Lucia Lodge

Lucia lodge restaurant: Me and my wife had the worst possible experience here, which was a racial profiling and bullish behavior at its best.
On our way from South back to silicon valley, we stopped at Lucia lodge for lunch. We were both very hungry. When we sat down to eat, the waitress «DeAnna» was rudely impatient with our menu selection. We gave her the benefit of doubt thinking that it was crowded for lunch and she was overworked. But then as we placed our order for food with no cheese or milk product, she rudely put extra cheese on top of what was already in it. We calmly removed the extra layer. Then we observed she asked each and every other table on how they were doing, and totally ignored us. And when time came she threw the bill on our table without looking or saying a word. I was prepared not to pay any tips, but she gave us the bill with already 18% tips even if the written rule says it will be added only for party of 6 or more. We gave her not more than a dollar tip for the water, and she just barked at us to get lost showing us the door. So @Lucia restaurant that was the first and last time we stopped to eat at your place.

Lucia Lodge is located in Big Sur along California’s scenic Hwy 1. My wife and I wanted to stay in one of the four available cliff-​side cabins, and due to other bookings, we had to switch cabins after the first night. However, staying in the cabins provides the most spectacular view of the Big Sur coast right from your room. We could actually lie in the bed and look out over the coast. There is very little to distract you here, and you can simply enjoy the sounds of nature which were led by the sounds of the ocean swells crashing on the rocks in the distance. We just love the sound of the sea. The cabins were fairly recently updated and they are in great shape. The beds are quite comfortable. It can get chilly at night, and the rooms have gas stoves which look like smaller versions of the old wood burning stoves to accommodate us, if necessary. We used it on the first night, but not the second.
The grounds include a short hike above the cabins to an area that overlooks the ocean and from where you can watch the sun set. Take up a couple of glasses and a bottle of wine, sit and enjoy. You get the feeling that you never want the sun to finish setting. The color changes are gorgeous even after the sun has dipped below the horizon.
I’ve read complaints about the restaurant and service. Our experience could not be more different. The service was good and the food was good. While, I would not give the food a rating of 5 stars, it is still deserving of 4.
The check-​in/​out personnel were very helpful, pleasant and knowledgeable of the area. Let them know what you’re interested in, and they can guide you on what to do. We took their advice and enjoyed the sunset on the second night high on the hill on the road to the Hermitage Monastery.
All-​in-​all, a great home base for exploring some of Big Sur’s jewels.

5 stars for an incredible view and delicious food! We were hesitant to stop here because it was the first place we saw after hours of driving up PCH. Definitely sit outdoors because the view is unlike anything you’ve seen before. We got the turkey sandwich and one of the speciality burgers.
Turkey sandwich is so much more than your basic sammy. Oven roasted turkey breast piled high with avocado, cheese, and sprouts. And the fries! So good. The burger was spicy and juicy. The staff was kind and accommodating. I will definitely be stopping by on my next trip up (and hopefully staying with them at their cute lodge, too!)

I was pleasantly surprised. The fish and chips are amazing. My GF had the salmon tacos. The salmon was dry and over cooked. So if you get them, make sure you give instructions to the cook. The views are great. What a find

It’s… a place to stay.
This was pretty much the last room available in the area and there is a reason for that. It is expensive for what you get and I would gladly pay twice as much to stay somewhere w/​character (or camp for a a fraction of the cost).
The rooms are clean, the linens were nice, and the soap smelled good, But the room was tiny and the bathroom was cramped. The set up is one of those pre-​fab jobs you see on construction sites, in what was once a parking lot; thin walls and we could hear our neighbor clomping around outside our door. No semblance of privacy and eventually you can hear the traffic on route 1. Partial view in the description is at best an exaggeration.
The continental breakfast was ok; the pastries were obviously sitting in the refrigerator for a long time; why not make something fresh?
I was so disappointed in this place that when it turned out I had made a mistake with the reservation and had to leave a night early, I was actually relieved b/​c I didn’t want to pay them $$$$ to stay another night!

