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    Hula Hut

    3.3 (276 reviews)
    Closed • 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Hula Hut Photos

    HULA HUT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Sara O.

    I always love stopping in the Hula Hut when I'm visiting in town. They have the best flavored iced lattes and avocado toast! I bought a cozy sweatshirt here too while I waited for my order. They have the best beach vibes going on here and I love seeing all the gifts inside when I'm looking around for souvenirs.

    Inside seating
    Kathleen C.

    Second time visiting. Good service, nice gifts and delish sweets! It's a definite stop each time we visit Avila beach.

    view

    The Perfect Sweet Finale Every Time Hula Hut is hands-down one of the standout gems on Avila Beach's Front Street, and we make it a ritual to end every evening here during our stays at Avila Village Inn. It's not just ice cream--it's the ideal punctuation to a day of trail walking, hot tubs, beach lounging, and good meals. The hand-scooped ice cream from Doc Burnstein's is exceptional: creamy, dense, and packed with real flavor without being overly sweet. Their seasonal and local-inspired options (think fresh strawberry when in season, or the rich chocolate peanut butter that feels indulgent yet balanced) never disappoint. We've tried classics like vanilla bean and mint chip, and they're executed with precision--perfect texture, generous scoops, and cones that hold up without crumbling. What elevates it to five stars is the whole experience: the cheerful, unpretentious service (quick even on busy summer evenings), the outdoor benches with direct ocean views, and the way it fits so naturally into the rhythm of Avila. After pizza at Mission or seafood at Custom House, walking the short distance for a double scoop under the string lights feels effortless and rewarding. Portions are satisfying without being overwhelming, prices are fair for the quality, and they offer non-dairy options that actually taste great. We've hit Hula Hut multiple times per trip--once after the Bob Jones Trail soak, again post-beach--and it never fails to deliver that quiet moment of pure contentment as the waves roll in and the day winds down. If you're in Avila Beach and appreciate a dessert that feels thoughtful rather than gimmicky, this is the spot. We'll keep returning, and it's earned its permanent place on our itinerary. Highly recommended--make it your evening closer. You won't regret it.

    I got the caramel cinnamon latte and it was not good. It tasted bitter.

    I got the caramel cinnamon latte and it was not good. The coffee was bitter and had no flavor.

    A must stop while in Avila Beach!

    What a wonderful coffee and pastries stop, which is now a destination to me. Right across from the beach, with a comfy outdoor seating area. Their coffee is delicious and try the Almond Pastries! An awesome selection of gifts many by local artists. And to top it off...Jim, the owner, Leann and all staff are wonderful people and cater to all with empathy and human kindness!

    Expanded indoor seating
    Central Coast F.

    Now my Avila go to instead of second favorite place to go for dessert, ice cream or lunches (We use to go to Custom House until the owners destroyed our go to spot with an ill thought out remake). The good news is Hula Hut in response has increased their menu options , and tripled their seating capacity. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is they now serve cheaper supermarket available ice cream (Tillimook) over what I think was SLO Maid before. If they had to change ice cream venders wish they would have gone with a higher quality option, otherwise 5 star beach front experience with always friendly service, fun choices, and fun beach vibe shopping souvenirs, t-shirts, and trinkets. Has been a Avila beach favorite for my family for a couple of decades, changed keep it relevant and relaxing.

    Menu.
    Shelley S.

    Order your food at the counter, then find a seat inside or out. I had the breakfast burrito with country potatoes. Served with mild salsa, I asked for Cholula, and they obliged. Delicious! I ate half before I thought to make this review. It is also a shop with many cute touristy items. I'll definitely come back.

    The view.
    Tish H.

    Do yourself a favor and grab a hot chocolate WITH whip cream at Hula Hut today! Beautiful outside for a treat. Tip the servers. EXHALE!

    Sara B.

    This is shop is so diverse. Coffee shop, chocolates and candy, snacks and lunch/dinner options. The store has indoor seating areas, boutique items for sale plus the candy and snacks selection is pretty massive. We ordered lunch to go; a clam chowder bread bowl and a chile verde burrito. Now, this is not a Mexican restaurant and the majority of the menu is Hawaiian themed ( which I can appreciate); the burrito was decent but kind of what you expect if you were going to order a burrito at a convenience store. The majority of the burrito was beans and rice and 1/3 chile verde. But they had some really delicious sounding items on the menu. Our order was ready in about 10 minutes. We took our order to go and sat outside along the sidewalk that has lots of outdoor seating available. The price was okay, $25 for the 2 entrees and one bottle of water.

