Only 12 minutes a way from the more popular wine town of Los Olivos, you will find Los Alamos, a funky Old West heritage town founded in 1876. This tiny Californian town has an intriguing wine and culinary scene that won't stay under the radar for long.
Down the six block main strip you will find a unique identity at each establishment. There is an artsy vibe to the laidback town and you can feel the creative expression in each spot you visit. Owners are passionate about their businesses and have put a lot of time into the details.
There are so many fun things to do in Los Alamos CA, from visiting wine tasting rooms to staying at a wonderfully restored iconic midcentury motel. Los Alamos is a magical place worth visiting even if it's just one night.
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Best time to visit Los Alamos
The best time of year to visit Los Alamos is when the weather is pleasant from April - November. From December - March you will see highs around 18°C (65°F) and it can get a bit chilly in the evening.
You should plan your stay during a weekend, since some of the best wine tasting rooms are only open from Thursdays-Sundays and some restaurants are closed mid week. Avoid traveling from Monday-Wednesday since many places are closed.
How to get to Los Alamos
Los Alamos is located in the Santa Ynez Valley and is only a 12 minute drive away from the popular wine town of Los Olivos. Driving through the Santa Ynez mountains is a treat. From Los Angeles it's a 2.5 hour drive.
Los Alamos is a great place to add onto a trip to Santa Barbara, since it's less than an hour away. See our Santa Barbara road trip itinerary here.
8 Best Things to do in Los Alamos CA
1. Stay in an iconic 1950s roadside motel turned retro luxury retreat
Skyview Los Alamos
Rumour has it that The Beatles spent the night in room 33 and that The Mama's and The Papa's wrote their song Monday Monday in the motel in 1966.
Staying at this motel feels like a retro luxury retreat. The tastefully decorated rooms have marble-clad bathrooms and hardwood floors. Even the small details feel luxurious like the down duvets and Nespresso machines in each room. We recommend spending extra on a room with a private patio so you can take in the stunning views of the surrounding area.
Outside you will find a heated pool with the giant bright yellow motel sign in view. There is a trendy onsite restaurant called Normans (named after Norman Bates from Psycho) which is also a good place for cocktails.
The motel is in the outskirts of town, but their free bike rentals make it really easy to get around.
Compare rates for Skyview Los Alamos.2. Walk down Bell Street and explore the quirky town
Los Alamos has a population of just 1,300 people. Walk down the town's main strip called Bell Street. This is where you will find all of the antique shops, restaurants and wine tasting rooms. From there, take some quiet side streets to imagine what life is like living in this unique town.
3. Discover new wines at wine tasting rooms
Los Alamos wine tasting rooms
With over 120 wineries in Santa Ynez Valley, it's no wonder this tiny town has wine tasting rooms of its own. The region is known for its Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Noir wines, but you will find other varietals as well. Start at one end of Bell Street and make your way down the six funky blocks to discover unique wine tasting rooms.
We recommend sharing a tasting so you can try more wine tasting rooms. It will also cut your tasting cost in half!
Best Los Alamos wine tasting rooms:
Best for an intimate experience: Bedford Winery
Bedford Winery was our favourite wine tasting room we visited. We sat in the outdoor courtyard and tasted wines while jazz music filled the air. We were lucky to have the winemaker pour and explain our wines. Our favourite wine was the 2012 Old Man Red, a blend of Cabernet Franc with some Bordeaux varietals. We bought a bottle!
Open daily from 11 AM - 5 PM.
Best for the vibe: Lo-fi wines
Lo-fi Wines was founded by two lifelong friends who have a passion for music and wine. Their motto is: "Life is like wine and music. Both are filled with resonance, distortion, simplicity, modesty, intimacy and ingenious integrity of the natural processes."
When you walk inside you will be greeted by their vinyl collection and turntable. Sample their hand-crafted natural wines and listen to some good tunes.
Open Friday - Sunday
Best for the food: Casa Dumetz Wines
Casa Dumetz is a fun and friendly wine tasting room that specializes in Grenache wines. Their most recent label called The Feminist Party recognizes the fabulous women and men who have supported the owner along the way. You can even buy merch like t-shirts, hats and masks that say "The Feminist Party".
In addition to wine tastings, they serve delicious dim sum bites like pork buns and shrimp dumplings. It's a nice change from the typical charcuterie bites you see at other wine tasting rooms.
If you're not a big wine drinker, they share the space with Babi's Beer Emporium. Try their beer or cider instead!
Open Thursday - Monday.
4. Treat yourself to delicious organic pizza from Full of Life Flatbread
Full of Life Flatbread
The pizzas at Full of Life Flatbread are handmade with locally sourced ingredients and are cooked in a 20-ton stone oven. They don't take reservations so you will most likely have to put your name on a waiting list, but they will text you when your table is ready. The delicious bubbling pies are worth the wait. They also have good vegan options.
Open Thursday to Sunday
5. Grab a pint at Charlies
We had a 40-minute wait at Full of Life Flatbread next door so thought we would check out Charlie's next door while we wait. We were happy we did! The restaurant, established in 1978, is a classic American joint where locals go. Ari ordered a beer and we couldn't resist getting their chilli cheese fries to share. If you're looking for comfort food, this diner is the place to go.
Open daily
6. Relax in the garden at Bodega Los Alamos
Bodega Los Alamos is an open-air beer and wine garden with a relaxed setting. Drink a glass of organic wine at one of their picnic tables, lay in the hammock or browse their curated shop of goods.
You can also bring your own food there and have a picnic while you try their unique wines, beers or ciders. It's a great option if Full of Life Flatbread is packed. Just order your pizza to go and take it to Bodega nearby.
Open Thursday to Sunday
7. Eat at Bell's, a French-inspired bistro with a Michelin Star
Bell's is a French bistro owned by a husband and wife duo who moved to Los Alamos to escape the hustle and bustle of NYC. The acclaimed restaurant opened in 2018 and serves what they call "Franch" cuisine, a mix of French and Santa Barbara rancho cooking. Our favourite dish was the steak tartare.
Owner and chef Daisy Ryan was named one of the 10 best new chefs in the US by Food & Wine magazine and the restaurant recently earned itself a Michelin star. Make reservations in advance.
Open Thursday - Monday
8. Have drinks in a relic of the Wild West
It's easy to feel the charm of the Old West in Los Alamos. A folktale is that Joaquin Murrieta (known as the real life Zorro) hid in Los Alamos while on the run from the law in the 1850s.
Step into the historic 1880 Union Hotel, a former stagecoach stop built by Wells Fargo in 1880. The building actually burned down in 1893 and was rebuilt in 1915 as a hotel and saloon. The dark wooden interior makes it feel like you're in a classic Western movie. Grab a pint and try not to end up in the sheriff's drunk tank.
We hope you enjoyed these fun things to do in Los Alamos!
Starting planning your trip to Los Alamos
- 🌃 Accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🚗 Car rental: see Rentalcars.com to compare car rental prices across different companies.
- 🛫 Book your flight: use Skyscanner to compare flights across different airlines (we recommend booking direct with the airline however).
Trip Extension Options
Don't miss our Santa Barbara road trip itinerary, which is a fun stop to add onto your trip to Los Alamos.
Extend your itinerary and stay a few days in LA:
Save and pin these unique things to do in Los Alamos, CA for later:
