Media Contact:

Mayla Lohnes, Public Relations Manager

805-541-8000

mayla@slocal.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

FROM A WWII QUONSET HUT HOTEL TO A JAMES BEARD CHEF’S WINE COUNTRY DEBUT: SLO CAL UNVEILS 30+ NEW OPENINGS FOR SUMMER 2026

 

Visit SLO CAL spotlights the region’s most significant season of new openings, with standout debuts in lodging, dining, wine and live events across SLO CAL.

 

Pacific Point Resort in Pismo Beach – Credit: Julie Soefer

(High-res images available for download HERE)

 

 

San Luis Obispo County, California, June 16, 2026 – Visit SLO CAL (VSC), the official destination marketing and management organization (DMMO) for San Luis Obispo County (SLO CAL), is spotlighting new openings in Summer 2026 with new hotels, restaurants, wineries and attractions throughout the county. With the full reopening of Highway 1 restoring seamless coastal road-trip travel and reconnecting SLO CAL’s North Coast communities with Monterey County, now is an ideal time to explore the region’s diverse landscapes, vibrant communities and emerging experiences.

 

 

“With Highway 1 restoring full coastal access and new experiences emerging throughout the region, there’s never been a more exciting time to explore SLO CAL,” said Cathy Cartier, President & CEO of Visit SLO CAL. “From coastal communities and wine country to downtown districts and agricultural experiences, visitors and residents will discover both local favorites and new reasons to return.”

 

 

AT A GLANCE

✓ California's most scenic road trip: Highway 1 runs the length of SLO CAL, connecting 30+ new reasons to stop, from coastal towns to wine country.

✓ 30+ new openings: Hotels, restaurants, wineries and attractions have opened or announced since January 2026.

✓ Oceanfront Resort: Pacific Point: A new 170-room oceanfront resort debuts in Pismo Beach in July, reimagining the former Pismo Lighthouse Suites and Shore Cliff Hotel properties.

✓ Wine country debut: Edna SLO: James Beard Award-nominated Chef Jeremy Fox anchors a new multi-winery tasting room, distillery and restaurant in Edna Valley, known as Edna SLO, opening this summer.

 

WHAT’S NEW IN SLO CAL

 

San Simeon

 

Cambria

  • Salty Pages: Boutique offering books, candles and jewelry in Cambria’s Garden Shed space.
  • The Mincing Mockingbird: Reimagined in the Mission Gallery space, featuring artwork and gifts with the brand’s signature wit and whimsy.

 

Cayucos

 

Morro Bay

  • The Q Inn: Boutique 10-room hotel in a restored 1941 World War II-era Quonset hut downtown.
  • Lumina Earth Apothecary – Kava Bar: Expanded evening offerings now include kava beverages, herbal elixirs, teas and community gatherings.

 

Avila Beach

 

Shell Beach

  • Westerly Shell Beach: New restaurant and bar in the former Spyglass Inn, serving California coastal cuisine with ocean views for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

Pismo Beach

  • Swell Sandwich Shop: Serving cold-cut and build-your-own sandwiches.
  • Dulci: New coffee and pastry shop with flavored lattes, croissants and made-to-order flatbread pizzas.

 

Arroyo Grande

 

Grover Beach

  • Ramona Garden Park: Revitalized community space featuring a new all-abilities inclusive playground.

 

San Luis Obispo

  • Cultural Arts District Parking Structure: The city’s largest infrastructure investment supports continued revitalization of downtown SLO’s Cultural Arts District.
  • Uma’s: An Uzbekistan-focused Eurasian restaurant; its first West Coast location.

 

Atascadero

 

Paso Robles

  • Cattlemen’s Bar at Paso Robles Inn: Western-inspired menu, handcrafted cocktails and a ranch atmosphere led by Chef Charlie Palmer.
  • The Anderson Paso: Complete reimagining of the former Tooth & Nail property.
  • The Ravine Waterpark – The Cove: New resort-style area featuring a splashless pool, hot tub, upgraded cabanas, expanded dining options and enhanced beverage offerings.
  • Allegretto Wines Summer Rosé Flights: A limited-time tasting experience featuring refreshing rosé selections ideal for warm-weather wine country visits.
  • BoBar Paso: Downtown Paso’s new destination for boba and handcrafted tea inspired by Taiwanese tradition.
  • Melo Mela Kitchen: Now open at Bianchi Winery, offering a refined, yet approachable dining experience rooted in seasonal California cuisine and Italian influences.

 

San Miguel

 

COMING SOON TO SLO CAL

Openings anticipated before end of 2026:

 

Morro Bay

  • Kai Shave Ice (Summer 2026): Authentic Hawaiian-style shave ice anticipated to open this summer.
  • Crab It While It's Hot (Summer 2026): An upcoming Cajun-style seafood boil restaurant planned for the Embarcadero waterfront. 

 

Pismo Beach

  • Pacific Point Resort (July 2026): 170-room oceanfront resort by Peregrine Hospitality, reimagining the former Pismo Lighthouse Suites and Shore Cliff Hotel.

 

Edna Valley

  • Edna (Summer 2026): Chef Jeremy Fox leads a new multi-winery tasting room, distillery, market and restaurant.

