The 5 Best Restaurants in Ojai California: My Top Foodie Spots in 2026

Since my time in Ojai wasn’t exactly packed with activities and was much more of a spa weekend and treat-yourself kind of trip, I made sure to try as much good food as I possibly could while I was here.

I spent a whole weekend in Ojai, and I basically went out for every meal because I wanted to try as many different places as possible and, unfortunately, I only had so much time. So yes, I definitely ate my way through Ojai!

The food scene here is pretty small, which obviously makes sense because Ojai itself is a pretty small town. But I still found some really cool little restaurants, cafes and wine bars that I absolutely loved.

And to save you guys from spending hours on Google trying to figure out where to go for lunch or dinner, I put together this guide to my favorite restaurants in Ojai California.

What Are the Best Restaurants in Ojai? I Have the Answers

Before we get into the list, one quick disclaimer: I’m not a local Ojaian, nor do I live anywhere nearby, so I obviously haven’t tried every single restaurant in Ojai.

So this isn’t some official ranking of the five best restaurants in town. These are simply the five restaurants I tried myself and really liked, which is why I’m more than happy to recommend them to you.

It was actually kinda hard for me to pick a favorite, but I think Pinyon probably takes the top spot for me. I absolutely loved their goat cheese pizza, and it was definitely one of my favorite meals in Ojai.

But then you also have places like Sam’s Place and Ojai Roots, which I thought were really cool for grabbing a cocktail or a glass of wine, ordering a few little dishes, and just hanging out for a while.

And since I know a lot of you will probably only come to Ojai for a day trip or maybe stay for one weekend, I do think these five restaurants are more than enough to get a really good taste of what Ojai’s food scene is all about.

1. Pinyon Ojai // Best Pizza in Ojai

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

I loved Pinyon for a few different reasons, but the first one is probably the fact that it manages to feel stylish without feeling pretentious.

I’m personally not a huge fan of restaurants, especially Italian restaurants, that try to make everything feel like fine dining for absolutely no reason. I just want a good pizza, a glass of wine and a nice evening without feeling like I have to dress up for the occasion.

And that’s pretty much what I liked about Pinyon. It’s a proper sit-down restaurant, the food is really good, and the whole place looks great, but it still feels very casual and relaxed.

Of course, the food itself was fantastic too. We ordered two pizzas and also tried their meatballs, which were delicious. And naturally, we both had some wine with dinner, which was also really good.

I will say that Pinyon is a little on the pricier side for such a casual restaurant, but… I guess that’s California for you!

2. Little Sama Ojai at Topa Topa Brewing Co.

Opening Hours: 12pm-8pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

I’d already been to Topa Topa Brewing Co. in Santa Barbara several times, and it was probably my favorite brewery there. I loved the beer, I loved the patio, and it was just one of my favorite places to sit outside with a cold beer.

So when I realized there was a Topa Topa Brewing Co. location in Ojai too, I was like, obviously I have to come here!

And once again, I had a great experience.

The beer is fantastic, and they also have a $5 daily special, which is pretty damn hard to beat. But what I really liked about this location was the food from Little Sama Ojai, which is located inside the brewery.

Little Sama isn’t owned by Topa Topa, but they have their kitchen here and serve what I’d describe as classic pub food, just done really well. We tried their signature chicken wings and the chicken sandwich, and both were really good.

3. Ojai Rotie // My Favorite Dinner in Ojai

Opening Hours: 11:30am-3pm, 4:40pm-8:30pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Another restaurant I really enjoyed, and definitely one of my favorite places for dinner in Ojai, was Ojai Rotie.

It’s a rotisserie chicken restaurant with more of a Middle Eastern and Lebanese influence, and I thought everything we had here was fantastic.

The rotisserie chicken was juicy with those slightly charred crispy bits that I absolutely love, but the sides were what really made the meal for me. We had Lebanese flatbread with different dips, including hummus, along with a few other little dishes to share, and everything was super delicious.

