Guidebook for Carmel-by-the-Sea
Food Scene
Your classic Carmel breakfast joint. A nice starting point if you want to explore downtown Carmel. Large portions, cash only. Get there early, it gets super busy!
27 locals recommend
Katy's Place
Mission StreetYour classic Carmel breakfast joint. A nice starting point if you want to explore downtown Carmel. Large portions, cash only. Get there early, it gets super busy!
Not your typical, fancy-schmancy, $20 glass of wine with your pinky finger extended, Carmel restaurant. Great outdoor seating w/firepits. Solid pub type grub, casual atmosphere. The Forge Burger is pretty solid.
22 locals recommend
Forge in the Forest
5th AvenueNot your typical, fancy-schmancy, $20 glass of wine with your pinky finger extended, Carmel restaurant. Great outdoor seating w/firepits. Solid pub type grub, casual atmosphere. The Forge Burger is pretty solid.
Reasonably priced, casual atmosphere, good outdoor seating. Good crab cakes. Creative cocktails.
14 locals recommend
Em Le's Old Carmel Restaurant
Reasonably priced, casual atmosphere, good outdoor seating. Good crab cakes. Creative cocktails.
The Almond Croissant will blow your mind. Seriously, it's a game changer. If you're not seriously impressed by it, Denny's is around the corner. Maybe that's more your style.
25 locals recommend
Parker-Lusseau Pastries
539 Hartnell StThe Almond Croissant will blow your mind. Seriously, it's a game changer. If you're not seriously impressed by it, Denny's is around the corner. Maybe that's more your style.
Classic breakfast. Huge portions. The Bluegerm Pancake is spectacular (just order 1, they're giant). Eggs Benedict are awesome as well. 1 block up from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row. Good place to start the day in Monterey.
55 locals recommend
First Awakenings
300 David AveClassic breakfast. Huge portions. The Bluegerm Pancake is spectacular (just order 1, they're giant). Eggs Benedict are awesome as well. 1 block up from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row. Good place to start the day in Monterey.
Super hipster, vegetarian affair. They do all their own canning, fermentation, baking, etc. Get the daily special of the Soup and Sandwich combo. Not necessarily big portions, but you'll walk away feeling like you put some good fuel in your body.
16 locals recommend
Happy Girl Kitchen Co
173 Central AveSuper hipster, vegetarian affair. They do all their own canning, fermentation, baking, etc. Get the daily special of the Soup and Sandwich combo. Not necessarily big portions, but you'll walk away feeling like you put some good fuel in your body.
No frills seafood. They have their own fishing boat, so you know you're getting it fresh! The Salmon and Halibut Cheeks are great pick. Location in Monterey as well.
16 locals recommend
Sea Harvest
100 Crossroads BlvdNo frills seafood. They have their own fishing boat, so you know you're getting it fresh! The Salmon and Halibut Cheeks are great pick. Location in Monterey as well.
The Oak-Fired Oysters are off the hook good. Reservations recommended.
60 locals recommend
Monterey's Fish House
2114 Del Monte AveThe Oak-Fired Oysters are off the hook good. Reservations recommended.
Noodle Bar
215 Reservation RdBudget-friendly, solid Asian food in a strip mall location. Cash only.
This is what other ice cream shops should strive to become. Locally sourced ingredients, super creative and unique flavors. Good stuff.
13 locals recommend
Revival Ice Cream
463 Alvarado StThis is what other ice cream shops should strive to become. Locally sourced ingredients, super creative and unique flavors. Good stuff.
Located within Highland Hyatt. It's pretty pricey, a little snooty, but the best view while eating breakfast you'll probably ever experience. Perched high atop the cliffs in the Carmel Higlands overlooking the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. Eggs Benedict won't disappoint. Only go if you plan on sitting on the patio (bring a sweater, it can get a little chilly).
