Guidebook for Carmel-by-the-Sea
Shopping
Five minutes from our house.
Jeffrey's Restaurant: breakfast, brunch, lunch
Carmel Coffee Roasting Co. coffee shop
Iolis Pizza; eat in, take out, delivery
Athena Cafe: Mediterranean cuisine; eat in, take out
Valley Maid Launderette
Mid-Valley Cleaners: dry cleaning
Safeway grocery store
UPS
Chase Bank
ATM
Mid Valley Center
Five minutes from our house.
Jeffrey's Restaurant: breakfast, brunch, lunch
Carmel Coffee Roasting Co. coffee shop
Iolis Pizza; eat in, take out, delivery
Athena Cafe: Mediterranean cuisine; eat in, take out
Valley Maid Launderette
Mid-Valley Cleaners: dry cleaning
Safeway grocery store
UPS
Chase Bank
ATM
Just south of the entry to Carmel Valley Road from Highway 1. Shopping center with an eclectic assortment of stores (including a Safeway) and a good Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co coffee shop.
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The Crossroads Carmel
243 Crossroads BlvdJust south of the entry to Carmel Valley Road from Highway 1. Shopping center with an eclectic assortment of stores (including a Safeway) and a good Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co coffee shop.
Stupendous selection of cheeses from all over the world; super knowledgable staff, very helpful, will give you numerous samples to taste; also a great selection of wines.
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The Cheese Shop
Junipero StreetStupendous selection of cheeses from all over the world; super knowledgable staff, very helpful, will give you numerous samples to taste; also a great selection of wines.
Paloosh
Ocean AvenueStylish, upscale women's clothing, expensive but worth it! Lovely staff.
Gorgeous women's clothing, also bedding and all sorts of pretty stuff for home and kitchen; gifts; beautifully spacious, outstandingly imaginative decor.
Anthropologie
Ocean AvenueGorgeous women's clothing, also bedding and all sorts of pretty stuff for home and kitchen; gifts; beautifully spacious, outstandingly imaginative decor.
Biggest shopping mall in the area, with around 75 stores.
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Del Monte Shopping Center
1410 Del Monte CenterBiggest shopping mall in the area, with around 75 stores.
Drinks & Nightlife
Carmel Valley Village. Delicious wines, rustic western-style tasting room, sweet staff, and games of petanque or bocce ball (Cowgirl has balls) on two courts (pitches?) among the vines . . . Ask us to give you cards for free tastings.
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Cowgirl Winery
4 Pilot RdCarmel Valley Village. Delicious wines, rustic western-style tasting room, sweet staff, and games of petanque or bocce ball (Cowgirl has balls) on two courts (pitches?) among the vines . . . Ask us to give you cards for free tastings.
A.W. Shucks Cocktail & Oyster Bar
San Carlos StreetOysters. Wine. Wonderful.
7th, between San Carlos and Dolores. Tasting room for the Silvestri family's fine local wines. We haven't tried the crisp, full-bodied Pinot Blanc, but it's recommended by guests who have. Alan Silvestri is a composer who has scored tons of Hollywood movies.
Silvestri Vineyards
Dolores Street7th, between San Carlos and Dolores. Tasting room for the Silvestri family's fine local wines. We haven't tried the crisp, full-bodied Pinot Blanc, but it's recommended by guests who have. Alan Silvestri is a composer who has scored tons of Hollywood movies.
Parks & Nature
Gorgeous. Five minutes from our house. Free parking, free entry. 4,500 acres of awesomeness. All kinds of trails (from easy strolls to heavy-duty hikes) and views. Helpful visitors' center.
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Garland Ranch Regional Park
700 W Carmel Valley RdGorgeous. Five minutes from our house. Free parking, free entry. 4,500 acres of awesomeness. All kinds of trails (from easy strolls to heavy-duty hikes) and views. Helpful visitors' center.
Walks. Views. Peace. Quiet. The natural beauty of this famous meeting of land and sea will have you reaching for your superlatives. It's, well, superlative.
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Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
62 CA-1Walks. Views. Peace. Quiet. The natural beauty of this famous meeting of land and sea will have you reaching for your superlatives. It's, well, superlative.
A super hike, and quite challenging, the Canyon and Rocky Ridge trail loop includes redwoods, an awesome ocean view, and steep gradients. No cell phone reception (so nostalgic!).
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Soberanes Canyon Trail
Soberanes Canyon TrailA super hike, and quite challenging, the Canyon and Rocky Ridge trail loop includes redwoods, an awesome ocean view, and steep gradients. No cell phone reception (so nostalgic!).
