Came on here for a quick grab. The guy working was nice and I got a delicious and big sized macaroon. Loved it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brendan Shea
This was a nice restaurant for us weary travelers, as we commenced to enjoy downtown Carmel. I had a chicken salad on a nice french roll with mushroom soup and an artisanal earl grey tea. The server was very kind and gracious, and the meal was reasonably priced.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sohrob H
☕ Welcoming Atmosphere and Great Hospitality Café Carmel is a fantastic little corner of Carmel-by-the-Sea that perfectly captures the town's charming and laid-back vibe. One of the most significant positives of my visit was the service. The staff were incredibly friendly and nice, which is such a breath of fresh air in a busy tourist area. They were energetic and polite, making sure everyone felt welcome the moment they walked in. It’s the kind of place where the service alone makes you want to return, as it feels more like a local neighborhood hub than a standard tourist-facing cafe.
🍵 High-Quality Coffee and Drink Selection I stopped in primarily for a caffeine fix, and I wasn't disappointed. The coffee was good—it was smooth, served at a great temperature, and clearly made with quality beans.
Consistency: Whether you're getting a simple drip or an espresso-based drink, they seem to have a great handle on their brewing process.
Speed: Even though the cafe can get a bit busy given its prime location on Ocean Avenue, the team was very efficient, so I didn't have to wait long at all to get my order.
Variety: They have a wide menu that includes plenty of tea and specialty drink options if you aren't a coffee drinker.
🥐 The Temptation of the Pastry and Gelato Case While I didn't personally get a pastry or gelato on this particular visit, it was a struggle to resist! The display cases are absolutely beautiful and are filled with a variety of artisanal baked goods and vibrant gelato flavors.
Visual Appeal: Everything in the case looked fresh, flaky, and high-end.
Freshness: You can tell that their baked items are made with care, and the variety of gelato colors was really inviting.
Future Visit: I’ve already made a mental note to come back specifically for a sweet treat next time I’m walking through the village, as the croissants and tarts looked like they would pair perfectly with their coffee.
🏢 A Perfect Location for People Watching The cafe is situated in a prime spot that makes it ideal for a quick break while you're exploring the local shops or heading down toward the beach.
Bright Interior: The space is well-lit, clean, and has a very inviting, modern feel.
Outdoor Energy: Being right on the corner, it offers a great vantage point for the bustling energy of Carmel.
Accessibility: It’s easy to find and serves as a reliable landmark for meeting up with friends.
👍 Final Verdict: If you’re looking for a friendly, efficient, and tasty place to grab a drink in Carmel, this is definitely a top choice. I’m looking forward to finally giving in to that gelato temptation next time!
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
Cristina Silingardi
Breakfast dishes and coffees were great. However we chose this place because on the website it described several Gluten free options, including bread. There were only gluten free cookies as an option.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
William Fox
Great breakfast spot and amazing service! Not sure about the coffee complaints….they serve Illy, a great brand and I’m a coffee snob. We had the breakfast burrito and Avacado toast (added pea shoots and egg…yumm!) Both amazing. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sierra Williams-Harding
Sarah made my wedding cake and she and her team were absolutely AMAZING! We had our cake delivered to Big Sur (which I know is more of a drive) and we couldn't be happier with the result. She helped make mine and my husband's wedding day absolutely perfect. I highly recommend her if you're having a wedding in the area!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Emil
We visited Café Caramel in the morning on a nice, calm day. The place itself feels very cozy, and they offer a wide variety of pastries that look great. The overall environment is pleasant, and I appreciated that they provide free water. Prices are average for the area.
However, the music inside was a bit too loud for my taste—having it slightly lower would make the atmosphere even better.
My main issue was the coffee. There are no prices listed for the different coffee options, and everything seems to cost the same, which is a bit confusing. More importantly, the coffee itself wasn’t very good. It definitely needs improvement, especially compared to other cafés nearby.
Overall, it’s a comfortable spot with good pastry options, but the coffee quality really brings the experience down.
J. E.
We had coffee and breakfast at Cafe Carmel last week and decided to order a birthday cake for later in the week. It was chocolate with a raspberry filling between the layers. It was very moist, delicious, and the decorating finish on the outside gave it 5 stars +++++. I would recommend, awesome!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cath Jett
Best Coffee!
It’s funny…I’ve wandered past this shop for years while visiting family. But lousy in room coffee at a local hotel put Cafe Carmel right in my path. I’m so glad that I popped in today and enjoyed the BEST macchiato I’ve had outside of my home. Staff was friendly and fast, and the macchiato was perfect.
I will definitely be making this a stop as often as possible when I’m back in town. I can’t wait to try the amazing pastries and the rest of the menu.
Only place in Carmel we could find to buy an ice cream in a cone. And it was amazing! Three people stopped to ask where we got them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Whitney Nelson
This is such a cute place and I loved the otter art! The barista were all super kind and helpful as we were tourist of this area and had several questions. I ordered a peach apple tea that was very good and my siblings got ice cream which they enjoyed. We also ordered a tirimasu. It was okay which is the only reason for the 4 stars
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Sam Rees
Got my pastry order wrong, and my coffee wrong
Douglas Carey
Really nice little cafe on ocean boulevard. Lots of little sandwiches and treats in the coffee is good. We really like this place and we'll go back every time we visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
parminder Singh
On our recent trip to the coast, we decided to grab some coffee before heading home. This was one of the only spots open around 7 PM on a Sunday night. The staff was clearly doing their best to manage a bit of a rush, but they seemed overwhelmed.
Unfortunately, the food didn’t impress. The coffee and cookie weren’t great, though the scone was decent. Overall, not the best experience, but we appreciated that they were open late.