    Flavors posted are frosted cupcake and olalliebery. Olalliebery is my favorite and not overly sweet. It's just a mix of berries!!

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    8 years ago

    Got ice cream, single scoop. Was hardly anything for $5. Didn't even fill the small cup, rip off and got jipped.

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    5 years ago

    waited 30 minutes for these nachos. $15 dollars for chips with cheese and soggy lettuce. Unbelievable!

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    8 years ago

    This place is adorable for a quick snack, gifts and coffee! Loved it on our visit. Almond milk latte to go :)

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    6 years ago

    Open today and not a single employee was wearing a mask but they did handle and serve food and ice cream

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    12 years ago

    Ice cream was delicious. Service was unorganized and terrible! Total shame. Really run poorly.

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    Page 5 of 7

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    Fat Cats Cafe - The best thing on the menu! It is delicious homemade Hash and Eggs!

    Fat Cats Cafe

    3.5(746 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    •$$

    Friday morning about 10ish, my partner isn't going to show for breakfast. I was seated outside, a…read morecool morning fog burning off. I was asked if I wanted coffee, yes please. It took awhile to hear back whether they would be joining me. Okay who's my server...ah here she is "Caress" like the soap, it took me a minute...okay. Seafood Omelet, upgrade to fresh fruit and an English muffin. The fog was burning off and the four top I was sitting at was starting to get pretty warm for me. I was getting anxious, ah my breakfast arrived. Just as I had asked for with a 8z bowl of fresh fruit, watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe all ripe and tasty. The Omelet was perfect a good portion of mixed seafood with a kinda creamy sauce. I liked it. I had to ask for a top up on my coffee, she did check on me later. I had left my visa card on the table so that could get taken care of now, she had just been sat three larger tables. The breakfast was quite good, to the point, no parsley, served hot. That was it for me, forty bucks for breakfast these days. I was cheep on the tip, I didn't feel the love, fruit was charged as a side at $6, which I gave up my starch. Too pricy for a local, I hope the tourists keep coming back. Martin-foodguy

    This was the first time eating here for all of us. We had a great patio table. We started off with…read morecalamari. I had a cup of clam chowder; hubby had a shrimp po' boy; my parents had the halibut. Everyone was happy with their meals would definitely return in the future. Server kept our drinks refilled. 7/29/26

    Photos
    Fat Cats Cafe - Specials today

    Specials today

    Fat Cats Cafe - Bacon avocado omelette

    Bacon avocado omelette

    Fat Cats Cafe - Nice view from my table

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    Nice view from my table

    Kraken Coffee - Roobis hot tea

    Kraken Coffee

    4.0(357 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    •$$

    I first tried this coffee shop on the 4th of July. Even though it was very busy, I received…read moreexcellent service and my coffee was so good I had been thinking about it and wanting to go back, ever since. Fast forward to yesterday, I finally had the chance to return. I did Bob Jones trail and all I could think about was how good my coffee was going to be once I reached the shop! This visit was not as busy and I received very lousy service from the young man at the register with the long straight hair and makeup who took my order. I was a little confused about my order and I think it irritated him. Only because, I ordered the exact same drink as last time and he asked me several questions about what I wanted added to it, that I wasn't asked before. So, I was a little confused. But shouldn't have been enough to irritate him as much as it did and he rolled his eyes at me twice as I tried to quickly decide on the options he gave. He ended up ringing me up for an iced vanilla americano which is absolutely not what I ordered. And he and I had discussed them adding milk to my drink which also didn't happen. He just pointed at the half and half on the counter when I brought it up after I received my drink. Guess my first experience was a fluke. Because this time they lost me as a customer.

    I stopped by Kraken Coffee about 12 minutes before closing, and while I understand it was near the…read moreend of the day, I still expected friendly customer service. When I walked in, I wasn't greeted. I asked what kinds of lattes they offered, and the employee simply pointed at the syrup flavors listed on the menu and said, "These are the flavors," in a tone that came across as annoyed. I then asked how much honey was in the honey latte, and she responded that they measure by grams instead of pumps, then said it was "probably about two pumps." After I ordered and paid, she walked away without saying thank you or letting me know they would call my name or announce when my order was ready. When I picked up my drink, no one acknowledged me or thanked me. The latte itself was just okay, not bad, but nothing memorable or worth making a trip back for. Unfortunately, the customer service left a much bigger impression than the coffee. Even though I arrived shortly before closing, the shop was still open, and I don't think customers should feel like they're inconveniencing the staff for ordering during posted business hours. Because of the service, I don't see myself returning

