Ocean Ciders

There may not be a more purely enjoyable outdoor music experience on the entire Bay Area coastline than an afternoon at OceanCiders. Perched right on the waterfront at Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay, this weather-dependent beach bar is exactly what it sounds like: hard cider with an ocean view, live music on the weekends, and the kind of relaxed, spontaneous energy that only comes from sitting outside near the water with no agenda. The bar offers over 40 rotating varieties of hard and non-alcoholic ciders on tap and in bottles and cans, all gluten-free, along with soft pretzels, cider cheese dip, smores kits, and cider-based cocktails. Outside food is welcome, and there are no reservations, just show up when the gate is open. Comfortable outdoor seating, communal fire pits, blankets for when the breeze kicks in, and protective gazebos for when it does not cooperate make this one of the most thoughtfully set up outdoor venues around. Acts here tend to be acoustic, intimate, and local, which fits the harbor setting perfectly. Live music runs Saturdays and Sundays, always free, always with seals and birds as the backdrop.