Solstice: A Funky Snapshot of Big Sur's Soul Big Sur is a special place. It is ready to celebrate you when your soul is singing. It will also sit with you when your soul is grieving. Its beauty lies in its simplicity. Come as you are, and the redwoods and beaches and sky and mountains will embrace you. And when you're hungry, check out Solstice, whose food captures Big Sur's spirit. I have been coming to Big Sur for years now with my wife, and we have come to celebrate life's highs and mourn the lows. We recently went to celebrate a special day, and in our online hunt for dining, my wife found Solstice. It looked like a new place--we hadn't seen the name before--but its straightforward menu looked worth trying, so we made a reservation for dinner Sunday night. If we could have made reservations for our entire trip, we would have. Full confession: I am no foodie, despite growing up in San Francisco and having access to some dynamite restaurants. I'm just a regular dude who likes yummy food. When dishes feature foam or a bunch of words I need to Google, I lose interest. I don't want a dictionary to know what I'm eating. So Solstice's simple menu really spoke to me. "Sweet Water Ranch Pork. Summer squash, mint, fermented honey." Cool. I know all those things. I'll cut straight to the most important part: The food was top-notch. My wife and I elected to go a la carte instead of the set menu. She got the salad and salmon; I got the squid/pork belly and pork loin. We shared the bread. The bread was warm and soft, and the crust featured a delightful crunch. I could have crushed a whole loaf. My wife had it with olive oil, I generously slabbed mine with butter. Excellent. My wife was a big fan of the salad, noting its freshness and how the pistachios in particular stood out nicely. The squid was just the right amount of bounce, and the pork belly had a delightful sweetness and meatiness to it. And as for the main course? Solstice hit it out of the park. My wife said the salmon featured an excellent crispiness to the outside while the meat was similar to lox--that delectable, rich salmon flavor. And the pork? Each bite was exquisite: the meat was the perfect moistness, giving you that melt-in-your-mouth feeling that make you want to dance, while the outside had a crust had a satisfying light crunch to it. I'll put it this way: Solstice's pork loin is my benchmark for what pork loin should be now. A lot of places have really delicious food and the restaurant experience is great--but ultimately, I won't remember it after a few months. I am going to remember that pork and will get it again when we come back. (Also, a big shoutout to our waitress, who asked if we had any food allergies or requests--in doing so, my wife got her salmon without the sauce, which made the experience even better.) As for the ambiance, you enter Solstice and you just feel like you're going to have a good time. The music is fun, the layout is inviting and funky, and they have a lounge where you can just chill with a cocktail. Whether you want to go for a date or a night out with your friends, Solstice will provide the good time. As someone who loves Big Sur, I am happy that a place like Solstice has entered the scene--it is much needed. It captures the funky vibe of the California coast so perfectly. I wish them success and can't wait to visit again. Come as you are, and you will leave Solstice happy. read more

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My girlfriend and I randomly stumbled upon Solstice while celebrating our anniversary & 4th of July up in Big Sur. We were greeted by the head chef & co-owner who made our experience truly magical. Tim & his team have created such an amazing & fun environment and the food absolutely rocks. It's not what you'd expect when coming to Big Sur, but I couldn't recommend it more because they expertly craft the menu day in and day out. read more

Wow! Our dinner blew us away! Matt's wine list was tremendous with great wines from France and Spain. The Ribera Del Duero was outstanding as was the Vermentino! We all enjoyed the Salmon, Pork and Stuffed Pepper entrees and the oysters two ways were superb as well. And the amazing finale was Churros with a spicy chocolate sauce. Shout out to our waiter (Dahlia?) who curated a special evening! You need to dine here! read more

Excellent! Great food, excellent service, wonderful ambience. The food was not only tasty but elevated with unique plating, textures, special ingredients. You must try the smoked avocado. I think we had everything on the menu except for 1 item. Just amazing. read more

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Absolutely our favorite food experience of all time. The food had incredible flavor and the cocktails were 100/10. We celebrated our anniversary here and will go back again!! read more

Solstice - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Big Sur, California

