10 Best Cocktail Bars in Monterey

“The sort of place you stumble upon, then wonder why everyone isn’t talking about it.The food was divine. A perfect mix of flavours and delicately executed. I especially recommend the Yellowtail Crudo to start, and the lemon olive oil cake to finish.You might struggle to park but there aren’t many better places to eat in Monterey than this!Parking: On site, around the back“

“place with traditional flavors mole tacos special tortillas in corn different flavored sauces it really seemed like a super restaurant. I would definitely eat here again on my next trip. I recommend it. They also have excellent customer service.“

“The hole in the wall is located on the wharf. Walk down stairs and it's right on the water. The initial impression I got wasn't great. Standing and waiting for several mins awkwardly as multiple people passed by who work there, not even a quick greeting or acknowledgment. A very busy, quick talking woman came rushing our way at some point and whisked us away to a table. The view was beautiful. The ocean, the boats, the weather. Fairly quickly we did get served. Trying the fresh halibut special, it did. It disappoint. Deliciously encrusted with pecan and bread crumbs, a creamy mango sauce. My other half opted for the salmon, also fresh and delicious. The overall observation and interaction is that this is a locally owned establishment with a great reputation of the locals and tourist drift in and out.“

“From the hostess who greeted and seated us, then our server being so friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, to the bussing staff staying on top of refilling beverages and clearing dishes and a manager who checked with us to make sure we were happy with the service and our food, it was a fantastic experience. The food was delicious! My husbands steak was at the temperature he ordered, my lobster perfectly cooked. Everything tasted delicious. We would highly recommend this restaurant and we will visit again in the future. A special thank you to our server Christy! Thanks for making this a great experience for us.“

“This place is so yummmyyy!!! We came on a weekend trip to Monterey and decided to eat here. Service was great! My boyfriend and I came on a Sunday at around 8ish maybe 8:30ish and it wasn’t too packed. Shortly after, families did start arriving and it got busier. Regardless, we still got served our food in a timely manner and would definitely come again! Their outside seating is perfect! They have heaters and a fire setting that’s not super big but it’ll keep you warm. It’s also dog friendly which was cute!“

“My group had the best experience at the Monterey cookhouse. The brisket dip is probably the best thing I ate the whole weekend, but everything here was delicious and reasonably priced. Make sure you save room to order dessert! Staff is great, the outdoor seating area has a great ambiance. Definitely recommend.“

“Beautiful spot! The cocktails are out of this world (that’s coming from someone who doesn’t typically enjoy cocktails). The Northern Lights cocktail is phenomenal. The service is wonderful. Special shout out to Trevor! Truly spectacular.“

“The bartender was fantastic and so accommodating. Made the evening unforgettable. The atmosphere was perfect. There were no chairs when I arrived, but I was fortunate enough to snag a bar rail on the wall adjacent to the bar. When I looked about, I observed that the area is nicely designed in an art-deco style. However, there was no place to hang a coat ((add coat hooks, please!!)). There were a lot of people waiting to be served at the bar, but the bartender appeared to be slinging drinks swiftly enough.“

“To be clear, there is no food, it's just drinks. However I love the location, the ambiance, and said drinks. They put care into creating these recipes, and just as much care into making them. Service is wonderful, and the live music is great. Be prepared to put some money down for drinks, average price off happy hour for the drinks is in the neighborhood of 16 bucks. We spent about 80ish bucks for two drinks each between my wife and I.“

“oof, i was so excited about trying sea root, and sadly i left a tad disappointed. we started with the herb focaccia, which was absolutely divine. the bread was so pillowy soft in the middle with a slight crunch on the outside. that with the whipped feta butter is what foodie dreams are made of! the tapas trio was decent too -- the roasted eggplant and pomegranate was wonderful and the manchego cheese was delicious. when i ordered the salmon, i was hoping to get a little rice or something instead of the beans. it was like bbq beans with salmon, which is a very unusual combination. they weren't able to accommodate and substitutes or additions so i figured i'd give it a try. the salmon was a tad plain, where the beans complimented the flavor with the chard. i still was left feeling a little disappointed as the fish was under seasoned and the beans just really didn't do it for me. however, it was a decent sized piece of salmon so i wasn't left hungry! the overall ambiance of the restaurant is contemporary and so cute. we enjoyed live music from the bar area, which was such a nice addition. i understand that the F&B industry has taken a huge hit since covid, so i rounded up to four stars, but if i were to come back, it would likely be for a beverage and apps.“