We stopped here for lunch yesterday (Friday ²⁄₁₂) at about 12:30. You can sit where you like, so we sat at one of 2 empty tables. The waitress came over and told us a bunch of people had just come in, so she might not get to us for a while. No problem, we said.
We looked over the menu. $ 17.95 for a sandwich. More than Disneyland. Well, this is the only place on Highway 1 for miles and miles, so we decided to deal with it.
People left, stuff got cleared, more people were seated. Fifteen minutes or so in, my husband got up and gave a chair to an older couple who were trying to sit at a small empty table that only had one chair.
Then the waitress came over and took the order of the older couple. My husband and I looked at each other. The couple wasn’t even ready to order and had just opened their menus. We’d been seated for far longer and we hadn’t even gotten to ask for drinks.
We left and went to the Whale Watcher’s Inn about 7 miles south.

The restaurant a Lucia Lodge was a first time visit, and a visit that I expect will go into the «return» column.
We stopped for lunch and lucked out with an ocean view window table and watched gray whales pass by while we sipped on wine – from Paso Robles!!! – that was delicious. My partner ordered the eggplant sandwich, and I ordered a turkey, bacon reuben. We each ordered salad as opposed to the fries option.
Each of our sandwiches were well presented, unique, and delicious. We were surprised that the salad was a pasta salad, but no complaint. (We were probably too busy watching whales to read the details on the menu.) It was as tasty as to what I make at home.
One star was deducted from my review because there was an ant issue — not the restaurant’s fault as I know how ants swarm during the rainy season on the coast. I think, however, as I watched people take the table then see the ants, which the wait person tried so hard to rid the table of the ants, that just taking away the chairs at the table would have prevented the customer «ewww» factor. And, at least we didn’t have any spray bombing the beasts while we ate.

Had a wonderful night’s stay here in cabin 10. Views are incredible. Be ready to unplug though-​wifi is nearly non-​existent and no cell service or tv. We loved sipping on our coffee and tea while looking out on such beautiful coastline. Unfortunately, the food at the restaurant is pretty mediocre and overpriced. My risotto was nearly inedible and salmon was just ok. And their convenience store is very high priced as well. You’re definitely paying for location here.

3pm… Half of the seats are empty. My boyfriend and I want to get a drink and enjoy the view on our big sur road trip.
Well the waitress informed us that we couldn’t get drinks only, that we had to get lunch to get drinks. That we could get drinks in the market upstairs, but not use their terrace ofcourse.
I completely would have understood during rush hour, but really?! When half of the seats are empty?
We left the place and went somewhere else spend some $$$. Worst customer service I experienced in my 6 years in United States (and I’m from France so I know what’s a bad customer service is).

We just love going to Lucia. The little market has almost everything you might need. The home made brownies are to die for.
The restaurant is amazing. The views are awesome whether your sitting inside or out.
Some people might say the prices are high but look where your at BIG SUR nothing gets better than that.

Unit 4 is advertised as having a partial ocean view, I’d disagree. From the inside you have a view of the parking lot. If you step outside the door there is a peek of the shore and some water. With taxes and fees the tiny sloping room was $ 250 a night on a weekday at the end of September. Granted, the place is as old as highway 1 itself, but the building felt less historic and more neglected. I’m sure I’d have been more tolerant of the quirks had it been less expensive. Quirks like the small fiberglass shower, also on a slope, with a shower curtain that clings to the individual trying to shower. Bring a hairdryer or remember to borrow one from the store. No fruit in the continental breakfast (jam is not fruit).
We hiked to the top of the little hill. Apparently a favorite place for smokers, littered with butts.
The restaurant manages to feel warm with a bit of elegance, wish the room did too.
Not that any of this matters, the place was full every night!

5 stars for being the most beautiful and necessary oasis on the mostly isolated Highway 1 drive through Big Sur. They have bathrooms — yay! The restaurant has amazing views. I had the «Top 10 best fish&chips in California», and it was quite tasty. I would be interested in staying in the lodge sometime, it is quite a spot.