What a little gems this is for Big sur Area, it is the same caliber as Sierra Mar at Post Ranch. Beautifully decorated with dimlite ambiance. The cocktails and they make a mean martini, one of the best really. From.the hostest to all the staff are so friendly and the resolution to the minor issue we had was generous in their part. The Bread was one of the best, we ended up ordered a second round. The ingredients were farm fresh and effort to have the food delicate and bright and well balance was there with the exception of the Trout. The red cabbage was extra salty for all of us so we didn't touch the food. We shared the feedback just so chef can lighten a salt a bit for the next guests. They offer to refried the food but we were done with the meal. They took care of our first round of drinks, we asked to pay for it but they refused. So appreciate the effort but truly the feedback was for chef to make adjustments. We end up paying for the cocktails in tip as we know how hard for small business to survive in this economy. All in all we had a wonderful evening despite of the hiccup with the fish and will be back for new menu options when the season changed. read more

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We had an incredible meal last night at Solstice. I'd never been - If you live in Carmel, Monterey, the Highlands, PG, or Big Sur or are visiting the area, and you haven't been here yet, it's worth the (gorgeous) drive! One of the best restaurants on the coast, I'd say. For starters, the ambience and cuisine is unparalleled. Rustic, natural wood, an epic wood plank full bar - and casually cool interior and outdoor seating overlooking the forest with lanterns swaying in the breeze- And all with an elevated focus on local, sustainable and organic ingredients (and wines). The menu changes once in a while, and they have the cutest coffee shop with lunches and wine to go, should you be trekking around if sure during the day. I'm a Carmel local now by way of NYC, and I've been seeking a restaurant that has this rare blend of conscious, well-crafted, chef-driven food - that's straightforward enough that you actually want to eat it, in an environment that feels local and worldly (and otherworldly) all at the same time. Best sourdough bread I've ever had, from their 160 year old starter. An avocado that's cold-smoked with a divine seed blend and flaxseed cracker that melts in your mouth. Black cod - so easy to get wrong but here it's perfect, including a corn wrap and foraged chanterelles. The chef described every element of the dishes - down to the microgreens brought in each week by a local without a phone, but with a stellar garden, apparently. The fire crackles in the kitchen, as the wood is brought in and stacked, and the chef fans the coals by hand. The wine selection- out of this world. I'm telling you...just go! read more

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The duck might've been the best thing I've eaten in a very long time. I enjoyed the grilled oysters, heirloom rice (usually my go-to), dry aged duck, and the sticky toffee pudding. I have no complaints. Thank you! c: read more

Solstice - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Big Sur, California

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The ambiance, service and food were delightful. Depth of flavor and interesting combinations. A real gem. We are vegetarians so it's often hard to find gastronomical fare but this blew us away. The lentils were surprisingly rich and the gnocchi just light pillows. The desserts dreamy. We will be back. Well done. Share feedback read more

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The ambiance, service and food were delightful. Depth of flavor and interesting combinations. A real gem. We are vegetarians so it's often hard to find gastronomical fare but this blew us away. The lentils were surprisingly rich and the gnocchi just light pillows. The desserts dreamy. We will be back. Well done. read more

Fantastic attention to detail and balance of ingredients . The food and ambiance are great! The staff are engaged and excited to be there. I can't wait to go back. read more

Solstice - Brokaw Avocado - cold smoked avocado with tomato miso and assorted seeds. One of our favorite dishes of the night. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Big Sur, California

Absolutely fantastic experience! Exactly what I was looking for when I was here to visit. Beautifully tucked away location with great parking by the river. Four course menu was to die for. Hats off to the chef(s)! The ambiance in the dining room was lovely. Great music too! Natalia was our server. She was very knowledgeable and thoughtful. We felt very welcomed, cozy, and now I'm full with delicious food. I HIGHLY recommend read more

Solstice - Dinning room vibes - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Big Sur, California

