Restaurants in Carmel Valley

“My husband & I arrived at opening and were greeted and seated right away. Customer service was great and the food was absolutely delicious. My husband and I both ordered Lunch Box specials and shared a J's Maki roll. Food was fresh and our server was attentive, checking in on us every little while to make sure everything was okay. Mika Sushi is definitely a gem in Carmel Valley Village and we'll definitely be back again.”

“Such a cute little spot to eat. First time here the service Was excellent and the food was delicious. I got the chicken salad. With italian dressing. And I got an horchata very good. Thank you must definitely be back again.”

“The baker is on fire! Great treats coming out of the kitchen. The quiche/frittata is always solid. My latest favorite are the oatmeal cookies - they are perfect: Big, soft yet crunchy and carmelized just a little. Nice people.”

“I love the Bonilla family!! They are so amazing and it was a pleasure working for them. The food and dunks are amazing too!!”

“My wife and I enjoyed a relaxed lunch at Cafe Rustica, seated outside on a beautiful day.
We shared a bottle of Justin Cabernet and started with a small loaf of bread served with olive oil and balsamic. For an appetizer, we ordered the Crispy Calamari with chili aioli. The calamari was tender—not chewy—and the chili aioli was an excellent dip.
For our main, we shared a Margherita pizza with a thin crust, traditional sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes. It was well executed and easy to share. For dessert, we split the Fresh Lemon Pudding Cake, which came with sliced strawberries, whipped cream, and a strawberry drizzle. It was very unique and delicious, and a standout way to end the meal.
Service was excellent—Thomas took great care of us—and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Cafe Rustica is a very quaint spot, nestled in Carmel Valley about 12 miles east of Highway 1, and well worth the drive.

After lunch, my wife and I took a leisurely stroll through Carmel Valley, wondering why we hadn’t discovered this area sooner. Our walk formed a relaxed circuit along both sides of Carmel Valley Road, passing numerous wine-tasting rooms, restaurants, and beautiful scenery. We stopped often to take photos of the tasting locations, the mature oak trees, and even a majestic hawk perched on a fence.
The overall setting and atmosphere were wonderful, and it’s easy to imagine returning specifically for wine tasting—or even staying at one of the nearby resorts. Carmel Valley left a strong impression and is well worth spending time exploring.”

“Lucia Restaurant and Bar pairs elegant ambiance with warm, attentive service that never misses a detail. Every dish is beautifully plated and thoughtfully prepared, making the whole experience feel special yet effortless.”

“We had a great time wine tasting at Holman Ranch—friendly staff, a relaxing outdoor setting, and a delicious meat and cracker board. The five-wine flight, featuring both reds and whites, was well-presented and thoroughly enjoyable. We especially liked the Three Sisters Pinot Noir.”

“We enjoyed the Mother’s Day picnic box. It was delicious and so easy. The corn chowder was fantastic as was everything else.. There was plenty of food and no clean up. I would definitely do it again next year.”

“What can you say... It is the pizza place in town. Call ahead and it will be ready to take home. Stop by and they will get you your pizza in the time it takes to make one. You can sit and play the claw game or pet the bear rug on the wall.”

“My wife and I were searching for wineries in the Carmel Valley and stumbled upon the Corkscrew Cafe, located about 12 miles east of Highway 1 along Carmel Valley Road. While I’m not certain of any formal affiliation, the restaurant serves wines from the neighboring Georis and Cowgirl wineries.

The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and we opted to sit outside to enjoy the beautiful weather (a perfect 69°). We were seated at a table for two next to a small water feature and pond. The atmosphere was excellent—ideal for a late lunch or early dinner. Because we were seated behind the restaurant, traffic noise from Carmel Valley Road was minimal and pleasantly masked by the gentle sound of the water feature.

We ordered a bottle of Georis Cabernet Franc to share. It was an approachable, well-balanced red—full-bodied without being heavy, smooth on the palate, and dry enough to pair nicely with food.

For appetizers, we chose the Calamaretti Fritti and the Bread Service. The calamaretti arrived with both a light tartar sauce and a cocktail sauce.

The bread service was excellent. The bread arrived in two pieces, each roughly four inches square—almost flatbread-like, but thicker—with an open, lacy crumb and a well-burnished crust, each piece approximately an inch thick. It was served with an outstanding olive oil dipping blend of balsamic, chili flakes, parmesan, garlic, and basil—a perfect pairing.

