Discover Moss Beach

Moss Beach was home to the native Ohlone people for thousands of years before European settlers arrived on the Peninsula. By the early 1880s, the area began to develop as a resort destination. The  Ocean Shore Railroad provided a convenient way for San Franciscans looking for a quick getaway from the city to visit the coastside city. During Prohibition, Moss Beach gained notoriety for Frank’s Place (now the Moss Beach Distillery), a cliffside speakeasy where rumrunners and bootleggers smuggled alcohol under the cover of fog. After Prohibition was repealed in 1933, Frank’s Place became one of the most successful restaurants in San Mateo County. 

In 1969, the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve was established to protect the area’s intertidal habitat and marine wildlife. Today, this hidden gem on The San Francisco Peninsula is known for its natural beauty and historic charm. Visitors can explore the tidepools at the Marine Reserve, go horseback riding at Moss Beach Ranch or enjoy a bite to eat as they take in the ocean views at the Moss Beach Distillery.