. And, the true test of a good coffee shop, Scout's cold brew is actually cold brewed!! With delicious food, adorable merch, and a gorgeous space downtown, it's no wonder Scout won best overall coffee shop, too.

—Kasey Bubnash

Best Coffee Shop

Scout Coffee Co.

1130 Garden St., SLO

880 Foothill Blvd., SLO

(805) 439-2175

[email protected]

scoutcoffee.com

@scoutcoffee

facebook.com/scoutcoffee

Best Coffee Roaster

Coastal Peaks Coffee

3566 S. Higuera, No. 100, SLO

(805) 541-1186

[email protected]

coastalpeakscoffee.com

@coastalpeaks

facebook.com/coastalpeakscoffee

HIDDEN GEM Kirstin Sherritt, Kristen Yogi, Lucinda Kelly, and Claire Gretlein (left to right) bring the best tea around to downtown San Luis Obispo at The Secret Garden Organic Herb Shop. - PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM
  • Photo By Jayson Mellom
  • HIDDEN GEM Kirstin Sherritt, Kristen Yogi, Lucinda Kelly, and Claire Gretlein (left to right) bring the best tea around to downtown San Luis Obispo at The Secret Garden Organic Herb Shop.

Best Tea Shop

The Secret Garden Organic Herb Shop

740 Higuera St., SLO

(805) 544-4372

[email protected]

organicherbshop.com

@secretgardenslo

facebook.com/secretgardenslo

Best Juice Place

VirtJuice

1200 E. Grand Ave., unit 103, Arroyo Grande

(805) 994-7076

[email protected]

virtjuice.com

@virtjuice

facebook.com/virtjuice

Best Smoothie

Jamba Juice

SLO, ARROYO GRANDE, ATASCADERO, PASO ROBLES

(805) 549-0733

jamba.com/ca/san-luis-obispo

@jambajuice

facebook.com/jambajuice

SIPPING TIME Head over to Morro Bay if you want to visit the Best Wine Bar in SLO County—STAX Wine Bar and Bistro. - PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM
  • Photo By Jayson Mellom
  • SIPPING TIME Head over to Morro Bay if you want to visit the Best Wine Bar in SLO County—STAX Wine Bar and Bistro.

Best Wine Bar

STAX Wine Bar and Bistro

1099 Embarcadero, Morro Bay

(805) 772-5055

[email protected]

staxwinebar.com

@staxwinebar

facebook.com/StaxWineBar

REDS FOR DAYS New Times readers believe Tolosa Winery in the Edna Valley is the Best Winery for Red Wine in wine country. With several styles and price points to choose from, Primera is the winery's flagship, a cellar selection of the best barrels of pinot noir from the Edna Ranch. - PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM
  • Photo By Jayson Mellom
  • REDS FOR DAYS New Times readers believe Tolosa Winery in the Edna Valley is the Best Winery for Red Wine in wine country. With several styles and price points to choose from, Primera is the winery's flagship, a cellar selection of the best barrels of pinot noir from the Edna Ranch.

Best Winery for Red Wine

Tolosa Winery

4910 Edna Road, SLO

(805) 782-0500

[email protected]

tolosawinery.com

@tolosawinery

facebook.com/tolosawine

Best Winery for White Wine

Edna Valley Vineyard

2585 Biddle Ranch Road, SLO

(805) 544-5855

ednavalleyvineyard.com

@ednavalleyvineyard

facebook.com/EdnaValleyVineyard

Best Winery for Sparkling Wine

Laetitia Vineyard & Winery

453 Laetitia Vineyard Drive, Arroyo Grande

(805) 481-1772

[email protected]

laetitiawine.com

@laetitiawine

facebook.com/laetitiawine

Best Virtual Wine Tasting Experience

Edna Valley Vineyard

2585 Biddle Ranch Road, SLO

(805) 544-5855

ednavalleyvineyard.com

@ednavalleyvineyard

facebook.com/EdnaValleyVineyard

Best Tasting Room

Edna Valley Vineyard

2585 Biddle Ranch Road, SLO

(805) 544-5855

ednavalleyvineyard.com

@ednavalleyvineyard

facebook.com/EdnaValleyVineyard

Best Tasting Transportation

SLO Safe Ride

284 Higuera St., suite D, SLO

(805) 620-7233

[email protected]

slosaferide.com

@slowinetours

facebook.com/slosaferide

Best Brewery

BarrelHouse Brewing Co.

