Paso Robles: La Bellasera Hotel & Suites; hotel review + restaurant review

101 South

La Bellasera Hotel & Suites  

206 Alexa Ct., 2 mi. S of town, (866) 782-9669, (805) 238-2834.  60 rooms; 4 stories.  Restaurant; room service.  Some gas fireplaces.  Pool; hot tub.  No pets. 

exterior of La Bellasera Hotel & Suites in Paso Robles, California

Located at the junction of Highway 101 and Highway 46, the Tuscan-style La Bellasera Hotel features a wine theme throughout.  Guest rooms are spacious and attractively decorated in subdued contemporary style.  Larger-than-average bathrooms feature a mix of stone and marble tiles in lovely tan shades.  Showers are large and glass-enclosed (a few have tubs), with stay-put toiletries.  Most have king beds, some have two queens.  Options include a gas fireplace, an in-bedroom whirlpool for two, a kitchenette, and a granite-topped wet bar. And some have roomy sitting areas with queen-size pull-out sofas that work nicely for families.  

guest room at La Bellasera Hotel & Suites in Paso Robles, California 

guest room sitting area at La Bellasera Hotel & Suites
in Paso Robles, California 

The hotel's Enoteca restaurant is just off the lobby, with tables and oversize booths as well as patio seating.  The well-executed breakfast menu includes a delicious vanilla mascarpone French toast and a fat three-egg build-your-own omelet. Overseen by Executive Chef Ken Martin, the enticing dinner menu and excellent wine list brings in even the locals.   

But change is afoot.  This hotel is set for renovation.  Do check about the current status when making reservations. 

oatmeal at Enoteca restaurant at La Bellasera Hotel & Suites
in Paso Robles, California 

french toast at Enoteca restaurant at La Bellasera Hotel & Suites
in Paso Robles, California 

Note that just next door across the parking lot, and under the same management, the Hampton Inn & Suites Paso Robles offers less luxurious but similar amenities at a lower rate.  Additionally, cookies in the lobby and a daily buffet breakfast are included. 

More things to do in Paso Robles. 

More things to do along Highway 101.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Paso Robles: Great American Antiques + Paso Robles Antiques and Vintage; things to do

101 South

Antiques Shops

This is a tale of two antiques shops in Paso Robles.  Both are on the main street through town and near the town square.  

exterior of Great American Antiques in Paso Robles, California

●GreatAmerican Antiques  

1305 Spring St, (805) 239-1203.  Daily 10am-5pm. 

This corner shop is crammed with stuff, old-style.  

interior of Great American Antiques in Paso Robles, California

refrigerator display at Great American Antiques in Paso Robles, California

tools display at Great American Antiques in Paso Robles, California

entrance to Paso Robles Antiques and Vintage

●Paso RoblesAntiques and Vintage  

1329 Spring St., (805) 296-3612.  Daily 9am-5pm. 

A few doors down, this shop is thoughtfully curated and arranged, new-style.  

interior of Paso Robles Antiques and Vintage

cowboy pictures display at  Paso Robles Antiques and Vintage

Caribbean doll at  Paso Robles Antiques and Vintage

More things to do in Paso Robles. 

More things to do along Highway 101.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Paso Robles: kukkula; things to do

101 South

kukkula  

9515 Chimney Rock Rd., west side, (805) 227-0111.  Tasting:  $30; by reservation or walk-in. 

sign to kukkula winery tasting room in Paso Robles, California

Located on a rural back road and overlooking the Adelaida Schoolhouse, boutique winery kukkula (its name means “high place” in Finnish) specializes in Rhone blends made with the Grenache grape and Paso-grown Counoise.  One unusual and tasty wine is the 2018 Aatto, which is a blend of Counoise, Mourvedre, and Grenache.  “Aatto” means “eve,” and this wine was named for the owner’s dad who was born on Christmas eve. 

exterior of kukkula winery tasting room in Paso Robles, California

The sleek tasting room is inside a small, modern facility featuring sustainable contemporary architecture.  This family-run winery uses dry farming and organic methods to produce grapes with intense flavor.  Though it does some local distribution, kukkula sends most of its bottles to Finland and to wine club members.  Stop in for a tasting to learn more. 

kukkula winery tasting room in Paso Robles, California

kukkula winery tasting room bar in Paso Robles, California

A new hilltop picnic area features five oak-shaded picnic tables and a 356-degree valley view.  Tables are available only by reservation (the $50 fee is waived for wine club members). 

