Cafes near San Simeon

“We had a very long tiring trip through the mountains just to get to our lodge in Lucia because we had to avoid the landslide closure on Hwy 1. It was exhausting driving, then 2 hours at the Hearst Castle where you aren’t allowed to eat or drink anything. .. no coffee anywhere on our route… just to find out the castle cafe was closed when we got back from the tour. I said all that to say this.. The young man behind the counter was closing and the look on my face must have spoke to him because he quickly told me he would make us food and me an Americana.. first his kindness brought tears to my tired eyes and secondly that coffee was THE BEST I’ve had. The hot sandwiches and fresh salad were delicious and the portions were large. We took half of it back up the lodge to eat later. This one decision by him to accommodate me and my grandsons completely turned this stressful day into a much better one. The cafe and store were clean, bathrooms were clean and easily accessible. The staff were friendly and helpful and the area around the cafe and store is peaceful and attractive. Plenty of parking and the walkways were easy to navigate. I highly recommend this establishment and look forward to visiting again.“

“All of it. !!! The whole kit and caboodle“

“I always look forward to a meal at this homey place. My friend from his Cambrian days, John Brannon, recommended the hamburgers, and even though I was primed for breakfast I had the Mushroom Burger. Delicious, and the friendly waitress volunteered that I could order onion rings instead of fries at no additional charge. It was a great choice!“

“Chef Giovanni provided a magnificent dinner for my son’s wedding reception on July 25, 2022 at Harmony Cafe.“

“Absolutely delicious!! Warm and comfy atmosphere and very friendly staff!! Wish we had more time to spend so we could come for dinner again tomorrow!!“

“Yummy food! Get the weirdo waffle!“

“Best coffee shop in Cambria! Love the customer service and the Matcha is just so delicious! The carrot cake cookies are yummy and homemade. I live in SoCal and have not been able to find a place like it. It’s one of a kind and a must stop!!“

“Stopped in after a walk at the reserve.
Nice day for a hot chocolate and a a bagel with some flavor.

Parking: Mornings are easy, weekends can be more challenging.
Street parking or in the alley

Kid-friendliness: If kids are left unattended they will be fed espressos and given free puppies.“

“After over 20 years of visiting, we stumbled on Lillys! What a great place for breakfast! Such a relaxed atmosphere, great service, and delicious food. We had the ham and cheese quiche today. Light and delicious! The staff there are great. We felt welcome as soon as we walked in. I could've just hung out there for hours. Absolutely loved the patio. Plenty of seating. We look forward to our next visit there (tomorrow morning!) 😊“

“The chocolate croissant was good.“