14 Best Cafes near Carmel Valley

“This charming coffee shop offers a wide variety of freshly baked goods for breakfast, such as egg sandwiches, bagels and French flûtes with tomato and mozzarella. The coffee and chai tea are excellent. Homemade jams are available to buy. The staff is super friendly and welcoming. It's a meeting point for the local community. If I lived here permanently, I would come here for breakfast every day.“

“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.“

“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!!“

“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.“

“I love this wonderfully baked bread!“

“Such a great place ! Not only for the amazing shakes and teas, but for how amazingly sweet the whole staff is. They always greet you with the most friendly welcome. The shakes are so delicious! They come with inspiring quotes written on them, good vibes all around :) My favorites are the cake batter and the chocolate covered honeycomb, but they have amazing choices and sometimes festive montly specials ! They also do teas without caffeine for the kiddos , my daughter always asks for one. They also have tables with cards and Jenga so it's super kid friendly or if you're looking for a place to enjoy yourself.“

“I always have lunch at cafe del monte. The staffs are nice and kind. Especially the chef and the man who gets orders. Their cheeseburger is one of the best. I think there are 3 number one burger in LA. Innout, five guys and Cafe del monte. I highly recommend you to try their cheeseburger.“

“The owner and staff hold an annual Christmas Toy Drive to serve children with parents living with HIV/AIDS and/or HepC. Plus, you can't find better food, more friendly staff, or a really cool venue.“

“fantastic baked goods and Greek Salad!“

“Love the green matcha milk tea with boba! My new favorite drink…“

“Love the beet salad, blackened salmon, kids love the burgers and Philly cheese steak sandwiches...lots of great options and friendly service. Especially great for anyone living off Highway 68 or Laureles Grade, great place for dine in or take out.“

“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!!!“

“I had a late breakfast here the other day, and it was exactly what I had in mind. The food was absolutely delicious! They ensured that I had everything I needed, and my coffee mug was always full.

I’m not a picky person when it comes to interior or exterior design, or even the type of music is playing. I only care about the food and service, and they did great 5/5!“

“Love broccoli cheese soup!“