We stayed here for 2 nights, the first 2 nights of our honeymoon. We’re from Denver so we couldn’t pack a ton of food/​supplies, and we didn’t have a cooler, but if you’re driving there DEFINITELY bring a cooler. We stayed in cabin #8. Pretty sure it was haunted, my husband and I both had really terrifying dreams (I have bad dreams often, but when he jolted awake in the middle of the night I knew I wasn’t crazy!).
It was a good home base, while we were there we hiked Cone Peak, which was a beautiful hike, and we spent a day driving down the coast and ended up visiting the Hearst Castle, about an hour away. The views are everything they are cracked up to be. There’s not much around food wise, so you’re sort of stuck with the italian fare at Lucia Lodge Restaurant. We ate there the first night, it was OK. The bread and butter was excellent and the most memorable thing, because I can’t even remember what we ordered!
I don’t think we would stay here again. The 2 nights after we stayed at Lucia Lodge, we spent at a place we found on Air B n’ B and it was much more relaxing (and private!)

View was incredible in the restaurant! We had a window right next to the sea. We all ordered the fish and chips — which turned out better than expected! Long pieces of fish, well battered and fried, plus a lot of fries (our kids couldn’t finish them — that’s a lot!)
While we were eating, we also saw spouts of water in the sea periodically. Turned out they were whales! We could clearly see the white/​black color of the whales in the sea after the spouts and we ended up whale-​watching while eating! There was even a boat of whale-​watchers in the water watching the same whales while we ate. Still, it was the first time anyone in our group ever saw whales in the wild, so that was awesome enough!
The price was pretty steep though, but for an afternoon of whale-​watching with contented kids? Priceless =)

Good pit stop if you need a break in the Big Sur area. There is a bathroom outside but beware of the wait. There’s a restaurant and small store located on the premises.

We decided to stay at Lucia Lodge after reading reviews about this place right on the edge of the cliff with glorious views. Because room #10 was available, we snagged it. In all honesty, I’m not sure I’d recommend staying here if room #10 isn’t available because the views are so so worth ita and that extra privacy is great.
Check in was interesting, as it takes place in their convenience store. We got our key and drove our to our room. Room #10 is really large, with a queen bed, leather sofa, leather armchair, desk, and coffee table. There’s also a closet and a small bathroom with just a shower. There are several windows, which we promptly opened to take advantage of the breeze and the sound of the ocean below. We unpacked our stuff, found our binoculars, and went to the cliff’s edge, where we happily spotted seals all evening. We took the trail up to the top (which is a pretty vertical hike) and also enjoyed the views from there (although note — in June, you cannot see the sun go down from here as its blocked by trees).
And that’s pretty much it. We alternated between taking in views above our cabin and below, counting the seals and watching them. Had we not had binoculars I think we would have been really bored.
Wifi was sloooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, which was frustrating.
We walked to dinner (we had considered driving to Treebones for sushi, but due to the road closures, didn’t want to take a chance getting stuck). Opera blared as we entered the dining room (it was Orff’s Carmina Burana, which I love, but isn’t exactly the best music for a seaside dinner…) and we seated ourselves by the window to look out at the water. Truly amazing views! We were 1 of 3 tables (although to be fair, we went rather late; we were the last table seated). Our waitress was super friendly and informative. We had some wine and got the house salad (very good!) and the fettucine with blackened chicken (yum!). We enjoyed our dinner, which was very homey and satisfying.
If staying here, I would recommend bringing a cooler. They do have ice so you can stock up on that, but if you have a cooler, you can at least bring wine/​beer and sandwiches to eat while overlooking the water from your room (which is what our neighbors did). They do provide wine glasses and a cork screw in the room.
We spent the evening reading and just prepping for the next day. I slept pretty okay, but kept getting hot under the down comforter and then getting cold since its so chilly in central CA in June.
In the morning, there was no view at all. We were literally in the clouds. We walked to get our continental breakfast, which was coffee, tea, toast, oatmeal, yogurt, hard boiled eggs, and fruit. Pretty standard and okay. This time, we were only 1 of 2 in the dining room, which was a misfortune for us as the other table decided to get into a horrible fight with each other despite us being a few tables over. Awkward! Oh well.
All in all, I’m glad we drove down to Lucia Lodge and had a relaxing evening watching the ocean and the seals. However, I think I would have been happier to stay one more night in Big Sur proper at Glen Oaks or an extra night in Carmel.

