Half Moon Bay – official home of the annual Mavericks Surf Contest®, in case you’d forgotten – is the most active ocean-side harbor between Mendocino and Santa Cruz. It is National Marine Sanctuary territory and also home to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, which boasts hundreds of bird species, plenty of land and marine animal life, and ancient Native American Indian cultural sites. The city also hosts the famous Pumpkin Festival in October of each year, and is known for its unusually sunny and warm days, often in the dead of winter. Despite its rural seaside feel, Half Moon Bay is also a great getaway location for people craving good food and first-class accommodations (and, of course, the occasional 50-foot wave). Here’s a handful of Half Moon Bay spots you just can’t miss, whether you’re in town for the Contest or any other day of the year.

Restaurant Recommendations

Sam’s Chowder House
4210 North Cabrillo Highway
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 712-0245

Mezza Luna
459 Prospect Way
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 728-8108

Café Gibraltar
425 Avenue Alhambra
El Granada, CA
(650) 560-9039

Ketch Joanne Restaurant & Harbor Bar
17 Johnson Pier
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 728-3747

Café Capistrano
460 Capistrano Road
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 728-7699

3-Zero Café
Half Moon Bay Airport
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 728-1411

Café Classique
107 Sevilla Avenue
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 726-9775

Sushi Main Street
696 Mill Street
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 726-6336

HMB Coffee Company
20 Stone Pine Road, Suite A
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 726-3664

El Granada Hardware & Cafe
85 Avenue Portola
El Granada, CA
(650) 726-5009

Event Savvy
Catering, Event Design & Production
P.O. Box 1679
El Granada, CA
(650) 728-9436

Creekside Smokehouse
280 Ave. Alhambra
El Granada, CA
(650) 712-8862
www.creeksidesmokehouse.com

Bar/Tavern Recommendations

Old Princeton Landing
460 Capistrano Road
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 728-9103

Harbor Bar
17 Johnson Pier
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 728-5566

Mezza Luna Bar
459 Prospect Way
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 728-8108

San Benito House Bar
356 Main Street
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 726-3425

Winters Tavern
1522 Francisco Boulevard
Pacifica, CA
(650) 355-6162

Sam’s Chowder House
4210 North Cabrillo Highway
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 712-0245

The Wine Bar
270 Capistrano Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-0770
www.thewinebarhmb.com

Cameron’s
1410 Cabrillo Highway South
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 726-5705

HMB Brewery
390 Capistrano Road
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 728-2739

Hotel/Motel Recommendations

Oceano Hotel & Spa
280 Capistrano Road
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 726-5400

Harbor House Bed and Breakfast
346 Princeton Avenue
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 728-1572

Harbor View Inn
51 Avenue Alhambra
El Granada, CA
(650) 726-2329

Comfort Inn
2930 North Cabrillo Highway
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 712-1999

Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay
1 Miramontes Point Road
Half Moon Bay, CA
(650) 712-7000

Half Moon Bay Lodge
2400 South Cabrillo Highway
Half Moon Bay, CA
(800) 710-0778