Where to Eat, Stay & Play in Carmel
A guide to the best places to eat, stay and play in Carmel, California
Carmel Valley has been said to rival Napa as one of the best places to visit in Northern California and after spending time there it’s not hard to see why. The combination of soft white sand and stunning views of California’s coastline paired with some of the best wine the state has to offer is truly hard to beat.
The vineyards are nestled beneath the stunning green St. Lucia Mountains and are conveniently located within walking distance from one another. Just a ten minute drive from Carmel Valley is Carmel-by-the-Sea, an adorable beach side town lined with cute shops, top-rated restaurants, and local wineries. In addition, it’s known to be one the pet-friendliest towns in America thanks to Doris Day who was a huge advocate for animal rights.
Considering that Brandon and I are both major dog/wine lovers, we knew Carmel would be the perfect spot to celebrate our first anniversary together. It’s such a special place and I would definitely recommend visiting if you ever find yourself on the Pacific coast!
Where to Stay:
Lamp Lighter Inn. Like most hot spots in California, you’ll need to reserve a room in Carmel well in advance if you’re traveling between spring and fall. The Cypress Inn is a popular option for dog lovers but because they were all booked up we went with their sister property, the Lamp Lighter Inn, just two blocks up from the beach.
The Inn is very clean and has an adorable, beachy feel with cozy outdoor fire pits that keep you warm while you enjoy the complimentary breakfast and happy hour wine and cheese. The only con is that there is very little insulation in the walls (we could hear literally every move the people staying above us made) so be sure to book a room with no one above you.
Where to Play:
1. Carmel Beach. Located at then end of the main strip on Ocean Avenue, this gorgeous beach is hard to miss. Stroll from one end to other with your toes in the delicate soft sand and take in the sights of endless clear blue water, stunning homes perched along the cliffs and happy pups frolicking on the shore.
Later in the evening, be sure to come back for the sunset! You can pick up a bottle of wine, snacks, and plastic glasses at Neilsen’s Market and cheers to a beautiful day.
2. Carmel Valley Vineyards. Less than a mile from end to end is Carmel Valley Village which is home to nearly 20 different wineries that are an easy walk from one to the next.
Our favorites were Georis (where you can also get a delicious lunch!), Heller Estate (they have really good certified organic wine), Talbott’s, and Boekenoogen. The best part is that they all have outside patios to enjoy the beautiful California weather plus they’re dog friendly too!
3. Point Lobos State Reserve. The trails here are easy enough to bring little ones along (dogs aren’t allowed though) and the views are definitely worth the $10 entry fee. Plan a few hours here so that you have time to gaze out at the turquoise water and watch the lazy sea lions sunbathe. Be sure to visit to China Cove for a breathtaking view of the beach and a chance to see the seals nursing their newborn pups from late March to June.
4. Earthbound Farm Stand. Have a picnic style lunch on the patio and then get inspired to grow your own food by touring their bountiful garden. End your visit with a bowl of soft serve organic ice cream while appreciating the mountain views around you. Just be sure to leave the dog behind for this one because they’re not allowed.
5. Downtown Carmel. Stroll around the shops, take in the scenery and pop into a few wineries for tasting. If you want to make a day of wine tasting downtown (we preferred the more natural setting of tasting in the Valley), pick up a Wine Walk Passport at the Chamber of Commerce. Oh, and don’t forget to stop for the handmade chocolates at Cottage of Sweets!
Where to Eat:
1. Carmel Valley Ranch. If you want more of a quiet escape this would be an excellent place to stay. We tried to get a room for the night of our anniversary but unfortunately they were all booked up. Instead we settled for lunch by their salt water pool and the food and service was absolutely amazing. The hostess asked why we were visiting Carmel and when I told her it was for our anniversary, she brought us a piece of chocolate cake for dessert which I thought was so sweet! Other than cake, I had muddled orange spritzers and a portabella hummus wrap and Brandon had a vegetable grilled cheese with the most incredible truffle fries on the planet. If nothing else, go there for the truffle fries!!
2. La Bicyclette. I’m a sucker for French ambiance so this restaurant had my name written all over it. Luckily the food was just as good as the décor. The mushroom pizza and the chocolate mousse were to-die-for!
3. Casanova’s. This is considered to be the most romantic restaurant in Carmel. We made the mistake of bringing Coco and sitting on the chilly patio which unfortunately took away from the romance but the food was excellent. The spinach gnocchi literally melts in your mouth!
4. Carmel Belle. This is a great place to stop for breakfast or lunch. Everything is really fresh and they have an organic juice bar to help you detox from all of the wine. ;)
5. Dametra Café. I don’t have any pictures from this one but every time we walked by, it was booming with business so we had to see what all of the fuss was about. The setting is cozy and casual and the food was great but what really makes this place is the service.
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We also spent a day in Big Sur which I’ll be sure to share with you soon. If you’ve already been and you have any recommendations, please share them in the comments!
