Princeton by the Sea / Half Moon Bay

Princeton is a great little place, with many great restaurants, a marina, a working harbour with fishing boats and some great deals on really fresh fish. It also has a nice beach, and you can even watch the surfers take on the famous Mavericks.

The very first restaurant you come to is the Mezzaluna, housed in the old and beautifully restored Princeton Inn. It's hard to believe this Inn used to be a famous house of ill repute during the prohibition. Now it is an Italian restaurant with average prices, but above average food and ambience. Definitely recommended.

Almost directly opposite the Mezzaluna, just across the street is the Maverick's Roadhouse Cafe. Quite a contrast. Popular with bikers and surfers, Mavericks serves stupendous breakfasts. On a couple of occasions we went early morning horse riding at the Sea Horse Ranch, a couple of miles south on highway 1, followed by the great all American breakfast, freshly cooked on the griddle while you watch. Great.

As you continue down the road, the next eatery you come to is the Princeton Brewing Company. It's the building in the center of the photo. Good food, great atmosphere, and for those not flying, great beer. You can sit on a nice outdoor patio, or inside in either a bar or a restaurant setting.

The Red building on the right of the picture, jutting into the harbor is Barbara's Fishtrap, which has definitely the best seafood in the vicinity. It doesn't take credit cards though.

.A closer view of the Brewing Co. Food is pretty good, they have several of their own beers on tap, and unlimited refills of lemonade for the pilot.

Barbara's Fishtrap from the front. There is usually a line, but worth the wait. Weekends there is also an outside counter.

If these places do not turn you on, keep walking past the yacht harbour and you'll reach the fishing harbor. This is full of working boats and a number of them sell their fresh catch right off the boat. Strictly speaking you have left Princeton by now and are in Pillar Point Harbor. Facing the boats is a row of buildings where most of them seem to be restaurants too. Probably the best known is the Ketch Joanne, though the others look good too.

Half Moon Bay is always popular for fly-in lunch or dinne, or a day out at the seaside. On the way out, after dinner, you also get some beautiful sunsets.