Big Sur Taphouse

This is one of my favorites in the area! The specials are the absolute best value in big sur, and the food is always really good. Service is always great, atmosphere is AWESOME! You can have a cozy romantic booth inside or go up to an insane patio with fantastic views. It's also a full bar if you party.

What a cool spot! Brought the kiddos here for a quick bite to eat on our way home. My daughter and I shared the grilled veggie tacos. 3 huge tacos and they were super good. My boy enjoyed a corn dog from the deli next door. Spent 10 minutes in the gift shop and loved the seating. See ya next time!

Great food! Loved the atmosphere and vibe of this place! Highly recommend!

This place looked like a local dive bar from outside. Once entered inside, it's actually an airy place with an outdoor patio upstairs. The food is also surprisingly good and in sizable portions. The price is very reasonable in Big Sur standard.

For being one of the very few food options in Big Sur, it was a nice surprise to find this place. The Taphouse is half restaurant and half convenience store. It was pretty cool looking around the store while waiting for our food to come out. The menu was surprisingly sizeable, but the food was delicious! It was honestly some of the best onion rings I've ever had. Our sandwiches were also good as well. Though the service was very kind, it did take some time for our food to be received. But that was really the only gripe. Also note that it's a single bathroom out in the back, so be prepared to wait if there's a good amount of people. Otherwise, we were treated well and had a great lunch here!

Mmm. Yum yum in my tum tum 😛. My sweets and I have come here everyday on our brief vacation away from my pestilent kids and I have to say- this is the best place to eat if you’re sad and want to shovel food (and beer) into your greedy body. I would recommend the beyond tacos (unless you prefer eating animals, then indulge in some meat tacos) and the fajita quesadilla for some crunchy peppery goodness. Just don’t drive home because this place will have you loaaaaded! 🫨

We had a few beers and pizza. Beer selection is awesome, and the pizza was excellent… so good that we ordered a second. Unfortunately, it turned out that pizzas were sold out after we ordered, but the owner offered us some free wings instead. If you are staying in, or passing through Big Sur, you would be dumb not to drop in.

Food was surprisingly good. Service was not much when entered the place. Friendly once figured out on own how ordering Happened. Small selection of beer with a big patio seating area. Watch out for bird poop when sitting under the trees. Heard they had great fish tacos but they didn’t have them when we were there.

This place is definitely a spot you want to go while you're at Big Sur! The vibes were so chill, service was good and the food was amazing! We had the heavenly hippie pizza and it was one of the best pizzas I have ever had. It's definitely a local spot, and was very welcoming 10/10

Wow!!! This was one of the worst experiences I've ever had at a restaurant. It's Saturday night and there was one guy working the Beer/ wine service and taking orders. The entire back section of the restaurant was filled with a wedding party and front had people watching the football game. Busy yes, but not an excuse for the pathetic behavior of the dude (Seth) behind the counter. We were a party of 6 and we come to Big Sur several times a year to visit the Hawthorns and their gallery. We were looking forward to having a few beers and dinner. We ordered and waited ( again we know it was busy) 5 of us got our food and when we were almost done we realized one of our party hadn't received his Tacos after we watched Seth hand out two full taco plates for free to his "local" buddies. When we asked he got upset because he got caught handing out free food and tried to offer us $10 for the problem. We didn't want $10. We just wanted the tacos we paid for. He completely lost his mind and wanted to know where we lived and what our names were. After some back and forth banter he told us we were cut off after 2 beers and told us the shut the F up and get the F out! My friend was so shocked by this she immediately started crying and a patron also friend of Seth followed us to the store to apologize for his friend and offered to pay for our diner. Another guy came out( one of the guys who got the free tacos) and apologized as well. He said there is a ton of localism here. I would think with the road being closed to the south that establishments would welcome "tourist". The food was good but I still can't get over the scene that happened. PS: The local group of people drinking alcohol, rolling and smoking pot right outside the front door was really not a good look for the business.

Great food, great beer and great scenery! Keep your eyes peeled when driving down highway 1 as this place is easily to miss but is an absolute miss! The food is grade A and the view is very relaxing. Also, on top of it all, the staff is great and deserve all the Big Sur business!

My group and I needed a quick snack with good shareable plates so we opted to stop by the Big Sur Taphouse. They had plenty of appetizers good to share for group settings. We ordered at the counter and was given a number to sit outside. I would highly recommend sitting at the outdoor patio which is so secluded and cutely decorated! My group loved the fries seasoning with the aioli and nachos were decent too!

Delicious!!! The pizza was amazing:and I'm a Chicago pizza snob:). The quesadillas were fab and the sauce yummy. Stop in-grab a beverage and use the wifi.

