Paso Robles Getaway: Allegretto Vineyard Resort - Art, Relaxation, Wine, Lavender Nights and a Huge Orange Moon

Aug 11

Written By Gail T

Beautiful Courtyard which is beautifully lit at night

A Long-Awaited Stay at Allegretto Vineyard Resort

I’ve been to Paso Robles a handful of times and stayed at a few different places over the years. And more than once, I’ve popped into the Allegretto Vineyard Resort—just a few miles from downtown—usually just to peek around this wonderful resort I’d always leave thinking, this place is special. It is like staying in an art gallery in Tuscany. I thought one day I am going to stay here.

That "someday" finally arrived, thanks to my daughter, who surprised me with a two-night mother-daughter getaway. Seeing the resort is one thing—but staying there is something else entirely.

From the moment we checked in, we were surrounded by beauty: sculptures, mosaics, tranquil courtyards, and a calming sense of intentionality. There are little surprises in every hallway, corner and courtyard. Allegretto isn’t just a place to sleep—it’s a place for your senses and soul.

Nicely lit opportunity to walk around the property at night

So many types of beautiful, interesting and mind provoking artwork

The Story Behind the Resort

Allegretto is the creation of Douglas Ayres, a hotelier who poured his personal journey of healing and global exploration into this one-of-a-kind property. After a personal tragedy, Ayres traveled the world, drawing from the cultures, art, and spiritual practices he encountered. The result is a soulful sanctuary where every corner tells a story. (The Ayres family owns many hotels throughout southern California as well a the Olympic Lodge in Washington state.)

You can’t help but feel like you are staying in an Italian Art Museum. If you are fortunate to stay at Allegretto Vineyard Resort on a day that the art tour is being offered, be sure to take it. I wish there were an app putting together a tour of all that is to be seen here but at this time there isn’t and the online video doesn’t do it justice. What is interesting is we were told by our fun and well informed hotel tour docent that you are encouraged to touch almost everything. That includes the walls, the textiles, the statues, the fossils but of course, none of the art work. Of course, it is wise to ask staff before you touch anything.

Our Room

Very comfy beds, a frig and a large well lit bathroom

Our room was very large and had a very nice view of the swimming pool and vineyard.

Dining at Cello: Wine, Pasta & Twinkle Lights

On our first night, we dined at the resort’s Cello Ristorante & Bar, opting to sit outside under twinkling lights.. We shared a panzanella salad, my daughter ordered the pistachio pesto pasta, and I enjoyed the kale and mushroom ravioli. The portions were perfect and I couldn't resist a glass to complement my meal.

The desserts looked yummy but we had chocolate-covered strawberries and some other treats waiting in our room so we skipped it. Instead, we wandered the grounds for about a half hour before returning to our room.

We noticed many guests sipping wine under the stars. There are many fire pits and fire places where if the night gets chilly, you can still sit outside and enjoy the beautiful environment.

Poolside Relaxation & Spa Serenity

A wonderful pool just right for taking a few laps in the morning

My daughter was nice enough to drive our entire trip and in spots there was quite a bit of construction so for part of the journey the driving wasn’t easy. The next morning, while my daughter indulged in a well deserved deep tissue massage, I headed to the pool.

Swimming is one of my favorite things to do. I was treated to a shaded cabana but spent most of the morning lap swimming and relaxing by the water. The pool area is very clean, there is a nice walk up cafe for a light meal, drinks and snacks. The pool side service is excellent.

An Afternoon at DAOU Vineyards

I would have been happy just to while away the afternoon hours at the pool but my daughter had other plans.

So in the afternoon, we ventured to DAOU Vineyards, perched high on a hill with panoramic views of Paso Robles. Make a reservation—it’s a must.

We arrived a little early and took a walk around the estate. The grounds are stunning, with plenty of shaded outdoor seating. When our table was ready, we were escorted to a prime vineyard-facing spot and greeted by our server, a charismatic sommelier originally from Strasbourg, France. He guided us through the tasting, asking about our wine preferences and tailoring the experience accordingly. The tasting that followed was generous and delicious. And we learned a lot about how the local wines are produced.

My daughter mentioned she had tried DAOU’s prestige wines before, and to our delight, we were offered a tasting of some of their finest selection.

We ended our tasting with a light lunch—fresh salad, a perfectly crisp Margherita pizza, and a delicious dessert to finish. And yes, we left with a bottle of wine in hand.

