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    Moss Beach Distillery

    3.9 (2k reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 7:30 PM

    Moss Beach Distillery Photos

    Business Info

    MOSS BEACH DISTILLERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Moss Beach Distillery

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    Reviews With Photos

    Seafood platter
    Nancy F.

    The view was spectacular! The staff all were attentive making sure we had what we needed and making sure the food was good. The portions were generous and delicious! They even made a side of grilled salmon for our granddaughter who was 2. Our food came out steamy and delicious!

    Jill R.

    What a day we stumbled upon. Hit on the deck not a breeze. Views were incredible! I ordered the special petrale sole with the best prepared vegetables ever served. Not overdone in a garlic butter. A plate of these daily please. Hubby had chowder and seared tuna both outstanding. We just couldn't leave! Servers are young and did a great job but seemed stressed. A perfect afternoon!!!

    Sweet potato fries
    Mina M.

    On my recent trip back to Half Moon Bay, I decided to venture beyond Sam's Chowder House and try a new spot. The Moss Beach Distillery is stunning, boasting a rich history, a captivating story, and has a phenomenal view. One thing to note about accessibility: while there are steps, I didn't spot any wheelchair access to the main entrance. The restaurant has two levels. When you first enter, you're actually on the second floor, which feels like a beautiful, elevated space. From there, you can head down to the first floor for additional seating and the restrooms. I ordered a cup of clam chowder, priced around $11, and a side of sweet potato fries, also about $11. My boyfriend went for the prawn cocktail and clam chowder. We both agreed that this clam chowder was exceptional and a step up from what we had in Santa Cruz! It was wonderfully thick and bursting with flavor. I even felt it rivaled the clam chowder I had in Monterey, which I've always considered the best. The scenery, the ambiance, and the incredibly friendly waitstaff all contributed to a truly beautiful experience. I'm so glad I decided to come here!

    Chloe M.

    Driving down the coast and was looking for a place to eat and found this hidden gem which has tons of history and is even haunted. Although I didn't feel any spirits during my time here, I believe the ghost stories. Makes the experience more interesting. What used to be a speakeasy during the prohibition period is now a cozy restaurant right on the cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The view was spectacular, no matter where you sit in the restaurant. You order and pay at the bar, and then they bring you your food and drinks. At first, I sat outside on the patio, but I had no reception so I needed to go back upstairs and decided to sit in the room left of the bar. It was cozy. The weather was moody and I was still able to experience those ocean views. Make sure to connect to the Wi-Fi for the best reception. For a quick bite, I ordered the French onion soup (which they are known for) and I also ordered the Caesar salad. Probably one of the best French onion soups I've ever had, and knowing that the kitchen it was made in is probably haunted made it taste a little bit better. I would definitely come back.

    Use the side entry if you're furry friend is with you.
    Douglas Y.

    Great location with a beautiful view Moss Beach Distillery is a great choice for a bite or drink. We had an early dinner sharing french onion soup, mandarin and beet salad and the seafood platter. The French Onion soup was one of the best I have ever had. The beet salad was good with plenty of everything. The seafood platter was also tasty. The calamari was super fresh and tender. Lucie had scrambled eggs from the doggie menu for $2. We had to order and pay at the bar not sure if this was the normal procedure or they didn't have much staff working.

    Kaelin N.

    Super cute place, but the food is just ok. I think you're here more for the vibes/experience. We did have a 30 minute wait, but it was reasonable as outside dining is limited. Nothing great about the food, in fact it is rather pricey for the quality. The experience is fun though; we enjoyed the views, and for the area I don't think there are too many options.

    Sliders
    Tiffany H.

    Came here on a cool Saturday afternoon for an early dinner. They weren't crowded, luckily, and we were able to get a table for 10 within 10 minutes. My friend who has tried to eat here a few times said in the middle of the summer, they get quite busy with hour plus long waits. Lots of history to this place and enjoyed the views. They messed up the order for a few of the people in our group but fixed it after some time. We all enjoyed the flavor of our foods and the portions are decent for the price. I got the sole which was on special served with lemon and capers piccata style with seasonal veggies and rice. My bf got the sliders. Multiple people in our group got the ahi sandwich which was a good portion and looked fresh.

    Apple blossoms
    Julia B.

