The Ultimate San Mateo County Guide

Stretching from the Pacific to the Peninsula, San Mateo County is an explorer's dream.

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay offers stunning views.

Gorgeous and always surprising, San Mateo County sprawls 722 miles of unmatched offerings. From luxury accommodations to adventures in art, it’s a place to get blissfully lost. Cultural riches, dining decadence and ocean-front accommodations are all in a day (or longer) spent exploring the area.

WHERE TO STAY

Atop the most dramatic of rugged bluffs sits The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay (ritzcarlton.com). This 261-room coastal hotel overlooks 50 miles of pristine California coastline. Guests enjoy the refined yet relaxed escape, perfect for weekend golf getaways, one-of-a-kind spa retreats and dinner dates to remember. Having recently been named a Five-Star Recommended Resort In Forbes Travel Guide for the fifth consecutive year, the property continues to define luxury in the region.

Fine dining at the resort’s Navio (naviohalfmoonbay.com) will exceed all culinary expectations. Sustainable, coastal-inspired masterpieces such as wild turbot served with kabocha, pil pil and wild foraged mushrooms arrive with impeccable service. The restaurant’s weekend brunch is not to be missed. Inspired cocktails and an exquisite wine list complete the dining experience.

Incredible fare at Navio

The Ritz began property enhancements this winter. Led by luxury hospitality design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates, completion is slated for the summer. The new guestrooms and suites will build upon the opulence that guests have come to expect from the resort, pulling inspiration from the rugged coastline, warm firepits and bagpipe serenades. Expect soft textured fabrics reminiscent of sand dunes, modern plaid motifs and warm leather accents nodding to an equestrian heritage.

Oceano Hotel & Spa (oceanohalfmoonbay.com) provides another spectacular accommodation option for coastal explorers. The all-suite property beside Half Moon Bay harbor offers guests casual, coastal elegance. Oceano is completing a remodel of guestroom furnishings, making this spring and summer an ideal time to book a stay.

Half Moon Bay harbor serves as a vantage point for the Oceano Hotel & Spa.

WHERE TO SHOP

Acclaimed letterpress, greeting card and stationery company Sky of Blue Press & Papery (skyofbluecards.com) recently opened its flagship retail and workshop space in Pacifica, which also serves as a design and letterpress printing studio.

Founded in 2008, Sky of Blue Press & Papery is beloved by those who adore stationery. The chic and whimsical letterpress and traditional printed greeting cards, stationery, gift wrap and specialty products the team creates are cherished pieces throughout the Bay Area.

In addition to a stunning selection of its creations, Sky of Blue Press & Papery offers workshops and classes on letterpress printing, watercolor painting, candle-making, calligraphy and more.

The entry of the Oceano Hotel & Spa

Half Moon Bay Art Glass (hmbartglass.com) also delights those with artistic leanings. Often, attendees of glass-blowing courses are happily surprised by what they can create. Look for classes that teach glass-blowing objects from sea stars to hearts. Available for corporate events, the studio provides the only glass-blowing in the county.

Half Moon Bay’s M. Stark Gallery & Artist Retreat (mstarkgallery.com) is inspirational for art and artists. Various artists are showcased at the gallery throughout the year. This month (March 2 to April 8), look for an exhibit showcasing the work of Mariet Braakman (1944-2021). Works in this retrospective exhibition by a Dutch-American artist remarkably resemble the beach cliffs of Half Moon Bay. Growing up in The Netherlands, known for its low-lying and flat geography, Braakman became intrigued by mountainous landscapes from an early age.

Christina Conklin, “Totem #2,” (2022, ink on paper, 44 inches by 36 inches) at M. Stark Gallery

The Foster Museum (thefoster.org) in Palo Alto and Filoli Historic House & Garden (filoli.org) in Woodside offer cultural and natural getaways for visitors. The season-changing living art of Filoli celebrates Northern California’s diverse flora and fauna. With year-round events, visitors always find a reason to walk the grounds. Spring at Filoli is not to be missed. The grounds are truly blooming in every corner. After months of rain, it’s soul-renewing to walk the property.