Came on here for a quick grab. The guy working was nice and I got a delicious and big sized macaroon. Loved it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was a nice restaurant for us weary travelers, as we commenced to enjoy downtown Carmel. I had a chicken salad on a nice french roll with mushroom soup and an artisanal earl grey tea. The server was very kind and gracious, and the meal was reasonably priced.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
☕ Welcoming Atmosphere and Great Hospitality
Café Carmel is a fantastic little corner of Carmel-by-the-Sea that perfectly captures the town's charming and laid-back vibe. One of the most significant positives of my visit was the service. The staff were incredibly friendly and nice, which is such a breath of fresh air in a busy tourist area. They were energetic and polite, making sure everyone felt welcome the moment they walked in. It’s the kind of place where the service alone makes you want to return, as it feels more like a local neighborhood hub than a standard tourist-facing cafe.
🍵 High-Quality Coffee and Drink Selection
I stopped in primarily for a caffeine fix, and I wasn't disappointed. The coffee was good—it was smooth, served at a great temperature, and clearly made with quality beans.
Consistency: Whether you're getting a simple drip or an espresso-based drink, they seem to have a great handle on their brewing process.
Speed: Even though the cafe can get a bit busy given its prime location on Ocean Avenue, the team was very efficient, so I didn't have to wait long at all to get my order.
Variety: They have a wide menu that includes plenty of tea and specialty drink options if you aren't a coffee drinker.
🥐 The Temptation of the Pastry and Gelato Case
While I didn't personally get a pastry or gelato on this particular visit, it was a struggle to resist! The display cases are absolutely beautiful and are filled with a variety of artisanal baked goods and vibrant gelato flavors.
Visual Appeal: Everything in the case looked fresh, flaky, and high-end.
Freshness: You can tell that their baked items are made with care, and the variety of gelato colors was really inviting.
Future Visit: I’ve already made a mental note to come back specifically for a sweet treat next time I’m walking through the village, as the croissants and tarts looked like they would pair perfectly with their coffee.
🏢 A Perfect Location for People Watching
The cafe is situated in a prime spot that makes it ideal for a quick break while you're exploring the local shops or heading down toward the beach.
Bright Interior: The space is well-lit, clean, and has a very inviting, modern feel.
Outdoor Energy: Being right on the corner, it offers a great vantage point for the bustling energy of Carmel.
Accessibility: It’s easy to find and serves as a reliable landmark for meeting up with friends.
👍 Final Verdict:
If you’re looking for a friendly, efficient, and tasty place to grab a drink in Carmel, this is definitely a top choice. I’m looking forward to finally giving in to that gelato temptation next time!
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
Breakfast dishes and coffees were great. However we chose this place because on the website it described several
Gluten free options, including bread. There were only gluten free cookies as an option.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Great breakfast spot and amazing service! Not sure about the coffee complaints….they serve Illy, a great brand and I’m a coffee snob. We had the breakfast burrito and Avacado toast (added pea shoots and egg…yumm!) Both amazing. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sarah made my wedding cake and she and her team were absolutely AMAZING! We had our cake delivered to Big Sur (which I know is more of a drive) and we couldn't be happier with the result. She helped make mine and my husband's wedding day absolutely perfect. I highly recommend her if you're having a wedding in the area!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We visited Café Caramel in the morning on a nice, calm day. The place itself feels very cozy, and they offer a wide variety of pastries that look great. The overall environment is pleasant, and I appreciated that they provide free water. Prices are average for the area.
However, the music inside was a bit too loud for my taste—having it slightly lower would make the atmosphere even better.
My main issue was the coffee. There are no prices listed for the different coffee options, and everything seems to cost the same, which is a bit confusing. More importantly, the coffee itself wasn’t very good. It definitely needs improvement, especially compared to other cafés nearby.
Overall, it’s a comfortable spot with good pastry options, but the coffee quality really brings the experience down.
We had coffee and breakfast at Cafe Carmel last week and decided to order a birthday cake for later in the week. It was chocolate with a raspberry filling between the layers. It was very moist, delicious, and the decorating finish on the outside gave it 5 stars +++++. I would recommend, awesome!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best Coffee!
It’s funny…I’ve wandered past this shop for years while visiting family. But lousy in room coffee at a local hotel put Cafe Carmel right in my path. I’m so glad that I popped in today and enjoyed the BEST macchiato I’ve had outside of my home. Staff was friendly and fast, and the macchiato was perfect.
I will definitely be making this a stop as often as possible when I’m back in town. I can’t wait to try the amazing pastries and the rest of the menu.
Thank you so much!
Service: 5
Great staff Bobby is so kind!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Only place in Carmel we could find to buy an ice cream in a cone. And it was amazing! Three people stopped to ask where we got them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is such a cute place and I loved the otter art! The barista were all super kind and helpful as we were tourist of this area and had several questions. I ordered a peach apple tea that was very good and my siblings got ice cream which they enjoyed. We also ordered a tirimasu. It was okay which is the only reason for the 4 stars
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Got my pastry order wrong, and my coffee wrong
Really nice little cafe on ocean boulevard. Lots of little sandwiches and treats in the coffee is good. We really like this place and we'll go back every time we visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
On our recent trip to the coast, we decided to grab some coffee before heading home. This was one of the only spots open around 7 PM on a Sunday night. The staff was clearly doing their best to manage a bit of a rush, but they seemed overwhelmed.
Unfortunately, the food didn’t impress. The coffee and cookie weren’t great, though the scone was decent. Overall, not the best experience, but we appreciated that they were open late.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
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