If there were an award for “most photogenic” California town, Carmel-By-The-Sea would be a contender. But what we hone in on is that you’ll find some of Monterey County’s best restaurants in Carmel. Sandwiched along the Central California coast between Big Sur and Monterey, this seaside village marches to its own beat.
The architecture is out of an English fairytale, with trailing flowers and quaint, 100 year old Comstock cottages lining the streets. It’s the kind of place that California locals head for a weekend away, and snowbirds flock to escape dreary winter weather.
What Is The History Of Carmel-By-The Sea?
Set in California’s Monterey County along the ocean, this picturesque town is just a few hour’s drive from San Francisco to the north or Paso Robles to the south. To zero in further, it’s on the Monterey Peninsula with the historic town of Monterey to the north, the Monterey Wine Country to the east, and the legendary Big Sur to the south along California Highway 1.
The town of Carmel-By-The-Sea was established as a seaside resort town during the 1880s and soon became a haven for notable guests such as Jack London. That cache has continued to this day as celebrities from Clint Eastwood and Joan Baez to Frank Zappa and, most recently, Brad Pitt, having homes in the area. The town’s main street is Ocean Avenue and it ends at the beach, but, ironically for a place founded as a beach resort, it is often socked in with fog. The vibe quickly became artistic and that’s evident today as there are numerous galleries.
Where To Eat In Carmel-By-The-Sea
The town’s independent spirit is apparent on every block and especially comes to life with the numerous locally-owned restaurants. Similar to Mammoth Lakes, you’ll be hard-pressed to find major chain restaurants.
The thing that makes Carmel-By-The-Sea so special is its smack dab in the middle of California’s Monterey County, which is not one of the state’s biggest agricultural regions but also boasts some of the best seafood in the state. Add to it that the world-famous Monterey Aquarium is down the road, and it’s no surprise that local is a big theme among Carmel restaurants.
We should mention that this list only includes restaurants that are within downtown Carmel-By-The Sea from Junipero Street and Ocean Avenue west to the beach. So, though Folktale Winery has great food and Mission Ranch Restaurant – where you can dine on an outside terrace at a farmhouse resorted by Clint Eastwood – is idyllic, they are too far afield for this list.
While some of California’s most classic special occasion restaurants are in Carmel-By-The-Sea, like Il Tegamino, Anton & Michel, and Casanova Carmel, we are diving into other noteworthy local restaurants.
14 Carmel-By-The-Sea Restaurants
Here is the Salt & Wind Travel approved list of the 14 best restaurants in Carmel-By-The-Sea:
Akaoni | Serves Dinner
This husband and wife-run sushi bar is beloved by locals and travelers alike. It’s a small spot so you could easily skip past it while exploring Carmel but don’t. They are only open a few hours and they only have a few seats so it can be hard to get a table here but it’s worth the effort for some of the best sushi in the Monterey area. And don’t sleep on their vegetable tempura which is a crowd favorite!
Akaoni, 6th Ave near Mission Street, Carmel-By-The-Sea
Aubergine | Serves Dinner
Having earned a Michelin star in 2019, this fine dining restaurant is one of the most talked-about restaurants in town. Located in the heart of Carmel-By-The-Sea at the award winning Relais & Châteaux property, L’Auberge Carmel, this spot defines California’s brand of laidback luxury. Executive Chef-Director Justin Cogley and his team serve food that highlights the region’s quality seafood and produce. With a staggering 3,500-bottle wine cellar that focuses on wines from France and, of course, Monterey, they also have the best wine list in town.
Aubergine Carmel, Monte Verde at Seventh, Carmel-by-the-Sea
Brophy’s Tavern | Serves Lunch & Dinner
If you’re looking for a spot to watch the game, you’ll likely end up at Brophy’s Tavern, one of the main sports bars in Carmel-By-The-Sea. But this English pub will throw you a curveball because everything from the decor to the service and the food and drinks is a mix of modern meets cheeky and worthy of a visit in its own right.
The beer selection, the Fish and Chips, and the Brophy’s Burger with fries are crowd favorites. But also check out their craft beers and the cocktail list featuring drinks made with locally-distilled liquors.
Brophy’s Tavern, San Carlos St &, 4th Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea
Carmel Belle | Serves Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Don’t let the tucked-away location in a shopping center deter you; Carmel Belle is hidden but worth the hunt. We say go for a farm-to-table style breakfast that’s big on cooking with local ingredients and serving consistently healthy yet filling.
The espresso drinks and smoothies are always solid choices (try the Johnny Cashew or the Sunrise Smoothie!), but we go for the Roasted Mushroom Melt or the Green Eggs and Ham.
Carmel Belle, San Carlos St, Ocean Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea
Chez Noir | Serves Dinner
The newest addition to this list, Chez Noir Carmel, opened in the fall of 2022 and has already garnered a Michelin star. A self-described “European-inspired bistro in Carmel-By-The-Sea,” it is a passion project of husband-and-wife team Chef Jonny Black and Monique Black. The food is rooted firmly in local California seafood, and many produce ingredients directly from Monterey.
But Chef Black’s unique experience means flavors draw from French and northern Spanish cuisines. The result is that the food feels elegant and worldly, approachable and firmly local. Along with 7D Steakhouse, this is one of the chicer spots to dine in town, so head here for a romantic dinner or an elevated meal with friends. Or to enjoy their bustling bar with equally-creative cocktails.
Chez Noir, 5th Ave between Dolores and, San Carlos St, Carmel-By-The-Sea
Cultura Comida Y Bebida | Serves Brunch & Dinner
With our major love for Mexico, it’s no surprise that we always search for quality Mexican food wherever we travel in California. For legit food focused on the Mexican state of Oaxaca (where mole and mezcal reign), head to Cultura Comida Y Bebida. The menu includes street taco hits like Chicken Tinga, carnitas, barbacoa, and Oaxacan staples like mole, chapulines (toasted grasshoppers), and Oaxaca cantina-style peanuts.
Cultura Comida Y Bebida, Dolores Street, between 5th and 6th Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea
Flaherty’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar | Serves Lunch & Dinner
With its deep fishing roots – see: Steinbeck’s Cannery Row – the Monterey Peninsula is ground zero for California’s seafood culture. As a nod to that history, have at least one seafood-focused meal while in the area. Flaherty’s has a massive menu but sticks with the seafood (much of which comes directly from the docks of nearby Monterey).
You can’t go wrong with their fresh oysters, but we’re all about their cioppino. This tomato-based seafood soup is a quintessential Northern California recipe that embodies the fishing culture of the area.
There are all sorts of versions of cioppino up and down the Northern California coast, but Flaherty’s – with its balanced tomato-herbed seafood broth and loads of fresh shellfish – sets the standard.
Flaherty’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar, 6th Ave, Between Dolores & San Carlos, Carmel-By-The-Sea
Katy’s Place | Serves Breakfast & Lunch
Locals flock to this classic Carmel diner for all the breakfast staples and comfort food. They’ll treat you like old friends the minute you walk in, and the cozy atmosphere will have you swearing you’ve been there before.
Go for the fully leaded coffee and the perfectly crisp bacon but stay for the decadent dishes like Dungeness Crab Benedict or the berry-clad cinnamon French Toast.
Katy’s Place, Mission St, Carmel-By-The-Sea
La Balena | Serves Lunch & Dinner
When it comes to cute hidden restaurants, Carmel-By-The-Sea brings it. Among those spots, La Balena stands out. Run by Florence-native Emanuele Bartolini and his wife, Anna, this restaurant is a taste of Italy in the middle of town.
You can’t go wrong ordering Tuscan classics like Pappardelle with Boar Ragu or the Bistecca with a side of potatoes.
La Balena, Junipero St, Carmel-By-The-Sea
La Bicyclette | Serves Lunch & Dinner
The whole downtown of Carmel-By-The-Sea has an adorable European charm with its English architecture. But La Bicyclette brings vibes from across the channel with its French-Italian fare.
The cozy dining room is among the cutest in town but stay for the cheese boards, the wood-fired pizza, the steak au poivre, and the apple Tarte Tatin. From the minute it opens, this spot is always busy, so make a reservation or be prepared to wait for a table.
La Bicyclette, Dolores St &, 7th Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea
7D Steakhouse | Serves Dinner
How do you do surf and turf, Carmel-style? You get a reservation at Seventh & Dolores Steakhouse (preferably on the outdoor patio), and enjoy!
Set in a former bank building, the modern decor and colorful art feel like a spot you’d see more frequently in downtown LA or in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood. But the proper cocktails, sustainable local seafood, and the fact they’re the only exclusive Niman Ranch steak house in the country proves that they’re serious about their ingredients too.
Go ready to eat and order whatever sounds best, though the obvious choice is a steak with one of their many side sauces (from classics like Bordelaise or Blue Cheese to Barrel Aged Ponzo or XO Sauce). Be sure to also try at least try one of their standout dishes like the hand-cut steak tartare, the drowning crab cake, or the glazed pork chop.