Well, in the past the review was a 5. Things have definitely changed since my last visit. The Bartender is a very angry individual that insults patrons and is very vulgar and rude. Possibly overworked. The bar was busy and he took out his frustrations on those who did not get food or asked for anything additional. Such, a shame... Beer is cold, food is good bar food, but wow, the rest of it is just so negative and hateful. Local joint - not for tourists.

Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Top ranked restaurant in the area on your drive down Big Sur. Food was solid. Great indoor and outdoor seating. Wonderful convenience store with snacks/drinks/souvenirs attached as well! Only downside is one customer toilet (which needs a good deep clean) with a long wait line at any given time of day.

Local vibes although we were visitors, guests were friendly. Watched the Dodgers game on their 2 tvs. Burger was decent came with a bunch of nicely cooked fries, $22. Nachos were great. Came on a good sized tray with pickled jalapeños and red onions on the side. An ok amount of chicken but I appreciated how they spread out all the toppings equally across the tortilla chips. I asked for a cup of ice but didn't get any and the guy (cook?) came out to give free sample of a pizza he created, offered everyone a piece but walked right passed us. Very rude and made me feel unwelcomed

One of the best carne asada nachos I have ever had. The carne asada was tender, moist, and shaved thinly. I would go back for that alone. The portions are incredibly generous and can easily feed three people. The beer selection was good, and an ice-cold beer was welcome on a hot day. However, the restaurant wasn't the cleanest.

Best spot in Big Sur? This place is a gem. First of all big shout out to anyone who has Pliny The Elder on tap. Especially at this remote a location. I had eaten already so I didn't try the food but I wished I hadn't eaten before when I saw what was coming out if the kitchen! Great looking sandwiches with shaved deli meats, large orders of good looking nachos. The vibe is great. When you walk in its like an old tavern which is great in its own right but the place to be is the upstairs open air patio. Pics included. Definitely will be back here and next time with an appetite.

Good food and service and the locale was entertaining. We ordered a burger and BLT with two delicious IPA's. The outdoor patio was a nice place to enjoy the meal.

Came here yesterday for drinks and light food after we had a small elopement at Henry Miller. We had a party of 14 people which arrived in staggered groups (I, as the bride, + the groom arrived an hour and a half later due to taking photos). The bartender made negative comments to everyone. I wish I was exaggerating. I was very disappointed because this spot was recommended by multiple people. It was honestly a perfect day until we decided to come here and that really sucks on your wedding day. Drinks were decent (beer and wine are easy). Food was bar food. He kept making comments saying we should have called if we had a party of over 15 people...which we didn't. It was a last minute after wedding plan and I figured it would be just drinks since we had food at our venue. I came up to order a second round of drinks and some more snacks and he made a comment again saying, "I thought there weren't anymore in the wedding party!!!!" When I tried to explain we were ordering a second round, due in part because there was a mistake on someone's original food order, he walked away from me mid sentence. I've been in the service industry for over a decade. I can understand mild irritation if you're in the weeds, but it's a Saturday night and if staffing wasn't done properly you don't take it out on your customers, especially if they're they're being kind to you. Many of us in the party are industry. We know how to treat a business respectfully. BOH rocked, kitchen was working hard and the food runner was kind. Again, immensely disappointed in the service and I hope this changes for future guests & business.

Wow! First time here and yeah I am coming back. The food was amazing and they had Pliny the Younger on tap (though probably gone as I post this). The lunch meal, I ordered was the Shrimp Po Boy (special for Mardi Gras) and it was loaded and about a 8 inches long and filled with shrimp, tomatoes, lettuce and a secret hot sauce. Order at the bar and grab a seat indoor or on their back patio. Relaxed atmosphere for lunch. Outdoor patio has several wooden benches and heaters and a couple two top chairs. The covered patio area has a TV for those sports fans. The service was great. The food came out quickly and they brought it to our table in the upper patio area. I can't wait to come back to try the rest the menu and all the beers on tap.