We accidentally discovered Solstice last year when there was zero online information but luckily open reservations! We were blown away by every aspect of the experience. The service was impeccable the setting warm and thoughtfully surprising and the food... my god the food was elevating. We couldn't wait to go back! We tried Solstice again in the fall of 2024 (milestone bday) and though it was good it just didn't inspire and we wondered - was our first experience an outlier? Well I am happy to say that NO - it wasn't. We went back again in Aug25 and, if anything, the food surpassed our first date there. I am still remembering the squid hugging tomatoes on a bed of plums. A religious experience- Go to Solstice!!!! read more

This place is so refreshing. My wife and I have been everywhere in Big Sur and payed way too much just to eat mediocre food at a great location. This place absolutely shines when it comes to the location, atmosphere, and especially ESPECIALLY the quality and care put into the food and drinks. The founders are in the restaurant putting in the work and you can tell it's an absolute passion project for them and it is reflected in every detail. I can't wait to come back. I just don't understand how this place isn't packed out the doors every night. It's really a cool experience even if you get a slice of bread and a cocktail you're guaranteed to leave happy. read more

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Great food and ambiance. It feels very chic and modern. Our server Natalia was also excellent. This is a gem in the middle of the beautiful redwoods. read more

This might be one of the greatest restaurants I've tried in the Bog Sur area ever. I can't stop thinking about the beans and rice dish. It's one of those dishes that sounds like a meh, but stays with you fo a lifetime. read more

What a great find in Big Sur! Tucked away in The Village is the Soltice restaurant. Such a delicious and unique farm to table menu! Each course better than the last and probably something you've never experienced before. Start out with a fun artisanal cocktail and let Matt, one of the owners choose your wine. He's a sommelier. The waitstaff is friendly, attentive and chill. A one in a million experience ! read more

If you haven't yet experienced Solstice at The Village in Big Sur, make a note now to put this restaurant front and center on your dining itinerary next time you are in the area. You won't regret it. Solstice is the newest restaurant on the Hwy 1 "block" and is well on its way to becoming a classic Big Sur dining experience. My expectations last week, when I first sat down to experience Solstice with a group of friends, were high but soon surpassed after my first sip of a unique, crafted cocktail (the Naked Local) and a first course of smoked Brokaw avocado with caviar, cultured cream, and pickles. It got even better from there. After a superb second course of Koda Farms Heirloom rice plus Monterey squid tagliatelle, we were served our respective main courses which my friends generously shared. I have to admit I was less generous with my fantastic duck with morels, nettles and gnocchi. From there, we all sailed into a fantastic sampling of unique and delicious desserts. Wine was amazing, thanks to the deep expertise of one of the owners, Matthew Peterson, and the food - well, I can't say enough about Chef Tim Eelman and his talented crew. Service was also amazing. A final note on the environment: What drives a great dining experience is, of course, the food and memorable service, but Solstice has also created a uniquely beautiful dining environment of beautiful surfaces, interesting art, evocative lighting and an overall ambience that wrapped our dining experience in a glamorous cocoon. Hyperbole? Maybe, but I'm rarely moved to write reviews. Solstice was different, and I'll return in a flat second at the first opportunity to repeat what my friends and I experienced as a unique and terrific evening at Solstice. read more

This place is a gem. The food was amazing as was accompanied by great service and ambience. My wife and i both walked out saying it was one of the best meals we've ever had. We both had the prefix. I had the steak tartar, lobster, sea bass and a chocolate desert and she had the beets, lobster, chicken and apple desert. Can't say enough. Enjoy read more

I think I set my sights too high for Solstice and was ultimately let down. The service was great except for one small thing, more on that later. But the food is where it needs to shine, and they fell short there. That said, they used phenomenal ingredients and that was clear. Bread was the best thing we had. The crudo was fresh, but the sauce left something to be desired. Rice was texturally interesting. Got the trout entree which was underdone by about a minute. Asked server about it and she maintained it was safe. Im sure internal temp was a tad underdone though from the way the fish was flaking. My biggest gripe with the trout was that the fish was not salted at all. It was completely bland. I asked for salt and got a judgy look from the server and brought it up to which she defended with another look. I wasn't going to argue about how the fish should have been cooked but serving a piece of unsalted and undercooked fish in a restaurant at this caliber is unacceptable. Solstice is aspiring for a certain level and it missed the mark for me. It's a shame because I really wanted to like it. At least it was a beautiful drive down to Big Sur. read more

