Had a lovely stay at Bridge Street Inn. This is an adorable old house that has been converted to a hostel / B&B. The inn is one block away from downtown Cambria's many shops and restaurants. Cambria is very convenient to Hearst Castle, the scenic highway 1 / big sur drive, and the elephant seals. I stayed in one of the private bunks for $20 a night, including tax. That rate basically gives you a twin bed with a curtain you can pull around the bunk, giving you complete privacy. You also get a reading light and fresh linens. There are private rooms available that are very nice, but go for around $45-60 per night. There are several bathrooms in the house that everyone shares, but it is never a problem to find an empty one. Coffee and bagels/toast were provided in the morning. There is a great living room where you can sit around the fire and most likely meet someone from another part of the world. Plus, there is free wi-fi. The place is truly a unique and fun place to stay. I highly recommend it. Great for anyone who wants to feel at home when they are away from home.

We'd not seen any review of this place on Tripadvisor, but the Inn's own website made it sound very different from the larger, more anonymous hotels we were going to be staying in. Also, it was very good value, and we wanted to try somewhere where there was more chance to meet hosts and other guests (the rooms are not en-suite, you make your own breakfast in a communal kitchen, and you share the living area with the hosts). We booked 2 months ahead, as it was a weekend. It was a good experience - the hosts are friendly (and tell you things about Hearst that you don't hear on the official tour !); it was interesting to chat with the guests who were visiting from Japan; there was never a problem with waiting for bathrooms or kitchen equipment ('though the place was only half full); it's very quiet, but very close to several excellent restaurants and cafe's, and only 10/15 minutes drive to Hearst Castle. Some of the less-used surfaces and corners of our room were a bit dusty - but, with such good value and the Inn's many other good points, this wasn't a problem. Shared living area & kitchen are locked during day, but you have a key that lets you in to get to your room and the restroom. Not a place for those that want luxury and lots of their own private space; very good for everyone else.

Great place to unwind and relax. Excellent staff &
very tasty breakfast.

This Inn/Hostel is a great place weekend getaway, for a short break from the city, or stay a little longer and use this as home base for Central Coast Exploration. The Inn has 3 dorm beds from $20 per person per night, or 4 private rooms at $40-70 per night - including continental breakfast, tea and coffee. Reserve early in the summers, as I have found that space fills early, especially on the weekends.

Cambria is close to Hearst Castle, Paso Robles wine country, and Morro Bay. There are loads of outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, bike riding, and rock collecting at Moonstone Beach plus good restaurants like Robins and Wine & Cheese Shops in town.

Owners and Hosts Anne Wyatt and Paolo Forlano have done a wonderful job of making this a welcoming and affordable home away from home.