    Photos
    Kraken Coffee - Inside

    Inside

    Kraken Coffee
    Kraken Coffee - Menu

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    Menu

    Twenty South - French Toast

    Twenty South

    4.5(79 reviews)
    5.9 mi

    Absolutely outstanding! Twenty South Coffee & Food was one of those places where every part of the…read moremeal was done right. I had the breakfast burger, and it was incredible--the burger was cooked perfectly medium, the bun was beautifully crispy, and the combination of the egg and hash brown made every bite delicious. Everything tasted fresh, balanced, and thoughtfully prepared. The coffee was exceptionally smooth and complemented the breakfast perfectly. On top of the great food, the service was outstanding--warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. You can tell there is care behind what they do here. Fantastic food, excellent coffee, and wonderful service. Twenty South is absolutely worth a stop, and we will definitely be back!

    Stopped in for a salad while out shopping. Order at counter, get a number and find a seat…read more Unfortunately they only offer coffee drinks, no iced tea or anything else. Luckily they had a small fridge with some bottled sparkling water. Patio seating is your best bet here. Sadly the employee said someone stole their umbrellas and propane tank. So the patio had 1 umbrella which was the only table outside that was occupied so bring a hat! The menu is very limited but they did have one salad, a steak salad. It was very nice, reminded me of a fall salad. I will come again to try their breakfast menu.

    Photos
    Twenty South
    Twenty South - Yogurt and Granola bowl (Grab and go case)

    Yogurt and Granola bowl (Grab and go case)

    Twenty South - Iced cold brew with a little Half & Half

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    Iced cold brew with a little Half & Half

    Mulligan's Restaurant - Chicken wings

    Mulligan's Restaurant

    3.9(120 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    •$$

    I arrived around 6:30pm on a Friday night. I ordered the tri tip tacos, as well as a coke (which…read moreare refillable). My total came out to $20.16. The way it works is you order at the bar, and then they will take down your phone number to text when your order is ready. However, it seemed like they were more using the loud speaker because I didn't receive the text until 9:57pm that night. My order was ready at 6:53, so we were looking at about a 23 minute wait - which I think is fair given how busy it was. The food itself was just okay to me. I didn't think it was anything to write home about, but that could be because I had some really great tri tip at the SLO Farmer's Market the day before. However, I will say, I really liked this place for the environment. There was live music, and a lot of table and chairs to just look out at the water and just enjoy the views. It was super family friendly, and I found it to be really enjoyable to just sit and hang out. I did find it odd that they close early (8pm) on a Friday night. At 7:59pm, the employees will come up to you to let you know that they close at 8pm, so it seems like they are strict about that.

    The Wife and I were in Avila for my b-day week. We had rented bikes and on the way back to our…read moreAirBnB, we stopped for a bloody mary. One of the best Bloody Mary's I have ever had. I wish we had more time to toss a couple more back! Go, Drink Well, HAVE FUN!

    Photos
    Mulligan's Restaurant - Outdoor seating

    Outdoor seating

    Mulligan's Restaurant - Our meal

    Our meal

    Mulligan's Restaurant - Fantastic Bloody Marys!

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    Fantastic Bloody Marys!

    The New Custom House - Chopped Tuna Salad.

    The New Custom House

    3.4(1.9k reviews)
    0.0 mi
    •$$

    The star of the show was definitely the onion rings!!! OMG -- seasoned to perfection, crispy, and…read moreSO flavorful, especially dipped in ranch. Honestly, I'd come back for those alone! The chicken wings and butterfly shrimp were delicious too. We ordered the wings plain and dipped them in the buffalo sauce, and the shrimp came with two different sauces that were both so good. Service was great! We ordered our food at the bar along with our drinks, and the bartender brought everything right to our table. The busser also came by to help clear our trays, which was really appreciated. One warning: the pigeons are VICIOUS here Do not leave your food unattended because they will absolutely swarm your table the second you walk away! Great food, great service, amazing view, and those onion rings are a must.