7D Steakhouse, 7th Ave & Dolores, Carmel-By-The-Sea
The Stationæry | Serves Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
The relative newcomer on the Carmel-By-The-Sea food scene, Stationaery, hasn’t been around long but is already high on the list of local favorites. Owned by Monterey-raised Anthony Carnazzo and his wife Allisa, the spot is named after Alissa’s other career as an acclaimed stationery designer.
The spot has a Nordic minimalist design, but the service brings a cozy charm. All the opening head staff was from the Monterey region, bringing their local pride to the menu with seasonally-driven farm-to-table cuisine with fresh ingredients and a modern twist. Go for the brunch dishes like Chilaquiles or enjoy dinner times like Caviar and Chips, Panzanella or Salmon and Rice salads, and spot-on pasta like the Spaghetti Amatriciana.
Anthony used to work in the coffee industry in Southern California, so you can be sure the coffee service is always perfect yet unpretentious like the rest of the experience. Their location includes a courtyard patio with outdoor dining, making it the perfect spot to kick off your day.
The Stationæry, San Carlos Street, 3 NE of 6th Avenue, San Carlos St, Carmel-By-The-Sea
Vesuvio Restaurant | Serves Dinner
Vesuvio Restaurant would win it all were it measured by its owner’s passion for the food. This Italian restaurant is an institution in downtown Carmel-By-The-Sea not only for the food and warm service but also because this family-owned spot is run by some of the most affable Italian Americans we’ve come across.
Chef Pepe regularly travels to Southern Italy for research and has even created his own line of products (like legit Limoncello) imported and sold at the restaurant.
His son loves cocktails and has started a micro-distillery down the road where he’s turning out twists on Italian classics like the aged Negroni mix. If you go during warmer weather, ask to sit on the roof for some of the best outdoor seating in town.
Vesuvio Restaurant, 6th Ave & Junipero St, Carmel-By-The-Sea
Yafa | Serves Lunch & Dinner
Right in the middle of town, this casual cafe in a cozy setting focuses on quality Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food. It’s a go-to for locals and visitors alike as there’s a warm hospitality and great value. The menu ranges from classics like tabbouleh, kebab, and baklava to watermelon-feta salad and rack of lamb.
Yafa Restaurant, Junipero St & 5th Ave NW, Carmel-By-The-Sea
Frequently Asked Questions
The proper name of the town is Carmel-By-The-Sea but most people just refer to it as Carmel. The area is generally broken into Carmel Valley, where you find farms and wineries and it's warmer, Carmel Highlands, a posh oceanfront neighborhood with luxe houses and hotels, and Carmel-By-The-Sea village, the main commercial area of which is along Ocean Avenue.
If you're going to the main village (around Ocean Avenue) for shopping, dining, or wine tasting, give yourself plenty of time to find parking. There is street parking but it is usually occupied. Alternatively, you can find parking at the larger garage at Carmel Plaza.
FYI, the buildings in the heart of Carmel-By-The-Sea do not have street numbers. That’s why the addresses listed here name intersections; be sure to use your phone’s GPS or ask a local, as some spots are tucked away!
What To Do In Carmel-By-The-Sea?
The list of things to do in Carmel is long, even though the population barely tops 3,000 residents. You can shop the local boutiques, peruse the various art galleries, explore the local architecture (like the Hansel & Gretel houses, the Clinton Walker House, or the Tor House), head to Carmel Beach City Park, enjoy the tasting rooms to sip Monterey wine, shop the weekly Carmel-By-The-Sea farmers market, or even visit the historic Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo. But as food people, we’re always searching for where to eat.
The Carmel-By-The-Sea Farmers Market
Okay, this last pick isn’t a restaurant but rather the Carmel-By-The-Sea Farmers Market. If you’re in town during the day on a Thursday, stop by here for everything from local produce to prepared foods and even local flowers.
Where To Eat In Monterey
Many of our travel clients who travel to Carmel spend a few nights and also want to explore other parts of the Monterey Peninsula. If you’re feeling the same, be sure to check our list of where to eat in Monterey too.
California Road Trip Planner
Did you know we’re also a boutique travel agency specializing in California vacation planning? If you’re looking to plan a trip to California, our California trip planner services are here to help you plan your perfect itinerary.
Photo Credit: Opening photo by Katie Chang; all other photos by Aida Mollenkamp
