The Los Olivos Wine Merchant and Cafe has a name that seriously undersells what is happening inside. It sounds like a place where you buy a bottle, eat three responsible almonds, and leave. Instead, they are serving some of the most satisfying farm food in town while the name stands outside pretending this is all perfectly ordinary. The building feels old in the right way. Not fake old, where someone bought distressed wood last Tuesday and charged it with having memories. It feels like locals have been wandering in from nearby vineyards, ranches, farms, and homes for years, sitting down without needing to study the room first. The tourists discover it. The locals appear to already have a system. The focaccia arrived soft in the middle with a crisp little edge that made tearing into it far more entertaining than bread has any right to be. The olive oil tasted raw, green, and incredibly fresh, as though the olives had been pressed somewhere nearby and were still slightly annoyed about it. The vegetables come from the restaurant's own farm just down the road, and they looked almost suspiciously healthy. Bright, crunchy, colorful, and full of life. Most restaurant vegetables sit beside the meat like nervous witnesses. These had confidence, opinions, and possibly retirement plans. The burrata was creamy and uncomplicated, with excellent olive oil doing what excellent olive oil does, which is make you briefly consider whether bread, cheese, and oil might be enough to sustain human civilization. The skirt steak was beautifully cooked and full of flavor. Every cow only has one skirt, which seems like a design flaw considering how many people want to order it. The vegetables alongside it were not there to provide moral balance. They were good enough to start arguments over who got the last one. My mushroom ravioli was exactly right. No puddle of oil. No cream sauce trying to bury the evidence. No pasta cooked to the consistency of a damp envelope. It was rich, earthy, and satisfying, with every bite feeling complete rather than simply preparing you for the next one. The wine wall is practically a geography lesson with alcohol. Santa Ynez Valley, Los Olivos, Paso Robles, Napa, France, Italy, and enough local bottles to make you wonder whether every nearby hill has quietly started producing wine. The wines we tried were approachable and easygoing. They joined dinner politely instead of barging in and demanding we admire their résumé. We finished with crème brûlée, which remains one of the few desserts that begins with minor property damage. Cracking through the warm sugar into the cool butterscotch custard underneath is childish, elegant, and deeply satisfying. Marcos was upbeat, knowledgeable, and clearly knew the menu well enough to recommend it without sounding like he had memorized a hostage statement. The whole evening felt relaxed, local, and completely unforced. This is the kind of restaurant where you finish dinner, walk outside, and immediately start wondering what time they open tomorrow. read more

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The Wine Merchant is a nice wine country restaurant on the main drag in Los Olivos. Had dinner here after a day of tasting. The restaurant decor is nice, though nothing special, with a sizeable patio for outdoor dining. We started with a couple of local wines by the glass. The wine list here is heavily biased towards local wines as one would expect from a wine country restaurant. Kudos for the local focus! The menu here is wine country, farm-to-table and the restaurant even has their own organic farm a short distance away where they source ingredients. For dinner we started with the beet salad special served over a citrus yogurt. For main courses we had the grilled rack of lamb and a quinoa bowl with salmon. Every dish was expertly prepared and delicious. The fruits and veggies were exceptionally fresh being sourced directly. David was our server and coincidentally was our server at a wine tasting earlier in the day. His service and that from the supporting team were professional and friendly. I give this restaurant my highest recommendation! read more

Los Olivos Cafe - Beet salad - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