Alright! Been here enough times to write review. Upon walking in its very localized spot. But don't let that worry you. The vibe is mellow and welcoming. Every time I've been here I've never had a bad experience. Always been treated with respect and professionalism. So let's move onto the food and drinks. There's always. Great selection of beer on tap. And it isn't to expensive here either. Great spot for some beers if that's all you're looking for. They also have TV and wifi. Something that is a rarity in Big Sur. You don't really come here to watch TV of use the internet. In my opinion it kills the Big Sur vibe and experience. But to each their own. The food. So their food has changed almost every time I've been here each year. Is that a bad thing? No. I like how the menu stays new and different. The only part I was upset about is how their fish tacos have changed. They were AMAZING. They're a bit of a different style now but STILL worth getting. The calamari sandwich? Holy jesus it's HUGE. It's enough food for a whole family lol. The sandwich would easily feed 3. Their fries are perfect and fresh that come with it to. Also tried their popcorn shrimp. Excellent shrimp seasoned very well. All in all I really can't say anything bad about this place. The only reason I even gave it 4 stars is because I really miss the original fish tacos. They were something I always came back for. But now they're a different s style. So I'll have to find a new go to on the menu. Overall. I would highly recommend this place. You really can't go wrong here.

We are in Carmel Valley. Been raining for days and hubby has never been. We ventured out even though it said the road was closed. Wooo hoooo road was open and they had power here. THIS was worth the drive and slight anxiety with all the wetness of the mountains. This is by far the best tacos we've had. Even hubby got in on the yelp and gave review. So this is so worth coming in. yummm

I was in the area for the week and decided to try this place out. The food and beer was good. 4 stars because of the beer selection. The patio is absolutely worth going for a pint.

For being one of the very few food options in Big Sur, it was a nice surprise to find this place. The Taphouse is half restaurant and half convenience store. It was pretty cool looking around the store while waiting for our food to come out. The menu was surprisingly sizeable, but the food was delicious! It was honestly some of the best onion rings I've ever had. Our sandwiches were also good as well. Though the service was very kind, it did take some time for our food to be received. But that was really the only gripe. Also note that it's a single bathroom out in the back, so be prepared to wait if there's a good amount of people. Otherwise, we were treated well and had a great lunch here!

There are not too many choices around Big Sur. We did like their cheesesteak but the tacos were bad. It was Tuesday special taco day, so we decided to give the tacos a try. It was disappointing to see the tacos were just a bit of meat on the tortilla. Cheesesteak was missing pickles. Nice view on the patio. Good beer selection but it was hard to order (No beer menu and limited space around the bar). Wi-Fi didn't work.

Do you love scenic drives? Are you hungry? Could you use a beer? Kill 3 birds with 1 stone and head to Big Sur Taphouse. The only way to get to it is to drive down a beautiful chunk of the California coast and upon your arrival you'll be greeted with better than average bar food and a variety of beer. (Don't drink and drive). The place is super casual and has a variety of seating both indoors and out. The patio out back bumps right up against a mountain and has nice tree cover for some shade and plenty of space for groups. The food is better than you'd expect in a place with such a captive audience given that there isn't a wide selection of restaurants in the area. The prices are reasonable and the service is quick and friendly. If you're here, you're probably stopping anyway because there aren't many businesses in the area and you probably want to stretch your legs, so go ahead and grab a bite while you're at it.

Their sandwiches are HUGE and super filling! Definitely large enough to share between 2 people. This is a great place to gather and get some drinks. All the food we ordered was great! The chips taste like your classic baked kettle chips. I highly recommend the Cheesesteak and Reuben. Our party also tried the Bixby BBQ Pork Sandwich, Chicken Banh Mi, and Buffalo wings. Parking right outside Staff super friendly Pro Tip: $1 off Pint of Beer with check-in and $20 for $25 gift certificate on yelp!

Great atmosphere especially on the back patio. This is the kind of place you could hang out all day. We got the bahn mi, it was ok. It had cucumbers, cilantro sriracha Mayo & bbq shredded chicken, so not authentic but the portion was big enough to share. We later got chips, salsa & queso, that was really good & we'd get it again. Also, because I checked in I got a $1 off my beer!

Cozy with great service and delicious eats. Order at the bar and they give you a # to deliver the food once ready. They take credit cards but cash is preferred. The Hot Reuben sandwich came with potato chips and a pickle spear (on the side) on marbled bread. Good portion. The El Sur Grande Chicken Nachos was a serving size for many people! I didn't expect how large the portion was going to be but grande is in the name. :) Nachos were accompanied with jalapeños, pickled onions and the drizzly kind of cheese (not shredded). Yum! The fries were yummy, thin & crisp and came with ketchup and bbq sauce. I asked for ranch too but I preferred the BBQ sauce. Large portion for the fries! The outdoor patio was closed due to renovations I believe so we sat in the small nook with the wing spanned condor on the wall. I learned about condors while on our little lunch break. The food was served on paper / earth friendly products. A small convenience store is attached for swag or snacks. Don't expect much from the restroom. If you're looking at the resto it is on the left back area. One big room with a toilet & urinal. The floors where muddy and wet so be careful. Many options for beer on tap. All in all a place I'd return to.

