Travel Guide: Carmel, California
Carmel Beach
After five weeks of living in this beautiful town, I can honestly say it will forever be a favorite of mine! Whether you’re traveling for a month or a few days, you will leave with a happy heart. Carmel-by-the-sea, California is one of the quaintest, peaceful, joyful little villages I’ve ever been to. Never been or heard of it? It’s a costal town well known for it’s charming streets and world-renowned golf courses. The infinite cypress trees and direct access to Big Sur are also a nice perk! It’s a great town to visit at any time of the year because the weather fluctuates by only a few degrees throughout the seasons.
THINGS TO KNOW
Pack warm clothes - the average temperature the entire year is 65 degrees. When the ocean wind hits (especially in the morning and at night) it is very cold. I had to buy gloves!
The entire town is walkable (except getting to Pebble Beach / Spanish Bay )
It's an EXPENSIVE town, expect prices as if you were in a major city
Dinner with a view at The Bench (Pebble Beach)
View From Mission Ranch Restaurant
Lunch at Nepenthe in Big Sur
RESTAURANTS
Carmel Bakery: Stop by here for the best breakfast burrito in town (trust us we tried em all), a cup of coffee, and some ice cream after the beach.
Cantinetta Luca: Great pasta, my all-time favorite was the Cacio e Pepe!
The Bench at Pebble Beach: If you want to get the Pebble Beach experience without ‘paying for it’, this is your spot. The tables all have a direct view of the 18th hole of Pebble Beach and firepits at all of the outdoor tables. We had a three hour happy hour / dinner here we couldn’t leave the views!
Spanish Bay: Walk into the main entrance of the Inn, and go directly to the back and exit the left door outside (to the left of Roy’s restaurant). Here there’s outdoor fire pit seating with a fantastic sunset view over the ocean and the Spanish Bay Golf Course. First come first served. We typically went for a cheaper route here and only ever got a happy hour glass of wine and apps. They have a bagpipe player walk the grounds every night at 5pm - we always went purposely to watch this and the sunset!
Vesuvio: Italian restaurant with a great (large) rooftop and happy hour specials!
Cultura Comida y Bebida: Hands down the best Mexican restaurant in town. Maybe our favorite restaurant in town overall. Incredible service, street tacos, authentic Mexican food, and great margaritas.
Brophy’s Tavern: Closest thing to an “American Bar” that we found! Great food and fun cocktails. Nice outdoor seating area and tv/bar inside.
Katy’s Place: One of the most popular breakfast spots in town. Great service, omelets, and pancakes! Cash only!
La Bicyclette: We only ever got to-go pizzas from here, but we went several times because it was so good! This restaurant was completely full with a long wait every time we went, so that speaks for itself!
Mission Ranch: Further out of the way, but it’s a restaurant (great for both breakfast and dinner) that sits on a big farm. You overlook grassy fields, sheep, cypress trees, and a bit of the ocean. Nothing much better!
Nepenthe: Far from Carmel (just over an hour South on HWY1 past Big Sur), but worth it for the views. A great stop for breakfast and lunch between hiking, or for dinner and sunset!
Wine Tasting at Caraccioli Cellars in downtown Carmel
WINE TASTINGS
Caraccioli Cellars: I love this place. The kindest service in town, very informational tastings, and top-rated sparkling wines. You’ll often find the Caracciolo family and little grandchildren among you!
Galante Vineyards Tasting Room: Much more of a laid-back tasting. Sit outside in their alley covered by trees, drink some wine, and listen to country music in a casual setting. Not a ton of room here so you may need to wait. Their sister winery is Dawn’s Dream which was a great spot to grab a glass while waiting to be seated!
Kori Wines: Best deal we had on a wine tasting in all of Carmel. Another more causal setting in a cute alley with a fountain!
Folktale Winery and Vineyards: This is about a 15 minute drive from Carmel, but absolutely beautiful and worth it! Sit underneath a castle-style building with the Carmel valley hills behind you. Outdoor music, nice wine, and good food!
If you're cheap like us, buy local wine at the grocery stores!
Big Sur
Point Lobos
Point Lobos
Big Sur
LOCAL HIKING
Point Lobos: The perfect spot for an easier coastal walk, especially at sunset. This State Park (pay to enter) is full of cypress tree forests, blue lagoons, ocean cliffs, and tons of sea life. Less than ten minutes from downtown Carmel, this is an easy escape from the “city”! If you’re willing to get up early to beat the crowds, I recommend arriving at the gate 10 minutes before it opens (you’ll likely still have to wait in a line).
Carmel Waterfront Scenic Walkway: At just over a mile long, this is a great way to see Carmel Beach and the beautiful fairytale-like homes surrounding the city. Walk on the boardwalk or on the beach. Another great way to see the sunset and potentially catch the bagpipers playing!
Big Sur: The classic. We all know it and love it. The park itself is large and offers lots of different environments from dense forests and caves to large beaches. You can’t go wrong on any hike through Big Sur, but my favorite thing to do is driving Highway 1 along the beaches and stopping for a picnic at lookout at all of the different beaches.
Golfing The Hay at Pebble Beach
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Golf The Hay: Highly recommend doing this. It is the perfect excuse to see the beautiful Pebble Beach Resort. Not to mention, you still get to golf with the beautiful ocean view and cypress trees without playing the full course.It’s about $60 per person (for 9 holes), and clubs are only $5.
Carmel Farmer’s Market: Every Thursday from 10am-2pm on Junipero and Mission St. Amazing food and flowers!
Visit the Monterey Aquarium: Didn’t get to do this because of Covid, but have heard nothing but great things!
Fort Ord Sand Dunes State Park: Coastal dunes full of succulents and beautiful views.
Bagpipes at Carmel Beach: Typically right around sunset, a local bagpiper will find their way down to the main entrance at Carmel Beach and play a few songs for everyone at sunset. This is a classic event that happens in the area (every night at Spanish Bay Resort), and it’s a unique way to enjoy the local culture. We loved it!
Enjoy and have fun at one of my favorite places in the world! Let me know if you use any of these tips or find them helpful! If you are planning a trip to Carmel-by-the-sea, feel free to reach out with any additional questions or details on specific recommendations.
Cheers!