This is a hard one to review. We had one good appetizer and a glass of wine. The rest of it kind of went south. The positive first: walking in everybody was super friendly and greeted us with a smile, and sat us down right away on the patio since we had our dog with us. We ordered the baked brie appetizer and two glasses of red wine. My husband had the Austin Hope Cab and I had a red blend. I don't remember the brand name. It was a little bit expensive for a glass of wine. I wanna say around $25 but we both were in the mood for a good wine and wanted to treat ourselves. The baked Brie was delicious. Negative: the fish and chips and the service. I was so excited to see fish and chips on the menu because it was halibut. I'm used to cod in fish and chips so of course I had to order since I am a huge halibut lover. The table next to us also said what an amazing meal that was and ordered one to go. We received our fish and chips from not our server and the person dropped the meal and left without asking us if we needed anything. My husband and I looked at the fish and chips and immediately started laughing. It looked like little fish nuggets as opposed to fish! I kind of thought we were being punked. We waited and waited for the server to come by or a manager or some thing and could not get anybody to come talk to us. It took 14 minutes for her to finally come tap on our table and ask if everything was OK. We told her it was not OK and to look at the size of the fish and she said she would go tell the kitchen and asked if we wanted to remake it. At that point, we weren't even hungry anymore. We were just kind of annoyed at the entire situation. She comes back out a few minutes later and says we're going to take it off of your bill. We don't see her for a while and then the manager comes over and says we took it off of your bill. He didn't ask if there's any way to make it right he just said OK anyways and walked away at the end. Being in the restaurant industry for many years, I thought this was pretty offensive. If I were him, I probably would have made another one right away or offered something they are known for like their pizza. So overall, I wouldn't be back. I think there's many other restaurants around there and to be treated like that after how we were served....no thank you! read more

Los Olivos Cafe - This is the fish and chips. What a joke - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

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Well 3 years later I have returned! And honestly pretty disappointed. The market veggies were awful. Bunch of bland root vegetables. It's spring! The Mediterranean salmon salad I won't get again. The salmon was fishy, the fried quinoa was not a good choice, it was like sand. I'm sad cause the food was incredible the last visit. The ambiance is a wine bar with a restaurant on one side and wine for sale on the other, wine bar in the center. Service was fantastic. read more

Los Olivos Cafe - Focaccia with Dipping Oil - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

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The Nicoise salad with seared ahi is exceptional. They grow all their own veggies and have the best lettuce ever. Went on a Saturday and it was packed for lunch. Went usually try to go midweek when it is less noisy. Servers are wonderful and very attentive despite being uber busy. We always take out of town guests here for lunch followed by wine tasting at Epiphany up the street and Fess Parker in Foxen Canyon. We probably go 8-10 times a year and have never been disappointed. Make a reservation and no waiting. read more

Los Olivos Cafe - Nicoise Salad with seared ahi. - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

Was driving through Solvang and some of my friends were hanging out in Los Olivos. I decided to stop by for quick lunch at this spot. Really cool place. I orders Rachel sandwich. I am a big fan of pastrami. I didn't know what to expect but the sandwich definitely wowed me. Very well toasted bun with coleslaw, cheese, and meat!! Hmm absolutely delicious. The restaurant had good amount of indoor and outdoor sitting. People working there were really nice and welcoming. I will be coming back to try other stuff on their menu. read more

Los Olivos Cafe - Rachel - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

Stopped by here for a lite snack just to get us through till dinner. I've been here before for a meal and it was quite lovely. There was a full house on the patio but we was lucky enough to get a table that was available. Inside dining area is nice but with it being nice and warm out, having a meal outside was perfect. Inside was just too quiet at the moment. The restaurant, which is also an amazing wine store is very quaint and nice. A nice little patio seating in front. Right when you walk in, host counter to your left as well as the little shop and the massive wine wall along the side. There's a fireplace right infront and a decent size wrap around bar in the middle. Inside dining room to complete the restaurant. Menu wise for lunch, we just wanted something small and light to snack on. Shared a turkey sandwich with fries which they were gracious enough to bring it out on two plates. The hummus plate with pita and tapenade and a bowl of the soup of the day. Sounds a lot for a snack but it was shared between 4 of us. Everything was quite nice and tasty. Just enough to hold us over till dinner. The service was great. Our waiter who took care of us was the sweetest and very friendly. Afterwards he introduced us to another waitress that would be taking over and she was great as well. The staff were all amazing. The experience was great with a nice meal and excellent service. Also it's pet friendly which is nice. It's located right in the heart of town and walking distance from everything. Plenty of street parking. read more

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A sweet location with a fantastic vibe and a great patio out front. A wine bar centralized and flanked by tables. A medium sized space that maintains its intimacy. We had the fry appetizer to start and all I can say is wow - that ketchup is something else!!! Tasted homemade and very tomatoey not so sweet which was so nice. The tostada filled with great ahi and some amazing carrot shreds and some spice with sliced jalapeño discs. Loaded with avocado and a bit of sour cream. The pizza was of course artisan style - brick oven toasted crust! Quality cheese as well. Our server was so pleasant and helped us with questions about my daughter's upcoming wedding plans for our vendor questions! read more