Spring brings an array of activities to The Foster Museum. A guided chocolate tasting (March 28) will have chocolate lovers delving into taste and aroma distinctions from different regions. Slow Art Day (April 13) is an international event growing in popularity. Attendees are encouraged to discover the joy of slowing down and looking closely at art. Weekly storytime for children visitors and drop-in art making are always available at the museum.

FogBird’s gorgeous bar

WHERE TO DINE

From some of the best chocolate, charcuterie boards, craft cocktails and coastal fare, San Mateo County is a food and beverage paradise.

The renowned Half Moon Bay Brewing Company (hmbbrewingco.com) creates award-winning craft brews and serves coastal California fare. “Half Moon Bay Brewing Company was the first coastal recipient of the Fresh As It Gets award from San Mateo county, with 95% of our ingredients coming from within the county,” says CEO Craig Carroll. “We’re proud of that and when our guests declare how outrageously delicious our food and beer is.”

Jettywave Distillery (jettywave.com) is another must-visit spot. Having recently celebrated its third year, the distillery continues to innovate and draw crowds. “We’re a group of great friends who created Jettywave in response to the pandemic,” says David Westendorf, cofounder and CMO, who launched the project with his wife, Michelle (now CEO), Tanya Slye (chief creative officer) and Lucy Gillies (CFO). “Highlighting the bounty of San Francisco Coastal area, Jettywave is an upscale venue for craft mixology, award-winning food and a fully functioning distillery, with ambitions of becoming a national spirits brand.”

The BottleShop in Redwood City

“We continue to expand our offerings and thrill our customers. We introduced our small batch absinthe this year. By summer, we’ll also have a fresh batch of our coffee liqueur, which we’re making in collaboration with Soul Grind Coffee (soulgrindcoffee.com) in Pacifica. Every Sunday afternoon, we have live music from 2 to 5 in our outdoor fire pit lounge.”

Charcuterie dreams come true at Redwood City’s TheBottleShop (thebottleshoprwc.com). Seasoned pros in hospitality opened this wine bar and kitchen. With small production, estate and varietal wines that can’t be found anywhere else in the area, TheBottleShop has legions of devoted fans. The staff’s approach to making wine appreciation fun and approachable is equally exciting.

FogBird (fogbird.co) lounge in San Mateo created a magical place for craft cocktail fans. “When we named Fogbird, we sought to capture the feeling we experienced in places of beauty and the company of loved ones,” says founder Susan Drucker Hunsaker. “Fogbird signifies a moment of respite, where guests can unwind, connect with friends and enjoy life all with an incredible cocktail,” Classes at FogBird are popular for private parties, corporate groups and milestone moments.

Wildseed is a vegan’s paradise with an exciting cocktail program.

Stop by Sweet55 Swiss Chocolates & Confections (sweet55.com) in Half Moon Bay and Palo Alto for something a little decadent. Easily some of the best chocolate you can find in Northern California, Sweet55 is a treasure. “We call our products Swiss because they either have a Swiss culinary heritage, are adapted from a Swiss recipe or at least visually have a Swiss background,” says owner Ursula Schnyder. “Every product has a story, and each is made with our chocolate couverture—our most important raw material—which is manufactured in Switzerland by a small, family-owned Swiss company, Felchlin, who source the very best quality from around the globe.”

Expect creative cocktails at San Agus

Wildseed (wildseedsf.com) in Palo Alto will make a vegan fan out of the most ardent omnivores. The plant-based restaurant and bar by Adriano Paganini showcases in-season foods that make diners feel good while indulging in healthy, hearty and flavorful offerings. Serving weekend brunch, lunch and dinner with a menu that changes with the season, Wildseed is a colorful space to explore dishes like tostadas, masala dal bowls, reset salad, banana fritters and carbonara flatbread. A creative cocktail and mocktail menu and a varied wine and local beer selection round out the offerings.

Chef Manuel Martinez is the culinary mastermind behind San Agus (sanagus.com), along with Redwood City’s La Viga (lavigaseafood.com) and LV Mar tapas and cocktails (lvmar. com). Expertly crafted food and innovative cocktails make this family of restaurants perfect for everyday eating and monumental celebrations. “Family, friends and community are essential,” says Martinez. “This belief drives the personality of our restaurants, which feel like community gathering places.”