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    The Steinbeck House / Best Cellar Gift Shop

    78 Reviews
    #4 of 33 things to do in Salinas
    Historic Sites, Speciality Museums, Sights & Landmarks, Museums
    132 Central Ave, Salinas, CA 93901-2651
    +1 831-424-2735
    Website
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    Review Highlights
    “Yummy High Tea”

    A great way to end the day! We had high tea at the Steinbeck’s family home. It had a great... read more

    Reviewed 3 days ago
    Christi S
    via mobile
    “The Steinbeck House is historic and worth a vist for lunch”

    The Steinbeck House in Salinas, California, is the home in which John Steinbeck was born and... read more

    Reviewed 16 March 2018
    Robert H
    ,
    Sunnyvale, California
    Read all 78 reviews
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    This Queen Anne style Victorian was the birthplace and boyhood home of author John Steinbeck. Built in Salinas in 1897, the Steinbeck family moved into the house in 1900. The Valley Guild was formed by eight enthusiastic women who shared a common interest in gourmet cooking and wanted to showcase Salinas Valley produce. The volunteers of Valley Guild purchased and renovated the house. It was opened to the public as a restaurant on February 27, 1974 -the 72nd anniversary of John Steinbeck's birth. The house is operated by volunteers with a minimum of paid staff, and recently celebrated the 40th Anniversary. The Best Cellar is in the original basement of the Steinbeck House. The Best Cellar is a delightful gift shop featuring unique gift items as well as vintage and new Steinbeck books. Original furniture from the Steinbeck family is on display including the headboard of the bed in which John Steinbeck was born.

    About The Steinbeck House / Best Cellar Gift Shop

    This Queen Anne style Victorian was the birthplace and boyhood home of author John Steinbeck. Built in Salinas in 1897, the Steinbeck family moved into the house in 1900. The Valley Guild was formed by eight enthusiastic women who shared a common interest in gourmet cooking and wanted to showcase Salinas Valley produce. The volunteers of Valley Guild purchased and renovated the house. It was opened to the public as a restaurant on February 27, 1974 -the 72nd anniversary of John Steinbeck's birth. The house is operated by volunteers with a minimum of paid staff, and recently celebrated the 40th Anniversary. The Best Cellar is in the original basement of the Steinbeck House. The Best Cellar is a delightful gift shop featuring unique gift items as well as vintage and new Steinbeck books. Original furniture from the Steinbeck family is on display including the headboard of the bed in which John Steinbeck was born.
    4.5
    78 reviews
    • Excellent63%
    • Very good28%
    • Average7%
    • Poor1%
    • Terrible1%
    Travellers talk about
    “boyhood home” (6 reviews)
    “old house” (4 reviews)
    “delicious meal” (3 reviews)
    Open Now
    Hours
    Hours Today: 11:30 PM - 2:00 PM
    LOCATION
    132 Central Ave, Salinas, CA 93901-2651
    CONTACT
    Website
    +1 831-424-2735
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    Reviews (78)
    Traveller rating
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    All reviews
    "boyhood home"
    in 6 reviews
    "old house"
    in 4 reviews
    "delicious meal"
    in 3 reviews
    "few blocks"
    in 4 reviews
    "steinbeck center"
    in 7 reviews
    "place to eat"
    in 2 reviews
    "living room"
    in 2 reviews
    "the lower level"
    in 2 reviews
    "open for lunch"
    in 2 reviews
    "wonderful lunch"
    in 2 reviews
    "special tea"
    in 2 reviews
    "large party"
    in 2 reviews
    "service was excellent"
    in 2 reviews
    "short stories"
    in 2 reviews
    "lunch with friends"
    in 2 reviews
    "a real treat"
    in 2 reviews
    "book store"
    in 2 reviews
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    1 - 10 of 76 reviews

    Reviewed 3 days ago via mobile
    Yummy High Tea

    A great way to end the day! We had high tea at the Steinbeck’s family home. It had a great selection of treats at the tea. My husband had iced tea instead of the hot teas. They had 4 different tea sandwiches, scones, and pastries....More

    Ask Christi S about The Steinbeck House / Best Cellar Gift Shop
    Thank Christi S
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 16 March 2018
    The Steinbeck House is historic and worth a vist for lunch

    The Steinbeck House in Salinas, California, is the home in which John Steinbeck was born and raised. It is now a lunch restaurant that is owned and run as a non-profit by a warm and friendly group of women. It is worth a visit. The...More

    Ask Robert H about The Steinbeck House / Best Cellar Gift Shop
    Thank Robert H
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 5 March 2018
    Lunch with friends

    This was the first time we had eaten here and we were greatly impressed! The food was excellent, the service was very good, and the prices reasonable.