Fri night 7pm vibe check: Make sure you get shitfaced drunk BEFORE you come here. As we walk in and place our order, the gang cranks up the PA and blasts us with: "i got a hole in my pants and my balls are hanging out". Who knew the bar-keep freestyles too!? Food is basically spam and cheese. Atmosphere is "bad acid trip" meets "sloppy drunk jam sesh with your burnout homies". Its a mess. And loud. And the food is trash- did i already say that? Dont go. Make oatmeal in your hotel room. Save yourself the trip. And the FORTY DOLLARS your lunchmeat sammies costs you. Lol geez expensive and bad. The owner reaches out to every negative review on here and patches things up, so my hope is that they'll come give me a big'ol electronic kiss and make it all better. This place sucks.

Nice variety of drafts and good food with plenty of options. The outdoor space upstairs is great but they also have some cool cozy spots inside. Great overall vibe and the best music I've heard in a bar in a while

Their sandwiches are bomb! So big and filling. This is a great place to gather and get some drinks. All the food we ordered was amazing! The chips taste like your classic baked kettle chips! I highly recommend the Reuben and Cheesesteak. But honestly, everything was amazing so you won't be disappointed! Just go with what you're feeling. Trust your gut ;) Parking right outside Staff super friendly

This is my GO TO SPOT for Big Sur. If you are familiar with Big Sur, Restaurants are owner priced and food can feel very average for what you are paying for. Not here. I have eaten at the Big Sur Tap House well over 10 times and I have never been disappointed. I have tried a lot of different items, all are delicious, but my favorite is the Bixby Pulled Pork Sandwich. Might be one of my favorite sandwiches out there. The bbq sauce is sweet and tangy -'d they always add a char to the pork which gives it great added flavor. This place isn't cheap, but it's Big Sur, the food is of high quality and the portions are enormous. They also have some of the best beers always rotating and always a huge and varied selection. If you are in Big Sur and need a good lunch with good beer at s reasonable price for the area, this is it!

The big star here are the selections of beer on tap. Chicken tacos were tasty, but skimpy.

Let me preface this by saying I work heavy civil building Tunnels all over the US and love food. This is my second time at the Taphouse. We happened upon this little gem back in February, we were visiting Monterey and just took a drive,. The Taphouse tacos (Carne Asada) impressed us so much it made our list of the Top 5 best Tacos. So now 5 months later when we (wife and I) came back out here we made sure to drive up and get more. Taphouse didn't disappoint, the tacos were still on point so I can now say imho #1 taco I have ever had from San Antonio to Miami , NY to Seattle and several places in between. If you're ever within driving distance of Big Sur enjoy the scenery and Make Taphouse a must stop, have a pint and some Tacos or Quesadillas and enjoy!!

Beware, bar for locals only! Don't expect to come here and feel welcomed. Felt more like an inconvenience trying to get a beer since I was taking away from the bartender's personal drinking sesh. Was asked to move away for their "local's only" game night. Chugged my beer and left disappointed. 2 stars because the market that is connected was super friendly and stocked with great last minute items.

This is one of our favorite stops when we visit Big Sur. I think of it like a reward after hiking! Good spot to go for lunch, check out the daily specials. We visited on Fish Friday. Highlights: - Expanded outdoor seated area - Beers on tap (extensive and overwhelming menu) - Wine available - General store is next door - Dog friendly - Restrooms located downstairs.

The Philly cheese steak was enormous and very good as well. Nico was a mellow guy and the place just had some nice little places to sit and unwind.

Reuben Sandwich - very tasty , special sauce was good. Cheesesteak - was very good! Hot the spot 11th anniversary - Veteran's weekend specials - all the meals were $11.11. Super cute! 11-11-22 Ordered firecracker fries of the specials menu. Seasoned fries with parley and Parmesan cheese. Homemade ranch and ketchup very unique.

Great stop for anyone in the Big Sur area! Conveniently located near a deli, bakery, and a shop with some gift items. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The portions were huge, and the staff was friendly. Different rotating specials daily! Definitely a great place to stop for a drink and food. Had some vegetarian/vegan options as well.