-Sidenote, the lounge area inside the Highlands Hyatt has an amazing sunset view. Great place to sip on a stupidly overpriced cocktail and pretend that you actually can afford to be staying there-
19 locals recommend
California Market at Pacific's Edge
120 Highlands DrLocated within Highland Hyatt. It's pretty pricey, a little snooty, but the best view while eating breakfast you'll probably ever experience. Perched high atop the cliffs in the Carmel Higlands overlooking the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. Eggs Benedict won't disappoint. Only go if you plan on sitting on the patio (bring a sweater, it can get a little chilly).
-Sidenote, the lounge area inside the Highlands Hyatt has an amazing sunset view. Great place to sip on a stupidly overpriced cocktail and pretend that you actually can afford to be staying there-
Best Americano in town. Also a pretty good people watching hang out.
9 locals recommend
East Village Coffee Lounge
498 Washington StBest Americano in town. Also a pretty good people watching hang out.
Drinks & Nightlife
It's a dive bar. In Carmel. That in itself is a novelty worth checking out. They frequently have live music. Bartender gets a little sassy if 'fru-fru' drinks are ordered. Can be a little tricky to find. Directly behind Lopez Liquor.
38 locals recommend
Barmel
Carmel WayIt's a dive bar. In Carmel. That in itself is a novelty worth checking out. They frequently have live music. Bartender gets a little sassy if 'fru-fru' drinks are ordered. Can be a little tricky to find. Directly behind Lopez Liquor.
Funky Tiki atmosphere. Good happy hour selections.The only place in the Monterey Bay where you can get a gallon sized drink with a flaming volcano in the center. Please Uber should you experience one of these monstrosities.
102 locals recommend
Hula's Island Grill
221 Cathcart StFunky Tiki atmosphere. Good happy hour selections.The only place in the Monterey Bay where you can get a gallon sized drink with a flaming volcano in the center. Please Uber should you experience one of these monstrosities.
If you're feeling the need to revisit your ranchy, booze filled college days, this is the place for you.
12 locals recommend
Bull and Bear Whiskey Bar and Taphouse
479 Alvarado StIf you're feeling the need to revisit your ranchy, booze filled college days, this is the place for you.
The Crown & Anchor
150 W Franklin StSolid English pub. Nuff said.
Parks & Nature
One of our favorite places to take visitors to. Perched right on the cliffs where the Monterey Cyprus trees meet the crashing waves of the Pacific. Super easy to find, and you can have an easy and beautiful stroll in under 2 hours.
309 locals recommend
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
62 CA-1One of our favorite places to take visitors to. Perched right on the cliffs where the Monterey Cyprus trees meet the crashing waves of the Pacific. Super easy to find, and you can have an easy and beautiful stroll in under 2 hours.
Make it a short leisurely hike, or a full-day hardcore excursion. This place will give you some altitude gain and cool views of the Salinas Valley.
133 locals recommend
Garland Ranch Regional Park
700 W Carmel Valley RdMake it a short leisurely hike, or a full-day hardcore excursion. This place will give you some altitude gain and cool views of the Salinas Valley.
Moss Landing
Great spot to go kayaking in the estuary. Lots of sea otters to see!
Arts & Culture
Literally hundreds of art galleries in less than 2 square miles. You'll see so many seascape paintings your head will spin.
354 locals recommend
Carmel by the sea
San Antonio AvenueLiterally hundreds of art galleries in less than 2 square miles. You'll see so many seascape paintings your head will spin.
Sightseeing
It's world famous for a reason. Unless you have a distain for sea life, you really should check it out.
668 locals recommend
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowIt's world famous for a reason. Unless you have a distain for sea life, you really should check it out.
Honestly, Cannery Row is worth about 1 hour of your time. Nothing more. Super touristy, cheesy souvenir shops, and full of restaurants serving heavily breaded, deep fried food. And nothing much beyond that. Sorry John Steinbeck....
67 locals recommend
Cannery Row
Honestly, Cannery Row is worth about 1 hour of your time. Nothing more. Super touristy, cheesy souvenir shops, and full of restaurants serving heavily breaded, deep fried food. And nothing much beyond that. Sorry John Steinbeck....