MORRO BAY, CA
Location: Coast of the Pacific Ocean, midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Population: 10,592. Famous for: Morro Rock, formed in the aftermath of a volcanic eruption about 23 million years ago.
But ask any vegan who’s visited the lovely city, ‘What makes Morro Bay worth the trip,’ and, no doubt, they’ll tell you Shine Cafe. It’s the kind of place where you can indulge in as much as you can consume and walk away feeling lighter and healthier than when you arrived.
Shine Hummus Wrap
Shine Cafe’s menu features gorgeous, technicolor dishes like the Shine Hummus Wrap, made with homemade hummus, baby arugula, kalamata olives, fresh veggies, and their house lemon and roasted garlic vinaigrette, all wrapped snug and tight in a spinach and whole wheat tortilla. (Gluten-free options are available for most items.)
The T.L.T. and Vegetable Spring Rolls are my personal faves—both taste phenomenal and are as nutritious as they are delicious. The T.L.T. (featured image), served with a side salad, is Shine Cafe’s cruelty-free take on a classic B.L.T.: bacon-flavored tempeh, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and vegenaise on toasted, sprouted grain bread.
Vegetable Spring Rolls
The gluten-free Vegetable Spring Rolls are queen-sized rice paper spring rolls filled with fresh, organic veggies, avocado, and seasoned tempeh and served with a finger-licking good sesame ginger dressing.
Also on the menu are tacos, soups, salads, smoothies, and daily specials. Go on a Saturday or Sunday before noon and you’ll get your choice of several breakfast options, like pancakes, tofu scramble, and bagel with cream cheese and fruit.
Shine Cafe is a sweet little spot, reminiscent of Follow Your Heart Market & Cafe in Los Angeles. 💛 Don’t miss it—it’s totally worth the short detour if you’re ever cruising California’s notoriously beautiful Highway 1.
Pro Tip: Grab snacks for the road at Sunshine Health Foods next door. Cute, right?
EXPLORING THE CITY
There are two places I highly recommend checking out while in Morro Bay: The Garden Gallery and Coalesce Bookstore.
680 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, CA 93442
The Garden Gallery is a dream for anyone who adores plants. They have succulents galore, pots aplenty, and a wonderful selection of indoor plants.
845 Main Street, Morro Bay, CA 93442
If you’re a fellow bookworm, you can easily lose yourself in Coalesce Bookstore for hours, perusing the new and used reads stacked in all directions from floor to ceiling.
Both the bookshop and plant paradise are within a couple of blocks of Shine Cafe and Sunshine Health Foods. So make an afternoon of it, and gift yourself with something for your mind, body, and home. 😊
In the mood to burn some of those newly acquired calories? Explore the trails surrounding Morro Bay. It’s California—the weather is perfect for it any day of the year.