More things to do in Paso Robles. 

More things to do along Highway 101.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Paso Robles: Il Cortile; restaurant review

101 South

Il Cortile    

608 12th St., (805) 226-0300.  D W-Sun. 

An evening at Il Cortile is a relaxing treat.  Seating is in an intimate dining room, at a small bar, and outside on a semi-enclosed patio. 

dining room at Il Cortile in Paso Robles, California

The menu at this rustic Italian fine-dining restaurant features seasonal dishes created with locally sourced ingredients.   Executive Chef Santos MacDonal is seen from the dining room as he prepares an array of housemade pastas and sauces and other delights.  Antipasti might include grilled octopus or heirloom tomatoes with bufala mozzarella.  Our choices were a dreamy, creamy burrata salad and a dish of beautifully presented tender fresh scallops.  For our mains, I had the house specialty pappardelle with wild boar ragu, and he had fettucine with pork sausage.  Both were delicious.  Secondi courses of meats and seafood include filet mignon and salmon as well as venison and branzino.  A nicely curated selection of local and imported wines enhances the meals. 

scallops appetizer at Il Cortile in Paso Robles, California

pappardelle with wild boar ragu at Il Cortile in Paso Robles, California

dessert at Il Cortile in Paso Robles, California

More things to do in Paso Robles. 

More things to do along Highway 101.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Paso Robles: Finca; restaurant review

 101 South

Finca 

1803 Spring St., (805) 369-2308.  M-Sat 11am-8:30pm. 

exterior of Finca restaurant in Paso Robles, California

The casual Finca restaurant operates inside an 1800s farmhouse that was originally part of a popular town nursery.  Operated by owners who previously ran La Taquiza, a Michelin Guide listed restaurant in Napa, this spot is perfect for a quick meal.  Step into the lovely little cottage and place your order at the counter. 

view of Spring Street from porch table at Finca restaurant in Paso Robles, California

Using fresh local ingredients, the Finca menu highlights Baja- and Sonoran-style Mexican food with a special emphasis on wood-grilled seafood and carne asada.  The pork belly chile verde taco is full of flavor, and the guacamole is served with housemade corn chips.  Nachos, tacos filled with either beer-battered fish or shrimp, and oak-wood-grilled oysters are among some other enticing options.   A mixed-fruit agua fresca changes regularly.  

guacamole with chips at Finca restaurant in Paso Robles, California

spectacular tacos at Finca restaurant in Paso Robles, California

A few tables are available inside, but most of the seating is outside on a verandah and amid the gardens.  A table-top fly deflecting fan is provided, works, and is a hoot. 

More things to do in Paso Robles. 

More things to do along Highway 101.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Paso Robles: Light at Sensorio; things to do

101 South

Light at Sensorio  

4380 Hwy. 46 East.  Thur-Sun evenings; times vary with season.  Tickets ($75, $87, $112).  No pets. 

overview of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles, California

The colorful solar-powered installation of 100,000 lights that is Light at Sensorio reminds me of Holland’s colorful tulip fields in full bloom.  

This art work, known as Field of Light, is by internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro.  He  works in the style of Christo, who long ago set up “The Gates” in NYC’s Central Park and “Fences” in the fields of Marin County.  Field of Light is an immersive 15-acre walk-through experience lit by fiber optics.  Fist-sized bulbs atop 2-foot-long “stems” are “planted” in the fields for almost as far as you can see.  These solar energy-powered bulbs are tightly packed together over acres of undulating, hilly landscape, where they morph through a rainbow of colors.  A recorded musical score accompanies the unfolding, and light human sounds mix with melodic crickets to enhance the experience. 

dusk at Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles, California

dusk at Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles, California

night begins at Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles, California

colorful bulbs seen up close at Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles, California

This art experience seems to be a work in progress.  It has grown since it opened in 2019, and now includes several newer sections:

●Light Towers consists of 69 glowing 6-foot towers made with more than 17,000 recycled wine bottles.  This section celebrates Paso Robles’ wine country.  Visitors become black shadows while moving between the colorful towers, and a soundtrack of African music adds to the pleasure. 

