The 5 Best Restaurants in Morro Bay: My Favorite Food Spots in 2026

Originally, I didn’t even plan on coming to Morro Bay. I had never heard of it before and honestly had no idea what to expect. But I ended up stopping here during my California road trip this year, and I’ll tell you what:

Here I had some of the best seafood I ate anywhere in California!

I spent about 3 full days in Morro Bay, and during that time I did my best to try as much good food as I possibly could. Yes, that meant a LOT of seafood, but I also had plenty of other delicious meals that I honestly didn’t expect to find in a little seaside town like this.

So, to help you guys figure out where to have dinner tonight or grab lunch tomorrow, I decided to put together this guide on the best restaurants in Morro Bay that I actually tried myself and would absolutely recommend to you guys.

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The 5 Best Restaurants in Morro Bay: My Favorite Food Spots in 2026

What are the Best Restaurants in Morro Bay? I’ve Got the Answer

Morro Bay is a fishing town, and it’s famous for its amazing seafood and oysters, so obviously that was what I wanted to try the most. Because of that, quite a few of the recommendations on this list are seafood restaurants, but not all of them. I wanted to have a few options for everyone.

When it comes to seafood, I really loved Giovanni’s Fish Market. I have to say, the popcorn shrimp and calamari I had there were just ridiculously good. And then we also had some superb oysters and calamari at Tognazzini’s. Both places are super casual and perfect for a seafood lunch by the waterfront.

For oysters specifically, I highly recommend Grassy Bar Oyster Company. They catch the oysters fresh every day and shuck them right there, and they also have a really cute upstairs balcony where you can sit and eat.

And lastly, for something that isn’t seafood, I can highly recommend Three Stacks and a Rock Brewing Company. It’s a brewery with delicious hot dogs and good beer, and as a huge beer fan, I personally love a good brewery or brewhouse. So for me, that’s kind of a safe bet!

1. Giovanni’s Fish Market

Opening Hours: 9am-6pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

Giovanni’s Fish Market is a very casual seafood restaurant that’s basically a little hole-in-the-wall kind of place, which I personally love a lot.

You order your food at one window, pick it up at another, and then take it over to their really cool patio right by the waterfront. So yes, the views are definitely included here!

We ordered two lagers because I just love a cold beer with some crispy seafood, and then got the popcorn shrimp and fried calamari. And oh my god, it was so good. The popcorn shrimp here was literally one of the best things I’ve ever had.

Giovanni’s also has a little shop where you can buy fresh seafood and other delicatessen products, and they even have a souvenir and merch store. So definitely have a look around while you’re here!

2. Tognazzini’s Dockside Restaurant

Opening Hours: 7am-9pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

We came to Tognazzini’s Dockside Restaurant on a random weekday for lunch, and right from the start I have to say, it had such a cool vibe.

We had blue skies, the sun was out, there was live music playing, and the place was fairly busy without feeling completely overrun. Basically, exactly what I want from a California waterfront lunch.

To order food, we had to go inside to their fish counter, where they take your order, but you can also buy fresh fish there to take home with you.

We ordered oysters, calamari and some fries, and sitting out on the patio right by the waterfront while eating was just awesome.

It has a pretty similar casual waterfront vibe to Giovanni’s, so if you’re into fresh seafood and want to eat right by the water, I’d definitely check out both of them.

3. Three Stacks and a Rock Brewing Company

Opening Hours: 11am-9pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★
Menu & Location

I know there are probably some of you out there who don’t like seafood, and I get it. I also didn’t want to eat seafood all day, every day, which is why I mixed things up a little bit and visited Three Stacks and a Rock Brewing Company.

For starters, I love a good brewery. I love drinking a cold beer, especially sitting on a patio on a warm summer day, so I was super excited when I found out there was a brewery like this in Morro Bay.

For the beer, I had their house lager, which was great, and then we ordered one of their gourmet hot dogs, which was actually really tasty.

We sat outside on their patio with views over the bay, so it’s a really nice place for lunch or a casual dinner if you want something a little different from seafood.

4. Grassy Bar Oyster Company

Opening Hours: 11:30pm-5:30m
Price: $
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

I do love oysters, and while I don’t eat them very often, I always feel like when I visit somewhere where oysters are popular, I have to try as many as I can.

So after already having oysters at Tognazzini’s, I also wanted to check out Grassy Bar Oyster Company because I’d heard great things, and I’m glad I did because I really loved the oysters here.

This place is a proper oyster bar, with all of their oysters freshly caught and shucked right there. And honestly, that’s pretty much all they do. We got a beer to go with ours, sat up on their balcony and just enjoyed the whole experience.

If you love oysters, this one is a MUST.

5. Taqueria El Guero Distillery

Opening Hours: 10am-9pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

And lastly, for everyone who wants something that isn’t a slimy oyster or a piece of fish, I’ve put my favorite Mexican restaurant in Morro Bay on this list: Taqueria El Guero Distillery.

We came here on our very last night for a little casual date night, and it was perfect for that. We had tacos and cocktails, and all the food tasted really fresh and delicious.

I wouldn’t necessarily call it super authentic Mexican food, but it was still really tasty, and especially when it comes to the cocktails, I’d absolutely come back.

The whole vibe here was great for a casual date night. They have fire pits, and we could even see the ocean from where we were sitting, which made it a really nice way to end our time in Morro Bay.

FAQs About Where to Eat in Morro Bay

What Is the Best Oyster Bar in Morro Bay?

I’d say the best oyster bar in Morro Bay is Grassy Bar Oyster Company. It’s a very small place and they basically only offer oysters, but the oysters were incredibly fresh and delicious. If you’re an oyster fan, definitely check it out!

Is Morro Bay Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! I loved Morro Bay a lot. It’s definitely not as touristy or popular as places nearby like Big Sur or Santa Barbara, but that’s actually part of what I liked about it. It’s a super cool, low-key weekend getaway where you can slow down a little and enjoy the waterfront, wildlife and seafood.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Morro Bay?

I’d say September or October are probably the best months to visit Morro Bay. The weather is actually surprisingly mild around this time of year, and you’ll often get beautiful blue skies. It’s also a fantastic time to go whale watching.

What Is the Best Coffee Shop in Morro Bay?

Morro Bay isn’t necessarily known for its amazing coffee, but I can highly recommend Scout Coffee here. Their cappuccinos and lattes were both really good, so it’s definitely worth checking out if you need a good coffee while you’re in town.

Final Thoughts on the Best Seafood Restaurants in Morro Bay

As you can tell, I’m definitely an advocate for trying the seafood restaurants here in Morro Bay, and I really do think they’re worth checking out. I had a great time at some of the other restaurants in town too, but come on, we’re right by the harbor here, so the fish doesn’t get much fresher!

And lastly, I really want to urge you to try the oysters, even if you think you don’t like them. Just give them a shot! You might be surprised.

I hope this little guide on my favorite restaurants in Morro Bay gave you a good idea of what food to try and where to go for a nice lunch or dinner.