    Ask snb097 about The Steinbeck House / Best Cellar Gift Shop
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    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
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    Reviewed 22 January 2018 via mobile
    Volunteer there

    I have been volunteering there going on 17 years now and it is really nice to do this. We have all Johns books and first editions,also gifts you can buy and if you go upstairs you can have a wonderful lunch and see where the...More

    Ask GoBlueCalifornia about The Steinbeck House / Best Cellar Gift Shop
    Thank GoBlueCalifornia
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 10 January 2018
    Interesting little shop beneath Steinbeck House and Restaurant

    After a delicious meal in the Steinbeck House, we decided to check out the Best Cellar Gift Shop, in the basement of the house. The most interesting thing in the shop was a model OF the Steinbeck House!

    Ask Lena K about The Steinbeck House / Best Cellar Gift Shop
    1  Thank Lena K
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 5 January 2018
    Delightful and charming!

    The Steinbeck house is delightful, charming and offers an excellent lunch in the boyhood home of John Steinbeck. The house is in pristine condition and nicely transitioned into a restaurant that lends a feel of you actually being a guest visiting the Steinbecks. Wonderful, friendly...More

    Ask Packed_10 about The Steinbeck House / Best Cellar Gift Shop
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    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 8 November 2017 via mobile
    Cute house

    Cute house but older. A short walk from the Steinbeck Center. The yard at the house is very well maintained. Worth visiting when in Salinas

    Ask Lynn C about The Steinbeck House / Best Cellar Gift Shop
    Thank Lynn C
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 15 September 2017
    Volunteers cook and serve delicious food with Steinbeck anecdotes and history just for the asking!

    Lunch only with menu selections changing weekly. Surround yourself with John Steinbeck, his three sister, parents and grandparents photos and memorabilia throughout the public access rooms in the historic home. Beer and wine available! Save room for dessert and be sure to walk to the...More

    Ask kathy-mgt about The Steinbeck House / Best Cellar Gift Shop
    Thank kathy-mgt
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 23 August 2017
    Excellent Salmon

    I attended the Wine Makers Dinner at the Steinbeck House on Friday night August 4, 2017. This event was the week end prior to our Food and Wine Festival in Salinas. I had the Salmon which was Heaven on Earth. Chef Augie did a superb...More

    Ask CentralCoastCAMissy about The Steinbeck House / Best Cellar Gift Shop
    Thank CentralCoastCAMissy
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
    Reviewed 16 August 2017
    Food was average, service was good

    The servers here are volunteers, so I always get to see friendly faces and get good service. Unfortunately, the quality of the food coming out of the kitchen is a bit inconsistent. For example, the salads were good but the chicken cordon bleu had a...More

    Ask mikegrattan about The Steinbeck House / Best Cellar Gift Shop
    Thank mikegrattan
    This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
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    Ask a question
    Questions & Answers
    Murray E
    5 February 2018|
    AnswerShow all 2 answers
    Response from mikegrattan | Reviewed this property |
    It's about 3.5 blocks; easy 5 minute walk.
    1
    Vote
    Curlytop39
    5 July 2017|
    AnswerShow all 2 answers
    Response from budhall2016 | Reviewed this property |
    Not a bad idea to have reservations. You do not want to miss the opportunity to enjoy this great house and food.
    0
    Votes
    Kate J
    25 October 2016|
    AnswerShow all 3 answers
    Response from budhall2016 | Reviewed this property |
    You should have no problem parking on the street. The house is on a corner and parking is not usually a problem.
    0
    Votes