Downtown Pescadero is a very quaint and charming town. We probably would have just drove by this place but thankfully some friends introduced us to it! The town boasts a post office, a gas station, a coffee shop, a grocery store, two churches, a cemetery, a Tavern, a thrift store, art gallery, and a few other retail stores. It's worth the stop to come and visit. Besides, on a clear day, you will enjoy the scenic drive along the coastline. read more

See all

3/10/2019: Pescadero's main thoroughfare was FLOODED BY 1-1/2 FEET of rushing H2O!!!! Eeek! Luckily and blessed, I own a 4-wheel drive Toyota 4-Runner: Set the 4-wheel drive gear into motion~Let's drive onward! Onward Hoooooooo! Shish~That water was truly rushing . . . Not a smart move: Still, I didn't want driving another fifteen more miles driving back to San Gregorio looping through La Honda Road's outback, remote road in order, arriving at the Township of Pescadero! Just not right. Observing, looking back where I just drove through the flooding, I began sweating BRICKS realizing the water was truly like a rushing river with wavy, WHITE CAPS~EEEK! I surely hope Pescadero will build a little bridge over that proverbial flood zone because that's totally unsafe and precariously putting people into the throws of Harm's Way! read more

Downtown Pescadero - 3/10/2019: Bread Run~HOWEVER, Pescadero Creek Road is FLOODED; go through San Gregorio's La Honda Road! - Tours Near Me - Pescadero, California

See all

Very very cute town. Can't believe I had never been in all these years living in the area! Highlights: - Atmosphere: sleepy small old town. Makes you feel like you've gone back in time and are in the old west--or at least the set at Universal Studios... but with more artichokes. ;-) - Cute stores: everything from general stores that have local products, to an antique store with random items like old staples and jars, to the artsy unique Luna Sea - Duarte's: great historic restaurant and bar reviewed here on yelp worth going to the town for - Relatively close: just 20-30 minutes from Half Moon Bay on 1 - Nice drive to get there: 1 is so beautiful! - No big crowds: yeay to having breathing room when browsing around stores on a weekend Lowlights (my flip side to highlights): - It's really small so you can't spend more than a few hours exploring. It's a great escape to go to a charming, seemingly middle of nowhere town like this just a short path from the ocean. I'll be back! read more

A quick coastal drive just south of Half Moon Bay, Pescadero is worth the detour inland to enjoy an hour or two on its charming, laid back main street. Follow the signs from Highway 1. read more

Head to " The Slow Coast ", Pescadero...What a great little town just a stones throw from the Pacific Ocean off Hwy 1. It's less than an hour from Santa Cruz going north. and not very far south of Half Moon Bay. Watch for the signs, it's a very short distance off Highway 1. It's always a fun place to stop!. It's pretty small and parking is somewhat limited on the main street. However just before you turn on to the main street there is a lot a very short walk away. So I'd recommend parking there and not messing with the street parking on main street. There are quite a few eclectic shops with some really friendly and talented people in them. Of course there's a local coffee shop, which is definitely a needed stop if you ride in on a motorcycle. There is one bar , Duarte's that also serves some pretty good food. There's a local store that has a deli, Arcangeli's and they make amazing fresh Artichoke bread. They bake the bread on site and bring it out while it is still warm. You have to try it! We ate an entire loaf on the way home on our last visit! Some of the shops are just off the main drag so be adventurous, explore them all and have a great time. read more

after reading so many rave reviews from fellow yelpers, i decided to come check this place out for myself....hubby and i decided to take a day trip to pescadero to explore the sights and sounds, and stopped by the historical downtown area for a bit. this town is really small, but cute and quaint and reminded me of one of those small towns i see on tv, or an old western (except without the cowboys, boots, horses and saloons!) there's a proper restaurant, a coffee shoppe, a convenience store, a deli/grocery store, flower shoppe, church, and a gas station...maybe a couple more retailers. there's an old historical house that you can walk inside to explore. if you live around, or near here, there's enough to get by, but for anything really specific, you'd probably have to go elsewhere. hubby and i really enjoyed strolling down stage road and people watching, and just "feeling" out this little town. highly recommended to anyone who is visiting pescadero for the day. read more

