Barbecue$$DowntownSun-Wed 11:00-21:00; Thu-Sat 11:00-02:00Until 02:00 Thu-Sat
Old SLO BBQ Co. carves oak-smoked tri-tip until 02:00 three nights every week, easily the most substantial late plate in downtown San Luis Obispo.
Try: Tri-tip plates and pulled pork
Tip: There is a second counter at 3870 Broad Street; downtown is the late one, open to 02:00 Thursday to Saturday.
Mexican$DowntownSun 10:00-22:00; Mon-Wed 10:00-22:30; Thu-Sat 10:00-01:00Until 01:00 Thu-Sat
San Luis Taqueria hands over foil-wrapped burritos until 01:00 on weekend nights, the after-bars ritual of Chorro Street in San Luis Obispo.
Try: Burritos and quesadillas
Tip: Thursday to Saturday it serves until 01:00, later than nearly every kitchen downtown.
American$$DowntownMon-Wed 11:00-00:00; Thu-Sat 11:00-01:00; Sun 11:00-00:00Until 00:00 Sun-Wed, 01:00 Thu-Sat
Black Sheep Bar & Grill grills burgers to midnight and beyond on Chorro Street, the rare San Luis Obispo bar with a real kitchen at closing time.
Try: Burgers and garlic fries
Tip: Kitchen hours run later than almost anywhere downtown; Thursday to Saturday it serves until 01:00.
Café$$DowntownMon-Fri 16:30-22:00; Sat-Sun 13:00-22:00Until 22:00 nightly
Nite Creamery freezes dessert to order until 22:00 every night in the Creamery yard, San Luis Obispo's default stop between dinner and the bars.
Try: Liquid nitrogen ice cream
Tip: Each scoop is frozen to order with liquid nitrogen; go after dinner at Bear & The Wren next door.
Bakery$FoothillDaily 00:00-24:00Until Open 24/7
SloDoCo Donuts never closes, frying through the night near Cal Poly while San Luis Obispo studies, sobers up and argues over 100 donut varieties.
Try: Doughnuts and drip coffee
Tip: The bacon maple bar is the 03:00 order; a second SLO shop runs on Higuera Street downtown.