For our main, we shared the Margherita pizza, topped with traditional sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and cherry tomatoes. The pizza had a thin crust and measured about 12 inches in diameter—ideal for sharing. The slightly oven-roasted tomatoes were a standout.

Of course, we had to top off the visit with a shared lave cake and vanilla Gelato.

We were very happy to have found this little gem and will definitely be back. Service was excellent—attentive without being intrusive. Highly recommended.”

“Our group was in town for a wedding and we’re desperately searching for a place we could watch the Browns game Sunday Morning at 10am and Trailside delivered! They not only let us take over the TV and bar area but they provided exceptional service and the food was amazing! Highly recommend the Pesto Chicken and the artichoke app!!”

“Went to the running iron yesterday for a family brunch and this was my first time coming here. I was very impressed, the atmosphere is very western/country, and the food was great! Definitely would recommend it to others!”

“Glad you are open, fun spot.”

“The place is a jewel in the heart of 831 and Carmel Valley. Comparable to an Oasis. Service is excellent and options for beverages and food. Service is excellent and the natural ambience that is set is beyond words to put in perspective unless experienced in person. With friends, family or just to escape the hectic lifestyle by yourself is totally worth it.”

“What a beautiful setting and fantastic wines! It’s a great place to relax with a glass or bottle in the CV sun 🌞. The owners and employees are terrific and so is the music they pipe all over the property. Don’t miss this gem of a tasting room. Cheers!”

“We decided to go through Carmel Valley and stop for some wine tasting since the Pacific Coast Highway was closed due to a landslide.

Highly recommended. The area is full of wineries and tasting rooms and the views of the valley are incredible. We stopped at Cowgirl Winery and got 2 sets of wine tasting flights. It was a great chance to learn more about Californian wine.

The place was beautiful, you can have your wine in this amazing garden.”

“Have been a member of Boekenoogen for quite a while and loved the wine and service we have always received at the tasting room.
McIntyre came in and purchased one of our favorite wineries, which will make anyone nervous, but we were more than pleasantly happy with the change and couldn't be more pleased with what McIntyre has brought into our local wine tasting family.
Everyone at the tasting room is fantastic, knowledgeable and ready to share their experiences of the wineries and the area. There is so much to share and we love chatting with them about so much about their wines and what best goes with each of them.
Thank you McIntyre Winery for everything you bring to the table, or to our glasses, it is always delicious and a pleasure we come to see y'all.”

“Wow the mark of a killer taqueria imo is the preparation of the meats. Asada, pastor y carnitas triple taco plate. Fantastic. Generous portions for solo tacos. Great salsa bar. Green u red spicy to mild options. Yummy guacamole. Husband had the lengua. Perfect location to follow up after some wine tasting in white oak plaza. Loved it. 10/10”

“A wonderfully quaint rustic lodge in the heart of Carmel Valley. Rooms are spotless, the food is very good; but the service is impeccable. Les and Mike and their employees provide over the top help and service, from ice for a hospitality suite to golf reservations to special requests.
Highly recommended.”

“Georgia Winery…beautiful setting, surrounded by the warmth and romance of California. The Sauvignon Blanc was excellent and the best pizza assortment was elegantly served! I will order a case of wine to be shipped to my home!”

“Our favorite Hotel to stay in Carmel. It’s a little piece of heaven with stunning views and beautiful rooms. Customer Service is top notch.”

“Carmel Valley is tucked away in the forests and mountains, and this little restaurant is would have been hidden away from me, if I didn't intend to go check out the historical society nearby. But MY GOODNESS, am I glad I visited this place! I may not know what authentic Thai food tastes like, but I AM an expert in what I like! The Soup Noodles were GREAT! The Meat they put in here was packed! Plus, the ratio of soup and noodles, were right for me! The noodles were soft, but chewy enough, and the meat was cooked to the point of being soft, but still with some feedback to it, and still full of its basic flavor! I was hoping to avoid spicy foods because of my recovering stomach issues, but the spice here was light, and I was able to hold things down! Beautiful place onlooking the forest mountains! If it wasn't so far away, I'd come back here more often!”