On Highway 92, farms like Lemos Farm and Pastorino Farms line the road that leads into downtown. And the patches on Highway 1 north of town, including Andreotti Family Farms and Farmer John’s, point toward Pillar Point Harbor. Here is what to do after the patch, depending on which road you came in on.
From Highway 92: Main Street
If you’ve worked up an appetite hunting for gourds, start with a bite to eat. Moonside Bakery and Cafe draws people in with its case of danishes and pies, but it also makes sandwiches, wood-fired pizza and a soup of the day, which is great when half the group needs a meal and the other half is looking for dessert. At By the Teashore, you’ll find a fanciful teahouse where the menu leans British, with scones, quiche and custard-baked French toast. Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian options are clearly marked. Ciya Mediterranean Cuisine serves kebabs, gyros, falafel and shawarma when you’re in the mood for Mediterranean food.
After lunch, explore the murals and other artwork. Our guide to downtown murals and public art covers a four-block route that includes the corner of Main Street and Kelly Avenue. On one wall, a towering pumpkin shares space with farmworkers, fishing boats and the white outline of the James Johnston House. On the wall across the street, sea lions, kelp and an octopus dance on the wall of the California Welcome Center.
Main Street shops are ideal for a slow browse, as well. Coastside Books has been the town’s independent bookstore since 1972, and its children’s section is a reason to go in on its own. Ink Spell Books, open since 2007, mixes new and used titles in an expansive space on the 600 block. At Fengari Fiber Arts, a family-owned shop whose name is Greek for “moon” (or literally, “the thing that gleams,”) you’ll find shelves stacked full of yarn, buttons and books for anyone already thinking about a winter project.
Save room for Fish Wife Sweets. Moriah Bettencourt started the business in 2015, making custom cupcakes and cookies, and named it for her husband, a commercial fisherman at Pillar Point Harbor. If the day still has room, that is where to go next.
More to Explore Downtown
From Highway 1: Pillar Point Harbor
From the patches north of town, Highway 1 continues north to Pillar Point Harbor, where the commercial fishing boats tie up. Half Moon Bay Kayak Company, on Johnson Pier, rents single and double kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for the harbor’s gentle water, where seabirds and harbor seals are often close by. First-timers are welcome, and there are classes and tours for anyone who would like a guide. If the family would rather stay dry, the company also rents bikes for the paved Coastside Trail along the shore.
Back on land, the Half Moon Bay Salt Water Taffy Co. hands you a bag and leaves you to the barrels. Flavors run from golden pear and caramel cake to hot hot tamale. Along the same stretch of Capistrano Road, Caffé Mezzaluna serves panini, piadina (a Roman flatbread), personal pizzas and pastries. In El Granada, Harbor Pizza is a small family-owned place making pizza, burgers and sandwiches, mostly to go. There are only two tables, so plan on eating by the water.
More to Explore in the Harbor
Pumpkin Festival weekend
If your visit falls on the weekend after Columbus Day, the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival runs from 9am to 5pm both days on Main Street. Still choosing a patch? Our guide to Half Moon Bay’s pumpkin patches covers all of the local pumpkin patches and farms.
Stay the night
Pumpkin season fills a day quickly, and there is more to explore than one afternoon can hold, so spend the night and give yourself time to take it all in. Downtown, BytheSea Inn is on Main Street, steps from the restaurants and shops above, and some of its rooms have jacuzzi tubs. Near the harbor, Inn at Mavericks on Princeton Avenue looks out over the calm waters of the harbor. Quality Inn sits on Highway 1 north of town, on the same stretch as several of the farms, which makes a second patch visit an easy add-on before you head home. Browse the Lodging section for even more overnight options.
Whichever road you came in on, the day is full of opportunities for adventure: a morning in the fields, lunch and a slow walk in town or a paddle on the harbor, and something sweet to carry home. Half Moon Bay makes it easy to take the long road, and by the time you leave you’ll already be planning your next visit.