50 Best Dog Friendly Restaurants Carmel By The Sea

“Fabulous food and terrific service and hospitality from a friendly and professional staff. My wife and I both took the wine pairing and the selection and quality of the wines were flawless. Unlike another high-end restaurant where we had dinner a few months ago, there was nothing stingy about the pours at Chez Noir. It's a pricey meal to be sure, but we both thought it was worth it and will definitely re-visit.“

“Top 3 pizzas of our lives (including Rome and Florence). They make the ingredients in-house and you can tell.

You can also tell how happy their staff must be because it shows in the service and how they interact with you with warmth and affection.

Get their burrata pizza. You can taste the freakin milk.“

“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! 😊“

“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.“

“The Jäger Schnitzel was perfect! The mushroom gravy was just right, reminiscent of Bavaria, and the cutlet was tender and juicy. Great price for a .5 liter of good Köning Pilsner. Service was outstanding. I’d say this place is a must-visit if you want a fantastic meal! Everything was served at the perfect temperature, so extra points.“

“Beyond amazing. Service ambience and food was impeccable“

“Muy rica comida pero sobre todo la atención y el servicio de primera gracias a Daniel y a Martín por su excelente atención 🙋🏻‍♀️“

“Amazing wine, incredible service, and an unbeatable tasting room vibe!

We visited De Tierra Vineyards yesterday in Carmel-by-the-Sea and had such a great experience! From the moment we walked in, the tasting room’s cozy, welcoming atmosphere set the perfect tone. It’s stylish yet relaxed, and such a fun place to discover great wines. De Tierra truly captures the unique terroir of Monterey County displaying beautifully balance with distinct character.

What really made our visit special was the personal attention we received from owner Jeff Meacham and his team. They were incredibly welcoming, took the time to share stories about the vineyard’s history, and guided us through the wines with genuine passion. You can really tell they care about creating memorable experiences for every guest.

If you’re in Carmel and love great wine with exceptional experience, De Tierra Vineyards is a must-visit. We’ll definitely be back!“

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

“Our wedding cake from Sweet Reba’s was absolutely perfect! From the very first tasting to the final delivery, Reba and her team were wonderful to work with—kind, attentive, and genuinely passionate about their craft.

The cake itself was not only beautifully decorated but truly a showstopper at our reception. The design matched our wedding theme perfectly—elegant, romantic, and detailed down to every flower and ribbon. Guests couldn’t stop taking photos before we even cut into it!

And the flavor? Incredible. Each layer was moist, rich, and perfectly balanced—not too sweet, just delicious. Our guests are still talking about how good it was (and some even asked for seconds!).

If you want a wedding cake that tastes as amazing as it looks, I can’t recommend Sweet Reba’s Bakery enough. Reba turned our dream cake into reality and made our day even more special.“

“one of the best in Carmel...“

“Stopped in for a couple of pints this afternoon, and were VERY impressed with the beer! Absolutely delicious. A true small-batch microbrewery, with a very relaxing vibe and friendly service. Brought a 4-pack home to enjoy on the deck, and we'll definitely be stopping by the taproom again.“

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

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

“This place is a hidden gem. Set a few blocks off the main street, the restaurant is charming, the waiter was amazing and the food is delicious. I had the chicken breast in white wine sauce and my husband had the scallops and both were prepared perfectly. Also, try the french onion soup !“

“Lovely and serene coffee shop in Carmel. I am a big coffee fan and am so glad I stopped here on the way to Big Sur. The coffee was delicious, I got the Nablus drink which has orange blossom and pistachio. Very subtle yet impactful and natural flavors and great quality. I also got the chance to speak with the owner, who is absolutely lovely. I can’t wait to come back the next time im in the area. I highly recommend stopping by and experiencing the coffee and culture.“

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

“Amazing food with even more amazing service. Highly recommend for your special night out!“

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

“Excellent, friendly service 11/10. Good fresh rolls that came out fast. Would eat here again if I return to Carmel. Came here with a family of 6 and we sat outside at 5pm, making happy hour without a reservation. They got us in no problem. Great evening! Thanks Sushi Heaven.“

“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!!!👍“

“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.“

“Amazing wine and atmosphere“

“Lepe Cellars was the highlight of our day of wine tasting. It’s a small bar tucked into a shared space with an art gallery, which adds a unique and relaxing vibe. You’re welcome to wander and enjoy the art between pours. The woman who helped us with our tasting was incredibly kind, friendly, and attentive. Her warm energy and genuine conversation made this stop stand out above all the other tasting rooms we visited. Great wine and even better hospitality.“

“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.“

“We celebrated our anniversary there and had the BEST time. Faisal always makes you feel like family. The food and music are the best!!!“

“Wow, this is probably my favorite tasting room in Carmel by the sea. I’ve tried a half a dozen and this one is the friendliest and the most generous and knowledgeable. I think it’s the first tasting room that was in Carmel by the sea. Janet was behind the counter telling stories and is very knowledgeable about all the wines and the other things to do in the area.“

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

“We love Alvarado beers but this was our first time having Mai Tai on tap. True nectar of the hop gods. Staff was very friendly and professional. We had the veg pizza and salad with a beer flight of our choosing. Very dog friendly. The outdoor seating space was in a mall type courtyard and was huge. I was surprised by the polished vibe since I like a more thrashed, worn brew pub vibe but hey I’m not complaining since the food and beer were 10/10. This is a must visit right in the Carmel downtown.“

“Great food, wonderful service and awesome atmosphere!“

“My boyfriend and I were looking forward to visiting a winery during our time in Carmel. We stumbled upon Dawn’s Dream while around the Downtown area, and cannot be more pleased with our choice.

Every wine was fantastic and unique. The wine palettes were so diverse and each had a wonderful story. Our host Jimmy was so kind and took such good care of us. What made this place so special was not just their delicious wine but the people behind it.“

“Delicious freshly prepared donuts with sn amazing variety of glazes. The also have beignets and an assortment of drinks and beverages.“

“Sometimes, five stars don't do a location justice. This is one of those times.
Exceptional in every respect. The atmosphere is honestly one of those rare finds.
Service was fantastic, sat at the bar and our server was never more than a few steps away.
The spirits selection is something that you rarely see. Their top shelf, is what the words mean.
Everything we had to eat was outstanding. Served fast and almost too hot to eat, except the oysters of course, which were also over the top. I seriously can't give the fish and chips a high enough recommendation!
My only regret is that I don't live nearby. When I'm anywhere near here, I'll go out of my way to visit again!“

“The front courtyard is closed for renovations at the moment (Jan 2026) we sat in the back (where they have wedding receptions) and it was really relaxing and lovely. We easily got a table on a Thursday afternoon. We ordered the “White Witch” and some food. Our server was patient and kind. When he left for the day another server checked up on us frequently. It was a really nice overall experience and we left with some wine and olive oil to take home as gifts from their gift shop ❤️“

“Earthbound farms has been a must go to stop every fall for us. There is an amazing farm stand with cafe drinks, snacks, flowers and produce. There are photo op chairs and a kids tent and garden. I love the pumpkin sculptures and the different colors and sizes of pumpkins to pick from. Great family spot!!!“

“Wonderful customer service and the Zin was wonderful!!! 👍🏻“

“We stopped into Shale Canyon Wines for a tasting without knowing what to expect, and Elise completely made the experience. My boyfriend doesn’t even like red wine, so when we realized the tasting was all reds, we were honestly hesitant. But Elise made us feel comfortable, excited, and open to trying everything — and now he’s officially converted.

The wines were incredible. We ended up buying multiple bottles of the Zinfandel and Syrah. Elise explained the philosophy of the winery so well — the accessibility, the sustainability, the purpose behind the wines — and it resonated deeply with both of us. She was kind, easy to talk to, and incredibly knowledgeable. A truly memorable tasting, thanks entirely to her.“

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

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

“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!!“

“Great service, great ambiance, great food!“

“This adorable shop in Carmel by the Sea, had room for our party of 8, a friendly hostess and a lot of history of Silvestri, known for music in many many well known films. Locals stopped in to pickup wine for dinner. They have a reasonable wine club and waived fees if you bought some. Oh, and their Pinot is really good!“

“Amazing food. Amazing atmosphere and wonderful service.“

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

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

“This is our second time eating at Il Tegamino, and both times it was absolutely delicious. It is definitely a step up from your basic Italian American cooking. The pacchieri in ragu sauce was the winner, but everyone enjoyed the other items we got. The service is very attentive. Both times we ate outside. But because the terrace is all enclosed and with the space heaters, we were perfectly comfortable, even at the end of January. This place is a hidden gem in a town of frequently overpriced and mediocre restaurants, catering to tourists. “

“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🤩“

“Kind of had a weird experience here. We were leaving Monterey and wanted to get some fresh fish one last time. Because we weren’t too hungry, we decided to share a meal. I realize that doesn’t make us a very profitable table, but the place wasn’t busy at all. Maybe 2 other tables occupied. The food was great and the service was pleasant but not overly attentive. However, when it came to paying for the meal, the server said that the ”machine was broken” and we could only pay cash. Didn’t bring us a check, I finally went to the counter to pay. Luckily we had cash but what if we didn’t? It was all very weird. Didn’t see other tables paying with cash. Not sure I’d come back.“

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

“First time trying burrata, on the caprese sandwich and it was complimented so well by the balsamic dressing. The bread was tasty and texturally appealing. I really enjoyed the slight crunch on the exterior and the soft inside. It was made to be the perfect vessel. Next time, I think I'll give the turkey a go- I just usually don't eat meat often, i have to be in the mood.

I ate outside, in the fresh air. I watched the birds fly around and the yellow, pink and crimson roses swaying in the breeze. This place is peaceful.

Also found it really neat that they juice their own oranges. There's an assortment of wines and beverages (alcoholic and non alcoholic), coffee from Brazil and Ethiopia- which really caught my eye. The staff is friendly and genuine and I didn't have to wait long. I'll have to bring my mom here sometime.

The inside vibe is modern with an upscale feel, kinda rustic. I imagine the evening lighting to be warm, judging by the panel hues. Glad I stumbled upon this place and got to try it out. It's one of those flavors that you want to savor. Take in the atmosphere then, return to nibble some more. And for lavender enthusiasts, I noted there's a lavender latte on the menu. That's one of my personal favorites.

Last thing I noticed: they don't accept cash payments. Unfortunately, I had to skip the latte this round because I only had cash on me but there was enough incentive to come back.“