Loved this post! So many good eats and views. Your red maxi skirt outfit is super cute.
This post makes me want to go EVEN more!!!
I love that area!! Such a gorgeous area. It looks like you had a beautiful trip! I want to check out some of those restaurants! I also love that you brought your puppy along. :) What a perfect vacation!
Oh my goodness, it looks beautiful there! What a perfect place to retreat!
Well it looks like you guys had a fabulous first anniversary getaway! I love Coco’s jacket, too cute! And I also love your red skirt/jean jacket outfit – I’d like to steal that please :)
Coco! I love the pictures of her! haha then again I’m a sucker for any dog photos all the time! She’s adorable :)
Carmel looks gorgeous! It’s been on my list of places to go for a while now …. this isn’t helping! If only we lived closer!
OMG EARTHBOUND FARMS!!! <3 <3 <3!!! SERIOUSLY! ha! I went to Carmel once, but it was totally overcast so I barely saw any of this beauty, I knew it was hiding under the clouds though!
It was a little chilly the last night but overall we lucked out with great weather while we were there. Spring and fall seem to be the best times to avoid the clouds and fog. I hope you get a chance to go back!
It looks like you had a wonderful trip! You could be a travel rep for this city – I’d never even heard of it before, but your photos make me want to go there!
Haha! I guess I missed my calling. :)
Carmel looks amazing! Your post is totally getting me in the vacation mode- we go on our anniversary trip in less than two weeks. Beaches and wine tastings sounds like my kind of vacation.
Carmel Valley is calling my name! It looks like the perfect way to celebrate your anniversary….glad you had a great time!
Definitely pinning this post for future trips. Your pictures look like a dream! I love how theres so many wineries close together like that- makes it easy to check out several of them!
Yes, I thought it was so cool that you could walk from one to the next!
I love this post! I can’t believe that I have been in the Bay Area for a year and we haven’t gone down to Carmel or to Big Sur…it looks SO beautiful. I’m going to save this for reference when do in June!
xx Jill
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What a beautiful trip! David and I were in Carmel for 1 morning/afternoon last August. We had a fun time strolling the downtown and eating lunch at La Bicyclette. I love that you brought Coco, but what did you do with her when you couldn’t bring her places?
She doesn’t bark or chew anything so we left her in the room when we couldn’t bring her along. I don’t really like doing it but if it’s for a short period of time then she’s okay. We have a hard time finding someone to watch her so we try to take her with us when we travel. It would be a great place to bring Ryder but you’d probably have to miss out on a few things if you didn’t want to leave him unattended in the room. I just think as long as they’re quiet and well behaved, it’s not a big deal. We just keep it a secret! ;)
We usually take him on day trips with us when we go explore or when we go to Truckee but I think if we were going to check out Big Sur overnight in the future we’ll leave him home. My parents are usually available to watch him, luckily!
Yeah, it would definitely be less stressful to leave him with your parents!
I’ve stayed at the Lamp Lighter Inn!! I love how quaint, quiet, and gorgeous Carmel is. You’ve uncovered some majorly awesome places to eat at and visit in that area – I pretty much want to replicate your exact trip. Think I’ll go do that now, kay, thanks!
Beautiful photos, my dear!!!
How cool that you stayed there! Let’s go back together and drink lots of wine!
Hi Sarah! Gorgeous photos! You’re making me want to go back to Carmel STAT! We didn’t make it to Point Lobos, but that looks just stunning. And I love that you brought your doggie! Of course, my favorite thing is picnicking on the beach! You so deserved a getaway, and glad you found such awesome places to enjoy! :)
Thank you, Ashley! It was a really nice treat. You guys will have to go back to Point Lobos and venture down to Big Sur at some point. It’s so beautiful!
Oh my goodness….I am beyond jealous. I haven’t ever been on a vacation that didn’t involve visiting family. Carmel is stunning!! I will just have to live vicariously through your gorgeous pictures…..
Aw, Melissa! I wish I could send you on a vacation to enjoy for yourself! But on the bright side, I remember you said your family was from California so at least you get to visit somewhere nice? ;)
I live in Santa Rosa and we stayed there for 2 days as a get away. Was lovely. We will go back. Love your blog
Thanks Charlyene! Santa Rosa is a beautiful place too. I hope you get a chance to go back soon! :)
So glad you did this post! What a great stay you had… oh my, just gorgeous! We spent a day in Carmel last year but really didn’t get a chance to explore as much as we would have liked. This guide is so helpful – you’re the second person to recommend Lamp Lighter Inn (better make sure we’re on the top floor ;-) ) and those white sandy beaches are calling me… So glad you included a description of the vineyards too – I don’t necessarily think of vineyards in connection with Carmel (with Napa and Sonoma dominating) Georis looks beautiful and rustic – love the pic of you there too. Point Lobos… yes!! Worth the admission fee for sure :) simply gorgeous. What an ideal way to celebrate your first year anniversary. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
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