Nepenthe


Nepenthe is a local restauran in Big Sur that's been around since the late 1940s, built by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright.  It was originally a home owned by Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth, who bought it with a down payment of  $167.00 and then sold it to the Fasset family who converted it to a restaurant and still run it to this day.  Back in the 1950s Henry Miller had a cabin nearby and was a frequent guest.  You can read more of the interesting history of Nepenthe here.
So of course it was this history that drew us to the place, but it was the laid back vibe and breathtaking views that made us stay all day Saturday, drinking mojitos and hanging out on the deck.  I wore my most comfortable jeans and sandals, anything more and I definitely would have been out of place without a doubt.  As much as I do enjoy dressing up, once in a while it's nice to completely dress down as well.  Anyway, I wish I had pictures of the building itself, but it was really hard to do since it's on a hillside.  You'll just have to take my word for it that it's a must-visit place if you're ever in the area.  I hope you get a chance to go there yourself one of these days.

p.s. That menu is the original menu from the 1950s. They've got a stack of free keepsake copies at the host stand. If drinks were only 50 cents we would have probably never left the place. :)

Comments

  1. Wow, what an interesting historical background! I'm adding this to my list of places I must visit after migrating to CA.

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  2. Am I seeing this correctly? Sandwiches for only $.50?! This place is definitely a must!!!!

    forte-espressivo.blogspot.com

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  3. Nepenthe sounds pretty spectacular. Amazing history? Check. Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced architecture? Check. Impossibly reasonable prices? (Sandwiches for under a dollar?!) Check.

    I love these photos (that last one with the visible sunrays is a definite standout), and you look perfectly dressed for a wonderfully laid back day. :)

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  4. i have always wanted to see this place after reading henry millers book about big sur.

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  5. I want to come back home and travel to Big Sur and eat at this fabulous restaurant. The weather looks lovely back in Northern California! I don't think anything sounds better than drinking mojitos and exploring. xx

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  6. Wow, this would be a must stop for me the next time I visit the SF area... love the history and the breathtaking views! I'm also jealous of how cheap everything is on that menu though of course people made a lot less back then!

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