    I came here for lunch on a Sunday. We waited 20mins for a table, but it went by quickly because you can stand/sit outside and enjoy the view of the ocean. I came in super hungry and ordered a handful of dishes. The food wasn't spectacular, but it was delicious: this restaurant serves classic American dishes, focusing on seafood. The service was quick though, and each server was very friendly. What really stood out were the desserts: the brownie with ice cream was great, not too rich in chocolate which was tasty and balanced. The caramel apple blossoms were my favorite: not too sweet, with a perfect balance of crust to apple.

    Chicken Marsala
    Yuliya Y.

    I expected a lot until I walked in. It's not bad it's just old, which makes sense. After we got the tuna appetizer I expected the same but the chicken Marsala was disappointing. I couldn't finish it. The tuna was SPECTACULAR. The wasabi cream blew me away. The crunchy veggies were amazing. It was super fresh. And bread was amazing. The service was good! The seafood platter was enormous and my partner could not finish it. Overall good experience, but I wouldn't return. I do feel like it's a tourist spot.

    Inside
    Allie G.

    We visited Moss Beach Distillery on a Sunday around 5PM, and got seated right away with no reservation. It got super busy later though and there was a line out the door when we were leaving! I loved the bootlegger/speakeasy history of the restaurant, which was outlined on a plaque outside. The interior also had an old-timey vibe, with beautiful tiffany-style lamps hanging over the bar. We sat on the dog-friendly patio, which has a nice view of the ocean. The only thing I didn't like about it was how uncomfortable the bench seating was. The patio was sloped and the coffee table was so low, so we literally had to hunch over in order to eat. I had some back pain by the end of the meal! We skipped drinks and ordered food right away. My partner and I chose the Crispy Buttermilk Calamari and Linguine di Mare to share. Both of these were solid! The Calamari was nicely prepared with larger pieces of squid. The Linguine di Mare was more substantial and I liked the white wine sauce. I'd be curious to try the famous Clam Chowder or Seafood Quesadilla next time! Service was friendly but not the quickest. Overall, would return to Moss Beach Distillery for the ambiance and views!

    Cioppino
    Yang Q.

    We visited after an afternoon at Maverick's Beach. Located just a short drive away, it was the perfect place to continue enjoying scenic coastal views while warming up from a blustery adventure (with or without the help of some alcoholic beverages). Multiple dining rooms offer large windows with ocean views. The cioppino was fire. The seafood portions were generous and well-cooked, and the broth was delicious with the garlic bread. Definitely did its job of making me feel toasty from the inside out. We also enjoyed the slider trio and the garlic fries we subbed for were nicely crispy and loaded with garlic. The calamari appetizer was pretty standard and did not stand out. I would definitely go back after another day at the beach. It looked like they also have a patio area, which wasn't open when we visited, but looks like a nice place to dine al fresco in warmer weather.

    Mushroom steak Alfredo
    Andy S.

    This restaurant is located right next to the ocean which must have beautiful sunsets. We unfortunately arrived after sunset and it was just pitch black. It would have been nice if there was lighting along the cliff side or by the beach. Food was pretty good. Husband got the steak and mushroom Alfredo pasta which was good when I took a few bites. I got the slider trio with garlic fries. Omg the garlic fries were not good. They were good fried with a bunch of raw garlic dumped on top. When I took it home and put it in air fryer it was perfect .

    Delicious shrimp cocktail!
    Aida G.

    Stunning views; great history, amazing customer service, and delicious food! Ask for Mel, she will accommodate your requests and serve with a delightful smile!

    Onion rings the best in the West!!!!!

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    13 days ago

    Fun vibe/environment and excellent food. We had reservations and had a large group service is great.

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    Moss Beach Distillery Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Moss Beach Distillery

    Can you cater for someone who is gluten free?

    We have a Gluten Sensitive Menu that can be viewed on our website www.mossbeachdistillery.com Thank… 

    Is dog menu no longer available?

    It is still available!

    Are there tables for a large family of 12?

    Make a reservation! So yes!

    Are dogs allowed?

    There were dogs there at my last visit but that was the parking lot dining. Not sure about patio dining. Give them a call.

    Has anyone ever seen or heard the famous Blue Lady?

    Not a physical being since the 1930's. However, the restaurant lore is that "she" visits often. We were there today and the power went out for about 20 minutes.… 

    Why is it called a distillery?

    Hi P. K.- Great question. So the Distillery was originally built in 1927 as a "speakeasy" during… 

    View All 7 Questions

    Moss Beach Distillery - seafood - Updated August 2026

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