We came here for a little date night, and it was honestly perfect for that. The food felt special enough for a nice dinner, but it still wasn’t overly formal or stuffy.

4. Sam’s Place // Best Cocktail Bar in Ojai

Opening Hours: 5pm-10pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★
Menu & Location

Sam’s Place is probably one of the coolest cocktail bars in Ojai. It’s very no-fuss and cozy, and they often have live music, which makes it a really fun place to come for a few drinks and some casual food.

We actually came here after dinner, so I didn’t get to try much of the food myself. But we both ordered a margarita, and then we also shared their chocolate cake for dessert, which was really really delicious.

I’m sure their little bar-food menu is worth trying too, but even if you’re just coming here for a cocktail and some dessert like we did, I thought it was totally worth it. It’s just a really cool little place to hang out for an evening.

5. Ojai Roots // My Favorite Wine Bar in Ojai

Opening Hours: 10am-8pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

Last on my list is Ojai Roots, which was probably my favorite little wine bar in Ojai.

From my understanding, Ojai Roots is basically the farm shop for their own farm and vineyard, so you can come here and buy all kinds of local products to take home with you.

But they also have a really cute outdoor seating area where they serve charcuterie boards, cheese plates and glasses of wine, which is obviously the part I was most interested in.

It’s all very casual and relaxed, and I really liked that it felt a little different from the other restaurants and wine bars in Ojai. You can just grab a glass of wine, sit outside, snack on some local cheese and enjoy yourself.

FAQs About the Best Ojai Restaurants

Is Ojai Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! Ojai is fantastic for a short day trip or a one-night weekend getaway. I didn’t think there was a huge amount to do in terms of activities, but I easily filled my time with good food, lounging by the pool, hiking and going to the spa.

Where Should I Go for Dinner in Ojai?

My favorite dinner restaurant in Ojai was Pinyon, where I had what I thought was the best pizza in town. But Ojai Rotie is also a great choice if you’re in the mood for some really good rotisserie chicken and Middle Eastern-inspired food.

What Is the Best Cafe in Ojai?

I’d say Highly Likely Ojai or Three Birds. Both have really good coffee and nice outdoor seating, but they’re quite different depending on whether you want a proper breakfast or just a relaxed coffee.

Is Ojai Expensive to Visit?

I’d say yes. Of course, most places in California can be expensive, but Ojai definitely felt a little pricier to me when it came to restaurants and hotels.

That being said, I also expected Ojai to be more of a treat-yourself, slightly luxurious kind of weekend, so I didn’t mind spending a little more while I was here.

Where Is Best for Lunch in Ojai?

For lunch, I’d probably go with Rory’s Other Place. Their burritos were really good, and they also have some great bowls if you’re looking for something a little healthier.

Final Thoughts on Where to Eat in Ojai

Even though Ojai is such a small town, I was actually pretty impressed by the restaurant scene here. For a place where most people probably only stay for a day trip or one or two nights, I thought there was a really good amount of choice.

You have enough great restaurants to actually decide where you want to eat, but it never felt overwhelming or like I had to spend an hour on Google trying to figure out where to go.

And just from my own experience, I’d definitely recommend Pinyon if you’re looking for some really good pizza, and Topa Topa Brewing Co. if you want a casual place to grab a beer and hang out on a patio.

I hope this guide on the best restaurants in Ojai gave you a good idea of where to go for your next lunch or dinner!

Check Out My Other Ojai Guides

Is Ojai Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

Where to Stay in Ojai California: My Favorite Hotels & Areas

Things to Do in Ojai: The Best Activities I Did

The Best Time to Visit Ojai: My Seasonal Guide

The Best Restaurants in Ojai: My Top Foodie Spots

The Best Coffee Shops in Ojai: My Absolute Favorite Cafes

Day Trip to Ojai: How I Spent 24 Hours in Ojai