Gardens of Avila

Gardens of Avila is the restaurant at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, set among the oaks and sycamores of the Avila Valley inland from the beach. The cooking is garden to table. Much of the produce comes from the resort's own 2-acre chef's garden, and the kitchen makes its own sauces, dressings and pasta. The menu changes with the seasons.

It's the dressier choice among Avila's restaurants, though the dress code is still California casual. With the garden views and the hot springs next door, it's a favorite for date nights and special dinners.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and the bar

The restaurant serves all day. Breakfast runs from 8 to 11:30 a.m., lunch until 2 p.m., and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m., with the bar and lounge open from 4. There's an outdoor patio, a kids' menu, and a menu for dogs, who are welcome on the patios. For larger groups, the resort's events team books the Old Stone Patio.

Pairing it with the hot springs

Sycamore Mineral Springs is best known for its private hillside hot tubs, filled with natural mineral water. Booking a soak before dinner is the classic Avila evening. See Hot Springs & Spas for how the tubs work, and Hotels & Inns if you want to stay over.

Getting there

The resort is at 1215 Avila Beach Drive, between Highway 101 and downtown Avila, with its own parking. It also sits right on the Bob Jones Trail, and its casual outdoor cafe, the Secret Garden, is a popular break for people walking or riding the trail.