Downtown San Luis Obispo

Downtown San Luis Obispo (or SLO) has a youthful energy because of its college students. The three main streets have a bounty of late 19th century storefronts with brick exteriors and decorative cornices. It is currently suffering from an epidemic of schizophrenia and homelessness, making it different to visit than in the past- homeless people often walk into the cafes in a crazed frenzy. The area is still bustling and popular though.

The main street, Higuera Street, is narrow and lined with wide trees that provide welcome shade on hot days. On the west side of the street, indoor arcades filled with shops lead to the creek that fronts the Spanish mission. Here little restaurants offer outdoor seating beside the stone wall and pine trees that line the creek. It's cute when the mission bells start chiming! Novo and Flour House (Southern Italian) are popular restaurants on the creek. For counter-service food, try Bliss Cafe, where you can have vegan meals such as Baja Chipotle salad. Proof & Gather Baking Co is a cute bakery with three small tables, and delicious peach scones. Burger Village is a restaurant facing the street, with big windows looking out on the passersby, and good burgers. 
On the side streets are lovely coffee shops and cafes. Scout Coffee on Garden Street is one of the prettiest coffee shops I've ever seen. To sit here looking out the huge picture windows is a true delight. Next door, Linnaea's Cafe, a counter-service cafe, has indoor seating filled with college students studying, a chilly walled back patio, and some large tables in the sun in the front. They are friendly, and I like how their pastries are not too sweet. Across the street, SLO Delicious Bake Shop looks cute. There are a few seats outside in the front. There are many homeless people in this area. 
San Luis Obispo has a progressive government that discourages fast food restaurants and banned drive-thru restaurants. It was the first place in the world to ban smoking in bars, restaurants, and public places, which led to bans in other places (yay for San Luis Obispo and fresh air!)
The San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Mission is right in downtown on the corner of Chorro and Monterey Streets and fronts a square filled with gorgeous yellow eucalyptus. The square is the town's focal point for festivals. In spring, check out the giant roses in the garden behind the mission and in autumn, see the grapes hanging from the arbors. 
On Friday nights in summer it's super fun to come to the mission's plaza for free live music concerts that run for twelve weeks. A solo singer-songwriter starts out each concert, followed by a band (over 100 bands apply during the selection process). You can also buy alcohol and food. In October, check out the giant pumpkin competition- Cal Poly agriculture students tell you facts and it's fun. There is a piano in the mission plaza in October, which is fun to play! At Christmastime, starting in November, come at night: the square is filled with a santa house, lights around the tree trunks, a carousel, and a small tunnel with music and lights. Unfortunately, there are sometimes homeless people hanging out in the lit tunnel. 
For history lovers, head one block north of the mission, to 800 Palm Street, and you will see the historic Ah Louis store, a Chinese merchandise store from 1874 which served as a bank and post office for the Chinese immigrants who dug the eight tunnels through the Santa Lucia Mountain Range in the late 19th century. Notice its large bell outside. It has a delightful gift shop inside, where you can buy wine from Cal Poly's agriculture department and all kinds of pretty things. A few stores down, check out Growing Grounds, an adorable garden store in an alley. SLO Museum of Art has a colorful exterior but it is musty inside, and doesn't have much of a collection. You can walk a path at river level next to it, which is a pleasant stroll. Fremont Theatre at 1025 Monterey Street has a historic art deco exterior.
Near the mission, on Monterey Street, is an ice cream shop with lovely seating by huge windows, called McConnell's Fine Ice Creams. Here there are some good stores, like H&M Clothing and Francesca's Clothing. 
Downtown Center Mall at 893 Higuera Street, anchored by Barnes and Noble bookstore, has some casual cafes: Sequoia Sandwich Company, Antonia's Pizza, and Starbucks, and a colorful Jamba Juice on the other side of Barnes and Noble.The bookstore has two levels and a colorful kids section. This area used to be so nice but lately some has become a bit rundown because of the problems downtown is facing.
Half a block north is another outdoor mall called Court Street Mall. There's a cute candy shop called SLO Sweets, SLO Froyo which has good self-serve frozen yogurt to take with you as you walk along, and a breakfast and lunch cafe called Seeds with outdoor seating behind tall cactus plants. Sephora, Lush Cosmetics, Banana Republic, and Pottery Barn stores are here.