My friend and I were visiting Big Sur and were given a tip about a newish restaurant there called Solstice...we checked it out and it did not disappoint. The vibe is deep wood and sweet lighting classic, rustic mixed with midcentury modern complete with a disco ball that gently casts shadows on the room. The food, each course (we did the prix fix) was a celebration of the food on the plate. The Lamb I had with the mushrooms was exquisite as was the smoked avocado. The service--A+--just great people who obviously love working there, together. AS I left I found another room near the bar where I would love to get lost in with one of their killer beverages. This meal was not cheap. But if you are going to blow it, this is the place to do so. read more

Beautiful place.... But a train wreck in service and gastronomy. Ordered starters oysters and their bread. After 25 minutes of waiting , we asked a staff how much longer and they checked and came back and said they made a mistake and forgot to enter the order. So redtart, and 30 minutes in now starters finally came. Second oyster in was bad. Shockingly surprising at a restaurant trying to be of this caliber as it was visibly rotten and such a junior junior mistake. Bread was amazing... but that was the peak. Had the cod and the chickens. Cod with gravy was ok just a bit tame on flavor and the chicken had the wrong ratio of seasoning between the layers. This restaurant has all the right pieces to be looking at a Michelin future that it's trying so hard to be but they need to do much better with food and service. read more

Our favorite new restaurant on the Monterey Peninsula! From the moment we stepped outside the car we knew this place would be special. You can smell the wood burning fire and hear the hum of the river before you even step foot inside the door. And the inside matched the ambiance of the outside. We instantly felt right at home. Everything from the decor, to the cocktails, to the wine selection, and of course to the food feels curated. You can tell there was a lot of thought that went into every little aspect of this restaurant. Even if you can't quite put your finger on it, like the custom made abalone shell sconces, you can feel it. The menu itself was a feast for the senses and will leave you dreaming about your next visit. You NEED this place in your life! read more

Everything was wonderful! From top to bottom. We did the tasting menu and ordered a few drinks. The patio was lovely. We also had amazing service. read more

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Driving through Big Sur, we came across this very inviting, charming stop for coffee and snacks. We pulled over and ended up wandering through the property and found a cozy, sophisticated in a Big Sur way, cafe/restaurant. The people we encountered were so "chill" and friendly, showing us the various rooms, outdoor areas and recreational venues that we decided to make a reservation ( strongly recommended ) and come back for dinner. What a treat awaited us. The people there were locals and tourists like us: chill, hungry, friendly, and very satisfied with their choice of venue. The food was out of this world; the chef obviously talented and excited to be sharing his talent with the visitors and friends alike. We ordered a variety of items and each item we tasted was better than the last. Delicious is the perfect description. I think we will be visiting Big Sur again and again!!!! read more

Delightful! This was an all-around fun dinner experience! The ambiance is cozy and romantic. The food is creative and intriguing. Everyone on staff is kind and genuine. Would recommend to anyone looking for fine dining in Big Sur. read more

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Absolutely loved this restaurant for many reasons. First, it's beautiful.....the design, the open space, the open kitchen and the lovely outdoor patio space. The staff was so pleasant and accommodating in every way and the Duck Hash blew my mind! The French Toast was the lightest and fluffiest I have ever had and so delicious. Will definitely be returning to try some other dishes and to also enjoy the ambience that this restaurant offers in abundance!! read more

Restaurant is gorgeous & food is amazing! I highly recommend getting the full tasting. Completely worth it. read more

Solstice - Wine - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Big Sur, California