8 square miles of Big Sur beauty. Beaches, meadows, trails.
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Andrew Molera State Park
45500 CA-18 square miles of Big Sur beauty. Beaches, meadows, trails.
A thousand rugged acres. 8 Miles of hiking trails through redwoods, meadows, oaks, and chaparral. Wonderful variety of flora and fauna.
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Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground
California 1A thousand rugged acres. 8 Miles of hiking trails through redwoods, meadows, oaks, and chaparral. Wonderful variety of flora and fauna.
Nearly 4000 acres of natural Pacific coast beauty, including the famed McWay Falls, which drop 80 feet clear from the top of a cliff to the ocean's edge.
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Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
52801 CA-1Nearly 4000 acres of natural Pacific coast beauty, including the famed McWay Falls, which drop 80 feet clear from the top of a cliff to the ocean's edge.
Gorgeous white and sometimes red-streaked sand, magnificent rock outcrops; $10 to park there now.
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Pfeiffer Strand
Gorgeous white and sometimes red-streaked sand, magnificent rock outcrops; $10 to park there now.
Sightseeing
Big. Yessiree. Ventana and also Nepenthe restaurants have spectacular ocean views. (Browse the shop at Nepenthe.) A stupendously beautiful coastline. Also art galleries and Henry Miller Library, etc.
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Big Sur
Big. Yessiree. Ventana and also Nepenthe restaurants have spectacular ocean views. (Browse the shop at Nepenthe.) A stupendously beautiful coastline. Also art galleries and Henry Miller Library, etc.
Entertainment & Activities
Off Carmel Valley Road. Mixed (women and men) relaxation spa ten minutes from us. Super peaceful, restorative, and energizing. Hot and cold plunge. Massage. Etc.
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Refuge
27300 Rancho San Carlos RdOff Carmel Valley Road. Mixed (women and men) relaxation spa ten minutes from us. Super peaceful, restorative, and energizing. Hot and cold plunge. Massage. Etc.
Well, you know, fish and jellies and birds and otters etc. And sometimes sharks, until they start eating the other critters in the tank. Then they're evicted for being too sharky.
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Das Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowWell, you know, fish and jellies and birds and otters etc. And sometimes sharks, until they start eating the other critters in the tank. Then they're evicted for being too sharky.
Upscale resort located in the valley directly below our house. Super convenient for golf, breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks. Tables inside and out; bar. Menus online.
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Carmel Valley Ranch
1 Old Ranch RdUpscale resort located in the valley directly below our house. Super convenient for golf, breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks. Tables inside and out; bar. Menus online.
World-famous track in a gloriously scenic location. A mecca for fans of car racing, motorcycle racing, and even bicycle racing.
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WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
1021 Monterey Salinas HwyWorld-famous track in a gloriously scenic location. A mecca for fans of car racing, motorcycle racing, and even bicycle racing.
Small multi-screen movie theatre, shows indie movies as well as mainstream.
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Osio Theater
350 Alvarado StSmall multi-screen movie theatre, shows indie movies as well as mainstream.
Arts & Culture
Carmel-by-the-Sea. Lovely outside setting, log fires, excellent theater productions. Take blankets and wine :)
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Forest Theater, Carmel
Carmel-by-the-Sea. Lovely outside setting, log fires, excellent theater productions. Take blankets and wine :)
Carmel-by-the-Sea. Beautiful vaulted concert auditorium with good acoustics. Music, dance, one-person shows; quite good Monterey Symphony; annual Bach Festival; famous names sometimes perform.
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Sunset Center
San Carlos StreetCarmel-by-the-Sea. Beautiful vaulted concert auditorium with good acoustics. Music, dance, one-person shows; quite good Monterey Symphony; annual Bach Festival; famous names sometimes perform.
Food Scene
Carmel near the Mission. Evening drinks and dinner, inside or out. Sunday brunch. Picturesque view includes sheep and sometimes also Clint Eastwood (owner of the sheep and the restaurant). Piano bar. No reservations. For a table, check in with the hostess at the door and she'll give you a pager to call you when a table becomes available.
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Mission Ranch Restaurant
26270 Dolores StCarmel near the Mission. Evening drinks and dinner, inside or out. Sunday brunch. Picturesque view includes sheep and sometimes also Clint Eastwood (owner of the sheep and the restaurant). Piano bar. No reservations. For a table, check in with the hostess at the door and she'll give you a pager to call you when a table becomes available.
Carmel-by-the-Sea. Mediterranean cuisine; always packed and lively. Syrian owner and cook tend to serenade the customers. Loudly. Calls itself Carmel's #1 restaurant. Hubris much? Open 11 am to 11 pm, which is really late for Carmel. Menu online.
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Dametra Cafe
Lincoln StreetCarmel-by-the-Sea. Mediterranean cuisine; always packed and lively. Syrian owner and cook tend to serenade the customers. Loudly. Calls itself Carmel's #1 restaurant. Hubris much? Open 11 am to 11 pm, which is really late for Carmel. Menu online.
Carmel-by-the-Sea. Excellent cuisine, wines, staff, and ambience. Harsh acoustic, so it can get noisy when busy. We prefer the larger, lighter seating area to the left of the door a you go in, so that's something you might want to consider when you book. Reservations are essential. Menu online. Convenient for the Sunset Center.
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La Bicyclette Restaurant
7th AvenueCarmel-by-the-Sea. Excellent cuisine, wines, staff, and ambience. Harsh acoustic, so it can get noisy when busy. We prefer the larger, lighter seating area to the left of the door a you go in, so that's something you might want to consider when you book. Reservations are essential. Menu online. Convenient for the Sunset Center.
Carmel-by-the-Sea. Popular and romantic; always good food, wine and service. Excellent somellier last time we went there. Menu online.
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Casanova
5th AvenueCarmel-by-the-Sea. Popular and romantic; always good food, wine and service. Excellent somellier last time we went there. Menu online.
Carmel Valley Village. All fresh ingredients, mostly local, done in fresh and interestingly creative ways. They say the steak tartare has a cult following. Kool-Aid to go with? Menu online.
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Lokal
13762 Center StCarmel Valley Village. All fresh ingredients, mostly local, done in fresh and interestingly creative ways. They say the steak tartare has a cult following. Kool-Aid to go with? Menu online.
Carmel Valley Village, super for dinner, inside or on the patio (with heat lamps, natch). Always busy because it's always so damned good. Wise to book. Menu online.
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Café Rustica
10 Del Fino PlCarmel Valley Village, super for dinner, inside or on the patio (with heat lamps, natch). Always busy because it's always so damned good. Wise to book. Menu online.
Carmel Valley Village, corner of Carmel Valley Road and Pilot Road. Fresh ingredients, herbs from their own gardens. Yummy breads and pizzas made in their own ovens. Meat, fish, super pear salad, good wines, and desserts. Menu online.
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Corkscrew Cafe
55 W Carmel Valley RdCarmel Valley Village, corner of Carmel Valley Road and Pilot Road. Fresh ingredients, herbs from their own gardens. Yummy breads and pizzas made in their own ovens. Meat, fish, super pear salad, good wines, and desserts. Menu online.
Carmel Valley Village. Old-school, totally non-corporate, seems to have come together organically rather than being constructed from prefabricated Starbucks-type components. Great nibbles baked daily.
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Wild Goose Cafe
18 E Carmel Valley RdCarmel Valley Village. Old-school, totally non-corporate, seems to have come together organically rather than being constructed from prefabricated Starbucks-type components. Great nibbles baked daily.
Five minutes from our house. Best breakfasts and wait staff in the universe. Have your breakfast or lunch on the patio or indoors. Menu online. Closed on Mondays.
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Jeffrey's Grill & Catering
112 Mid Vly CtrFive minutes from our house. Best breakfasts and wait staff in the universe. Have your breakfast or lunch on the patio or indoors. Menu online. Closed on Mondays.
Excellent menu (main meals and small bites), cocktail bar tended by award-winning bar staff, superb wait staff, central location. Menus online.
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Montrio Bistro
414 Calle PrincipalExcellent menu (main meals and small bites), cocktail bar tended by award-winning bar staff, superb wait staff, central location. Menus online.
Spacious, airy; recently remodeled and updated; wide choice of coffees, teas, cold drinks, alcoholic beverages, sandwiches, croissants, paninis, pastries, etc.; large patio; convenient location. Wifi.
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East Village Coffee Lounge
498 Washington StSpacious, airy; recently remodeled and updated; wide choice of coffees, teas, cold drinks, alcoholic beverages, sandwiches, croissants, paninis, pastries, etc.; large patio; convenient location. Wifi.
Casual, with good breakfasts and Italian food, small sidewalk seating area, pleasant ambiance, central location on Monterey's main street. Original Caffe Trieste still in San Francisco. Menu online.
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Caffe Trieste
409 Alvarado StCasual, with good breakfasts and Italian food, small sidewalk seating area, pleasant ambiance, central location on Monterey's main street. Original Caffe Trieste still in San Francisco. Menu online.
