Restaurants in Carmel-by-the-Sea

“An excellent dining experience, from start to finish. You can taste the quality of the ingredients and the flavor combinations blew our minds. The attention to detail in each dish clearly showed the tremendous passion of the staff in the kitchen. Truly an incredible 4 course meal and I highly recommend it for any special occasion. What a visit!”

“Amazing food with first class service. In a word.... WOW!!!”

“Simply delicious—the flavor and variety of the pizzas are spectacular. The crust is thin and delicious, just like in Italy. I highly recommend the garlic bread; it’s like a slice of heaven. Plus, they offer gluten-free pizzas, which meant my nephew visiting from Argentina could eat happily. We really enjoyed dining here with my family from Argentina; it is highly recommended and a place to return to again and again whenever you visit Carmel.”

“Just wow. I wasn't expecting more than a filling meal and what I got was the best Orange Chicken I've ever had. Highly, highly recommend. It's worth the wait. Everything was delicious but the orange chicken was something special.”

“Just a fabulous experience! The service levels were over the top. Never wanted for anything. Ate at the restaurant and had an 8-course tasting menu! To die for!”

“Great foods and great friends !”

“This is one of the most unique and exciting restaurants in Carmel. Amazing cocktails and the food is both creative and authentic. Wine list is great too! Never disappoints.”

“Beyond amazing. Service ambience and food was impeccable”

“Absolutely fantastic restaurant and a breath of fresh air in the Carmel culinary community. The food was incredible and the service was top notch. The space is refreshingly chic and relaxing. The tables are spaced apart to allow for conversation and there's no rush to finish your meal. You are encouraged to linger and enjoy the best meal in Carmel!”

“had a great experience here. The sushi was incredibly fresh, well presented, and everything came out quickly. What really made the visit stand out, though, was Oshan. He was welcoming, attentive, and genuinely went out of his way to make sure everything was perfect. It's rare to receive service that's both professional and personable. Thanks to Oshan, this was one of the best dining experiences I've had. I'll definitely be coming back and would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for excellent sushi and outstanding customer service”

“Delicious pizza & drinks.”

“Sharon made two adorable cakes for my twin daughters’s birthday party. We did one chocolate raspberry and one strawberry. Everyone loved them, especially the strawberry cake!”

“Amazing food and service. If you need gluten free options then this is the place! GF garlic bread, pasta, and more. soooo good!”

“We love De Tierra Vineyards! The wines are amazing. The Tasting Room is in an adorable cottage that is so appropriate for enjoying wine in Carmel. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable about the wines. They even host live music on Sundays. We love being a part of the De Tierra Wine Club!”

“one of the best in Carmel...”

“We enjoyed cocktails and wine at Bud’s during our stay at LaPlaya last weekend!”

“The service is always great and the food is so good and fresh. We’ve been there multiple times to listen to music and it’s been really good. Enjoyed Ryan Sesma last night. Highly recommend! 😊”

“The most civilized place to dine in Carmel. We are always made to feel like guests visiting a friend in their cozy dining room. As for the soufflés—delicious, a bit decadent and most enjoyable. Given that it's only lunch service, there is no reason not to get 10,000 steps on the beach post-lunch! We will be back!”

“Nice place to have family gatherings..very nice restaurant and foods they serve..”

“A cozy and lively place with high quality food and very pleasant vibe. This is not the first time I come. I have tried a couple of dishes here before (e.g. schnitzels, fondues, goulash soup, sand dabs, geschnetzeltes) and they are all excellent. I came today at odd hour (after 2pm) so I took a picture with no crowd.
Service is excellent and friendly. Comfortable environment.
A must-go place every time I visit Carmel.”

“We had very nice anniversary dinner at Stationaery. We sat outside, since we still do not feel comfortable for an indoor seating due to pandemic. The evening was cool, but heating lamps made it comfortable for longer and leisure meal. Both food and service were excellent. We highly recommend this friendly restaurant and will be back for sure🤩”

“My wife and I were just looking for a quick grab-and-go coffee in the area and stumbled upon this place. Wow—we were so impressed! The coffee was excellent and the service was outstanding. Highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the neighborhood!”

“Wow. Truly excellent beers. We tried four different styles and every single one was on point — clean, well-balanced, and full of character. It’s always impressive when a brewery shows this level of consistency across styles. We also had the chance to meet the owner, who is also the brewer, and that made the experience even better. Super friendly, passionate, and clearly dedicated to the craft. You can really taste the care behind each beer. Great atmosphere, welcoming vibe, and top-quality pours. This is exactly the kind of place you hope to find when you’re out exploring — outstanding beer and genuinely great people. This place is a true gem. If you’re in the area, don’t miss it. Definitely worth the stop — we’ll absolutely be back. 🍻”

“Great service, great ambiance, great food!”