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This was the first time my ladyfriend and I have dined at Solstice (early Wed eve, July 2, 2025). In short, we had a marvelous experience, and look forward to returning. We had intended to leave our dog in the car, but she began to whine, so we sat with her at an outside table. The staff quickly arranged a heater for our table. We were very comfortable. The food was excellent -- preparations were very creative, well presented. The portions are not large, so I do recommend taking advantage of the prix fixe 4-course option. [Note: there is no separate prix-fixe menu; the prix fixe option is just to order one choice from each course group. The a la carte pricing of each item is shown. The 4-course prix fixe option costs about the same as ordering three items a la carte. *** Solstice -- please correct me if I have misstated about the prix fixe option. ***] I especially appreciated that oysters can be singly ordered. I thought the food and beverage choices were very good. My vegetarian ladyfriend had no trouble finding food items she enjoyed very much (she had the grilled avocado; I had the yellowtail crudo and the lamb). There was a good selection of specialty mixed drinks. The wine list was very good, not run-of-the-mill. We found the service to be exemplary, the staff courteous and friendly. We were the only ones seated outside on the patio, yet they kept an eye out and responded very quickly to our needs. Our server was very helpful with menu and drink suggestions. I thought the cost of our dinner was right in line with what I would expect for our area and the quality of our experience. read more

My wife and I had dinner here to celebrate our anniversary, and we were absolutely amazed by the quality of the food, the service, and the ambiance (seriously--even the decor is fantastic). We got married in Big Sur, and I've been camping up there every summer since I was born, so it's thrilling to see a restaurant of this caliber open up right there on the 1. Any sit-down meal along that stretch of coast is going to be relatively expensive, but at Solstice we actually received the level of brilliance we'd paid for, as opposed to certain other nearby restaurants where you're mostly just paying for location. The levain bread, the crudo, the rice, the cod, and the lamb were all insanely delicious and creative. Of all the fine dining you can do in the area, this place has the freshest and most exciting food by a long shot. We'll be making it a tradition. Thanks, y'all. read more

Unbelievable dining experience at Solstice. Somehow, impossibly, each bite is more delicious than the last. The dishes are inventive but not fussy. Local and seasonal ingredients tell the story of Big Sur and it all tastes like a celebration. The atmosphere is beautiful and peaceful. The wine list and cocktails are interesting and unique. The service was is unmatched. I really can't wait to return. read more

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Amazing concept but waaay overpriced! Food is delish but why inflate the prices so much? I appreciate fine ingredients, which they offer but not at such inflated prices. read more

My wife, daughter, and I had an exquisite meal at Solstice Friday evening. It's pretty rare that a new restaurant opens in Big Sur (every 20 years or so?). I hadn't realized it was such a world-class experience. The food was original, fresh, and absolutely delicious. Uniquely, it pleased both sophisticated adults and our 13-year-old daughter. The vibe of the restaurant is relaxed and mellow, yet still very sophisticated. Not too uptight for such a fancy restaurant and everyone seems to be treated with dignity and equity. This is our new favorite restaurant in Big Sur, and I have been coming to Big Sur for 45 years! read more

Amazing food in a beautiful setting! Felt like a Michelin caliber restaurant One of the best places I've ever eaten at.

My husband and I went to this restaurant for our 18th year anniversary and we had the most amazing experience. The ambience was amazing and the staff was incredible. Our waitress was absolutely top-notch. She literally explained every dish to us to where we wanted to order everything off the menu. Her name I believe is Tyrosa (spelling?). She was EXCELLENT! The food was melt in your mouth delicious. We decided to each have the 4 course meal off the menu. It was perfect. We were able to have 8 different dishes off the menu. We enjoy every single dish. We were enjoying ourselves so much. We didn't take any pics of the restaurant or the food. But trust me you won't be disappointed. We will definitely be back. read more

Solstice - Our waitress as well as the rest of the staff signed a menu to wish us a Happy Anniversary. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Big Sur, California

