 Nightlife
With Cal Poly youth clamoring for fun nighttime activities, San Luis
Obispo County is a hotspot for after-hours entertainment. Sunday
through Wednesday is typically fairly quiet, but live bands can be
found somewhere in town. Just ask a local what they recommend and you
will be greeted with a host of options. The introduction of over a
dozen wine bars to Paso Robles Downtown provides visitors in North
County a hip way to enjoy an afternoon sampling local varietals.
Dancing
For the travelers ready to get their groove on, there are several
bars and restaurants in SLO which offer dance floors after hours.
Mother’s Tavern is consistently the hottest dance spot downtown, with a
busy dance floor and great sound system. Mother’s typically has long
lines Friday and Saturday; come early and enjoy a tasteful American
grill menu beforehand and avoid the lines.
The Graduate, located just off of Broad Street, is definitely the
place to be for a big dancing experience. 18 and over is allowed here.
They offer a different dancing theme for each day of the week,
including “Big-Easy” for mature audiences, country, and hip-hop for the
younglings. Call in advance to see if the music fits your style.
Finally, if you find yourself up North, the Paso Robles bar scene,
albeit limited, does have a few good selections. The Crooked Kilt, a
Celtic pub right by the City Park, offers traditional Irish music on
Tuesdays, a DJ on Fridays, and live bands on Saturdays.
Karaoke
If dancing isn’t your thing, then perhaps karaoke, the old Japanese
favorite, is more to your liking. Karaoke fever has spread throughout
the town and there are several places to croon along with old favorites
and new classics. Doc’s Karaoke Bar and Grill is the most obvious
choice: they feature karaoke every day from open to close, with
multiple TV’s, an electronic song database, and a state-of-the-art
sound system.
On Sundays and Mondays after nine, Mother’s Tavern is also a popular
place for the karaoke crowd. While not as technologically advanced as
Docs, Mother’s offers a large song selection and an upscale atmosphere.
Finally, if the thought of singing to a large group of strangers is
frightening, Sushi-ya offers a private banquet table and karaoke booth.
For a small fee, you can rent out the room for the night and sing along
to your favorite songs with your closest friends.
Family Night and Other Recreation
For those traveling to the area with underage children, the bars
aren’t the only place for fun once the sun goes down. Despite being
located on-campus, Cal Poly’s Mustang Lanes is a popular spot with
residents who are looking for some family fun. The center not only
includes multiple alleys with electronic scoring, but also pool tables
and multiple video games. The smaller bowling alley in Pismo beach is
also popular, as they allow alcohol consumption on-site: be sure to
come early for the chance to secure a lane, especially during the
weekend.
Mini-golf is another popular attraction for late night fun amongst
Central Coast residents. Although SLO County doesn’t have a mini-golf
course of its own, a twenty five minute drive will take you to Boomers
of Santa Maria. This amusement park boasts several attractions in
addition to two full miniature golf courses, including go-karts, bumper
boats, and a full arcade.
Of course, the movie theater is always an excellent choice for
entertainment in any city, and San Luis is no exception. SLO actually
boasts four different movie theaters, each offering a different
movie-going atmosphere. The Downtown Cinema offers a traditional
multiplex experience, playing the latest releases on several different
screens. The Fremont Theater is home to the biggest movie screen on the
Central Coast and is fabulously decorated on the inside. For an indie
movie night, the solar-powered Palm Theater plays some great
limited-release selections. And for a unique sixties-era experience,
the Sunset Theatre is one of the few remaining drive-in movie theaters
in California. Bring some blankets and some popcorn and watch a double
feature under the stars!
Family Pizza Night
After a long day on your feet, your children will dance again when
you bring them to one of the pizza hot spots in town. For an upscale
experience, California Pizza Kitchen on Marsh Street will suit
everyone’s taste. CPK offers a relaxing and comfortable ambiance and
has a great selection of local wine, soups, salads, and sandwiches in
addition to unique fusion pizzas. For the real deal try Woodstock’s, a
classic in college towns throughout California. Woodstock’s prime
downtown setting, multiple widescreen TV’s, and great beer selection
make it ideal for sporting events or just an all-around good time. For
great tastes in the classic pizza parlor style try Village Host Pizza
on Broad Street. The casual, familiar atmosphere of a traditional
pizzeria, along with its extensive arcade and salad bar make it a great
choice for parties!
Concerts and Live Entertainment
San Luis Obispo County is quickly gaining notoriety as a great place
for concerts and other live entertainment. Cal Poly’s new Performing
Arts Center is host to nationally famous comedians, orchestras,
musicals, dance performances, and dramas in addition to rock and pop
bands.
Downtown is a hot spot for the alternative crowd, as many bars
frequently host rock, rap, punk, and reggae artists which are popular
with students and young adults.
For a laid back atmosphere, the Nautical Bean in SLO offers a more
casual acoustical scene, where visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee and
listen to local artists play mellow tunes.
Several wineries in the Paso Robles/Templeton area also give concert
space to local and national artists on a sporadic basis: by calling
ahead you can plan your wine-tasting tour to coincide with a concert or
art display.
Last but not least, the Mid-State fair in Paso Robles has in recent
years begun to attract some of the biggest rock and country artists in
America, such as Aerosmith and Tim McGraw. The fair begins in late July
and runs until the first week in August, but be sure to order tickets
far in advance as the most popular concerts sell out early.
Upscale Bars
If you would prefer a relaxing evening amongst friends, there are a
few different options for you in San Luis Obispo. Corner View
Restaurant and Bar is a favorite bar amongst the thirty-and-overs, as
it offers a safe haven against the college crowd. They offer a full bar
and one of the best wine lists of any restaurant in town.
Another excellent choice for an upscale late night is Novo
Restaurant. One of the only restaurants in SLO to keep their kitchen
open until midnight, the Restaurant has a creek-side patio and is a
great spot for creative cocktails, including Ginger-Mint Martinis and
Mojitos.
Finally, if you would like to do some late night wine tasting,
Monterey Street Wine Co, located just off of downtown, stays open until
8 or 9 on the weekend. They offer affordable wine, beer and cheese
tasting from the farthest corners of the world. | 
