Cambria: Moonstone Beach Drive; things to do + restaurant review

1 South

Moonstone Beach Drive

Moonstone Beach boardwalk in Cambria, California

This two-mile-long road running parallel to Highway 1 and the shoreline features Moonstone Beach on the west side and lodgings across the street on the east side.  Acting as the town’s motel row, Moonstone Beach Drive features mostly motel-style lodging with parking provided in an area right outside the rooms.  Some attractive bed-and-breakfast inns, a few cottages, and a luxury resort are also among the lodging choices.  

Moonstone Beach  

A wood boardwalk stretches the length of this beach front that is mostly rocky outcropping.  A few areas reached by wood stairs offer sandy beaches that invite beachcombing.  Look for sea glass and driftwood as well as for the namesake smooth, colorful, and somewhat translucent “moonstones.”  Swimming is not advised due to large, strong waves.  

stairs to ocean from Moonstone Beach boardwalk
in Cambria, California

Santa Rosa Creek Preserve 

A section of Hearst San Simeon State Park at the south end of Moonstone Beach Dr.

Rustic Santa Rosa Creek Preserve is strewn with seaweed.  Though I saw only the beach, it is described on its website as being home to “valuable riparian forests and coastal wetlands that provide habitat for endangered Tidewater Goby.”  Facilities include a convenient parking lot and restrooms.  

Santa Rosa Creek Preserve section of Hearst San Simeon State Park
off Moonstone Beach boardwalk in Cambria, California

Shamel Park 

At the north end of Moonstone Beach Dr.

Shamel Park is located adjacent to the beach and equipped with a children’s playground featuring wood structures, a horseshoes court, picnic tables, and a seasonal public swimming pool.  

Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill  

6550 Moonstone Beach Dr., (805) 927-3859.  L M-Sat, Sun Brunch, D daily; $$.  No reservations.  

entrance to Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill in Cambria, California

Located across the street from the ocean, Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill is the only restaurant on the row.  A large outdoor, Plexiglas-enclosed patio with sheltering sun shields above is a popular spot in good weather.  Diners are usually milling about at the entrance waiting to be seated.  Cocktails are a specialty here, so we began with two tall ones--a margarita and a mojito.  The eclectic all-day menu includes pasta and seafood as well as sandwiches and appetizer portions.  We opted for a tasty shrimp scampi and crispy-fried fish & chips (though the chips were actually thinner french fries, albeit very good ones).  Entrees are a la carte so we ordered sides of thin, nicely seasoned fresh asparagus and an untraditional but refreshing sesame-pineapple coleslaw.  Other tempting items for me include a crab salad sandwich, several meal-size salads, and fish tacos.  The menu also includes a hamburger and splurgy lobster tail.  It appears difficult to go wrong in ordering.  Dessert choices are limited but include white chocolate cheesecake, molten chocolate cake, and several ice cream concoctions.  A walk along the boardwalk across the street makes the perfect apertif or digestif.  

drinks on patio at entrance to Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill
in Cambria, California

fish & chips at entrance to Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill
in Cambria, California

shrimp scampi + fresh asparagus at entrance to Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill
in Cambria, California

ice cream with Oregon berries at entrance to Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill
in Cambria, California

2020 pandemic update:  The staff wears masks.  Some tables are available facing away from the dining room and looking out at the road.  We (a couple) were seated at a table for four and spaced well from other diners.  Menus are placed under a glass table top for viewing.  

More things to do in Cambria.

More information about the Highway 1 Discovery Route.

More pandemic updates.

More things to do along Highway 1.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers