Our favorites... Guidebook to Carmel-by-the-Sea
Drinks & Nightlife
Carmel is well-known for all sorts of things - the charming downtown, the great restaurants, the incredible nature - but not for its nightlife. You can go out and have a big night - Carmel-style - and still be in bed by 9:30. It's great quality - but the sidewalks rollup early. Enjoy anyway and just pretend you're on East Coast time.
Drive through Pebble Beach and end up at Spanish Bay before sunset. Then claim a spot at the Inn at Spanish Bay, outside facing the Dunes and await the cascade of the sun and the sound of the bagpipes. Follow it up with a meal at Peppoli's, northern Italian food. A great way to spend your evening.
Pèppoli at Pebble Beach
2700 17 Mile DrDrive through Pebble Beach and end up at Spanish Bay before sunset. Then claim a spot at the Inn at Spanish Bay, outside facing the Dunes and await the cascade of the sun and the sound of the bagpipes. Follow it up with a meal at Peppoli's, northern Italian food. A great way to spend your evening.
If you've ever been to Roy's in Hawaii, you'll know it's tasty and a high-end casual environment. Enjoy the bagpipe player at sunset but make a reservation to eat or sit in the lobby and enjoy the ambiance.
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Roy's at Pebble Beach
2700 17 Mile DrIf you've ever been to Roy's in Hawaii, you'll know it's tasty and a high-end casual environment. Enjoy the bagpipe player at sunset but make a reservation to eat or sit in the lobby and enjoy the ambiance.
Great cocktails, great atmosphere, good food and live music occasionally, it's a great place to go out late at night. Closed Monday and Tuesday and they close if it's a quiet night. Dress warmly - you may be seated in the little outdoor plaza.
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Barmel
Carmel WayGreat cocktails, great atmosphere, good food and live music occasionally, it's a great place to go out late at night. Closed Monday and Tuesday and they close if it's a quiet night. Dress warmly - you may be seated in the little outdoor plaza.
Restaurants
Make reservations because they have only a few tables outside but their (indoor) bar is a blast. Dress warmly if you want to sit outside - the fog does roll in!
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Rio Grill
Crossroads BoulevardMake reservations because they have only a few tables outside but their (indoor) bar is a blast. Dress warmly if you want to sit outside - the fog does roll in!
Carmel Belle has organic and some gluten-free pastries and meals. They serve indoors and out. Love their croissants and lots of fun t-shirts/sweatshirts etc. In downtown Carmel.
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Carmel Belle
Ocean AvenueCarmel Belle has organic and some gluten-free pastries and meals. They serve indoors and out. Love their croissants and lots of fun t-shirts/sweatshirts etc. In downtown Carmel.
Check to make sure Highway 1 is open to Big Sur and then get ready for a windy but gorgeous drive. Drive carefully and then enjoy a great view from Nepenthes (it's on the right as you are headed south, actually past Big Sur) Also has a good shop. The food is really good and really not cheap but sitting outside with a basket of delicious french fries and salad or Ambrosia burger or cheese platter... and a glass of anything, looking at the most amazing views in the world (Really. Truly) They don't make reservations for groups smaller than six people so plan to wait. But what a view. Well worth the drive and the wait.
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Nepenthe
48510 CA-1Check to make sure Highway 1 is open to Big Sur and then get ready for a windy but gorgeous drive. Drive carefully and then enjoy a great view from Nepenthes (it's on the right as you are headed south, actually past Big Sur) Also has a good shop. The food is really good and really not cheap but sitting outside with a basket of delicious french fries and salad or Ambrosia burger or cheese platter... and a glass of anything, looking at the most amazing views in the world (Really. Truly) They don't make reservations for groups smaller than six people so plan to wait. But what a view. Well worth the drive and the wait.
Upscale, great views, a delicious experience. If you pay the $ to drive through the Pebble Beach gates, you can get your money back at the Lodge (Access to all beaches in CA is free, which is why technically, they can't charge to get into Pebble Beach). Make reservations and enjoy
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The Bench
1700 17 Mile DrUpscale, great views, a delicious experience. If you pay the $ to drive through the Pebble Beach gates, you can get your money back at the Lodge (Access to all beaches in CA is free, which is why technically, they can't charge to get into Pebble Beach). Make reservations and enjoy
Forge in the Forest - Nice outdoor patio with real fireplaces and good food and drinks. Also has indoor seating... In Carmel - decent though not great parking. Park on Junipero Avenue. Bruno's Market is across the street - ish.
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Forge in the Forest
5th AvenueForge in the Forest - Nice outdoor patio with real fireplaces and good food and drinks. Also has indoor seating... In Carmel - decent though not great parking. Park on Junipero Avenue. Bruno's Market is across the street - ish.
The pastries, both regular and gluten-free are delicious and their meals are always changing. Well-run and accessible - both physically and financially. This bakery and restaurant as about a 16-minute walk from the house.
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Rise + Roam
7th AvenueThe pastries, both regular and gluten-free are delicious and their meals are always changing. Well-run and accessible - both physically and financially. This bakery and restaurant as about a 16-minute walk from the house.
Arts & Culture
Carmel Mission Basilica - Go on a tour of the Carmel Mission Basilica. It's a beautiful church and the gardens are lovely as well. Sometimes it seems like half of California has been married there but for good reason.
Beautiful building with great acoustics. They have some unusual and high-quality performances. Diverse offerings and well worth looking into.
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Sunset Center
San Carlos StreetBeautiful building with great acoustics. They have some unusual and high-quality performances. Diverse offerings and well worth looking into.
Parks & Nature
This is an awesome favorite among locals - especially with dogs. There is a small river, nice pond called Maple Pond and a bigger one on top of several great hikes. Enjoy amazing views and old Oak trees. Can be a simple stroll or day hike (bring a picnic!)
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Garland Ranch Regional Park
700 W Carmel Valley RdThis is an awesome favorite among locals - especially with dogs. There is a small river, nice pond called Maple Pond and a bigger one on top of several great hikes. Enjoy amazing views and old Oak trees. Can be a simple stroll or day hike (bring a picnic!)
Can get crazy crowded on holiday weekends but park on Highway 1 and walk in if too many cars are within. Entry is $10 per car. Bike riding or walking, doesn't matter. Fog or sun, doesn't matter. Great place to S.C.U.B.A! Really a peaceful place but no dogs are allowed. Not even if they stay in the car. It's a great place to walk and breathe...
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Državni prirodni rezervat Point Lobos
62 CA-1Can get crazy crowded on holiday weekends but park on Highway 1 and walk in if too many cars are within. Entry is $10 per car. Bike riding or walking, doesn't matter. Fog or sun, doesn't matter. Great place to S.C.U.B.A! Really a peaceful place but no dogs are allowed. Not even if they stay in the car. It's a great place to walk and breathe...
Essentials
Bruno's Market is a small, locally owned and operated market on Junipero, near Ocean Ave. in Carmel. They have great prepared foods as well as the basic necessities. Locals and tourist buy specialty items here - and some Thursdays - Saturday, they have take-away dinners. But go early (4:30 - 5:30 or call) - when they run out, they run out.
Nice big Safeway, next to a nice big CVS, next to a bunch of small and wonderful boutique stores as well as RJ Burgers, Island Taco, and a great independent bookstore. Go for the groceries, stay for the shopping at the Crossroads. South on Highway One to Rio Road.
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Safeway
815 Canyon Del Rey BlvdNice big Safeway, next to a nice big CVS, next to a bunch of small and wonderful boutique stores as well as RJ Burgers, Island Taco, and a great independent bookstore. Go for the groceries, stay for the shopping at the Crossroads. South on Highway One to Rio Road.
Whole Foods, as you likely know is a good place to get some food that you can bring home and eat on the balcony. You can also walk around the mall where Whole Foods is located. - Del Monte Shopping Center
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Whole Foods Market
800 Del Monte CenterWhole Foods, as you likely know is a good place to get some food that you can bring home and eat on the balcony. You can also walk around the mall where Whole Foods is located. - Del Monte Shopping Center
MY Museum in Monterey, CA
There are a variety of wonderful activities for young kids. This is in downtown Monterey and has a focus on farm life, though no live animals. Little kids can spend a couple of hours and not be overstimulated or crazed. Just happy and calm! (And Paris Bakery across the street is a good place for someone to grab a great croissant and coffee. Just sayin' ...)
So beautiful. So peaceful. Dogs are welcome off leash, unofficially. Walk to Pebble Beach golf bluffs, but watch out for the strong, even if they appear small, waves. White sand! Gorgeous.
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Carmel City Beach
So beautiful. So peaceful. Dogs are welcome off leash, unofficially. Walk to Pebble Beach golf bluffs, but watch out for the strong, even if they appear small, waves. White sand! Gorgeous.
Entertainment & Activities
Take a drive to Monterey's Dennis the Menace park. Older kids might want to go to the beach, which is a cross the street (and around a pond) after exploring the park.
The Monterey Swim/Gym is nearby as well and is another great activity for the whole family, including a warm pool for kids.
Closed for now. Such a lose. Check it out. It will open eventually. This is a big park with lots of things to climb on, dig around, swing up and down, etc. Definitely a good time. Very nearby the Monterey Swim/Gym, a great place for the whole family including a great warm kids for young kids and their parents.
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Dennis The Menace Dječje igralište
777 Pearl StClosed for now. Such a lose. Check it out. It will open eventually. This is a big park with lots of things to climb on, dig around, swing up and down, etc. Definitely a good time. Very nearby the Monterey Swim/Gym, a great place for the whole family including a great warm kids for young kids and their parents.
Open but reservations are in advance and online. There are no in-person ticket sales. You can purchase them on your phone but make sure they are available - sounds obvious but it might look available - just make sure they are. Check out the amazing jellyfish exhibit. Gorgeous. And do walk around Cannery Row. Check out the history beforehand to get more out of the experience.
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Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowOpen but reservations are in advance and online. There are no in-person ticket sales. You can purchase them on your phone but make sure they are available - sounds obvious but it might look available - just make sure they are. Check out the amazing jellyfish exhibit. Gorgeous. And do walk around Cannery Row. Check out the history beforehand to get more out of the experience.