    I've been coming here for years whenever I visit Avila Beach. Even after the switch to…read moreself-service, I would still regularly stop by for the coconut shrimp to go. Unfortunately, my first dine-in experience since then was really disappointing. The fettuccine Alfredo was just okay, and I definitely wouldn't recommend the steamed clams. But what really ruined the experience was the bartender. I was standing in line at the bar waiting to order a drink. When it was finally my turn, the bartender took the order of someone who had arrived after me but was already seated at the bar. At first, I didn't think much of it. I assumed customers who were already seated were being served first, so I just waited. Then, a white woman who had been standing in line behind me sat down at the bar. The bartender skipped me again and took her order instead. Thankfully, she immediately pointed out that I had been ahead of her and had been waiting first. The bartender eventually took my order, but his attitude toward me was extremely cold and unfriendly. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but after being passed over twice, I couldn't help but wonder if race had something to do with it. That's what made the experience especially disappointing. I've been a longtime customer and have always enjoyed stopping here whenever I'm in Avila Beach. Unfortunately, after this experience, I'll think twice before coming back.

    Photos
    The New Custom House - Inside seating

    Inside seating

    The New Custom House
    The New Custom House - Beachfront drink

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    Beachfront drink

    Blue Moon Over Avila - Escargot

    Blue Moon Over Avila

    4.0(588 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    •$$$

    Food was good. Really enjoyed the clam chowder. The French onion was a bit too cheese but we still…read moreliked it. We arrived during the last hour or so so it was definitely busy but our server worked to make us feel satisfied. It was great being able to see the beach as we ate our food. Added a lot of value to our experience!

    We'd been to the popular Oyster Place next door and certainly down to this beach area many times…read more As a wedding gift a client of mine gave us a gift card to this restaurant. That was a couple months ago and since I was driving them Monday I thought we should have some dinner I made a reservation online, for 6pm, no problem. Parking wasn't too challenging if you know the neighborhood. Walking up we heard and saw 'n Accordionist playing some French favorites, pretty cool. We were sat right down inside please, it can get pretty windy so... Ella greeted us after a few minutes...now allow me to say the pace in European dining places is slower than here in America and this place followed the traditional rhythm of a relaxed and casual dinner...Okay M went for a Sparkling wine and I stuck with my usual Pelligrino. We mused over the menu for quite a while, we can pace ourselves too A Trio for Monica, half an Ham & Cheese grilled sandwich with a cup of chowder and a caesar salad. My King Salmon (not often available these days) served with grilled asparagus and some roasted potatoes. It was all very good as we took our time savoring the moment. Dessert followed and the crem bule' finished the dinner. We enjoyed ourselves we enjoyed interacting with Ella and we enjoyed our European evening. It was time to go home a make like the French. Good Evening Folks Martin-Foodguy

    Photos
    Blue Moon Over Avila - Dining room

    Dining room

    Blue Moon Over Avila - Baked Brie with a view

    Baked Brie with a view

    Blue Moon Over Avila - Patio

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    Patio

    Zorro's Cafe & Cantina - Zorro Dip

    Zorro's Cafe & Cantina

    4.3(1.9k reviews)
    3.9 mi
    •$$

    Zorro's -- Mexican Food & Sangria for the Win!…read more We were on the hunt for somewhere different from our usual Mexican food spots and somehow ended up at Zorro's. I'd never been, but my boyfriend had been here before for breakfast--apparently he had been holding out on me because he'd never tried dinner! The people were super nice, the food was solid, and most importantly... THE SANGRIA. Absolutely delicious! It may not be medically prescribed, but it definitely itches that Mexican-food craving when you need a fix. Was it the most life-changing meal we've ever had? No. But it was good, the atmosphere was friendly, and we had a great time. Sometimes you just need chips, salsa, Mexican food and a really good sangria to put the world back in order. We'll definitely be back--especially when the Mexican-food itch starts acting up again!

    Sante Fe something but not what I ordered. I'm sad, I was hungry for good Mexican food. I want…read moreMexican food for the cumin, chili powder, onions and bell peppers, this was a Denny's/Ihop dish. The potatoes were unseasoned, egg whites were runny/undercooked. (I asked for over medium) & after waiting 5 - 10 minutes for the waitress, I ended up ordering a more food because this wasn't good. I'm hoping the chili verde redeems my opinion about this place. Bussers / Host were super nice and attentive! 10/10 Clean restaurant Chili I verde is good!

    Photos
    Zorro's Cafe & Cantina
    Zorro's Cafe & Cantina - Clam chowder

    Clam chowder

    Zorro's Cafe & Cantina - Hot sauce

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    Hot sauce

    Hula Hut - icecream - Updated September 2026

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