“Tasty fish dishes. I suggest skipping their abalone special… underwhelming and pricey. We also had a bottle of white wine, appetizer and light dessert.”

“One of our favorite places breakfast. We're never disappointed by the food or the staff.”

“Highly recommend!! We had a 90th birthday dinner for my mom with 11 people. Everything was superb! Outstanding service, excellent food and drinks. Outside terrace is pretty and even allowed our 2 dogs. Superb! Thank you to Z and the wonderful staff, everything was perfect!!!👍”

“Easily one of the best restaurants on the west coast. Food, service and atmosphere were all top notch. The owner Greg runs an amazing restaurant and spectacular winery.”

“Gorgeous!! I came to the ranch for a conference, and will definitely be coming back again. Could not ask for more lovely scenery, more activities (hiking! golf! archery!), or more considerate staff.”

“The Pocket in Carmel-by-the-Sea serves beautifully prepared seasonal dishes, with standout fresh seafood and inventive small plates that showcase local coastal flavors. The intimate atmosphere is cozy and elegant, making it ideal for a romantic dinner or special celebration, whether you choose the warm indoor seating or charming patio. Service is consistently attentive, warm, and thoughtful from start to finish. The quality of the food, curated wine list, and overall experience make it a true gem in Carmel—absolutely delightful and highly recommended.”

“Loved the food, Teo our server was exceptional. Cozy yet romantic. A must to enjoy when in Carmel.”

“We been coming to Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro for years now, and the food has consistently been some of the best I’ve had in Carmel. Great quality, great atmosphere, and it’s one of those places I always look forward to coming back to.”

“Although we are frequent visitors to Carmel, this was our 1st experience @ L'Escargot.... and definitely not our last! This was our Anniversary Dinner.... The beautiful warm set set was perfect for outdoor dining. The escargot appetizer was done nicely, petrale sole's delicate flavor was not masked by the herb sauce; the classic French Boeuf Bourgogne took me back to our favorite brasserie in Paris!! The service was congenital and personalized... as if we were returning guests!! Merci Beaucoup L'Escargot!!!”

“We loved our visit to Folktale even though parts of it was under renovation. We had a beautiful tasting experience in the vineyard. Loved the atmosphere, wine and the live music. A highlight was having Nereida serve us. She was not only very knowledgeable about the wines but her energy and personality were wonderful and made our experience more enjoyable. We also appreciated Nick stopping by, checking on us and talking to us about the wine and vineyards. We loved that added touch. A must stop if you’re visiting Carmel. Thank you Folktale and staff!”

“Excellent food and great service and good live music.”

“Delicious! Went with a friend after a hike and it really hit the spot. He got the Wagyu Banh Mi sandwich and I got the Wagyu Burnt Ends, we shared some fries. Super tasty, but pricey.”

“The Quail has gone above and beyond my expectations and I’ve only been here 3 hours!! The service is amazing and the grounds are exquisitely perfect!! The suite is probably the nicest room I’ve ever stayed in. I am in love with this place. Don’t even want to leave to go anywhere else! I highly recommend!!”

“Really fun spot and super friendly staff.”

“We sat outside with our pup. The server promptly brought him a dog bed and a bowl of water. Our server kept our glasses full and was very attentive. The food was good, we left happy.”

“Food and service was amazing! French onion soup and calamari to start. We both had the hanger steak which blew my mind. Cooked perfectly. Dessert was creme brulee and panna cotta both were amazing. Much more affordable and humble than anything in carmel by the sea and equally good if not better. Will definitely return for dinner again.”

“food is always excellent quality and taste. Great salads for starters. Varied main course choices - fish, pork, beef. For the area, proce is very reasonable. Covey's is our go to place, we are locals..”

“Very good food and excellent service!! It was as a very nice experience !!”

“Went to a live jazz performance here. Great small venue, relaxed vibe, and knowledgeable staff. Great wines, too! The space was clean, well maintained, and with a modern, but almost retro-60's feel. The wines are classic Monterey - Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Salinas Valley and SLH. But Sabrine Rodems, the winemaker (a very busy girl in these parts, making wines for many of the local labels), also does varietals from other nearby AVAs, like Paso Robles. Recommend.”

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing service and amazing food! We absolutely loved our meal at Il Tegamino in Carmel-by-the-Sea. I had the gnocchi, and I cannot say enough about how good it was! It was perfectly cooked, so flavorful, and had cheese, cheese, and more cheese in the best possible way. 😋 Rich and delicious without being too much. I would absolutely order it again! My niece had the linguine pescatore, which was also delicious. We normally don't like pasta dishes that are too soupy or have so much sauce that the pasta ends up drowning in it, but this one was perfect. The amount of sauce was just right, and all the seafood tasted incredibly fresh. Everything together gave the dish this slightly sweet, fresh seafood flavor that we really loved. And I have to mention that gnocchi one more time because it really was THAT good! 😂 Definitely one of the highlights of the meal. We finished with the tiramisu, which was another surprise. So delicious, with this wonderful little crunchy topping that added a really nice texture. Great food, wonderful service, and a meal we thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. We will definitely be back!”