Best chicken tenders ever! Awesome view amazing staff next level deliciousness! Great for families, gorgeous patio Quint essential Big Sur generous portions has it all

Big Sur Taphouse? More like Big Sur Traphouse! Stopped to eat lunch on my way back to West Hollywood and had heard great things about this place. The photos online looked amazing and the reviews were strong. I came in an had a nice cold Pilsner they had on tap. I had a burger and it was just what I needed to fuel me on my drive back. This spot has a locals only kind of vibe. You walk in and they know you're not from around there. Maybe they new I was a tourist because I wasn't wearing a flat billed hat or maybe it was because I was wearing my yellow crocs (Hey I was on vacation!!). The locals were pretty rowdy and when I went to the bathroom 3 of the men were doing something in the bathroom stall together. And as an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community I can assure it wasn't anything like that. I won't say what it was but it was very illegal and they were snorting it. That is why I called it the Big Sur Trap House. I didn't want to speak to the manager and tell on the locals in fear of being labeled a male Karen. Look, I can not hold the establishment responsible for the actions of there patrons especially at lunch time. All in all the food was good and the beer was cold. Prices were reasonable and the lunch time stop was convenient. It would be a full 5 star review had I not used the bathroom why by the way was pretty clean.

Definitely a must stop and experience destination if you are in Big Sur. The Big Sur burger lived up to its name. Great tasting burger that should satisfy any big appetite. I recommend you dine in, do not take the burger to go. Seating is outside in the back. You are surrounded by the green forest and you'll get lots of blue jay visitors as you enjoy your meal. Definitely coming back next time I'm in the area.

Great food, chill and welcoming atmosphere! We were visiting Big Sur, and the Taphouse seems like a place where locals convene :) Def recommend!

My wife and I stopped at the Taphouse after a morning of hiking at Andrew Molera State Park. It was pizza day at the Taphouse (thursday's), and we decided to share the olive and mushroom pizza. Altogether, it was very good and we finished every single bite. The place has a cool vibe and would be a great spot to hang out at on a warm evening.

Food was good but overpriced. Service was not so friendly. Also service would not let me buy food for my dog. Never had this problem at a restaurant. They always allow me to buy meat scraps for my dogs at other restaurants.

Just hiked Julia Pfeiffer and I was ready to EAT... stumbled across the Taphouse and it was everything I hoped for!! Crushed an ice cold brew on their beautiful tucked away patio (with a nice view too). Then the nachos came out... massive serving with incredibly fresh ingredients. So good. The perfect cap to our adventure in Big Sur.

Totally obsessed with this place. It was the perfect place to stop for a meal on our road trip. I had the caprese sandwich, it was sooo good. The back patio was so cute and great on a summers day. I also had a beverage here that I loved! The fries were also delish. I can't recommend this place enough.

Was sightseeing through Big Sur and meant to stop at Big Sur Bakery for a snack. It was raining and turned a lot too early and ended up at Big Sur Taphouse instead. Didn't regret it at all. The nachos with Beyond Meat burger was the perfect afternoon snack shared with one or two other people. It's massive topped with your favorite toppings including house-made pickled jalapeños and salsa. BST has a covered and heated back patio and is also connected to the Big Sur Deli for your additional needs. Big Sur Bakery and Nepenthe get all the Big love but definitely check out the Taphouse as an alternative.

We did an impromptu stop here on our drive back home from Santa Barbara because we were hungry and so glad we did! The food was SO good! We ordered the carne asada fries and the Philly cheesesteak. This isn't a full service restaurant, you just order at the bar and they bring the food to you, a sign says they prefer cash but card is available as well. Definitely add this place onto your stop if you're driving along the coast!

Great little spot with amazing outside area with some gorgeous views, a surprisingly great selection of beers and some delicious onion rings. Also dog friendly, can't wait to come back.

Food was great! Came out fast. We went with the chicken banh mi, the pulled chicken sandwich, and the BLAST. Beers were great, location and outdoor porch was great (a little buggy but that's to be expected), and staff was friendly. Super happy with our last minute decision to stop in!

this is a great hangout spot after a day of nature therapy! cold beer on tap, food was all freshly made and yummy as well. nice large outdoor seating area/patio with live TVs. it gets crowded so the line could be long but they move fast!

Lots of beers to choose from here! There is a great outdoor space which was important for Covid restrictions. They had a good line system to keep everyone spaced out and safe when ordering. They had the outdoor seating spread out as well. They have a TV outside which was good for sports. There is food next door you can order if you want. We had already had lunch so we only had beer. We each tried two (can't remember which now) and they were tasty. Staff was friendly and helpful in choosing drinks. There are a few other spots around here that you can park and walk to: food and coffee. This was a great surprise to come across while traveling down the coast.

Fun, comfy, warm. We enjoyed the good food and good beer. Little rooms and nooks and low ceilings make for a fun stop.

Cool little joint with excellent beer selection! The patio is pretty awesome. Chill vibes and the onion rings were pretty delicious too! The gentleman behind the bar was very friendly and knowledgeable which is refreshing when you're traveling and often the staff we run in to are unhappy and crabby.