A cool small town!! I usually stop here for a break while I'm out riding. I like to eat at the bar in Duarte's. I'll walk off my lunch and head to Arcangeli's to do a small shop. I usually will pick up a fresh loaf of whatever is still warm and chew on that if not really hungry. Different time of year there will be fruit, veggie and pumpkin stands around town. Don't forget to have some cash with you. There is a gas station on the corner of town if you need to top-off your ride. They have a cool little second-hand store on the way out of town. I like browsing at thrift and pawn shops, so I'll make it here to see what's "new". Next time here, I'll take some pics to keep this up dated! read more

Such a cute town and the people are super super nice. We came here on our own version of "Bay Area backroads" when I saw a reference to Duarte's tavern in some magazine. How could it be that this town is just off the coast, "near" Menlo Park and we've never heard of it before? So we followed the GPS - bad bad bad idea, as it took us the "shorter" 84 route that took an extra hour. Do yourself a favor, cut over to the coast by Half Moon Bay and take HWY 1 south. So we finally get here, hungry and cranky, and as soon as we get out of the car, we hear an awesome band, smell amazing artichoke bread and become nicer people. Add a couple of sandwiches and some wine at the Pescadero store (with a woodfire oven to make their pizzas) and we are super happy to explore the cute antique and decor shops, buy some fabulous jam and veggies at the farm stand, and load up on bread (I bought 4 loaves), marinades, and olives at the bakery. Thank you Pescadero :) We are coming back soon read more

You have to come to Pescadero just once. It is too small to be believed. It has a gas station, a post office, a Mexican restaurant, 2 markets, a thrift store, a rock hound, a church or two, maybe two. Duarte's. Farmworkers. 3 art stores and a beautiful spirit. Just go down HWY 1 till you see the signs, take the turn and drive until you get there (about 3 miles). Park your car and just walk around and soak in Pescadero's unique atmosphere. Once you drop in, you will never drive HWY 1 without stopping again. read more

(My 100th Review!!!!) Date: January 31, 2009 Occasion: More on "Saturday Date with Boyfriend" in Pescadero Pescadero is a small country town that is so hidden and tucked away along Highway 1. It is hard to imagine that a charming and authentic farming town is less than an hour away from San Francisco. What makes Pescadero unique is its history that's preserved in its architecture (tiny shabby chic cottages) and businesses: Duarte's Tavern has been around since the 1800's as well als Arcangeli's Grocer. There's a fire department, one tiny country church, barbecue restaurant, cemetery, few art and vintage stores. Everything spells country and small town. The locals are very welcoming and friendly. HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR AFTERNOON IN PESCADERO: This is a nice place to go on a date and spend a romantic weekend afternoon. Boyfriend and I had a late lunch at Duarte's, went for stroll while holding hands and browsed the charming little shops, bought a little souvenir to remember the day at one of the cute local craft stores, had to get the artichoke bread at Arcangeli's and bought few of their sauces. This was after we stopped at one of the beaches on Highway 1, took some pictures and headed to Pescadero because we were starving!!!! This turned out to be a sweet and relaxing afternoon worth remembering...... read more

The mussels were fantastic along with their pies. Olaniberry (misp) was to die for. We're waiting for our next trip for Pecan pie.

What a wonderful little town. On any given weekend you'll see a gathering of tourists, locals, bikers, cyclists and classic (I mean like model T years!) car guys and gals. Towns like this make it so worthwhile just to cruise up and down and around the coast. Little gems everywhere! read more

Don't even bother this place was weird The lady working here didn't smile at all She didn't even say welcome or anything read more

We loved this little town. We went to a small fruit stand and sampled various honey varieties and bought 8 avocados for a dollar. The fruit prices were very reasonable. I murdered half a loaf of warm artichoke bread and we walked up and down the small street. Friendly locals, so glad we stopped here. read more

I grew up spending my summer weekends and some days in the Pescadero area. On Saturdays, my Dad and I would stop at Duarte's for a yummy milkshake (me) and a beer (Dad). The conversation was great and they always included me in it, even when I was a kid. I learned to drive on Hwy 1 (Half Moon Bay to our family nursery - 25 miles south). Taught me every way to drive except freeways. I have so many fond memories of that town and area that when I was grown, married and a mother, my husband and I moved to a very similar place that, like Pescadero, also included the area's high school. PS. My Mom was a high school teacher there and that is where my parents met! Wonderful, charming place. read more