“Loved the happy hour! Great food and drinks!! The service was fantastic!”

“American bakery and super yummy! Generous and FRESH!!! I've never had a bad item. Also the service is always fantastic!!!! They hire kind and friendly staff. 5 stars for all of it!!!”

“Great food, wonderful service and awesome atmosphere!”

“Love this place. But depending on staff, welL? Signature burger requested as rare. Severed like leather. Gets reserved tables requests wrong most times. Beet salad with two tiny beets? Not good. Still, a strong recommendation.”

“Great BBQ with tasty food and generous portions. The meat was flavorful and cooked well, and the staff was friendly. Nice atmosphere and good value. I would definitely come back!”

“Super cool spot with a lot of local shops! Food, spa, coffee, wine, everything!”

“We had a great time at Galante Vineyards Tasting Room! It was our first ever wine tasting experience, and we greatly benefitted from the great service of the tasting room - we were fortunate to have the place to ourselves for much of the evening, and were guided through our tasting by Patrick, who was very helpful, friendly, and an enjoyable guide to talk to about wine, the history of the town, or just about anything. He gave us insight into the history, growing conditions, and flavors in each wine, and we were able to try a good variety of a few whites, some reds, and even a delicious dessert wine. We do not have much wine-drinking experience, but we thought all the wines were great, very drinkable, and some truly stood out, like the chardonnay, the dessert wine, and the Blackjack Cabernet Sauvignon, so we had to get a few bottles as well. This combination made the wine tasting a true experience, and very worthwhile even for a few wine amateurs.”

“CU Sushi is located in a cute outdoor shopping center in east Carmel. There is ample parking, making it convenient for families and friends gathering for a meal.

Situated on a corner, it's a cozy space full of diverse flavors. They offer a great mix of Japanese cuisine (sushi, nigiri, poke bowls, donburi, and curry) and Korean bibimbap.

The meals are affordable, healthy, and filling, with generous portions that are perfect for sharing or taking home. The service was excellent, and the staff was friendly and helpful!”

“They make the best Homemade pasta noodles. You can go there and buy fresh homemade pasta noodles take them home and cook them. They are absolutely delicious and would definitely go back next time we go to Carmel By The sea.”

“Great piano bar! Awesome lemon drops😃”

“Amazing wines and a tasting room that is the best in Carmel!”

“Jeffrey’s has the best food 🥘 and it’s very reasonably priced.”

“Best coffee in the West”

“I came here for the first time today and wow!!! What a unique atmosphere and energy. Diego the host originally greeted us and Rowena was our bartender/server. Only thing that upset me was we don't have this place back home! There clam chowder was amazing!”

“yummy food and great atmosphere my sliders were epic and the wine choices were great,Andrew was really attentive thank you”

“Chef Todd’s menu is awesome here and you can’t go wrong with anything! The BLT is my favorite right now and the beer selection is the best around with many local brews as well as cool things like Pliny on tap! Parker has also put together a really good wine selection from around the world with some killer value offerings!”

“We came across Cafe Dal Mare while exploring Carmel. We tried their popular Pistachio Ricotta cake, which was delicious with just the right amount of sweetness, though it was a bit expensive. We also tried the cannoli, but it was a bit underwhelming.”

“Amazing views, great food, and nice ambiance. Located in the Hyatt. A little challenging to park here, I would plan on doing valet parking. We actually enjoyed seeing whales off the coast while we ate breakfast.”

“Delicious pizza & drinks.”

“I recently had brunch here - it was delicious. The service was great. I ordered a salmon+avocado benny with hash browns. Overall, a unique and different take on bennys. The hollandaise was saltier than I’ve ever had, which I honestly enjoyed.

Be prepared to wait awhile if you want to try this place on a weekend, it’s worth it.”

“Picked up food to go last year and it was really good. So happy that we found this place again! Ordered garlic parm and spicy fried chicken wing plates, lemongrass chicken and beef meatball pho. Also ordered strawberry and melon boba milk tea and Vietnamese coffee with egg cream. Food and drinks came out quickly. Customer service was great. It was so good that we ate and drank everything! We will definitely come here again when we’re in the area.”

“So glad I finally stopped by! Restaurants were super busy and I needed to grab a bite to eat. Was not disappointed. Had a delicious veggie breakfast burrito. Everything was flavorful and the staff was so delightful! They have a wide range of options and even a salad bar.”

