Big Sur River Inn
Address:
Phone:
831 667 2345Description:
The Big Sur River Inn still retains much of its rustic charm as a mid-20th century roadhouse, café, and gas station. Its humble appearance from the highway belies a unique and truly special experience. The River Inn's backyard and deck are right on the bank of the Big Sur creek, where you'll find oversized willow chairs ready to be positioned in the shallow water. Yes, you can sip a cocktail or even eat an entire meal while sitting in the middle of the river. Kick off your shoes, dip your feet in cool mountain water, and lounge beneath a canopy of towering redwoods. On Sunday afternoons in the summer, you can enjoy live music outside (Dixieland jazz, standard jazz, or R&B seem to predominate). The food is decent but overpriced (typical for Big Sur) – the burritos and ceviche are especially good. A less expensive alternative is to bypass the restaurant and pick up some grub at the general store next door, which you can still tote to the chairs in the river. During colder weather, the indoor lounge has a roaring fire. The room accommodations are lackluster, but at a fraction of the cost of other Big Sur hotels. The real attraction here, though, is sipping drinks in the river.