Where to eat in Pacifica

Pacifica is the closest ocean town to Palo Alto by way of Interstate 280. It is a working town rather than a resort. Its food matches: fish and chips, a long-running seafood house, a barbecue stand, a beach taco stop and a family bakery. A few restaurants have big ocean views. None of them require dressing up.

This guide names only places we confirmed on their own websites, or on a chain's official locator, in late October and early November 2026. One address comes from the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce directory. For beaches, the closed pier, Devil's Slide and the Sánchez Adobe, see our Pacifica town guide.

Where the restaurants are

Pacifica stretches about six miles along Highway 1, so its restaurants are spread out. Rockaway Beach, a small cove in the middle of town, has the two ocean-view dining rooms and a few hotels. Highway 1 itself, called Coast Highway in addresses, has the barbecue stand, the tea room and the Linda Mar Taco Bell. The Manor district in the north, near Manor Drive, has the bakery and a Mexican restaurant. Crespi Drive, near Pacifica State Beach, has the Peruvian restaurant.

Rockaway Beach

Nick's Restaurant

Nick's at 100 Rockaway Beach Avenue is Pacifica's best-known restaurant. Its history begins in 1927, when Charles Gust arrived at Rockaway Beach from Greece. Today it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with fresh seafood and ocean views, alongside the Sea Breeze Motel. The horseshoe bar has a dance floor with live music on Friday and Saturday nights. In late 2026 the website listed the restaurant closed on Tuesday and Wednesday and open from 10 a.m. on other days. It also has banquet rooms for up to 120 people.

Moonraker

Moonraker sits next door at 105 Rockaway Beach Avenue, inside the Lighthouse Hotel. Chef and owner Jason Yeafoli serves classic seafood with a modern twist, plus local California wines and beers. Floor-to-ceiling windows look straight out to sea. The site lists dinner nightly from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., weekend lunch from noon and a bar happy hour. It planned to open on Thanksgiving, November 26, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more seafood near Palo Alto, see our seafood guide.

Along Highway 1

Gorilla Barbeque

Gorilla Barbeque at 2145 Coast Highway is a local institution for smoked meats. Its site lists noon to 8 p.m. on most days, closed on Tuesday and open on holidays except Thanksgiving and Christmas. It warns that it often sells out early, especially on weekends. Call ahead if you are driving over for it. Our barbecue guide covers smokehouses closer to home.

Lovey's Tea Shoppe

Lovey's Tea Shoppe at 4430 Coast Highway serves afternoon tea by reservation, plus a walk-up menu and takeaway. It sells loose teas and hosts private parties. Its site lists Friday to Sunday hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. Book ahead for weekend tea.

Taco Bell Cantina

The Taco Bell Cantina at 5200 Coast Highway is one of the best-known fast-food restaurants on the California coast, thanks to its spot right on the sand at Linda Mar. Taco Bell's locator lists it as a Cantina, which means it serves beer and cocktails. It shows the restaurant open until midnight. On sunny weekends the parking lot fills with surfers. See our tacos and burritos guide for independent taquerias in Palo Alto.

Peruvian food at Puerto 27

Puerto 27 is a Peruvian restaurant and pisco bar inside the Pacifica Beach Hotel at 525 Crespi Drive. Owners Julio and Zoila came to California from Lima in 1978. They opened Puerto 27 on April 27, 2013, naming it for the birthday of their late son. The menu covers Peruvian classics with a modern touch. The dining room has ocean views. The site lists lunch and dinner Wednesday to Sunday, with a happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on those days. It is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Bakery and Mexican food in the Manor district

Mazzetti's Bakery at 101 Manor Drive is celebrating 50 years of baking in Pacifica. The Mazzetti family bakes fresh daily. It is known for wedding cakes, its Derby Cake and honey bran muffins. It also delivers through apps. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, closed Monday. Our bakeries guide covers Palo Alto.

The Green Enchilada is a Mexican restaurant in the Manor Plaza shopping center, listed by the Pacifica Chamber at 444 Manor Plaza. Its own site lists daily hours from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., which makes it a reliable late lunch after a morning at the beach.

Eating with kids

Pacifica is an easy beach day with children. Its food is mostly casual. The Linda Mar Taco Bell lets families eat a few steps from the sand, though tables fill on sunny weekends. Mazzetti's is a good morning stop for muffins before a walk. Nick's has a long menu and a big dining room that handles groups well. Lovey's afternoon tea can be a treat for older children who will sit through a few courses. As everywhere on this coast, the water is cold and rip currents are strong, so stick to wading and tide watching. Our beaches guide covers the safest spots.

Seasons and weather

Summer in Pacifica often means fog and drizzle in the morning, even when Palo Alto is hot. Late September and October bring the clearest, warmest days. That is when ocean-view tables are most in demand. Winter storms can bring big surf and occasional slides that close coastal roads. Restaurants stay open year-round, but hours can shrink in winter and some places close early on stormy nights. Check before you drive over.

Planning your visit

• Pair a meal with a walk. Mori Point, the Devil's Slide Trail and Brooks Falls in San Pedro Valley Park are all close to these restaurants.
• Expect fog. Pacifica is cool year-round. September is usually its warmest month.
• Skip the pier. The Pacifica Municipal Pier has been closed since June 4, 2026. The cafe at its entrance was torn down.
• Mind midweek closures. Nick's, Puerto 27 and Gorilla Barbeque each close on Tuesday.
• Stay the weekend. Families often rent a house on the coast. You can browse coastside rentals or stay at a Rockaway Beach hotel.

Frequently asked questions