What struck me most? DAOU treats every guest like a VIP. Besides the delicious wine and spectacular views—was the warmth. Yes, DAOU has an upscale reputation, but there’s no pretense here. Staff members were friendly, welcoming, and treated everyone as if they belonged. I’ve visited many wineries throughout California—Napa, Sonoma, Amador, Anderson Valley—and too often the experience feels transactional. DAOU, on the other hand, radiates hospitality. Even well behaved dogs are welcome.

Lavender Fields and a Staghorn Moon: A Magical Evening in Paso Robles

After a tranquil afternoon sipping wine and enjoying sweeping vineyard views at DAOU, we made a quick stop back at the hotel to freshen up. I could’ve happily spent the rest of the evening lounging at Allegretto, but, again, my daughter had other plans.

A short ride up the freeway and down a quiet country road brought us to Hambley Lavender Farm, a hidden gem nestled in the rolling hills outside Paso Robles.

Check out their website. They offer all sorts of workshops yoga, lavender mocktails, painting and of course, all things lavender.

We were greeted by the owners, Gina, her husband, Milton and their tiny and very enthusiastic dog. Gina runs the farm and store, where everything is lavender-themed. Oils, soaps, sachets, culinary treats, teas, and lotions fill the charming shop, each made from one of the many types of lavender grown on the property. Walking through the farm felt like stepping into a dream—I could not help but think of the Beatles’ Strawberry Fields Forever, only scented and shaded in lavender.

To our good fortune, we had timed our visit with the rise of the Staghorn Moon aka Buck Moon and the farm was hosting a phone photography class to capture the event. My daughter, who’s passionate about photography and often works behind the lens for her job, was eager to participate. How could I say no?

While she joined the class, I found a comfortable chair among the lavender rows and settled in as the sun melted into shades of gold and orange. Around me, local photographers from the area’s art community were setting up tripods and long lenses, all awaiting the moonrise.

The photo doesn’t do it justice. It was a huge orange moon rising.

Phones buzzed with updates as the crowd anticipated the show. The moon was due around 8:48 p.m., but it made a delayed entrance. At 9:05, a giant orange orb crested the hills. Gasps and camera clicks filled the air. It was a magical moment.

We left the farm around 9:25 p.m. I was already nervous about getting back to the freeway. I knew that country road getting us back would be really dark. We followed our GPS. until it began guiding us down a dark, unfamiliar backroad. Not loving the idea of a twisty country detour, we rerouted toward the freeway and were back at Allegretto in ten easy minutes. (It was strange since GPS had no trouble routing us to the freeway to get to the lavender farm.) The road was busy with big rigs, but my daughter, fortunately, was unfazed. I, on the other hand, was greatly relieved to be back at Allegretto.

We took a short nighttime stroll around the property hoping for another moon view—it was still huge, though no longer orange—and then returned to our room. It was past 10 p.m. It was only then, that we both admitted that we were pretty hungry and we realize we’d never had dinner. Luckily we had some snacks in the frig. We pulled together a late-night picnic of crackers, cheese, and fruit.

After a day full of sunshine, art, wine, lavender and moonlight, I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.

Allegretto hallway with beautiful artwork

One Last Morning at Allegretto

Before leaving, we popped into the wine tasting room and patio, a peaceful, beautifully designed space that felt like a perfect final note to our stay.

Reflections & Tips for Visiting Allegretto

This trip was special for many reasons. Of course, for me it was spending time with my daughter. Allegretto was the heart of it all.

If you're planning a stay, here are a few tips to make the most of your experience:

🎥 Watch the welcome video before you arrive to get oriented and make the most of your stay.
📅 Ask about events or tours at check-in. We stumbled onto most of them by chance. Better to ask! You could easily spend an entire day just looking around the property and viewing all the artwork, furniture and architecture. The day we were leaving we were fortunate enough to fit in a docent guided art tour by Karyl. We learned so much about the property and the owner than we ever would have on our own. The tour is only given certain days a week so it is important to check on this.
🍽 Make dinner and tasting reservations ahead of time—especially for weekends. The restaurant isn’t open late.
🚶‍♀️ If you have mobility concerns, request a room closer to the elevators. Ours was at the end of the hall, which we loved for the quiet—but it’s a bit of a walk.
🧖‍♀️ Join the wine club! There are perks beyond just wine—like discounts on spa treatments and stays.
📺 We chose to skip TV entirely during our visit and let ourselves be fully present. Highly recommend!

When I got home my husband was happy to see us. He was glad that we had such a fabulous time but I could tell he was a bit envious too. I’m already looking at a time when he and I can spend some time at Allegretto Resort and Spa. I know he will love it!

Now let’s go travel!

Gail T