Dining at Solstice is like being invited to a dinner party at a friend of a friend's house, where would-be strangers become friends from the moment you walk through the door. Here, you'll find locals and industry (chefs, FOH staff) on their night off sitting shoulder to shoulder with out-of-towners, from first-timers to long-timers. Slurping oysters. Tearing into a loaf of sourdough so springy you're tempted to take one home to use as a pillow. Laughing and sharing the kind of "if you know, you know" tips about little-known trail heads and pop-up DJ sets that flow freely after a glass of wine in good company. Everyone here is happy to see you, whether, like me, you've come to savor your meal into the late hours or you're simply passing through. Like skilled dinner party hosts, the staff balance presence with absence so that all your needs are met, and you have the time, space, and privacy to be truly in the moment. They'll deftly guide you through the menu -- the value of the four-course tasting menu for $100 is unmatched anywhere on the peninsula, and agruably much, much farther away -- and the wine list, which emphasizes natural, sustainable, and bio-dynamic wines with stories as winsome as the wines themselves. But the real reason you've come, whether you knew it already or not, is for the food. Chef Tim, formerly of Post Ranch and the Big Sur Bakery, takes local ingredients at the height of their season, and from those he says, "now let me show you what Big Sur can REALLY do." Unbridled by the strictures of any one cuisine, in a given dish you may find those ingredients prepared with French or Japanese techniques, and apotheosized with touches of huitlacoche or house-made XO sauce or urfa or markut lime or parsley oil or.... or... or... Brokaw avocados are smoked over the open hearth and played off of with early-girl tomatoes, pickles, and a top-secret toasted seed mix I can only hope finds its way onto the shelves in the forthcoming Big Sur Bodega. A humble dish of rice and beans is elevated with Koda Farms heirloom rice, served both tender and puffed, cranberry beans, tamari-cured egg yolk, nori, and trout roe. The best way to appreciate this dish, once admired, is to break into the yolk and stir everything around like it's your 1pm breakfast fried rice after a night on the town -- unceremoniously and with relish. Whole lamb are broken down and served as tenderloins cooked to perfection, as sausage stuffed inside cabbage leaves that melt in your mouth, and shredded, pressed, and fried until they're dripping with fat to the point that you may want to think twice about posting that photo you took to Instagram. It could very well be flagged as pornographic. For dessert, a whole nixtamalized stone fruit, a revelation with its crisp outermost shell-of-sorts and perfectly succulent insides, and a flavor I can only describe as, if you'll forgive the youthful aphorism, the MOST peach. If it's not too late, close out your dinner tab and take an empty seat at the bar for a nightcap. The cocktails change with the seasons and to complement the menu. Favorites include: a vodka concoction with snap peas, a dirty martini with spruce and pickled ramps, a coconut-washed daiquiri, and a worthy rival of the Tall Southie (iykyk). And when you are finally satisfied, cross the threshold once more, leaving that feeling of an endless summer day behind and stepping out into the night, already looking forward to your next trip to Big Sur and to Solstice. And know that when you do come back, you'll see familiar faces, and it'll be as if no time has passed. read more

Excellent food and service! We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner here. We had the four-course tasting menu. I started with the beet salad with dates and walnuts, and it was very good. Such a delicious melding of flavors. Then I had the pumpkin (or squash) soup, which was light and also very good. The entree of black cod I liked the least. The flavors didn't quite make it for me. My husband said his duck entree was excellent. My dessert of chocolate ganache with yuzu, I believe, was original and quite good. The wines chosen by the waitress were good, especially the Chardonnay. The Pinot was a little young but good. The courses were excellently timed, and the servers were very personable. The restaurant was a little noisy. Perhaps some soundproofing on the ceiling would help. We will definitely return the next time we are in the area. read more

What a special spot! We loved every bite at Solstice! It has great ambiance, an incredible wine list, and most importantly delicious food. My advice is to try different items and share with your group and make sure to order the bread! We can't wait to go back. read more

Booked on a whim while in Big Sur. We did the dinner 4 course sampling. Absolutely the way to go. Cannot recommend this place highly enough. Went back for brunch the next day. Highly-recommend. Great, food, drinks and vibes. read more

Excellent 4 course fixed price menu. Wife and I chose different dishes, shared tastes. The plating was superb, showed the dishes off well. Service was attentive, appreciated having a full water glass without asking. Halibut cucumber crudo was enjoyable, the duck was superb, chocolate meringue tart was intriguing. read more