If you're looking for a very lively scene, check out the Farmers' Market on Thursday nights from 6-9pm. It is on Higuera Street, the six blocks from Osos to Nipomo Street. Under big tents, all kinds of foods are cooked- ribs, moroccan wraps, you name it. There are also vegetable stands, flower stands, a balloon-bending man, activists educating anyone who will listen, and musicians. The street is closed to traffic which makes it nice to stroll along.
Around 733 Higuera Street, you will pass the bubblegum alley, where people have been sticking their gum for years and there are many layers of the nasty stuff collecting there! 
At the southeastern end of downtown SLO, tucked away, is a leafy plaza called The Creamery Marketplace, a romantic setting at night for some good restaurants like Mama's Meatballs. It also has cute boutiques, an ice cream shop, and a coffee shop. It is more quiet and relaxed than the rest of downtown. Find it by spotting the green cow sculpture at the arched entrance. 
A SHORT WALK FROM THE MAIN DOWNTOWN AREA:
On Marsh Street, which runs parallel to Higuera Street, a bit out of the way, find Nate's, an upscale restaurant in a historic house- it's fun to sit at the bar on a Friday night and talk to people who have just arrived in town.
Another delicious place to eat, a few blocks further down on Marsh Street, is House of Bread Bakery. It doesn't have much seating, but you can buy a raspberry and chocolate chip muffin to go- you can taste the real butter and honey. Their Blueberry Bran muffins are good too. 
Bread Bike Bakery (closed Sun and Mon) is nearby, and sells fresh-milled sourdough bread in many varieties and sourdough pastries and pretzels on Wed-Sat, selling out by the end of the morning. The Everything variety has too much onion flavor but the rest of the choices are yummy. They have delicious chocolate croissants, like in France! The bakery smells so good when you walk in, and has cute plants and vines. There is a little seating inside on a bar by the window and outside as well, but most people buy their bread to go. Mid-January to October on Wednesdays 5-8pm, there is pizza night (with sourdough crusts)- you must reserve your pizza and salad online ahead of time. 
Joebella Coffee has a cozy atmosphere, in a converted gas station with lots of warm wood decor, in a spacious building with plenty of tables. Their matcha is smooth, with great flavor. 
Sandwiches can be found at High Street Market and Deli, in a house a few blocks back from the downtown area. There is no indoor seating, but some outdoor seating on the narrow side patio, a popular place for workers during the weekday lunch hour. The wait is 45 minutes, no matter what time of day you come.
It's beautiful to walk past the Victorian houses- the fanciest are at the top of the hill on the corner of Buchon Street and Garden Street, in the Old Town Historic District. 
If you come to SLO in January to June, make sure to pack your allergy medicines! The city is famous for incredibly bad allergies among residents, because only male trees were planted. 
FOR KIDS:
Walk over to the awesome San Luis Obispo Children's Museum and let your kids have a fantastic time in imaginary play. Or walk over to Emerson Park, just one block east of the main strip, where you'll find a small but cute playground and some lovely Victorian homes.
Also for kids, check out the play space in the back of the children's shop EcoBambino on Monterey Street. Tom's Toys is a fun place to go with kids, on Higuera Street. 
OTHER SPOTS IN SLO:
While in SLO, drive eight minutes over to the incredible playground with a long cable at Sinsheimer Park. There is also a beautiful playground at Islay Park. 
The SLO Public Market, nine minutes drive away, is an attractive spot with a huge outdoor plaza full of seating with red umbrellas and happy people. There are cafes galore to choose from, including Neighborhood Acai and Juice Bar, in the center of the plaza. There is a truck to climb and some cornhole games for kids here, plus an indoor play area with toys for kids upstairs with plenty of seating by huge windows. You can eat and relax, while your kids play! There is a popular fried chicken place called Jay Bird's, a delicious boba tea place called Sequel Tea, and an attractive gift shop with local items from SLO. The SLO Public Market is a much cleaner place than downtown SLO.

Directions

Exit Highway 101 at Marsh Street. Turn left on Chorro Street. Park along this street or any of the side streets. The parking is metered and all you need is a credit card or app. There are also parking structures at 871 Marsh Street and 919 Palm Street. Parking is $3 an hour at the parking structures and meters. 
Scout Coffee, 1130 Garden St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, call (805) 439-2175.

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