Carmel-by-the-Sea Restaurants

So, the first night in Carmel my family and I were tired, cranky, and above all, hungry, so we asked the hotel desk for a good recommendation. They told us about Flaherty's and we headed straight there.

All I can say is--if you enjoy fish & chips, this is your place. I'm not sure how to elaborate on this--it's just really, really good fish and chips (and great martini's). The only drawback to this place is that the bathrooms are practically in a different county, but other than that it's fabulous.

Favorite Dish: Fish and chips.

Well, they serve practically everything here, but if you order anything other than the Ahi Tuna, you're insane. I literally haven't been able to think about anything else other than Ahi Tuna since I had their Ahi Tuna salad. Fresh, lightly dressed and PERFECTLY served, it was my most memorable meal in Carmel. Everyone I was with enjoyed their meals as well--not a dud in the bunch.

Aside from the food, the place was just very charming. A fireplace, warm atmosphere and even a special room for people who brought their dogs, this will definitely be one of my first stops when I return. Can't recommend it enough.

Favorite Dish: Ahi tuna a million times over.

The hotel manager described this as a Carmel tradition and it's easy to see why--first of all, it's completely charming--very sort of barn-like with benches instead of chairs, wooden barstools, and a waitstaff that's friendly and loves to chat. Tons of families the day we were there.

They pretty much only serve breakfast (they're only open until 2 pm), and that's just fine. I had my favorite, Eggs Benedict, and it was insanely fantastic! The eggs were the color of the sun and cooked perfectly. You can actually just order one egg which is good since the plates are huge. And don't even get me started on the hashbrowns--I still dream about them at night. In just a two day stay we almost came back a second time.

Just outside the door there are dozens of positive newspaper reviews, stories, and clippings of celebs who've been there and it's easy to see why. The next time I go back this will be the absolute first place I stop!

Favorite Dish: Eggs benedict!!!

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Pebble Beach golf course and the accompanying club house are well worth the time and effort to get there
and relax overlooking the Pacific and the golfers on the world-famous course.
Greener grass you will not find anywhere....:-).
The ocean view is spectacular, so hop on Seventeen Mile Drive and treat yourself to
a lunch or dinner at the clubhouse.

Favorite Dish: I tried the fish and chips for lunch and had more than I could eat. The $27.00
for this lunch meal was a bit on the high side , but then , I had to realize that
it was "location, location, location." All things considered, well worth it.
Any other oceanside elegant restaurant would be charging the same.

LUCKY YOU!!! I just came back from a 5 day Heaven-on-Earth trip to Carmel about a month ago. May I make a couple suggestions? The Tuck Box is recognized as a darling little spot to have "tea and breakfast". The St. Tropez is a fabuloso French restaurant , with a wonderful chocolate souffle with grand marnier sauce if you order such when you order the entree. All the entrees were wonderful also. I had a wonder ribeye steak topped with delicious bleu cheese with hazelnuts. Yum! Lunch on the patio at the Pebble Beach Country Club IS expensive (fish and chips was $27.00) but may be worth it if you like such an elegant surrounding and the view of the world-famous golf course. Drive down the coast of A1 south of Carmel and just a few miles down on the right is a restaurant perched on a point of land overlooking the Pacific. It is the only one along this coast, so you should be able to find it. The view is spectacular and you can eat outside if the weather permits. Another favorite of mine is the Hyatt Highlands Inn which is just 4 miles south of Carmel. Be very careful as you approach it, because it is very
easy to miss as you are driving. It is on the left just a ways after the little General store. It is clearly marked with Highlands Drive, but easy to miss. The restaurant at the Hyatt has all glass overview of the Pacific and its majesty. Drinks at sunset are a reasonable way to enjoy the view without too much expense. The beach at Carmel is a hoot. All the locals walk (or should I say run) their dog(s) who love to chase tennis balls. It is acceptable. In fact, dogs are welcome in the village. You will see doggie water bowls put out by the shop owners. I don't know where you are coming from, but you will find Carmel just delightful. It feels like a cute little English village, filled with shops and dozens of art galleries. ENJOY!!
Email me here at SONG@VTMail.com if you have more questions.

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The Rocky Point Restaurant is just what it says. It is perched on a rocky point overlooking the Pacific Ocean just south of Carmel-by-the-sea. The view is fabulous and the food is very good and reasonably priced, compared to all the other seaside restaurants. You can eat outside under a gazebo or inside by a stone fireplace. A cute sign outside asks you "Please don't feed the whales"........

Favorite Dish: Eggs benedict for breakfast/brunch were delicious. Accompanied by a mug of hot chocolate and I'm ready to venture down the rocky coast and enjoy the crashing waves on the boulders scattered in the ocean.

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We had lunch here on our first day in Carmel - it was the first of our three lucky restaurant finds in Carmel., discovered as we wandered around to back of the Courtyard of the Golden Bough.

The very small interior was full, but a Thai meal sitting outside on a sunny April day on the little patio seemed a good idea .

We were however glad of warm jackets as it did get a bit chilly - there was a fairly constant stream of tourists exploring the Courtyrd.
Our waitress had little English and we none of her language so we ordered "blind" with pointings and lots of smiles, not knowing quite what to expect.

The dishes that came were a mixture of rice and noodle - my noodles with lots of finely chopped vegetables and chicken were absolutely delicious. Delicately spiced and unlike anything I had tasted before. We had to do a bit of swapping as my husbands order came with a peanut dressing which he dislikes fortunately it is one of my favourites
Very inexpensive - specially compared with the gourmet restaurant that had been recommended by a friend but which we only found later in the afternoon!

There is one place in Carmel that I can happily recommend for a wonderful breakfast, Katy’s Place. Katy’s is packed on the weekends for breakfast and brunch and the wait is well worth it (there are plenty of art galleries to look in while you wait). The restaurant is tightly packed and not like what you would expect in the up-scale neighborhood of Carmel-by-the-Sea, which is a good thing.

Favorite Dish: If you’re a fan of eggs benedict, then this is the place to be. There is a large selection of ways to have the dish, some favorites being the corned beef hash version and the smoked salmon version. The hollandaise sauce is homemade and very rich. Service is friendly and fast.