Looking for the best places to eat in Montara? Browse all 3 Montara restaurants in the Outside Eats dining guide to the San Francisco Peninsula, from casual neighborhood favorites to award winning destinations. Select any restaurant for photos, hours, cuisine, directions, and the full profile.
- Gherkin's Sandwich ShopBeloved Montara sandwich shop at 171 7th Street with stacked deli sandwiches, meatball subs, and fresh daily specials.
- Sage BakehouseAustralian-style bakery at 8455 Cabrillo Highway with handmade savory pies, lamb red curry rolls, sausage rolls, and slow coffee.
- Taqueria El TimonNo-frills Mexican taqueria at 1400 Main Street with tacos, burritos, breakfast plates, and burgers at everyday prices.
About Montara
Montara is a tiny coastside village on the San Mateo County coast, perched between the ocean and the hills just north of the harbor towns and south of Pacifica. Known for its wide state beach and the historic lighthouse point nearby, Montara is a quiet, scenic community whose dining scene is small and firmly local.
The food here is coastal and casual by nature, a handful of spots that suit beachgoers, hikers, and the residents of this fog-kissed stretch of shore. Expect relaxed cafes and easygoing options rather than a dining district, with the ocean and the surrounding open space very much the main attraction. Montara is about the setting first, and a simple, satisfying meal to go with a day spent on the beach or the trails.
Because the village is so small, its few eating spots are cherished local anchors, and a meal here comes wrapped in salt air and coastal quiet. Nearby El Granada, Moss Beach, and Half Moon Bay expand the options a short drive down the coast, so Montara pairs a peaceful home base with easy access to more coastside dining.
Whether you want a coffee before a beach walk, a casual bite after a hike, or a quiet meal away from the crowds, Montara offers a genuine, low-key coastal experience. Browse the full list below to see every Montara restaurant in the Outside Eats guide, each with photos, hours, cuisine, and directions, and use it to find a local spot along one of the Peninsula's most tranquil stretches of shoreline.