●Fireflies consists of “10,000 flickering points of light” that I personally thought looked more like moving jelly-fish orbs.  Either way, it is lovely sight to behold. 

●Gone Fishing is described as “a playful representation of the contemplative act of standing by a stream.”  This one is a little more obscure, but also beautiful.

 

Gone Fishing at Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles, California

Arriving before sunset allows time to watch the sun set and then to enjoy the afterglow as dusk fades to dark.  The mood is quiet as the audience relaxes into the sunset and anticipates the glowing colors to come.  The bulbs begin as a sea of white, but eventually start emitting colors.  

Purchase tickets in advance to ensure admission, and do allow time to park, walk the equivalent of a few blocks into the event space, and find seating.  Do not bring water as security is strict.  Do bring a jacket as it can get cold.  Food and drink are for sale, and plenty of restrooms are provided.  Musicians perform live acoustic music in an area before the event space. 

More things to do in Paso Robles. 

More things to do along Highway 101.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Paso Robles: Calcareous Vineyard; things to do + restaurant review

101 South

CalcareousVineyard  

3430 Peachy Canyon Rd., 15-20 minutes from town; (805) 239-0289.  Tasting daily 10am-5pm; $30; lunch daily.  Reservations advised. 

Grenache wine at Calcareous Vineyard in Paso Robles, California

tasting bar at Calcareous Vineyard in Paso Robles, California

It is one of life’s great pleasures to drive down a quiet back road to lunch at a winery.  Calcareous Vineyard offers this experience.  The name Calcareous refers to the area’s calcareous limestone soil that combines with varied microclimates to allow this winery to produce Bordeaux, Rhone, and Burgundy varietals simultaneously.  

two Adirondack chairs overlook view at Calcareous Vineyard
in Paso Robles, California

Located high on a limestone plateau, the winery tasting room--known as Lloyd’s Lookout--offers expansive rural views along with daily food pairings and special events.  The best way to taste wine here is to team it up with lunch.  The day I visited, I chose a divine fresh burrata with fig compote and a refreshing panzanella salad heavy with heirloom tomatoes and rustic croutons from a menu that also included sandwiches, a burger, and rack of lamb.  The meal was informally paired with four wines served one after the other (as opposed to side-by-side). 

fresh burrata with fig compote at Calcareous Vineyard in Paso Robles, California

panzanella salad at Calcareous Vineyard in Paso Robles, California

Our knowledgeable wine guide, Josephina Alex, started us off with a light, buttery, and smooth 2022 Vin Gris Cuvee, followed by a pretty and elegant 2021 York Mountain Pinot Noir.  Then came a drinkable deep-crimson 2021 Grenache, and finally a velvety 2020 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon with a smooth finish.  Alex included an extra wine--a beautiful 2020 Devil’s Canyon Syrah made from grapes grown in long, long rows, which adds to the deliciousness--with our superb dessert of dark chocolate-caramel crème with pistachio crumble and fresh berries. 

wine guide Josephina Alexat at Calcareous Vineyard in Paso Robles, California

decadent dessert at Calcareous Vineyard in Paso Robles, California

I can’t wait to do lunch here again. 

(Note that nowadays many wineries, including this one, often include or discount tastings and special events with wine club membership.)

More things to do in Paso Robles. 

More things to do along Highway 101.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Paso Robles: Allegretto Vineyard Resort; hotel review + restaurant review

101 South

Allegretto Vineyard Resort  

2700 Buena Vista Dr./east side of Hwy. 101, (805) 369-2500.  171 rooms.  Restaurant.  Pool; hot tub; fitness room; full-service spa.  Complimentary valet and self parking.  Pets ok.

blooming garden at Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, California

Spending the night at Allegretto Vineyard Resort was like taking a weekend escape to rural Europe!  Situated on 20 acres featuring vineyards and olive groves and fruit trees, this Tuscan villa-style resort is the first full-service luxury property to open in Paso Robles.  The drama begins when you drive up the long entry.  And the atmosphere gets serious when you enter the two-story lobby and look up to see the dramatic two-sided curved staircase, and then look down to see the limestone floors imported from Bordeaux, France.  Feng sui has been considered throughout.

