Food scene
We love this restaurant! Great pizzas, great fish, steak, great salads, it’s all good ! Don’t forget to order dessert! It’s in the village about 3 mins away. Make a reservation in advance!
72 locals recommend
Café Rustica
10 Del Fino PlWe love this restaurant! Great pizzas, great fish, steak, great salads, it’s all good ! Don’t forget to order dessert! It’s in the village about 3 mins away. Make a reservation in advance!
The atmosphere is very European and we love to sit outside here. Try the mussels and the pizza is wood burning oven and the bread is great also. Also in the village about 3 mins away.
54 locals recommend
Corkscrew Cafe
55 W Carmel Valley RdThe atmosphere is very European and we love to sit outside here. Try the mussels and the pizza is wood burning oven and the bread is great also. Also in the village about 3 mins away.
We love to eat here ..it’s old school Carmel Valley and about 1 minute from our home and they pour heavy drinks:) the food is great and lots of locals …
7 locals recommend
Los Laureles Lodge
313 W Carmel Valley RdWe love to eat here ..it’s old school Carmel Valley and about 1 minute from our home and they pour heavy drinks:) the food is great and lots of locals …
This is a great local market about 3 mins away in village. Great deli and specialty food items. Top of the range meats and cheeses. Great place to stock up for a picnic or for your stay. Great wine selection.
33 locals recommend
Jerome's Carmel Valley Market
2 Chambers LnThis is a great local market about 3 mins away in village. Great deli and specialty food items. Top of the range meats and cheeses. Great place to stock up for a picnic or for your stay. Great wine selection.
Super fun place to go in the village ! They have bocce ball and live music. There’re a few different wineries here and a restaurant. It’s a nice place to sit outside. Fire pits ….
11 locals recommend
The Wine House
1 E Carmel Valley RdSuper fun place to go in the village ! They have bocce ball and live music. There’re a few different wineries here and a restaurant. It’s a nice place to sit outside. Fire pits ….
This is a local breakfast place. (Lunch as well) Try the turkey hash but everything is wonderful!
31 locals recommend
Jeffrey's Grill & Catering
112 Mid Vly CtrThis is a local breakfast place. (Lunch as well) Try the turkey hash but everything is wonderful!
Great atmosphere and fun Mexican place…live music( maybe not during covid) fun bar but great for families as well.
49 locals recommend
Baja Cantina & Grill
7166 Carmel Valley RdGreat atmosphere and fun Mexican place…live music( maybe not during covid) fun bar but great for families as well.
Wagon Wheel Restaurant
7156 Carmel Valley RdLocal breakfast and lunch place… banana pancakes yum!
If u want to hang with the local cowboys and locals this is the bar and restaurant u should go to. Can have a rough and rowdy atmosphere in the bar at times but that’s part of the charm…
30 locals recommend
Running Iron
24 E Carmel Valley RdIf u want to hang with the local cowboys and locals this is the bar and restaurant u should go to. Can have a rough and rowdy atmosphere in the bar at times but that’s part of the charm…
Such a great place all year round and especially the holidays . All lit up and piano bar. Restaurant great and bar great so charming. Can’t come to Carmel and not stop by!
14 locals recommend
Cypress Inn
Such a great place all year round and especially the holidays . All lit up and piano bar. Restaurant great and bar great so charming. Can’t come to Carmel and not stop by!
This is my favorite restaurant in Carmel! Great food, great prices! ( for Carmel🤣)Truffle gnocchi is a must and the arancini! Make a reservation for dinner . Cute atmosphere …they have another restaurant in carmel with a rooftop bar which is a fun happy hour… Vesuvios
26 locals recommend
Little Napoli
Dolores StreetThis is my favorite restaurant in Carmel! Great food, great prices! ( for Carmel🤣)Truffle gnocchi is a must and the arancini! Make a reservation for dinner . Cute atmosphere …they have another restaurant in carmel with a rooftop bar which is a fun happy hour… Vesuvios
Robata Grill & Sake Bar
3658 The BarnyardGreat sushi and entrees. Cool atmosphere
Patisserie Boissiere Restaurant
Mission StreetLove the seafood salad here and the French onion soup….
We’ve been coming here for 40years! It’s a local favorite for breakfast and lunch in Carmel.. not fancy but simple good food.
