Santa Ynez, California: Wine, Food & A Generosity of Spirit

The wine is the thing! Santa Ynez is home to ambitious winemakers and its most popular varietals are chardonnay, syrah, and pinot noir—grapes that thrive in the rare combination of warm inland days and cool Pacific nights.

You’ll find no limit to the number of vineyards and tasting rooms. My favorite was Presq’ile Winery, a family-owned vineyard, where each pour seemed to reflect the land’s character. Their "Food & Wine Experience" paired their wines with a delicious lunch—sourced from the vineyard garden—that felt every bit as carefully crafted as the wine.

The Santa Ynez Valley is dotted with charming small towns, each offering its own flavor of wine country hospitality. Spend some time visiting a few of these over your time there:

• Santa Ynez itself has a classic Western feel with tasting rooms, historic buildings, and a relaxed, ranch-like atmosphere.

• Los Olivos is a compact and walkable hub known for its concentration of high-quality tasting rooms, art galleries, and upscale boutiques.

• Solvang, founded by Danish settlers, adds a whimsical touch with European-style architecture, bakeries, and windmills—a fun contrast to the surrounding vineyards and hillsides.

45 minutes to the northwest is Pismo Beach, which is home to California’s most extensive coastal dunes. It’s a perfect spot for short hikes with sweeping ocean views and beach walks. Pismo is also a popular clamming spot, and—depending on the tide—you may find some washed up on the shore. You’ll need a fishing license to take these home. Better yet—stop for a bowl of clam chowder at Slappy’s Chowder House on the way out.

Families with children will appreciate Highline Adventures, an outdoor park with zip-line tours, a high-altitude obstacle course, and a fenced trampoline park for kids.

The culinary scene here is a reflection of its rich agricultural heritage and laid-back wine country elegance. Dining often emphasizes seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, with menus that highlight the bounty of the surrounding farms and vineyards.

• SY Kitchen is on all of the best-of lists, and deservedly so. The restaurant is housed in a charming California farmhouse and serves rustic yet elegant Italian cuisine, including handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and other farm-to-table dishes.

• Los Olivos Wine Merchant and Cafe is an unassuming cozy spot with a list of over 500 California Central Coast wines. Pair a glass of wine with seasonal dishes served in a warm setting that even made a cameo in Sideways.

• Bob’s Well Bread is a beloved artisan bakery and café celebrated for its slow-fermented, stone‑deck-oven–baked breads and pastries. The bakery has been featured in Travel + Leisure’s “15 Amazing Small-Town Bakeries” and has a number of locations in the valley.