15 Best Wine Bars in Carmel By The Sea

“Amazing wine and atmosphere“

“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.“

“I cannot recommend both Shale Canyon wine tasting room and Nora’s Carmel enough. While celebrating a birthday last weekend, we stopped in the tasting room before dinner and were greeted with the warmest welcome by Janice. She, along with the staff at Noras, made our experience 5 stars through and through. Both establishments are a must while you’re in Carmel.“

“My wife and I had a wonderful time during a day-trip last Sunday, 4/12/26. Our server did a great job of attending to our every whim and request! The ambience was fantastic and even though it rained a little, moving into the bar area was another experience in itself. We can't thank em enough for giving us such a memorable 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.“

“Great foods and great friends !“

“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!“

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

“one of the best in Carmel...“

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

“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!“

“Amazing food. Amazing atmosphere and wonderful service.“

“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. “

“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“