“Eric is always the best! We’ve been here multiple times over the last few years and the drinks plus artichoke (and arancini) crochets are amazing as well as the service . Thanks so much!”

“Always amazing. Great food and service. 👏🏼 my favorite”

“Best coffee in the West”

“First time I finished a burger!!”

“From farm to fresh right on the plate; try the walnut apple salad and add chicken if you like. The atmosphere by the fire warms one inside and out.”

“An unexpected highlight of our recent visit to Carmel! Warm, welcoming, fun vibe, great food. There are places one just doesn't insist on veggie options. 🤫”

“Absolutely wonderful, small quaint. Fish market and restaurant all in one whoever is cooking the food they are on it it is so amazing so tasty I was so satisfied The server she was dealing with every single table in the whole place inside and out killing it hustling unbelievable so satisfied”

“Amazing food. Amazing atmosphere and wonderful service.”

“Gorgeous!! I came to the ranch for a conference, and will definitely be coming back again. Could not ask for more lovely scenery, more activities (hiking! golf! archery!), or more considerate staff.”

“There are varieties of delicious breads that you can try and all very fresh”

“Got 2 Baja fish tacos, which were ok. Was hoping for beer-batter style to be crispy with a slight crunch but in reality, it was more soft and kind of soggy. Could have used more aioli and flavor in general, definitely benefited from additional lime squeeze. Maybe pickled red onions slices could be a good touch. Service was great, friendly, had an ingredient list with major allergen concerns when I asked questions about my allergies- really appreciate that! Tables inside and outside. Open restroom nearby.”

“I ordered thru App. Buy one footling sandwich, get one free! Great deal!

Wheelchair accessibility: Handicapped parking spaces. Easy entrance.”

“Always love the bagel bakery. Good bagels and great service.”

“The owners were incredibly friendly. The service here is exceptionally fast. We didn’t have to wait long. Everything is great. The egg roll appetizers are always delicious. My favorite dishes are Hunan Beef and Chow Fun.”

“Barmel Love Love Love ❤️”

“Consistently clean, friendly and quick. The male manager is great 👍 He seems to have a good rapport with the employees and customers. Pleasant atmosphere! Nice selection of yummy coffee, oatmeal etc. My Husband and I are regulars 😋”

“Barmel Love Love Love ❤️”

“They have good coffee here.”

“Mini combo was Yummy!”

“They have good coffee here.”

“Excellent atmosphere and food”

“Best coffee in the West”

“Great foods and great friends !”

“Incredible food and service! We love Chef Moises at 40 Love Catering!”

“Absolutely fantastic restaurant and a breath of fresh air in the Carmel culinary community. The food was incredible and the service was top notch. The space is refreshingly chic and relaxing. The tables are spaced apart to allow for conversation and there's no rush to finish your meal. You are encouraged to linger and enjoy the best meal in Carmel!”

“Love this place. But depending on staff, welL? Signature burger requested as rare. Severed like leather. Gets reserved tables requests wrong most times. Beet salad with two tiny beets? Not good. Still, a strong recommendation.”

“Route 1 was closed and I had to return to Carmel from Big Sur and took Freeway 101 instead. So another pasta at Portabella! Always going back for it.”

“Great food service and atmosphere”

“Enjoyed an amazing lunch! Delicious and the service was great 😊 👍🏻 Totally recommend this place.”

“Both of us are allergic to gluten and although they were very accomodating, we were both made sick by our meal. If that hadnt happened, the restaurant would have been great.”

“We had a great meal last night and wonderful service with Bryan! Our lasagna and pizza were fantastic.”

“Amazing food. Amazing atmosphere and wonderful service.”

“There are varieties of delicious breads that you can try and all very fresh”

“Great food, fantastic service and great atmosphere”

“Never fails to give great food and service.”

“Loved the happy hour! Great food and drinks!! The service was fantastic!”

“Great piano bar! Awesome lemon drops😃”

“Fun sitting at the Sushi Bar! Great team, great service, and of course great food!”

“We came across Cafe Dal Mare while exploring Carmel. We tried their popular Pistachio Ricotta cake, which was delicious with just the right amount of sweetness, though it was a bit expensive. We also tried the cannoli, but it was a bit underwhelming.”

“The staff made our experience such a wonderful place! From the moment we checked in till we got the check. Our server was courteous, considerate (we had a huge table beside us) and attentive. The aesthetics of the restaurant is very captivating and beautiful. We will be coming back for more!”

“Lovely setting, excellent service, food was delicious and best coffee I’ve ever tasted! I know you use Lavazza but how do you make it?? When we make it to Carmel again we’ll definitely come back!”