3055 Limestone Way, Paso Robles

1033 Chorro St., basement level, SLO

(805) 296-1128

barrelhousebrewing.com

@bhbc

facebook.com/barrelhousebrewing

Best Distillery

KROBAR Craft Distillery

2174 Highway 46, Paso Robles

10 Higuera St., SLO

(833) 576-2271

[email protected]

krobardistillery.com

@krobarcraftdistillery

facebook.com/krobarcraftdistillery

Best Happy Hour

Marisol at The Cliffs

2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach

(805) 773-5000

[email protected]

cliffshotelandspa.com/dine

@thecliffshotelandspa

facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa

Best Place for a Beer

BarrelHouse Brewing Co.

3055 Limestone Way, Paso Robles

1033 Chorro St., basement level, SLO

(805) 296-1128

barrelhousebrewing.com

@bhbc

facebook.com/barrelhousebrewing

Best Drink with a View

Ventana Grill

2575 Price St., Pismo Beach

(805) 773-0000

ventanagrill.com

@ventanagrill

facebook.com/VentanaGrillPismoBeach

Best Bartender

Nicole Sigman (Black Sheep)

1117 Chorro St., SLO

(805) 544-7433

[email protected]

blacksheepslo.com

@blacksheepslo

facebook.com/blacksheepslo

Best Dive Bar

McCarthy's Irish Pub

600 March St., SLO

(805) 544-0286

mccarthysirishpub.com

@mccarthysirishpub

facebook.com/McCarthysIrishPubSLO

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You want a Midori sour, blended? Don't come here. McCarthy's ain't got no blender, see? It's a bar, not a damn soda shop. You want a healthy pour of liquor served by take-no-guff bartenders? This is the place. This is where drinkers drink. A real bar. If Charles Bukowski was still alive and lived in SLO, this would be his bar. It would be Hemingway's bar. James Joyce would drink here. Dorothy Parker, too. Kerouac? Of course. Hunter S. Thompson would drink here but get thrown out for being high on other drugs. That's the kind of bar McCarthy's is.

—Glen Starkey

Best Bloody Mary

Marisol at The Cliffs

2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach

(805) 773-5000

[email protected]

cliffshotelandspa.com/dine

@thecliffshotelandspa

facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa

Best Hard Cider

SLO Cider

3419 Roberto Court, suite C, SLO

(805) 439-0865

[email protected]

slociderco.com

@slocider

facebook.com/slocider

Best Craft Beer

BarrelHouse Brewing Co.

3055 Limestone Way, Paso Robles

1033 Chorro St., basement level, SLO

(805) 296-1128

barrelhousebrewing.com

@bhbc

facebook.com/barrelhousebrewing

SALTY La Esquina Taqueria serves up the Best Margarita, including the Gonzagarita, orange-infused tequila blanco, fresh lime juice, house-made sweet and sour, and French Bauchant liquor. - PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM
  • Photo By Jayson Mellom
  • SALTY La Esquina Taqueria serves up the Best Margarita, including the Gonzagarita, orange-infused tequila blanco, fresh lime juice, house-made sweet and sour, and French Bauchant liquor.

Best Margarita

La Esquina Taqueria

1051 Nipomo St., SLO

(805) 439-4289

[email protected]

laesquinaslo.com

@laesquina_taqueria

facebook.com/LaEsquinaSLO

Best Craft Cocktail

Sidecar Cocktail Co.

1040 Broad St., SLO

(805) 439-3563

[email protected]

sidecarslo.com

@sidecar_slo

facebook.com/sidecarslo

Best To-Go Cocktail

Sidecar Cocktail Co.

1040 Broad St., SLO

(805) 439-3563

[email protected]

sidecarslo.com

@sidecar_slo

facebook.com/sidecarslo

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