3 Best Restaurants in Pacifica, The Bay Area

Every coastal area needs a great fish-and-chips shop; for the peninsular coastline, it’s this casual establishment that has been serving Pacifica diners since 1969. The batter for the fish is light and sports just the right crispy texture, while fries are of the thick, potato-forward style popular at classic English pubs. There are various other fried seafood options and, in quite the State Fair cuisine twist, deep-fried Twinkies and Mars Bars for dessert.

Dungeness crab, the Bay Area’s favorite local seafood, is showcased in a consistently fantastic sandwich on grilled sourdough bread at this timeless Pacifica restaurant and lounge. It’s an all-day restaurant attached to a motel right by the beach, with a vintage Americana atmosphere that looks like a blend of a coastal diner with maritime decor and a throwback martini bar with dim lighting, wood paneling, and tufted leather banquettes.

With its frequent fog and ocean breeze chill, coffee is all but mandatory along the coastline. The best café in the region for your buzz is a lofty, garage-like roastery/café right by Pacifica’s state beach with excellent espresso-based drinks and pour-overs from beans roasted in-house. The food menu is fresh and extensive, with breakfast bowls, toasts, soups, and sandwiches offered throughout the day.