The tastiest time of the year in Cardiff-by-the-Sea is almost here. The 16th Annual Taste of Cardiff is bringing the community together for an evening of food, drinks, and live music spread throughout downtown Cardiff and Restaurant Row along South Coast Highway 101.

Presented by Cardiff 101 Main Street, this local event turns the neighborhood into a walkable celebration of North County flavor.

More Sips, More Bites, More Music

This year’s lineup promises more sips, more tastes, and more music, with more than 20 beverages, ten or more Sip Stops, 20+ food tastings, and ten or more live bands performing throughout the district.

Local restaurants will be serving up signature bites, while Sip Stops will pour samples of North County’s finest beer, wine, hard kombucha, and spirits. Each Sip Stop is hosted by a local business, which means you’ll also get a chance to pop into Cardiff shops and explore the community along the way.

Between tastings, expect live music filling the streets and a few fun extras – including free photos with friends in the vintage Camera Camper photobooth.

Where to Eat and Drink

The restaurant lineup is one of the strongest yet, with bites coming from some of Cardiff’s most beloved spots, including Best Pizza and Brew, Cicciotti’s, Fish 101, Ki’s Restaurant, Pacific Coast Grill, Trattoria Positano, Tower 13 Bar and Grill, VG Donut and Bakery, Waverly, Jorge’s Mexicatessen, Las Olas, Little Fox Cups and Cones, Sambazon, Cacao Adventures, Cardiff Seaside Market, and many more.

On the drinks side, expect pours from a strong mix of local and regional producers including Boochcraft, Duck Foot, Latitude 33, Lost Abbey, Societe Brewing, Solento Tequila, Camel Gin, Burtech Family Vineyard, Local Roots Kombucha, Above Board Wine, Mezo Agave Cocktails, Surfside Iced Tea and Lemonade, and more.

Sip Stops Around Town

Local businesses hosting Sip Stops this year include Cardiff by the Sea Lodge, Patagonia, Earthwise Pet, Fowlers Boutique, Strut Hair Solutions, and Starbucks Cardiff, among others dotted throughout the neighborhood. It’s a genuinely fun way to discover corners of Cardiff you might not have wandered into before.

Live Music All Evening Long

Ten or more bands will be performing throughout the district all evening, keeping the energy high from start to finish. The lineup includes The Zonatas, Sound and Sand Society, Bucket Ruckus, Midnight Ride, FM Conspiracy, Tehila, Anthony Garcia, Anthony Cullins, Chris James, and Conditional Love.

A Neighborhood-Wide Celebration

One of the best parts of Taste of Cardiff is how it showcases the coastal charm of the area. You’re not confined to one venue – you’re strolling through town, discovering new favorites, and running into familiar faces.

Organizers encourage riding your bike to make getting around even easier and to avoid parking hassles. It’s a very Cardiff way to do things.

The event is made possible thanks to community supporters including Seaside Market, Debbi Levis, and Minute Man Press, whose contributions help bring this annual tradition to life.

Tickets

Taste & Sip tickets are $55 and include both food and beverage tastings. Taste-only tickets are $50.

See you there!

A spring evening strolling the 101 with bites in one hand and a local sip in the other sounds like the perfect way to celebrate Cardiff.

📆 Thursday, May 7, 2026 | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 Downtown Cardiff-by-the-Sea & Restaurant Row along S. Coast Hwy 101
🎟️ Get tickets here
ℹ️ More info here

See you there, San Diego!