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Food Big Sur

Nepenthe

A place to eat in Big Sur, pricey ($$$) and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Lunch.

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Nepenthe in Big Sur
Photo: California Historical Society · No restrictions

Why go

Clifftop restaurant since 1949 with long coastal views from the terrace.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Big Sur, alongside 3 outdoor spots, 2 sights and 1 activity. 2 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Henry Miller Memorial Library and Deetjen's Big Sur Inn Restaurant.

Type
Food
Neighborhood
Big Sur
Price
$$$
Time needed
1.5 hr
Best time
Lunch

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Big Sur, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Henry Miller Memorial Library

    Bookstore and arts space in the redwoods honoring the writer.

    Sight · 0.3 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Deetjen's Big Sur Inn Restaurant

    Candlelit dinners and hearty breakfasts in a 1930s redwood inn tucked into Castro Canyon.

    Food · 0.6 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Pfeiffer Beach

    Purple-streaked sand and Keyhole Arch at the end of narrow Sycamore Canyon Road.

    Outdoors · 3.4 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Big Sur River Inn

    Roadside inn where you can sit in chairs set in the river with a drink.

    Drinks · 4.4 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    McWay Falls

    80-foot waterfall dropping onto a cove beach, reached by a short flat path.

    Outdoors · 6.6 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Point Sur Lightstation

    Guided tours of an 1889 lighthouse atop a volcanic rock.

    Activity · 9.6 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Nepenthe is a stop on our Pacific Coast Highway route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Big Sur

Nepenthe is our only food pick in Big Sur; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Big Sur guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Big Sur run from 58°F in January to 69°F in September; December is usually the wettest month. For Nepenthe itself, we suggest: Lunch.

Modelled monthly averages for Big Sur from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Big Sur weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Nepenthe, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
48510 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, USA
Coordinates
36.22184, -121.75929
Destination
Big Sur, California
Website
nepenthe.com

Nepenthe: quick answers

How much time do you need at Nepenthe?

Plan on about 1.5 hours at Nepenthe. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Nepenthe?

Our pick: Lunch. Insider tip: Order the Ambrosia burger; Cafe Kevah below is a lighter option.

Where is Nepenthe?

Nepenthe is at 48510 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920, USA. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Nepenthe?

Nepenthe appears on Pacific Coast Highway, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Nepenthe to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Big Sur.

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Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.