BOTTOMS UP!

San Luis Obispo County Cocktail & Mocktail Guide

By Molly O’Brien

Though San Luis Obispo County is traditionally known as a bustling wine destination and home to dozens of fantastic craft breweries, this region offers so much more in the form of impressive concoctions made with craft spirits. Here’s Living Lavishly’s deep dive into the legendary locations serving outstanding cocktails and mocktails, from Paso Robles to Pismo Beach and everywhere in between!

The Alchemist’s Garden

1144 Pine St. Alchemistsgarden.com

Earning its name from the definition of alchemy—a power or process of transforming something ordinary into something special—The Alchemists’ Garden in Paso Robles serves a lineup of delicious, funky drinks, each with its own unique twist. This bar is known for its special rotating “Zodiac” cocktails that change by the month, depending on the current Zodiac sign. For a consistently buzzy drink, try The Order, which lives within the Espresso Martini family—but uses an untraditional combination of Thai coconut milk and Alchemist bourbon (among other special ingredients). There’s also the Nicholas Flamel, which is similar to a margarita but uses chipotleinfused tequila, lime, and lapsang souchong tea agave for an eccentric flavor. Those seeking a non-boozy beverage can choose between a wide variety of handcrafted mocktails like The Count, which is similar to a Negroni and features DHOS gin-free gin.

Eleven Twenty Two

1122 Pine St.

Eleven-twentytwo.com

Travel back to a simpler time at Eleven Twenty Two, an elegant cocktail lounge and bar in Paso Robles that feels like an authentic speakeasy experience. In fact, to ensure a truly old-fashioned vibe, cell phone use is not permitted within the bar area. To enter, step through the hidden door behind the other shops and restaurants on Railroad Street and stroll along a narrow passageway lined with bookshelves to encounter a candlelit, 1930s-inspired enclave. This bar emits an ambiance of Gatsby-esque glittery coolness and serves a lineup of Prohibition-erainspired concoctions. For teetotalers who still want to experience this intriguing establishment, the Orange Julius is a truly fun mocktail.

Guest House Grill

At Guest House Grill—which originally started as a Cal Poly senior project and has since grown into one of SLO County’s favorite hangouts—classic comfort food complements the curated cocktails that are bound to dazzle any diner who stops in for a visit. For those seeking something strong, the Rum Away With Me is a delightful combination of Calwise dark rum, fresh lemon juice, agave, egg white, mezcal rinse, and

Angostura bitters. For a lighter and brighter note, try the Royal Hawaiian, which is made with butterfly pea gin, pineapple juice, orgeat, and fresh lemon juice. And the Cucumber Crisp, which is made with cucumber vodka, simple syrup, fresh lime juice, soda water and lemonlime soda, is a refreshing drink to sip on a sunny day in North County!

Highwater in downtown San Luis Obispo is a music lovers’ paradise! Here, visitors can experience a lyrical night out at a spot that’s dedicated to the motto, “Cocktails. Eats. Tunes.” Owners Robin Wolf and Matthew Hanson created this bar with the duo’s love of music in mind— especially rock ’n’ roll. The impressive cocktail menu pays homage to the greats with drinks like Bennie and the Jets’ (honoring Elton John), which is a vodka cocktail, or the Voodoo Child (inspired by Jimi Hendrix), which is a tequila drink. There’s also the Black Dog (a Led Zeppelin tribute) made with a strong whiskey mix. Those who want to sip and schmooze a while can try the large format cocktail “punch” drinks, which can serve up to 12 people in flavors like the Spellbound (inspired by Siouxsie and the Banshees) made with vodka, rose liquor, white tea, lemon, honey, strawberry jam, and club soda.

Rod & Hammer

Rodandhammer.com

California surfer Rodney “Rod” Cegelski and Australian businessman Hamish “Hammer” Marshall established Rod & Hammer in 2019 as a small-batch distillery and craft tasting room in San Luis Obispo. This distillery’s spirits are cut with distilled and purified Pacific Ocean water, which represents the meaningful oceanic link between these two partners. The tasting room feels like a bohemian-cowboy-surfer-dream, with warm whites and wooden tones and plenty of natural light during the daytime. The team actually recently took home awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for their Cask Strength Bourbon (Gold Medal), full-strength bottled Old Fashioned (Silver Medal), and Distiller’s Reserve Rye and new Whiskey Mule canned cocktail (Bronze Medal).

Hotel SLO

877 Palm St. Hotel-slo.com

It’s no secret that downtown’s Hotel SLO boasts a gorgeous rooftop bar with views of Cerro San Luis and Bishop Peak. Whether relaxing on the rooftop or dining at the on-site restaurant, Ox + Anchor, guests can try craft creations like the Black Hill, which is made with Redwood Empire Lost Monarch, Amaro Averna, Willow Creek Amaro, black walnut bitters, and cherry bitters. It’s named after Black Hill, one of SLO County’s Nine Sisters, the chain of well-known volcanic peaks that run between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. This drink was designed to showcase the essence of Hotel SLO in a glass, using a strong representation of California spirit combined with a twist of Italian roots.

Arroyo

A trip to Ember in Arroyo Grande isn’t just dinner and drinks—it’s a special night out on the town in a repurposed barn that has since been transformed into an inviting and rustic neighborhood favorite. Although this spot changes its cocktail menu seasonally to keep flavors fresh and up to date, it always features the finest spirits, house-made syrups, and garnishes. For those seeking something classic, Ember is known for its signature version of the Old Fashioned, concocted with a notable twist. It’s called the Ember Old Fashioned and is arguably the restaurant’s most popular cocktail, aiming to be “comfortingly traditional, but with a slight distinction.”

Hotel Cerro

At Hotel Cerro in downtown San Luis Obispo, try The SLOLiner, made with local Corberosa Espresso, Rod & Hammer Stills Buttered Bourbon, Kahlua, demerara sugar, and Bailey’s foam. This cocktail is a fun take on an espresso martini with a richer texture and some extra layers of flavor since the on-site team added their own signature SLO twist by switching out the vodka for black-butter-washed Rod & Hammer bourbon. Enjoy it on the roof, which boasts panoramic views of Cerro San Luis, or inside the property’s cozy, brick-lined, Brasserie SLO.

Mason Bar & Kitchen

Mason Bar & Kitchen has been voted one of South County’s best bars for seven consecutive years. Nestled in the Village of Arroyo Grande, Mason is a whiskyforward lounge with impressive handcrafted cocktails— including a 100-year-old cask-aged Cognac. Visitors can enjoy a country-chic atmosphere at this laid-back, family-friendly establishment, which is a favorite goto spot for locals and travelers alike. Their barrel-aged cocktails come in a 2-ounce pour served over a large ice cube, in classic choices like the Boulevardier—made with Buffalo Trace bourbon, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, Campari, and an orange twist—and the Negroni—made with New Amsterdam gin, Campari, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, and an orange twist. Settle outside on the open-air patio or cozy up in the warm and welcoming dining room.

For a more elevated experience paired with an energetic atmosphere, visit Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach, which hosts a daily cocktail hour called Fiesta Hour from 3 to 6 p.m. at the on-site restaurant, Pequín Coastal Cocina (named after the type of spicy pepper!). The restaurant’s tequila-inspired cocktail program serves a lineup of impressive signature drinks. Try the Hot Lips, which is made with Olmeca Altos Plata and Mezcal—or the Kiwi Paloma, which is made with Olmeca Altos Plata. The ocean views from the outdoor patio are spectacular, but the cocktails are just as eye-catching!