A walk around tasting is easy in downtown SLO without a designated driver. Taste, a wine shop operated by the SLO Vintner’s Association, offers more than 70 local wines from around the county (Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande, Avila Beach and Nipomo). If you haven’t tried an Enomatic wine dispensing system yet, this is a fun place to start. Central Coast Wines has a cozy tasting area in the back of the store. It takes it name from the regions it encompasses – San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties as well as Paso Robles, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria and Edna Valley. If you’re looking for a single winery, try Shadow Canyon Cellars. Their estate syrah from York Mountain should definitely be on your “must try” list.

It’s hard not to work up an appetite after all of that walking and tasting. Novo, housed in an old cigar factory situated alongside San Luis Creek, has five patios perfect for outdoor dining. Its name is Portuguese for “new” – an accurate description of the Brazilian, Mediterranean and Asian tapas and flavors. Together with an eclectic interior, it is a hip place (much of the décor comes from owner Robin Covey’s antiquing jaunts).

Novo is known for making its own curry pastes as well as roasting and grinding its peanuts and spices. Try the Singapore Chicken Satay, the Roast Duck Breast with penang curry, Malaysian Chicken with a luxurious coconut milk curry and the green beans with pancetta and chillis. If something milder is what you crave, order the Salmon Bisque and Seared Scallops with blood orange-lemongrass beurre blanc. Paired with various local Sexten, Wild Wood and Baileyana wines, it was a delicious evening. The Belgian Dark Chocolate Truffles and port for dessert made for a decadent finish.

Essentials: Getting There: San Luis Obispo is 220 miles (about a four hour drive) south of San Francisco on Highway 101 (located at the intersection of Highway 1). Fly direct from San Francisco to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport.