The Tavern

We had dinner. Once seated the experience was great. Apps, entrees, and dessert were all solid from presentation and taste to service. Jeramy was our server and he was fun. If there is a negative comment it would be price. It seems like all restaurants can charge what ever they want and there are enough people willing to pay those prices. Close to $200 per person with tip and not everyone in my group of five was drinking so…

It had been 37 years since I last dined at Mattei's Tavern Restaurant when I visited in late January 2024, and I was pleased to see that the years have been very good to the old haunt, which has been transformed from a historic stagecoach watering hole into an upscale boutique hotel and fine dining establishment.

A recent convert to vegetarianism, I have to say, the meat selection looked remarkable, from the surf to the turf, but I was quite impressed with the chef's ability to put a new spin on classic vegetables and did not miss the meat at all.

From the crispy cauliflower to the braised cabbage to the focaccia bread, everything was absolutely delicious and expertly prepared, plated, and served.

Not only is the venue beautifully decorated, but the staff is warm and welcoming, from the hostess to the waiter to the chef herself, who kindly stopped by my wife’s and my booth to say hello and inquire about our meal.

So, without a doubt, the next time I pass through Central California, I will be sure to stop in Mattei’s Tavern again. But, rest assured, I will make advance reservations for the old stage stop is quite popular now, and for good reason, as it’s a truly exceptional dining experience.

This review is for The Tavern restaurant not the hotel.
The food was excellent, all the dishes. The prices are not cheap but the portions are nice size, the quality of the food and flavor are excellent!
Jeremy our waiter one of the best servers we’ve had at any restaurant!
Dishes we had and would order again without hesitation:
Uni Tostada
Blue Fin Tuna Tartare
Sweetbreads
Pork Chop with roasted peppers
Rockfish
Chocolate Soufflé

Creative dishes, excellent service, and a cozy upscale vibe.

Standouts:
- Uni tostada
- Okinawan sweet potatoes (sleeper hit)
- Dirty martini with olive oil washed gin (off menu)
- Wine pairings by Zachary

It was one of the best breakfasts I've had at a restaurant in a very long time.
The service was fantastic, the coffee and mimosa were on point, and the food tasted delicious. They even have tasty gluten-free bread!

10 out of 10 highly recommend!!

My friend and I stopped by for lunch there and had a great experience with both food and the service. Everyone was nice and attentive. My latte was especially delicious and we learnt that it was made from locally grown beans. Salads were fresh and well mixed. The place itself has a great ambience and design. We enjoyed our time there.

Wonderful food and service located in Los Olivos. Great steak, massive, yet still cooked to perfection with a great crust and melt in your mouth texture. The duck was excellent, well flavored but not overpowered by the accoutrements.

We had one meal off the a la carte menu and a spectacular Thanksgiving dinner here! The food was excellent. On a non-holiday night, I recommend sitting on the back patio and ordering the crispy, lightly salted “bread for all with herbed butter.” Only problem was that service was slow on both nights and they forgot a couple drinks. I am guessing they are still working out some of the kinks since they haven’t even been open a year.

My son took me for a spa treatment and lunch at Mattei’s for my birthday and it was absolutely perfect. All the staff we interacted with were top notch; every single one of them was friendly, approachable, polite, and accommodating. Our lunch was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. Our server Liliana (I think that was her name…sorry if not) was probably one of the friendliest and most efficient servers I have had in a long time. She was so enthusiastic and I loved the vibe she put out. I had my spa treatment with Kelsey and it was ahhhh-mayyy-zinggg. She is super kind and gentle and my skin is STILL glowing. The ambiance was serene and calming. The spa itself was beautiful. Thank you for such an amazing experience!

Went here for our 31 year wedding anniversary dinner. Really cool historic place, fabulous food, and great service!

