Trizah Mcharo
3 min readOct 14, 2022

Top 5 Best Restaurants in San Louis Obispo!

You have no idea what you’re missing if your taste buds have not yet explored the culinary delights of SLO. Before we even begin, we’d like to say that exploring and writing about the food offerings of this small college town has us drooling. In addition, we won’t judge if you’re ready to dash out the door and find some of these joints by the time you’re done reading.

The thing is, with a rich community of local farmers, SLO will guarantee you some of the best delicacies made from locally sourced produce. In addition, we want to add that San Luis Obispo is choke-full of eateries so there’s plenty to eat. We’ve put together a list of some of the best restaurants in SLO we think you should try so read on!

1. Novo Restaurant & Lounge

Whether it’s brunch, lunch, or dinner, you will enjoy the delicious food and cocktails that Novo has to offer. We promise you that you will love the excellent service, great ambiance, and refreshing outdoor patio seating. There’s truly much to say about Novo Restaurant & Lounge, but we must say that we were blown away by the fresh salads and calamari on offer. The restaurant also offers a variety of signature dishes that you must try out! If you love international cuisine, you must try out Novo.

2. Ciopinot

Lovers of fine dining cannot pass up the chance to savor the best seafood and salmon dishes in town. Before you visit, you must make sure that you come prepared because Ciopinot isn’t the cheapest restaurant in town. Even so, you must read through the extensive drink list with spirits, specialty cocktails, and wine from local wineries. The restaurant offers chicken, steak, ahi tuna, and a variety of seafood pasta options.

3. Goshi Japanese Restaurant

You can’t go to Japan for fresh Sushi? No problem! Goshi Japanese Restaurant will bring it to you! Whether it’s a meal with friends and family or a dinner date with your love interest, the menu at Goshi will tickle your taste buds and be the highlight of your day with some of the most authentic and freshest Japanese dishes in the region.

4. Buona Tavola

Buona Tavola is amongst the top-rated restaurants in San Luis Obispo. Located on Monterey Street, the restaurant offers Northern Italian cuisine, with gluten-free options if you wish. You will enjoy the wine options and meals set up in an intimate dining area with access to a terrace. We recommend the Linguine Fra Diavolo. Superb!

5. High Street Market & Deli

Everyone in SLO loves High Street Market & Deli. It started as a market and locals used to come here to buy milk decades ago. It is currently the most popular sandwich joint in the area. Make sure you visit with a friend because their sandwiches here are ginormous and piled high with delicious fillings. Whether it’s the classic B.L.T or a beef dip, you will love all that High Street Market & Deli has to offer. You can even choose to have one of their fresh salads or a daily special!