The honeymoon cottage (room 10) is the one to get. Views are great. There is a cool 4 minute hike behind the cottage to the top of the bluff. The 4 on the end are recently refurbished and they have done a very nice job. The bed was amazing.
The restaurant is good. The soup was fantastic. My wife ordered the Mahi Mahi and loved it. I got a salmon. It wasn’t bad.

The store and restaurant are the only ones for miles around so if you really need food at least you have options. But if you have a choice, try to keep going because the food is going to cost you. Most of the stuff in the store is about twice the price you would normally pay — $ 3+ for a snack size bag of chex mix? No thank you.
However, it’s good to have options and they have a public toilet too. We’d brought our own food and ate it on the bench outside and they were cool with that.
Views are good but not as good as what we’d just seen previously. And believe me, you get to see a lot of great views biking through Big Sur.

The menu claimed their fish and chips were on the top ten list in the United States, so I went for it. With a bold statement like that, how could I not?
You are served two very large pieces of fish, fried in a nice, golden batter, over a bed of fries. The fish is very flaky and quite good; squeeze some lemon juice over it, splash some malt vinegar on, and dip it in the tartar sauce and it can’t get much better. The fries are good, too.
The food isn’t the only reason to visit this place; the view is spectacular. You are right on the coastline and, short of being on the beach, you couldn’t get much closer. If you can, sit on the patio — the view is well worth sitting in the heat, and the tables have umbrellas. Plus, the waiters and waitresses always ensure your water glass is filled. The patio is also surrounded by quite a lovely flower garden; I spent a little bit of time trying to name all the flowers.
A few things to keep in mind — finding food along this stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway can be tough at times. Lucia’s was good, but it’s also a little on the expensive side. The fish and chips cost $ 22. If you don’t mind the price tag, then, by all means, dine here. If you’re on a budget or trying to save some money, Big Sur is not too far away from Lucia and has several more dining options.
One last thing — be sure to sign the guest book by the front door! When I signed, the people directly before me were also from Austin, TX. Just think — we could have been eating in the restaurant at the same time! What a small world.

We booked room #4 along the Big sur coastline, and because it was a surprise (for me), I knew nothing about it going in. Location is a breeze to get to, just off Highway 1. The views from the restaurant and the lodges are gorgeous, as long as the fog stays at bay (har-​har).
The rooms are small, but space is at a premium, so I understand. We stayed in one of the rooms that had been recently «renovated,» which pretty much consisted of a new coat of paint and new linens. The shower floor was flexible, which made me nervous, and the bed was REALLY squeaky, which proved to be quite hilarious. I loved the four Andes mints scattered around the room like a impromptu chocolate treasure hunt, and with no TV and no internet access, such random activities take shape.
Each of the units share one wall, so when our incredibly drunk next door neighbors came back from a wedding, we actually had to ask them to keep it down because we could hear literally every word they said like they were in the room with us.
«Hey I just met you, and this is crazy, but the walls are SUPER thin, so shut up maybe?»
In the morning, we took a snooping tour of the rest of the units and the grounds, and found a secluded trail off the north end of the property. The path leads up to a private picnic area, surrounded by trees and wildflowers, overlooking the property and the south coastline. It’s a secret garden of sorts, and I could see it being a gorgeous place for an event.
The restaurant is overpriced for the quality of food. We started with the Lucia Lodge salad, which was fresh, flavorful and full of goodies, but that was the only culinary success of the evening. For entrees I had the Risotto with corn, mushrooms, and broccoli, which was bland, boring, and gluey. Darling man had the Pan fried salmon with risotto cake, the salmon was overcooked, dry, and again, boring. Continental breakfast was included in the room reservation, and consisted of pastries, fruit and yogurt. Nothing exciting or worth eating, really.
All in all, you come for the views, to escape, and to re-​focus. I was hesitant with the lack of reception or internet, but it gave us some awesome time to just be, adventure, and soak in the gorgeous natural beauty of the coastline. For 100 years old, the place is doing well for itself, leaning on the romance of yesteryear, with a slight updated flair. It’s not the Ritz, but WOW what a view!

A real dream