Just a quick drive down the coast from San Francisco to get the chance to experience country life. This little town is well worth a day trip. There are several delicious places to eat, many little shops to browse around in, and a great downtown atmosphere. It's a lot of fun to park and just walk around in a little town with no stoplights, just a flashing light at the biggest stop sign intersection. read more

It's just so amazing how just driving a short distance off the highway can make such a huge difference. Time just seems to slow down,Your blood pressure drops and you can't seem to remember the things you worry about. I love to stroll up and down this small town center and relax. We got a cookie and sat in the comfy chairs outside the coffee shop and listened to the birds sing.Even they seem so much less annoying than the raucous things back home in our yard. We got some bread at the grocery for the ride home and took turns tearing chunks out of it all the way back up highway one, read more

I went to Duartes with a friend on Sunday. The artichoke soup was to creamy and such a small amount- not worth it. Much to expensive, poor staff, and overrated. Get a good sanwich at the General Store across the street-- much better and they don't rip you off! Never again. Diane read more

Lovely little town... Great pitstop along highway one... Love the slower pace of life there and all the flowers! Will be back there again!

A small quaint slice of the coast with a lot to offer; friendly people, restaurants, farms, markets, stores, farmers' markets, beaches, parks, farms, & friendly people to boot & minutes from the rest of the coast & bay area. read more

We were told about this place by some of my wife's friends and went for a day trip. It was beautiful. It was a Thursday so they had a small farmers market. The vegetables were so fresh and the prices were much lower then what we find in the Bay Area. I bought a local artichoke fresh baked bread . read more

One of my favorite spots on the planet. Best decor. Best vibe. Best mocha...bar none.

fantastic, rustic, little town. It is refreshing to still find a town like this one that has not been Napaized, Carmelized, etc. Great restaruant in Duates- around sind 1897- same family running it- great artichoke soup. Arcangeli Grocery since 1929- 4th generation running the store- fantastic Homemade Artichoke Herb bread (often hot out of the oven) and Olallieberry Pies. Harley Farms Goat farm- Unique cheeses and tours. Plus many little shops. Son't miss a stop in Made in Pescadero- very special 1 of a kind furniture. Town is also close to Beaches, Elephant seals, bird watching and 2 beautiful parks where you can day visit or camp. read more

Pescadero is now what is mostly long gone in the bay area....authentic. No starbucks, no strip mall, no plastic surgery and expensive cars that the drivers are in debt up to their ears to drive. While just over the hill and to the north the cities of San Francisco and silicon valley wallow under the groan of an exploded population and all the stresses that have come with it, some how this little ranch/beach town has managed to escape the same fate. I try and come here at least once every couple months on a weekday, and wonder why I live where I live and how "they", the locals, manage to live here (because it's not cheap) From what I gather at the local watering hole (Duartes, bar is fun, food is a bit overrated but servicable...the Green Chile soup is my favorite with fresh sourdough, $10 plus drink) its mostly still made up of a population mix of native Californians (unlike myself and my cadre of ex patriot East Coasters in San Francisco) and Mexicans mostly here for the laid back family feel and to offer their expert ranch and farm services. True old school California flavor. The taqueria is nothing short of brilliant, rivaling any that the Mission can put up for comparison, tucked into the lone gas station. I eat my delicious carne asada burrito ($6 and huge, order taken by a barely English speaking cook, who barks out the order to the kitchen in Spanish, always a good sign when seeking authentic asada) drink a couple of Modelos and go for a walk. Little cottages that no doubt date back to the late 1800's and no doubt are sided in old growth redwood, line the main residential street, while off in the distance the cattle of large (still working !!!) ranches dot the amazing green hills. I know of no other coastal town south of the Golden Gate that has this feel. Small town, working farms and ranches, a bit of surf vibe, a bit artsy and bohemian (but very subtle). Eventually my feet tire and I head back to the Country Market for some truly excellent wood fired pizza and latte (about $18) and relax and watch a ball game on the tv above the long pizza bar. Finally with a sigh of appreciation, a tinge jealousy and more than a bit longing to live this lifestyle full time, I drive the back road up Pescadero Creek (stunning redwoods and parks abound) over to 280 and back to my beloved adopted City by the Bay. I will be back. read more