Last Updated on December 31, 2025
My husband and I heard so much about California’s Cambria Christmas Market we had to check it out for ourselves.
Having visited many amazing Christmas markets (often called Christkindlmarkt) in Europe, we thought we’d give this one a try on a cool, crisp California December evening and spend the night in Cambria for a short, relaxing winter getaway on the beach.
Though the weather is mild in Cambria during the winter, any season of the year is ideal for visiting this rustic, stunning oceanfront location.
About FogCatcher Inn
We chose a stay at FogCatcher Inn, located just across the street from picturesque Moonstone Beach on the Central Coast. The hotel has a coastal, cottage-style feel and is well-placed for beach walks, sunset views, and exploring the nearby village of Cambria.
The boutique hotel offers 50 rooms and 10 suites, many with fireplaces and some with partial or direct ocean views. Our cozy room was located across from the ocean with beach and boardwalk access, offering stunning views and sounds of the Pacific waves crashing on the shore, lulling us into peaceful slumber. The in-room fireplace was also great for warding off the Pacific chill.
Those wondering how the hotel got its name need to only experience the heavy fog that covers the area like a blanket at various times of the day, depending on the season. Mysterious or romantic? It’s all about your point of view, but we found it romantic.
Staff is friendly and accommodating, and the cozy lobby area, decked out for the holidays in beachy surf décor, was a perfect match to the area it’s located in.
Hotel Amenities
Whether guests travel with their doggie family or not, FogCatcher Inn has a pet-friendly policy that includes a $75 fee per stay. Parking and WiFi are complimentary, and each room offers coffee makers, microwaves and mini-refrigerators, though for a “real deal” cup of coffee, the lobby serves fresh brews until 11 am and a selection of teas is available until 11 pm daily.
The hotel sports a heated in-ground pool, spacious hot-tub with great jet action, and a seating area around a large glass firepit that’s ideal for staying warm after coming out of the hot tub.
Though FogCatcher doesn’t have its own restaurant on-site, guests can order breakfast delivered directly to their door from nearby Oceanpoint Ranch’s Cow Tipper eatery.
Another reason we selected the hotel was that it was one of only three oceanfront hotels that offered a small-fee shuttle service to the Cambria Christmas Market, with pickup at the front hotel sign every 15-20 minutes.
Cambria Christmas Market
The annual holiday event inspired by traditional German-style Christmas market is held on the grounds of the Cambria Pines Lodge, offering a festive outdoor environment with over three million twinkling lights illuminating pathways, and stunning seasonal displays, stretching almost six acres and running on select dates from late November to New Year’s Eve.
The event includes German-inspired artisan markets that feel like the real deal with nutcrackers, incense smokers and glass-blown ornaments, a train ride, cozy fire pits, live music, carolers, festive foods, hot glühwein and cider. If you’re into German food, you’ll find Bratwurst, Schnitzel, soft pretzels, bread pudding, the traditional Lebkuchenherz (gingerbread heart cookie) and more.
After spending an evening exploring this impressive venue, we concluded that the experience was even better than what’d we had anticipated and would highly recommend a visit to Cambria during the holidays if only for this event.
Dining in Cambria
Though the market offered numerous foodie options, we chose a relaxing, warm, indoor setting for dinner.
Market visitors can enjoy onsite dining at either the Cambria Pines Lodge Restaurant or relax and warm up with a nightcap at The Lounge with a roaring fire, live music and a special lounge menu.
We headed into the historic and charming village of Cambria for a delightful meal at The Black Cat Bistro, located on Main Street.
The swanky dinner spot in Old Town proved to be a delightful experience. Set in a historic house, the bistro is divided into three small rooms, giving diners a more intimate experience as the eatery only has 45 tables. The main dining area features a fireplace.
Reservations are a must, as even during mid-week, every table was filled. In warmer weather, an outdoor patio is also an option.
Entrees are served on china plates and tables are covered with white linen and candles. However, there is nothing pretentious about this place. My husband’s and my dishes included a Maple Leaf Duck Breast and Chicken Piccata. Both were standout, prepared to perfection and a lovely bottle of local Central Coast Pinot Noir was the perfect accompaniment.
Though the menu isn’t extensive, it’s definitely well thought out and focuses on using ingredients from local farms and the Pacific waters.
As we drove home from our Cambria getaway, we both agreed that visiting during the holidays was an enchanting experience. Our decision to stay at FogCatcher Inn couldn’t have been a better choice.
