Cambria Christmas Market Food: What to Eat and Drink This Season

Walk through Cambria Christmas Market on any night between November 27 and December 31, 2026, and the smell hits you before the lights do. Bratwurst and schnitzel sizzle at the German stalls, tri-tip sandwiches and tamales cover the rest, and a cup of hot Glühwein or spiked cocoa keeps your hands warm while you decide what to eat first.

The market runs from 5pm to 9pm most nights (gates close at 8:30pm, so plan on arriving with time to spare), spread across the grounds of Cambria Pines Lodge at 2905 Burton Dr in Cambria, California. Three million lights and a German-inspired vendor market are the headline draw, and the food is where a lot of returning visitors say the real magic happens, especially once the Biergarten opens for the night.

What food can you actually eat at Cambria Christmas Market?

The vendor stalls split into four lanes, and none of them skip out on flavor. The German booths carry bratwurst, schnitzel, currywurst and lebkuchen, the gingerbread hearts that are as much a keepsake as a snack. Right alongside them, a Central Coast crowd gets tri-tip sandwiches and mac and cheese loaded with pulled pork, plus tamales and pork pozole from the food stalls. Kettle corn and cinnamon rolls close things out for anyone who wants dessert before the lights walk. Every one of these is listed on the market's food and drinks page.

What's in the Biergarten, and do you need to be 21?

The Biergarten is the market's beer hall, and it runs two menus depending on age. For the 21-and-over crowd, that means Glühwein, the mulled, spiced wine Germans have served at winter markets for centuries, plus spiked cocoa and craft beer from BarrelHouse Brewing Co., a Paso Robles brewery about forty minutes up Highway 46. Everyone else can enjoy hot cider and hot cocoa, and the food. The Biergarten runs its own food line too, separate from the main vendor stalls: wood-fired pizza, including a flammekueche topped with crème fraîche, garlic, onions and bacon, alongside simpler pepperoni and cheese pies. Since it's a cashless event, bring a card instead of cash. Every vendor, including the Biergarten, takes credit and debit only.

Is there food for kids and picky eaters?

Families don't have to negotiate. Tri-tip sandwiches, mac and cheese with pulled pork, kettle corn and cinnamon rolls sit right next to the German stalls, and none of it requires a taste for currywurst to enjoy. Admission works in the kids' favor too. Children five and under get in free, and tickets for everyone else start at $25, with prices rising by $10 at the door on nights that haven't sold out. Most nights do sell out, so buying ahead through the market's ticket page is worth the extra step if you're bringing a group.

Where does the food come from, and is it actually German?

Cambria Christmas Market has leaned on its German-inspired identity since it started in 2011, and the food lineup is where that shows up most directly. Bratwurst, schnitzel, currywurst, lebkuchen and Glühwein are the market's answer to a real Weihnachtsmarkt, the open-air Christmas markets held across Germany and Austria every winter, selling food, drink and seasonal goods from stalls near the town square. Visit Cambria's event listing points to that German heritage as one of the reasons the market pulls visitors from across the state every December. The American and Mexican stalls round things out for a Central Coast crowd, and Cambria Pines Lodge's own Fireside Lounge adds fine wines, local beers and seasonal cocktails for anyone who'd rather sit down with a drink between rounds at the stalls.

What does the food cost, and do you need cash?

Budget the way you would for any outdoor festival and expect individual items to land in the same range as a county fair vendor booth. Tickets start at $25, children five and under are free, and there are no refunds or exchanges once you've bought in, so pick your date carefully. And remember, this is a cashless event start to finish. Cards only, at every booth including the Biergarten.

When is Cambria Christmas Market, and how do you get tickets?

Cambria Christmas Market runs November 27 through December 31, 2026, with gates open from 5pm and closing to new entries at 8:30pm. The market itself closes at 9pm, and it recommends allowing two to three hours to see the lights and work through the food stalls. If you want to make a weekend of it, several nearby hotels, including Cambria Pines Lodge, offer a hotel and ticket package that bundles a room, market tickets, parking or shuttle service, and breakfast the next morning. Onsite-event packages run November 27-29 and December 2-6, 9-13, 16-23 and 26-31, with a quieter "lights only" version on the nights in between for anyone who'd rather skip the crowds. The market's lodging page has the full night-by-night breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do market tickets include food and drinks? 

No. Admission tickets, starting at $25 and free for children five and under, get you into the market and the light displays. Food and drinks from the vendor stalls and the Biergarten are purchased separately, and since the event is cashless, bring a card.

What are the Cambria Christmas Market hours? 

The market runs from 5pm to 9pm most nights during its November 27 to December 31, 2026 season. Gates close to new entries at 8:30pm, and the market suggests budgeting two to three hours to see the lights and work through the food stalls.

Is Cambria Christmas Market pet friendly? 

Yes. The market is pet friendly, so a leashed dog can join you at the food stalls and the Biergarten. It's worth checking the market's current guidance close to your visit in case that changes for a given season.

Where exactly is Cambria Christmas Market? 

The market is held at 2905 Burton Dr in Cambria, California, on the grounds of Cambria Pines Lodge.

Can I pay cash at the food stalls? 

No. Cambria Christmas Market is a cashless event, and every vendor, including the Biergarten, accepts credit and debit cards only.

Cambria Christmas Market has more than 600 photos and 150-plus reviews on Yelp, and food comes up again and again in what people write, usually because they went in expecting lights and left talking about the bratwurst. That's worth planning around. Come hungry, bring a card instead of cash, and give yourself the full two hours so you're not choosing between the currywurst and the last train ride of the night.