 

San Luis Obispo

  • Alma Café (Summer 2026): New café from the team behind Novo and Luna Red, opening on Montrey Street.
  • High St. Deli Third Location (Summer 2026): New location, The Green Bottle, will include an expanded beverage program and bar concept, Common Bar.
  • Good Boy (Fall 2026): From the owner of Nate’s On Marsh, the concept is being developed in the former Franks Famous Hot Dogs location.
  • Frankie’s Garden Street Caffe: An Italian-inspired café coming soon to Garden Street in Downtown SLO with sandwiches, cured meats, pastries and afternoon wine.
  • Villain Bakery and SLOdega: Villain Bakery prepares for its brick-and-mortar debut while SLOdega opens in Mission Plaza offering grab-and-go food, coffee and baked goods.

 

Paso Robles

 

SUMMER EVENTS & FESTIVALS

View the complete lineup of upcoming events and summer concert music series throughout SLO CAL at slocal.com/events.

 

Highlights Include:

 

Only in SLO CAL

  • 6th Annual Open Farm Days (June 19-21):  Free admission (registration required), to 20+ farms, ranches and agricultural producers across SLO CAL via a new interactive map.
  • Farmhouse Paso Pottery Workshops (June 28, July 26, Aug. 23): New pottery workshops with local ceramic artist Adriana Lemus, featuring a Berry Bowl Workshop, Travel Mug Workshop and Candle Holder throughout the summer.
  • Willow Pond SLO: Creating with Nature (Aug. 14-17): A four-day cyanotype and mixed-media workshop led by artist Kristen Abbott.
  • Paint the Plaza (Sept. 19): A new chalk-art festival transforming Mission Plaza into an outdoor gallery of community-created artwork.
  • Break-A-Wave Rodeo on the Beach (Sept. 25-26): One-of-a-kind rodeo showcase and fundraiser in Avila Beach that supports college rodeo student athletes, helping pave the way for their success in and out of the arena. Tickets go on sale at 12 p.m. PST on June 16. 

 

Food & Wine

  • SLO Coast & Friends Wine Fair (June 28): The 2nd annual wine fair at Parr Wines in Cambria will feature some of the most respected organic wine growers and vignerons from the SLO Coast AVA and beyond. A portion of proceeds will benefit Greenspace, The Cambria Land Trust. Local music, food and media by Jan’s Place, Linn’s, Stardust Grove Pizza, Morro Bay Oyster Co., Banner Coffee, Brydge and Roadside Terroir.
  • Wine for Pines (Aug. 1): Join the Pacific Coast Wine Trail for the Wine for Pines Festival, where 100% of ticket sales benefit Greenspace, The Cambria Land Trust. Features wine tasting from eight boutique wineries, live music, local vendors and food at the Creekside Preserve.
  • Shell Beach Food & Wine (Aug. 29): Oceanfront tasting at Dolphin Bay Resort with regional wineries, breweries, distilleries, live music and culinary partners.
  • Avocado & Margarita Festival (Sept. 12): Returning after a multi-year hiatus with food, drinks, entertainment and family-friendly activities.
  • Farmers & Makers Market with Cherry Bombe (Sept. 25-27): Cherry Bombe brings its nationally recognized food and wine platform to Paso Robles for a weekend celebrating the region’s culinary community and women in food and agriculture.
  • Booker Vineyard’s “Pop the Champagne!” VIP Terrace Experience: The updated VIP Terrace experience includes champagne service alongside a guided tasting of Booker wines and insights into the estate’s regenerative organic farming practices. For groups, reserve the picnic space or bocce ball court and enjoy the beautiful outdoor space.

 

Milestones

 

The region of SLO CAL includes the communities of Ragged Point, San Simeon, Harmony, Cambria, Cayucos, Los Osos & Baywood Park, Morro Bay, Avila Beach, Shell Beach, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Oceano, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo, Santa Margarita, Atascadero, Templeton, Paso Robles, San Miguel, Creston, Shandon, Cholame and Pozo.

 

For more information about Visit SLO CAL, visit slocal.com or email Mayla Lohnes, mayla@slocal.com.

 

###

 

ABOUT VISIT SLO CAL:

Visit SLO CAL (VSC) is the official countywide non-profit destination marketing and management organization (DMMO) for San Luis Obispo County, known as SLO CAL. Positioned midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, SLO CAL features more than 100 miles of breathtaking coastline, rolling vineyards covering over 40,000 acres and some of California’s most scenic open roads, including the iconic Highway 1. Visit SLO CAL promotes the region as a premier West Coast destination, celebrated for its signature slower pace of life and diverse, immersive experiences across over 15 communities and towns, including Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Avila Beach, Cambria, Cayucos, Cholame, Creston, Edna Valley, Grover Beach, Harmony, Los Osos & Baywood Park, Morro Bay, Nipomo, Oceano, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, Pozo, Ragged Point, San Luis Obispo, San Miguel, Santa Margarita, San Simeon, Shandon, Shell Beach and Templeton. Under the shared brand promise, Life’s Too Beautiful to Rush, Visit SLO CAL strengthens the local economy and creates opportunities for the entire community. Built on research and a strategy of continuous improvement, the organization is committed to showcasing SLO CAL’s unique charm to travelers from around the world. For more information, visit slocal.com and follow @slocal on social media.