Extended Weekend Getaways 
By Kathy Condon
Freelance Travel Writer
Nearly everyone who visits Paso Robles feels it—the quiet pull of romance that settles in once youarrive. Here are some of the reasons why I believe Paso Robles is an outstanding place to take the person you love for a weekend, but better yet, a week.
Places to Stay
I stayed at both resorts listed below, and each holds a special place in my memories. It is not only the physical space but also the incredible staff who watch over you, and, frankly, you feel like good friends by the time you leave.
The Allegretto Vineyard Resort
Allegretto Vineyard Resort Exterior at night Photo Courtesy of Allegretto Resort
The Allegretto Vineyard Resort sits ideally in the heart of the Central Coast. Officially rated as a 4.5-star property, it delivers the feel of a five-star service. I interviewed several guests, and they concur that everything one needs to relax and leave the outside world behind is available on the 20 acres where it sits.
The name Allegretto comes from a musical passage known for conveying warmth, romance, and emotion. About an hour into my stay, I began to understand why Douglas Ayres, the designer and owner of this magnificent Tuscan-style resort, chose the name.
The gardens, art, lounge areas, and paths, including a trail to the top of the vineyard, offer unique opportunities to take your partner’s hand and soak in the beauty around you.
Geneseo Inn at Cass Winery
Located near Sensorio, the Geneseo Inn offers a unique experience, set among the Cass Winery Vineyard. Freight cars, sliced in half and refigured with skylights and extended patios, become a romantic, quiet refuge from your daily lives.
Imagine a quiet knock on the door, and there waiting for you is your breakfast tray with precisely what you ordered, with additions like pomegranate juice, arriving exactly at the time you specified.
Take your tray outside on the patio, where you and your loved one can sit and welcome the new day together within the vineyards, with nary a person in sight. Honestly, can you imagine a more romantic scene?
Wineries beckon you to Relax
Let’s assume you came to the area because you love wine. Though the area is growing, beer lovers will find their share of distilleries producing excellent beer.
One thing that makes United States wineries stand out from those in Europe is the beautiful grounds surrounding their tasting rooms. Frankly, once you have had enough wine tasting, order a bottle of your favorite wine, take your two glasses, and be in your own world beneath one of the beautiful oak trees whose branches provide perfect shade.
Opolo Winery
If you decide you want to visit a winery that is also known for its food, Opolo Winery is an excellent choice. The drive there is through the wooded, winding roads, which makes it all the more surprising when you arrive at the Opolo Winery gate. You drive through rolling hills of vineyards and arrive at a place where visitors’ needs have been thoughtfully addressed.
The winery hosts remarkable events, so it is equipped with everything from a wood-fired pizza oven and farm-to-table fare served in a casual yet classy outdoor seating area to a private tasting room for hosting parties. If you are looking for music while sipping your wine, be sure to check their calendar, because many musicians have performed for the assembled visitors.
Robert Hall Winery
Perched on a hill overlooking the vineyard, a patio with strategically placed lounge furniture offers the perfect place for intimate conversations. They have a large, unpretentious tasting room inside if you want to meet people.
Robert Hall Winery has been a leader in sustainability practices for years. Now it is taking the lead in educating people about regenerative viticulture research—a holistic approach that focuses on restoring soil, enhancing biodiversity, and reducing carbon emissions.
Dining in Paso Robles
Cello Restaurant and Bar is located right off the entrance lobby of Allegretto Vineyard Resort. Serving all three meals provides convenience for all resort guests. However, in the evening, cars pulled up to the front, and their drivers handed their keys to the valet, indicating that locals frequent the restaurant for special occasions.
With an expansive patio, offering heaters for cooler evening nights, this candle-lit patio is a perfect place to have intimate conversations, or hey, even pop that question you have been wanting to ask.
You may be in the mood for the two of you to explore downtown Paso Robles. There are many independent retail stores and a restaurant vying for your attention to stop in and dine, and to taste their featured wine and beer.
If you’re craving pizza, Della’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Cocktails is where locals naturally gather. It’s an easygoing spot—busy after work, perfect for a girls’ night out, and welcoming to families whose kids clearly know their favorite slices by heart.
Della’s sits next door to Hatch, its more polished sibling. Owners Maggie Cameron and Eric Connelly opened Hatch in 2015 in the historic Grangers Union Building, and Della’s grew from recognizing a need for something more casual. Judging by the steady flow of guests, their reputation for tasty food followed them effortlessly to this newer space.
Sensoria Such a Romantic Place
If there is ever a place, I wish I had a partner holding my hand, it is when I visit Sensoria. With 35 acres of walkabout paths illuminated by Bruce Munro’s fields of LED lights, this incredible light show offers the ultimate romantic setting. Along the way, there are benches for you to stop and sit and steal a kiss.
After the walk through the rolling fields, you enter an area with outstanding art installations featuring a variety of structures covered in lights, offering you and your partner opportunities to capture the perfect photo for your keepsake or to send to your friends announcing your partnership.
By the time the weekend ends, Paso Robles has a way of lingering. Maybe it’s the unhurried mornings, the shared glasses of wine, or the way the landscape invites you to slow down without asking. Whatever it is, you leave feeling more connected—to the place, to each other, and to the simple pleasure of taking your time. Paso Robles doesn’t demand your attention; it earns it quietly, and long after you’ve gone, it stays with you.
