We did some fun things during my recent visit to see Kate and Steve- some new things, which I really enjoy doing. So when Kate asked if I was interested in checking out nearby Los Alamos, I jumped at the chance.
Los Alamos is not a big spot. But there’s a fair amount going on for a small town. I think it’s a testament to the growth of and interest in the Santa Ynez Valley. There are more tourists, more people moving to this area, and more money in general. And the businesses of Los Alamos have responded to this interest.
Antique shops
There are a handful of antique shops along the main drag, Bell’s Street. It’s worth taking a few minutes to check them out. We didn’t buy anything, but you never know if you are going to find a gem. Some of the more interesting ones, like Sisters and Elder Flat Farm Store, have mixed new items and food into the selection.
Interesting historical spots
There’s a fair amount of historical spots still standing in funky Los Alamos. The town served as a transportation hub- both stagecoach and train- over the past 150 years. The Union Hotel still stands; you can stay there overnight. (But it seems mainly to be targeting weddings and events. They were in the process for setting up for a wedding when we stopped by.)
There’s an old gas station that’s been renovated into what looked like a very cool bar/event space called Maker’s Son. Alas it was closed during our visit.
And there are a few wine bars with outdoor tasting spaces as well.
Bell’s for lunch
I had heard of Bell’s well before our afternoon in funky Los Alamos. The recipe for their “famous” egg salad sandwich was featured in the Wall Street Journal earlier this Spring (paywalled article here). So I was eager to give it a try.
It was definitely the hot spot of Los Alamos- the inside of the restaurant and the back garden (where we sat) was busy. Our table wasn’t available at the reserved time, so they sat us at a little bistro table with complimentary glasses of bubbles. Very nice touch!
Once we got to our table, I noticed this cool little fan that bats away flies without hurting your hand. I’ve seen them before on instagram- but now I’m thinking about getting one for our outdoor space. They are quite inexpensive.
The service was good, but a bit slow. It was a leisurely Friday afternoon, but I was hungry- so I was happy to dig into my egg salad sandwich about an hour after ordering. My POV? It was good but nothing to write home about. It needed more salt. But I couldn’t wait for the salt shaker- I gobbled it up!
Lolly enjoyed the bit of remaining egg salad I had on my plate.
And I loved this little tableau on one of the tables as we were exiting. It sums up what dining at a restaurant with a small child is like. The title of my masterpiece? “Still life with doll, iPhone and buttered pasta.” By Amy, 2023.
I really enjoyed our little foray to check out funky Los Alamos. I don’t think I need to return anytime soon- we pretty much saw what we wanted to see. But it’s worth a stop if you are in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Bell’s, 406 Bell St, Los Alamos, CA 93440
This post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for Amy and Kate.