Very enjoyable first time at the new Mattei's. The service both in the lounge and restaurant was excellent. I really love the contrast between the darker cozier lounge and the more open and bright dining room. Many of the dishes we had were outstanding. The sea trout and the chicken were both particularly good. The souffle was outstanding. We'll be back!

Incredible renovation of a historic property. They nailed the design and we are thrilled they are in town. Chef Rhoda is incredible and the staff is warm and welcoming. We love Felix's for breakfast, the bar for cozy evenings and the main dining area to enjoy a healthy, fresh dinner. Welcome to the neighborhood!

We had dinner here last night and were excited to see the place finally open. The vibe was great, super cool interior, servers were attentive and nice. The food was excellent- my fiancee is a vegetarian and she was really happy to see so many plant-forward dishes that were all awesome (cabbage, sweet potato, cauliflower). The smoky/crispy sweet potato was a standout- honestly unlike anything we've ever had. I had the mussels and whole fish which were also really good. It was nice to see Bob's Well Bread worked into the menu and the chocolate soufflé was great, though at at that point we were way too full. Would definitely recommend!

On my way to Paso Robles, I stopped at Mattei's for lunch and loved it so much that I returned four days later for yet another great lunch. The food is wholesome, fresh and delicious. Staff is very friendly and the ambience absolutely beautiful. Can't wait to return to have the veggies and white bean dip again!

After being shuttered for quite some time it is so nice to see the level of investment put into this newly renovated historic landmark. Auberge resorts is synonymous with quality and we were over the moon impressed after returning to enjoy a nice meal here. It is clear that this property is loved by a lot of people in the Santa Ynez Valley, as the owners have put a ton of thoughtfulness into this property, and I can't wait to experience the rooms once opened! This will be a local staple for generations to come as it was for the past 100 years!

Historic stagecoach stop now tavern and restaurant. The building has been lovingly restored. Original wood burning fireplace provides great atmosphere. Service, food and drink excellent (ate in bar.)

Great service and food. The Chop Chop salad was excellent. Hearty. The bacon chunks were savory and delicious. The steak sandwich was well balanced with a perfectly toasted ciabatta roll. The fries are next level.

Everything about this place is top notch — the rooms, the service, the food and the location. See my extended review of The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern.

We had the BEST weekend ever staying at Mattei's Tavern and doing the property buyout for our wedding weekend. There are 6 houses, and PLENTY of room to comfortably fit the 35-40 people we had staying on site. The main reason why we picked our wedding venue at Mattei's was because of the onsite housing. Everyone staying on the property talked about how it just MADE the entire weekend, it felt like we were at home and it was really special. We loved it so much that we even paid to do our rehearsal dinner there in the Garden room on Friday, and rented the bar area for a welcome party the night before the wedding so we really never had to leave! The houses come with really nice amenities - towels and soap/shampoo/conditioner, and the kitchens were all fully equipped to make a full meal with tons of plates, glassware and much more! Taylor worked with me for months, answering all of the many questions I had leading up to our day. She was very responsive, which helped put me at ease and made the weekend go so much more smoothly! Everyone was so complimentary of the property - it is a very unique wedding venue, and different from many other places in the area. The property itself is just so beautiful, and a lot of elements and areas on the property that can be used to make your day special and unique. It was the absolute best weekend of our lives, and we wouldn't have changed a thing!

BEST DAY EVER!! We rented all the Bungalows and the Outside Venue for our daughters wedding at Mattei's Tavern from Santa Ynez Vacation Rentals. It was a perfect weekend and the staff was very accommodating to any requests we made. There were numerous little places for the photographer to take memorable photos with a gorgeous natural backdrop. All the bridesmaids got ready in the Big West Cottage Bungalow - that was a JACK POT! The natural lighting and ample space made it a super fun and easy morning for 10 girls to get ready. All the Bungalows have been recently updated and were very clean and comfortable. I would HIGHLY recommend Santa Ynez Vacation Rentals, Matteis Tavern and staying in any or all of the Bungalows!! Great place to host a wedding!!