5 Best American Restaurants near Carmel Valley

“Wow, this hidden gem was awesome! We came from marina to escape the fog and we were not disappointed! The atmosphere is super chill and laid back, we ate outside and the weather was perfect! The pizza was so good and so was our salad. We’ll definitely be back for more!“

“The Bernardis is such a beautiful property and the restaurant Lucia is an exquisite edition. Food is always creative and delicious. Always had a great experience this evening. The service was a bit slow and if it was the kitchen or the server, but it was a delightful evening.“

“Stopped in for lunch after wine tasting next door and we were not disappointed. The food is amazing and the service was fast and pleasant. I would've preferred we were seated at a table first (instead of the bar) or asked to wait for table. We ended up being seated at the bar and then offered a table 10 minutes after and had to move all of our drinks and food. Other than that, amazing experience and we will definitely return when we visit Carmel again.“

“This place is always a slam dunk good eats!
I would always come here for the wings, fish & chips and today all of us decided to have the ribeye steak. Cooked to perfection, simple is better, filling and so juicy. Felt like good ol’ home cooking, fun and easy listening county music, fun décor all around and the service was perfectly welcoming, kind and attentive. No doubt as to why this is a local favorite with a small town, good people feeling ❤️❤️❤️ I should have taken photos… next time 😉“

“Los Laureles Lodge – Carmel Valley
I was hesitant to stay here because the property looked very rustic, and too close to the main road, with road noise apparent but it was one of the recommended hotels for a wedding at Stonepine Estate, with a shuttle stop to transport us to the wedding venue, so I decided to join the group. Unfortunately, the reservation process was a major issue. Despite multiple calls ahead of time by mom of the bride and others, confirming room types and occupancy, several reservations were incorrect upon arrival, leaving guests scrambling to find rooms, adjust arrangements, or pay unexpected additional costs.
The property itself is rustic but clean. We did not experience any bugs or critters in our rooms or onsite, the grounds are actually pleasant to explore. The rooms, however, are very basic, dated, with dark wood paneling, minimal amenities, cramped bathrooms, and inconsistent shower temperatures. Our decorative headboard was not securely attached and fell off the wall, which was unsettling, especially since one of the few outlets was underneath it. The refrigerator worked well, and the front desk provided extra towels when requested.
The complimentary breakfast was simple but adequate (coffee, tea, hot cocoa, juice, melon, hard-boiled eggs, and coffee cake). We did not use the restaurant or bar during our stay. If it was open, it was not during the times we were onsite. The property has a pool and event spaces that looked nice enough, although they seemed quiet during our summer weekend visit. There are two resident cats, one very friendly and one more mangy.
The best part of our stay was Colin at the front desk. He was kind, helpful, and went above and beyond,helping with questions, last-minute deliveries (Amazon), and even assisting with a wedding-related printing request.
Overall, I’d rate this as a solid 3-star hotel. It’s clean, safe, and has a charming rustic setting, but the rooms and amenities are very basic. I would consider staying again only if the price was reasonable and options were limited.“