Upscale dining, cocktail bar, very popular; patio with fire pits; young demographic. Housed in one of Monterey's oldest and most historic buildings. Menu online.
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Restaurant 1833
500 Hartnell StUpscale dining, cocktail bar, very popular; patio with fire pits; young demographic. Housed in one of Monterey's oldest and most historic buildings. Menu online.
Flying Fish Grill
7th AvenueSuper seafood! Menu online.
Sushi Heaven
Dolores StreetHeavenly sushi :) . Menu online.
Fabulous fresh fish; always super busy; reserve for a table or wait in line for a place to eat at the bar. Warning: we once reserved a table for 6:30 and had to stand in line until nearly 7:45, while the hostess periodically assured us the table would be ready "soon". Easy parking in the lot right outside. Menu online.
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Monterey's Fish House
2114 Del Monte AveFabulous fresh fish; always super busy; reserve for a table or wait in line for a place to eat at the bar. Warning: we once reserved a table for 6:30 and had to stand in line until nearly 7:45, while the hostess periodically assured us the table would be ready "soon". Easy parking in the lot right outside. Menu online.
Very popular restaurant and bar, young demographic, always busy, excellent dinner menu and wines. Menu online.
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Lallapalooza
474 Alvarado StVery popular restaurant and bar, young demographic, always busy, excellent dinner menu and wines. Menu online.
Unpretentious French country-style restaurant, French-owned, great cuisine, very attentive and professional wait staff. Reserve a window table and people-watch while you eat! Menu online.
Le St Tropez
Dolores StreetUnpretentious French country-style restaurant, French-owned, great cuisine, very attentive and professional wait staff. Reserve a window table and people-watch while you eat! Menu online.
Fabulous Tuscan cuisine, great chef (the owner); menu changes daily according to the day's fresh ingredients; excellent wine list; garden dining in back. Menu online.
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La Balena
Junipero StreetFabulous Tuscan cuisine, great chef (the owner); menu changes daily according to the day's fresh ingredients; excellent wine list; garden dining in back. Menu online.
Superduper pizzas to eat in or take out; also appetizers, soups, salads, pasta, sandwiches, desserts; wine and coffee; bar. Easy parking right outside. Menus online
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Allegro Pizzeria
3770 The BarnyardSuperduper pizzas to eat in or take out; also appetizers, soups, salads, pasta, sandwiches, desserts; wine and coffee; bar. Easy parking right outside. Menus online
Near the ocean. Smoothies, juices, coffee, wine, ice cream, paninis, salads, sandwiches (crabcake is yum), pizzas, wraps, etc… Sat & Sun lunch BBQ. Sit outside. Paid parking (only 24 mins for free).
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The Wharf Marketplace
269 Figueroa StNear the ocean. Smoothies, juices, coffee, wine, ice cream, paninis, salads, sandwiches (crabcake is yum), pizzas, wraps, etc… Sat & Sun lunch BBQ. Sit outside. Paid parking (only 24 mins for free).
South side of Ocean Avenue between Lincoln and Monte Verde. Small, intimate, enclosed, hidden away in the courtyard behind Cottage of Sweets. Family-run restaurant that serves excellent and authentic Italian cuisine which owners Giuseppe and Salvatore Panzuto, from Naples, describe as 'Italian comfort food'. They don't take reservations but the wait is usually short.
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Il Tegamino
South side of Ocean Avenue between Lincoln and Monte Verde. Small, intimate, enclosed, hidden away in the courtyard behind Cottage of Sweets. Family-run restaurant that serves excellent and authentic Italian cuisine which owners Giuseppe and Salvatore Panzuto, from Naples, describe as 'Italian comfort food'. They don't take reservations but the wait is usually short.
Small Mediterranean restaurant conveniently located five minutes from our house. We like the tiger prawn kebabs in particular, and the grilled salmon. Very quiet, never super busy, no need to make a reservation. Eat in or take out. They stop serving dinner at about 8:45 pm. Menu online.
Athena Café
315 Mid Vly CtrSmall Mediterranean restaurant conveniently located five minutes from our house. We like the tiger prawn kebabs in particular, and the grilled salmon. Very quiet, never super busy, no need to make a reservation. Eat in or take out. They stop serving dinner at about 8:45 pm. Menu online.
Convenient non-corporate coffee shop five minutes from our house in the Mid Valley Center. Good selection of coffees, teas, and other drinks; also snacks. Wifi.
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Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting
246 Crossroads BlvdConvenient non-corporate coffee shop five minutes from our house in the Mid Valley Center. Good selection of coffees, teas, and other drinks; also snacks. Wifi.