two-sided curved lobby staircase at Allegretto Vineyard Resort
in Paso Robles, California

Facilities include a swimming pool with a bank of cabanas (fee) available for extra privacy and a bocce ball court.  More amenities include a couch swing, a ping-pong table, and bright-yellow tandem bikes for loan.  Warming fire pits are found in several areas.

swimming pool and cabanas at Allegretto Vineyard Resort
in Paso Robles, California

bocce ball court at Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, California

fitness room at Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, California

Additionally, some of the resort owner’s extensive art collection is displayed, including paintings, artifacts, and ancient sculptures, as well as a giant crosscut of a 2,000-plus-year-old Sequoia tree.  A free guided tour is available most days.

ancient Indian figure at Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, California

repurposed ancient doorway by elevators at Allegretto Vineyard Resort
in Paso Robles, California

crosscut of ancient Sequoia tree at Allegretto Vineyard Resort
in Paso Robles, California

The resort also features a French-inspired abbey, two labyrinths (one is the world’s only labyrinth with sound), and a re-creation of Romeo and Juliet’s tunnel.  Olive oil-tasting and live music are among the special events that are often scheduled.

interior of abbey at Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, California

carved wood statue of Virgin Mary in abbey at Allegretto Vineyard Resort
in Paso Robles, California

labyrinth at Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, California

Additionally, a wine-tasting room that is also open to non-guests provides a congenial setting, with comfortable chairs to relax in while sampling the 100% varietal house-label Allegretto wines.  My favorite was the 2016 Viognier, described as having “aromas of jasmine, pineapple, and peach brightened by subtle notes of lemongrass, honeysuckle, and Asian pear.”  It was so divine that I ordered it to accompany my dinner in Cello--the resort’s restaurant.  The Viognier grape and the more unusual Tannat grape are both grown on site.  (The red Tannat is a thick-skinned grape that is prized for being tolerant of drought and heat.)  You’ll want to taste these two for sure.  Note that there is a tasting fee.

wine-tasting room at Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, California

Guest rooms and resort event spaces surround a central courtyard square featuring colorful plantings, chairs fashioned from wine barrel staves, and a fountain known as the “Womb of Creation” that displays a large river-formed stone from China.  Most guest rooms have a balcony or patio allowing you to enjoy the usually good weather, and all have white Carrera-marble bathrooms  plus a unique amenity--a disinfected “microbe-free” TV remote control.

guest room at Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, California

view from guest room balcony at Allegretto Vineyard Resort
in Paso Robles, California

Cello restaurant’s chef features a Mediterranean-inspired menu and makes use of mostly organic produce, much of which is grown on property.  I was thrilled with the tiny red, red tomatoes that accented my delicious wedge salad, made unusual by the use of delicate butter lettuce instead of iceberg.  I selected a salmon main course prepared from a catch that came in that same morning from nearby Morro Bay, while my dining companion enjoyed an outstanding full-flavored risotto.  Oak pit-grilled Angus beef is among more options.

dining porch at Cello restaurant at Allegretto Vineyard Resort
in Paso Robles, California

wedge salad at Cello restaurant at Allegretto Vineyard Resort
in Paso Robles, California

fresh catch salmon held up by sous chef Ben Lugo at Cello restaurant
at Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, California

salmon dinner at Cello restaurant at Allegretto Vineyard Resort
in Paso Robles, California

risotto at Cello restaurant at Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, California

desserts at Cello restaurant at Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles, California

At breakfast, the beautiful French toast topped with fresh berries that my husband ordered is hard to beat, though I was quite pleased with my basic American eggs over easy and their delicious side of spectacular, crispy potatoes--all enhanced by super-tasty Applewood bacon.  Dogs are welcome at this resort, and when I dined outside on the sheltered patio for dinner, I saw three or four well-behaved small dogs enjoying it all with their relaxing owners.  Pleasantly, should a guest desire to stroll out to a nearby fire pit for dessert, they need only alert the waiter.

American breakfast at Cello restaurant at Allegretto Vineyard Resort
in Paso Robles, California

French toast at Cello restaurant at Allegretto Vineyard Resort
in Paso Robles, California

More Ayres Hotels in Southern California.

More things to do in Paso Robles. 

More things to do along Highway 101.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers; except image of salmon by Rich Verruni