Kick off your trip with breakfast at Big Sur Roadhouse, an elevated diner. Fuel up with a pesto, mushroom, and sun-dried tomato scramble or, if you're feeling indulgent, one of their homemade doughnuts. 

Choose your afternoon adventure:

Nepenthe’s wraparound veranda is where you want to be for lunch. Perched high above the ocean, the restaurant is known for its Ambrosiaburger. Order the vegetarian version with a side of vinegary garbanzo-kidney bean salad. On your way out, peruse The Phoenix Shop, a gift store filled with souvenirs from local artisans.

For dinner, head to Big Sur Bakery. The cozy ranch space is the perfect setting for a Californian meal of seasonal vegetables, wood-fired pizzas, and mains like Alaskan halibut with Dungeness crab, creamed broccoli leaves, shelling beans, baby turnips, and basil.

While retreat center and educational institute Esalen hosts a range of engaging workshops, like painting and massage, its majestic hot springs are the real draw. The natural sulphur baths are open to the public from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. each morning for moonlit dips, just be sure to make a reservation in advance.

Start your day by sampling eggs Benedict, homemade granola, or huevos rancheros at Deetjen’s Restaurant. Sip on their bracing coffee in the magnolia-covered courtyard. 

Choose your adventure:

Grab a sandwich at Big Sur Deli, a family-owned delicatessen. Try the Big Sur Hippie, which comes with avocado, sprouts, Monterey Jack cheese, tomato, lettuce, and soy bacon bits.

Make a reservation in advance for dinner at Sierra Mar, the fine-dining restaurant at the Post Ranch Inn. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow for a striking view from any table, and the evolving, four-course, prix-fixe menu may showcase dishes like black cod with Hakurei turnips, eggplant, and shiso, and Monterey Bay squid with tomato and coriander. The eatery has one of the country’s largest wine collections, with over 15,000 bottles perfect for toasting the conclusion of your visit.