16 locals recommend
The Little Swiss Café
Dolores StreetWe’ve been coming here for 40years! It’s a local favorite for breakfast and lunch in Carmel.. not fancy but simple good food.
Now called Alvarado brewing company in Carmel. Great beer selection and love the lobster sandwich! It’s located in the Carmel plaza.
Yeast of Eden
7th AvenueNow called Alvarado brewing company in Carmel. Great beer selection and love the lobster sandwich! It’s located in the Carmel plaza.
Flying Fish Grill
7th AvenueSuper unique atmosphere… in Carmel plaza. Japanese flair.
This is a wonderful little bistro in Monterey and a great place to go after sightseeing in Cannery Row and Aquarium. Very delicious and tell the chef/owner Didier that Christian sent you!
8 locals recommend
Bistro Moulin
867 Wave StThis is a wonderful little bistro in Monterey and a great place to go after sightseeing in Cannery Row and Aquarium. Very delicious and tell the chef/owner Didier that Christian sent you!
Great place to stroll and eat fresh fruit and baked goods. A few food trucks. Now located in mid valley shopping center about 6 mins away. Near Jeffery’s restaurant and Safeway.
Carmel Valley Village Farmers' Market
9550 W Carmel Valley RdGreat place to stroll and eat fresh fruit and baked goods. A few food trucks. Now located in mid valley shopping center about 6 mins away. Near Jeffery’s restaurant and Safeway.
If u decide to travel
To Big Sur during your stay stop here for lunch or a drink and sit in the river with chairs provided by restaurant. Music on Sundays.
29 locals recommend
Big Sur River Inn
46800 CA-1If u decide to travel
To Big Sur during your stay stop here for lunch or a drink and sit in the river with chairs provided by restaurant. Music on Sundays.
This is a must stop for lunch while in Big Sur. This was originally Rita Hayworth’s and Orson Welles home and now a restaurant for decades. The views are spectacular! The food is ok…your paying for the view ! Get there early for lunch as it gets busy especially on weekends! They have a great shop there also.
94 locals recommend
Nepenthe
48510 CA-1This is a must stop for lunch while in Big Sur. This was originally Rita Hayworth’s and Orson Welles home and now a restaurant for decades. The views are spectacular! The food is ok…your paying for the view ! Get there early for lunch as it gets busy especially on weekends! They have a great shop there also.
This is the most darling little place in Big Sur . Great for breakfast and so charming. Dinner great too!
Deetjen's Restaurant
48865 CA-1This is the most darling little place in Big Sur . Great for breakfast and so charming. Dinner great too!
I’m recommending the restaurant here! The views are amazing! Must see. About an hour drive from carmel valley
9 locals recommend
Ventana Big Sur
48123 CA-1I’m recommending the restaurant here! The views are amazing! Must see. About an hour drive from carmel valley
Stirrup Cup Pizza
24 E Carmel Valley RdGreat place for pizza with the kids.
This is a locals and tourists alike. Number one seafood place and view! Eye level with the water and boats on the wharf! Make a reservation! Amazing fresh seafood and pasta . Drinks are a great pour ! Wharf number 2 in Monterey! Love this place!
22 locals recommend
Sandbar & Grill
Municipal Wharf 2This is a locals and tourists alike. Number one seafood place and view! Eye level with the water and boats on the wharf! Make a reservation! Amazing fresh seafood and pasta . Drinks are a great pour ! Wharf number 2 in Monterey! Love this place!
Sightseeing
Great place to hike, walk, and take the kids down to the river. It’s about 3 min drive from the house.
133 locals recommend
Garland Ranch Regional Park
700 W Carmel Valley RdGreat place to hike, walk, and take the kids down to the river. It’s about 3 min drive from the house.
It’s a must especially if u have kids. Bistro moulin is just around the corner.
668 locals recommend
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowIt’s a must especially if u have kids. Bistro moulin is just around the corner.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
62 CA-1It’s just beautiful! Great walk for all ages.
Beautiful beach with white sand . Must take a stroll on beach or pathway at sunset or anytime of day!
142 locals recommend
Carmel City Beach
Beautiful beach with white sand . Must take a stroll on beach or pathway at sunset or anytime of day!
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
1021 Monterey Salinas HwyCannery Row
700 Cannery RowSteinbeck made it famous..what else needs to be said.