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My future in-laws took me here for a birthday dinner today (3/8/2026) and everything seemed to go well with decent food and wine, until the check showed up with the wrong wine bottle charge. When we sat down for dinner, my in-laws have frequented this place two times a year for many years so they knew what to order. The waiter had initially asked which wine they prefer, and my future in-law pointed to the cheaper bottle on the menu. Unfortunately, the waiter basically did a wine bait-and-switch and didn't tell us. He swears he mentioned he was bringing out the more expensive bottle, but these folk are regulars and having known them for years, they've never gone to any restaurant and chose an $88 bottle over a $40-$50 bottle. After discussing with the waiter the wrong wine charge, he could only remove 2 chardonnay glasses off the bill to help with the bill total, but this left a very bad impression with me, as this is my first time at the restaurant and what this waiter did is not okay. TLDR: WINE BAIT AND SWITCH - Double check on the wine that you're ordering vs the one you're receiving, the waiter might bring you a much more expensive bottle! We still had to pay for it even after telling the waiter we didn't choose the $88 bottle, he was supposed to serve us the $40-$50 bottle. read more

Los Olivos Cafe - Focaccio bread - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

So so good. I would drive to Los olivos just to go here! Dog friendly patio and the food was incredible. I had the daily soup which was carrot/butternut squash and it was perfect. Not too watery or creamy. Fiance had the lamb pita and also loved it. Can't wait to go back! read more

Los Olivos Cafe - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

Came for their restaurant week special and were not disappointed. Everything we had was delicious. The space is comfortable and cozy and the patio is lovely if its not hot out lol Perfect for spending time noshing & trying their vast selection of wines, both by the glass or flight. Overall, we are glad we finally took the time to come try this place out. We will definitely be back! read more

Los Olivos Cafe - Soup of the day and Burata appetizer. Glass of Stolpman sauv blanc - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

This place was okay. We came for a late lunch and their menu was limited. We had their Caesar salad and the truffle mushroom pizza. They make their pizza dough in house so I was excited to try that- It was okay. If I was in town again I would try another place. Server was very friendly. read more

Anyone who ever visits Los Olivos know to treat themselves to a local favorite. Just a few plates to name that we have to have every time we come here which is monthly for over 20 years now... The Mushroom Ravioli, Baked Brie, Corsica Pizza, Grilled Za'atar Flatbread, Alba Pizza, Calabrese Pizza, Nicoise Salad, Tiramisu is perfection! The service is always wonderful, it feels like home, and their wine selection is excellent too, of course. Don't think twice, treat yourself, you won't regret it! read more

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A wonderful place in a beautiful little town. This cafe was made famous by the hit movie 'Sideways' where it was featured. We have been there a few times before but went back after a few years. They have completely redone the interior but there's still indoor and outdoor seating and the same great food and friendly service. I would highly recommend if you are in the area or as a stopover on your drive between Southern and Central California. read more

Los Olivos Cafe - Lamb Shawarma wrap and fries - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

Cool vibes Pro Tasty food offerings Definitely farm to table Great for wine tasting options Lovely wait staff Portions are shareable Con A bit dated Wear and tear A bit messy read more

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All food we tried were delicious. Fresh ingredients, amazing taste and great service read more

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While the restaurant could use a remodel as it suffers from old booths and scratched paint on the walls, the food is consistently good, the service is warm and welcoming and the portions are generous. If your in Los olivos and didn't plan ahead for a reservation, grab a seat at the bar and enjoy choosing wine from the great selection along the inside wall. read more

Lunch Oct 29,2025 My Wife had a co-worker visiting us from Philadelphia and our houseguest wanted a " Sideways Tour". = show me as many film venues as possible" Stop #1: LO Wine Merchant & Cafe We got our Fave' Pizza & Caesar salads. She is an Ultra Foodie & LUVED it all. We have been dining here before "The Movie" Food,service and ambiance is always outstanding. Highly recommend read more

