Best North County Bar
1122 Cocktail Lounge & Speakeasy
1122 Pine St., Paso Robles
(805) 238-4141
@1122.cocktail.lounge
facebook.com/1122-Cocktail-Lounge-Speakeasy-397704520750965
Best North Coast Bar
The Siren
900 Main St., Morro Bay
(805) 225-1312
@thesirenmorrobay
Best San Luis Obispo Bar
Sidecar Cocktail Co.
1040 Broad St., SLO
(805) 439-3563
@sidecar_slo
Best South County Bar
Mason Bar & Kitchen
307 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
(805) 202-8918
@masonbarandkitchen
Best South Coast Bar
Mr. Rick’s
404 Front St., Avila Beach
Best Distillery
KROBAR Distillery
2174 Highway 46, Paso Robles
(833) 576-2271
@krobarcraftdistillery
facebook.com/krobarcraftdistillery
Best Place for a Beer
Central Coast Brewing
1422 Monterey St., SLO
6 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 783-2739
@centralcoastbrewing
facebook.com/centralcoastbrewinghiguera
Best Fancy Cocktail
Sidecar Cocktail Co.
1040 Broad St., SLO
(805) 439-3563
@sidecar_slo
Best Margarita
La Esquina Taqueria
1051 Nipomo St., SLO
(805) 439-4289
@laesquina_taqueria
Best Bloody Mary
Marisol at The Cliffs
2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach
(805) 773-5000
@thecliffshotelandspa
facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa
Best Cider
Tin City Cider
3005 Limestone Way, Paso Robles
(805) 293-6349
@tincitycider
Best Local IPA
BarrelHouse Brewing Co., Mango IPA
3055 Limestone Way, Paso Robles
1033 Chorro St., basement level, SLO
(805) 296-1128
@bhbc
facebook.com/barrelhousebrewing
Best Happy Hour
Luna Red
1023 Chorro St., SLO
(805) 540-5243
@luna_red
Best Winery for Sparkling Wine
Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
453 Laetitia Vineyard Drive, Arroyo Grande
(805) 481-1772
@laetitiawine
Best Brewery
Firestone Walker Brewing Company
1400 Ramada Drive, Paso Robles
(805) 225-5913
customerservice@firestonebeer.com
@firestonewalker
Best Tasting Room
Edna Valley Vineyard
2585 Biddle Ranch Road, SLO
(805) 544-5855
@ednavalleyvineyard
facebook.com/EdnaValleyVineyard
Best Tasting Transportation
SLO Safe Ride
284 Higuera St., suite D, SLO
(805) 620-7233
slosaferidemarketing@gmail.com
@slowinetours
Best Drink with a View
Ventana Grill
2575 Price St., Pismo Beach
(805) 773-0000
@ventanagrill
facebook.com/VentanaGrillPismoBeach
Best Wine Bar
Luis Wine Bar
1021 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 762-4747
@luiswinebar
Best Winery For Red Wine
Edna Valley Vineyard
2585 Biddle Ranch Road, SLO
(805) 544-5855
@ednavalleyvineyard
facebook.com/EdnaValleyVineyard
Best Winery for White Wine
Chamisal Vineyards
7525 Orcutt Road, SLO
(805) 541-9463
@chamisalvyd
facebook.com/Chamisal.Vineyards
Best Dog-Friendly Winery
Wolff Vineyards
6238 Orcutt Road, SLO
(805) 781-0448
@wolffvineyards
facebook.com/wolffvineyards/?rf=1440952029476831
Best Beverage Slinger
Danielle Golden,Sidecar
1040 Broad St., SLO
(805) 439-3563
@sidecar_slo
Best Dive Bar
McCarthy’s Irish Pub
600 March St., SLO
(805) 544-0286
@mccarthysirishpub
facebook.com/McCarthysIrishPubSLO
Torch bearer
Best Dive Bar: McCarthy’s Irish Pub
Have you heard of the Bull & Finch Pub? Founded in 1969, it’s the Beacon Hill bar that became the inspiration for Cheers, the long-running TV series (1982-1993) about regulars at a Boston bar where “everybody knows your name.” McCarthy’s Irish Pub is the closest thing SLO has to the Cheers bar, and if you’re a regular, you’ll find your “usual” set in front of you before you’ve removed your wallet. Peruse the bar’s walls, and you’ll see photo collages of its many patrons, some long dead. Gone but not forgotten. Like any good dive bar, McCarthy’s is the family you choose.
—Glen Starkey
Best Sports Bar
Firestone Grill
1001 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 783-1001
@firestonegrill
Best Liquor Store
Sandy’s Liquor
586 Higuera St., SLO
(805) 543-2499
facebook.com/pages/Sandys-Deli-Liquor/117410378285607
This article appears in Best of SLO County 2020.