Welcome to Cayucos, Highway 1's quintessential beach town

Just a short walk from the beach, Sea Shanty is the place to be for anything food-related, from tasty fish and chips to famous desserts! The ceiling is amusingly covered in hanging trucker hats, and the overall ambiance speaks to the down-home, nautical, inviting feel to the place. You just can't beat the good prices and a menu that welcomes you for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner! Sit inside for a cozy morning breakfast, or out on the pet-friendly patio for a couple of drinks and a great meal, but no matter when you visit, don't pass up dessert! The ice cream creations, strawberry shortcake, and swamp pie are just a few of the many favorites necessary for your fun-filled trip to the beach.

Being that it was a cowboy bar built back in 1906, The Old Cayucos Tavern still radiates a Western vibe that attracts tourists and locals alike. With pool tables, shuffleboard, and live music and poker on the weekends, this bar has everything! Stop in for a drink before or after a stroll around town, or stay awhile and take in that authentic cowboy ambiance. This cozy little dive bar is a great place to take a load off and grab a break from shopping and beach activity. Keep in mind, The Old Cayucos Tavern is cash only, so come prepared!

Owned by the same incredible team as The Grill, Brown Butter Cookie Company prides itself on the same quality and care you get from the Cass House, only this time it's with cookies that are to die for! New, exciting flavors are constantly being introduced, and with two stores in California as well as online ordering, customers cannot get enough. The Brown Butter offers a unique twist on the average cookie, and tops some offerings with a sprinkle of sea salt for that sweet and salty kick. You truly can feel the love put in each individual cookie, making Brown Butter yet another treasure in this beautiful beach town, open daily!

On the north end of Estero Bay, Cayucos Pier is the perfect place to watch sea life, gawk at an amazing sunset, or do some fishing. As you advance further out on the pier, a different variety of fish can be caught. Surfperch are said to be plentiful at the start of the pier; walleye and boccacio towards the center; and shinerperch, Pacific and jack mackerel, and baraccuda dominate the end. Almost 1,000 feet out into the water, the pier is also a great place to catch birds diving down for food or to watch otters, seals, and even groups of dolphins!

For those wanting to truly get an experience out of the pier, keep an eye out for the Whale Trail interpretative sign. The Whale Trail follows species of whales along the California coast, and Cayucos falls right on the path! Gray whales are most often seen in March and April, and during this period you can see lots of mothers with their calves, an opportunity too cute to pass up!

Once Native American soil that fell under Spanish control, the land that makes up Estero Bluffs State Park was sold to a dairyman before the Cayucos Land Conservancy took over. This park offers no restrooms or drinking water, so come prepared! Here you can see plenty of sea birds, the threatened California red-legged frog, deer, rabbits, seals, and otters, among other abundant wildlife. If you visit during the winter months, you won't want to miss standing on the designated bluffs to watch the migrating whales swim past! The simplicity of nature and solitude here, along with the unforgettable views, is sure to wow-- a reminder of California's true natural beauty away from all of the hustle and bustle!