Los Olivos Cafe - Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

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I have never had better produce at a restaurant. It was the Star of the show by far. The chicken on the salad was fine but everything else was spectacular. The restaurant was pretty dead when we went so service was good. The ambiance is nothing special but love that there is a wine shop attached. A great place for food and wine absolutely. read more

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We really enjoyed our lunch and were pleased with the variety of quality wines. I had a very tasty grilled romaine salad with bacon; the flatbread with hummus and tapenade was okay but drenched in too much olive oil. They have nice wines by the glass including a complex, bold Trefethen Dragons tooth red blend. Our server was friendly and helpful. I found some interesting wines in their vast wine section and had lots of help finding my preferences. read more

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A quaint little stop in the quaint town of Los Olivos. I would say I liked the outdoor seating better than indoor. The food was good; we really only got bread and cheese. The wine flight was really yummy and had great variety-- would recommend. Our server was also so incredibly kind and insisted on bringing us a new soup multiple times. read more

We popped into Los Olivos Wine Room & Wine Shop based upon a recommendation of a friend who is a member. I tried the Pinot Noir flight of wines, and they were divine (see pictures). The lady that served the tasting knew her wines! It great sitting out in the porch with friends as we tasted wines. read more

I've seen good bad reviews and I have to say why I'm giving this place three stars: We were seated immediately, which is good without a reservation. It just took a little long to get the server and also took too long to get the food. I requested my burger to be cooked a certain way and they didn't do that but I was hungry so I ate it And we weren't offered coffee. We weren't offered dessert pretty much we were given our food and giving the check. I'm more than happy to pay $30 for a burger, but it should be made to order. read more

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The service and food were amazing! We got a couple of their more popular salads which were both pretty tasty. We had a patio table which was very vibey and great for people watching. Overall, I would recommend this place although the value wasn't great. For two salads and two drinks our bill was about $92 not including tip. read more

Los Olivos Cafe - Foreground: Little Gem Salad with Salmon ($34) with a Summer Spritz ($18) Background: Asian Chicken Salad ($20) with a Cab ($15) - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

Have been here 2x for lunch and both times did not disappoint. The Rachel sandwich and was so good ... I ordered both times. Also tried the fennel soup which I was apprehensive might be too licoricey, but was subtle. Best part is KRISTEN!!! She is awesome. So personable and gave great recommendations. Weather was good enough to eat outside tho did use outdoor heaters which made it more comfortable. Add another favorite restaurant in SYV read more

Yummi yummi bring friends your family and neighbors....food good wine good ...lots of indoor outdoor seating...:) read more

Los Olivos Cafe - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

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Hands down the best restaurant in Los Olivos. Have the three course dinner or lunch meal which is the best deal in town. Easily the best wine selection in town as well. Staff are extraordinary. Setting is wonderful. And the best one selection for purchase as well. read more

An incredible rustic farm to table experience located in the heart of Los Olivos. Came here for lunch (would highly recommend making a reservation) and started with the wine tasting - must and easy to share amongst two. Our waitress was kind to go over the menu in discussing what's in season and that all items come from the farm. For a party of two we ordered the following: * the seasonal corn on the Cobb (impeccable and highly recommend while in season) 5/5 * cucumber salad - also a seasonal item very flavorful on the ingredient aspect, but wish it had a stronger more vocal dressing. 4/5 * the highly recommended "Rachel" - pastrami on rye with Swiss cheese, slaw, and Russian dressing with a side of home fries. 4.5/5 for sandwich and 5/5 for the fries. Highly recommend for anyone in the area. read more

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Fresh, tasty appetizers, salads and pizza on their late lunch menu. Bring your dog(s) and sit street side under the overhang into the cafe. Plenty of seating and outside air. The wait staff are knowledgeable about the menu and are friendly, polite when ordering and serving. Drop by, grab a table and see if you agree. read more

Loved our Late Lunch/Happy Hour Baked Brie and Grilled Romaine. Interesting menu and good food and service. My only complaint is the unisex bathroom with a men's urinal. It stinks! Don't mind All Gender bathrooms but please leave out the urinal! read more

The steak frites and the gnocchi were bomb!! We also loved the wine selections and the ambience! Our waitress was lovely! read more

Los Olivos Cafe - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

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Fantastic waitress, friendly, professional and warm staff, and delicious food! Definitely one of the best burgers I've ever had - cooked to perfection with cheddar, red onions, sliced pickles and crisp shredded iceberg lettuce on a soft, buttery, slightly grilled brioche bun with 1000 island dressing, steak fries and homemade ketchup! and this place is pup friendly! Nice outdoor patio seating for well behaved dogs. read more

My wife and I drove two hours to have an enjoyable lunch at this restaurant. We've been several times, and each time the food and service have both been excellent. On this trip, we tried the roasted radishes appetizer, which was unusual and very good. She ordered a turkey sandwich, and I got the hot pastrami. We both ate half of each other's sandwich. They say the turkey is freshly roasted in-house, and that's exactly how it tastes. The bread is amazing with a crunchy exterior, but soft inside. The french fries are thick cut and served with their house-made ketchup. The ketchup is very interesting with a touch of cinnamon! Sounds weird, but tastes really good. They also make their own Ranch, which is the only thing my wife will dip a french frie in to. The pastrami sandwich was tasty and had the same excellent bread. I ordered "Greens" instead of fries, and got a massive amount of mixed, fresh greens with balsamic dressing. Service was excellent and we left very satisfied with our lunch! read more

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Made reservations for a table of 6. Sadly two of our guests were unable to attend last minute. Their loss. . This restaurant happens to be a favorite of my family. Anything you order is always excellent. The food is always delicious. And if you like your wine... well the name of the store should give that away. It's an adorable restaurant that does a great business. You can always count on clean tables and decent servers. read more

I recently visited Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafe, and unfortunately, my experience was far from what I had hoped for. Despite arriving at a time when the restaurant appeared to have several empty tables, we were told they were fully booked and could not accommodate us. This was confusing, as we could see open seating both when we arrived and as we left 30 minutes later. When we inquired about how long the wait might be or if a table might open up soon, we were met with vague and unhelpful responses. It felt like there was a lack of communication and, frankly, a lack of interest in helping us find a solution. The initial interaction also felt unwelcoming, leaving us with the impression that they weren't particularly eager to make us feel at ease or valued as potential guests. While the atmosphere of the cafe seemed lovely, the service (or lack thereof) was a major letdown. For a place that clearly prides itself on wine and food, the hospitality left much to be desired. I left feeling disappointed and unlikely to return. (In the picture I've attached, you will notice empty tables, one of which was empty when we arrived and as we left) read more

Los Olivos Cafe - Empty tables at a time they claimed to be too booked to accommodate our request for outdoor seating. - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

The Wine Merchant & Café - Los Olivos, CA One of my absolute favorite spots in the Santa Ynez Valley. The Wine Merchant in Los Olivos is a perfect blend of exceptional food, warm ambiance, and an absolutely stunning wine selection. Whether you're stopping in for a casual lunch or a special dinner, the menu is consistently outstanding, fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Their wine list is beyond fabulous, featuring local gems and rare finds alike. It's the kind of place that feels both cozy and refined, making it a must-visit ! read more

My boyfriend and I came to this place several times, and each time I left completely satisfied. The staff is very friendly. The food was excellent. The Parmesan gnocchi was out of this world! Also loved the focaccia and cheese plate. I definitely recommend this place if you're ever in Los Olivos or the nearby wineries. read more

Los Olivos Cafe - Focaccia with Dipping Oil - New American Near Me - Los Olivos, California

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We rediscovered Los Olivos and we had the best time. We reconnected with Matt who served us over a decade before. We had the Alba mushroom pizza paired with a robust Zinfandel. Marcus, our charming waiter, suggested the perfect salad (the "gem" salad not on yelps menu). A perfect day with happy people and lovely weather on the patio. The food was fresh and delicious and we won't wait so long to revisit. Thanks Matt and Alex! read more

My friend & I had dinner there last night. Everything was quite good. We wanted dessert but were filled with our main meal. Delicious & very fine dining. Our waiter was charming. read more

Outstanding. The Short Ribs were Delicious, and the Beet Salad was amazing. (I am not a Beet Guy). The Blood Orange Hefe was Excellent. Even my Girl Loved it. Oh Yeah, our little angel (Pom) Love it too. read more