Guidebook for Carmel Valley
Food Scene
Great little coffee shop and bakery. Fresh baked goods made every morning.
21 locals recommend
Wild Goose Cafe
18 E Carmel Valley RdGreat little coffee shop and bakery. Fresh baked goods made every morning.
Great for Mexican food to go. Super Burritos are great. Very nice local family owns it.
12 locals recommend
Kathy's Little Kitchen
13 W Carmel Valley RdGreat for Mexican food to go. Super Burritos are great. Very nice local family owns it.
Wagon Wheel Restaurant
7156 Carmel Valley RdHands down best breakfast around. Pancakes are killer!
By far the best bakery around. Best bakery I have managed to find....EVER!
38 locals recommend
Paris Bakery Cafe
271 Bonifacio PlBy far the best bakery around. Best bakery I have managed to find....EVER!
This is a little bit of a drive but totally worth it. Sit outside and be there before sunset. The bagpiper plays every evening as he strolls along the golf course. Amazing views of the ocean and coast. Tell the gate at Pebble Beach you are going to Spanish Bay for dinner to make sure they don't charge you!
36 locals recommend
The Bench
1700 17 Mile DrThis is a little bit of a drive but totally worth it. Sit outside and be there before sunset. The bagpiper plays every evening as he strolls along the golf course. Amazing views of the ocean and coast. Tell the gate at Pebble Beach you are going to Spanish Bay for dinner to make sure they don't charge you!
Iconic Big Sur spot. Have lunch overlooking the Pacific. If you like burgers make sure to get one there.
94 locals recommend
Nepenthe
48510 CA-1Iconic Big Sur spot. Have lunch overlooking the Pacific. If you like burgers make sure to get one there.
This is our favorite. Try the salmon pizza, sounds odd....but soooooo good.
72 locals recommend
Café Rustica
10 Del Fino PlThis is our favorite. Try the salmon pizza, sounds odd....but soooooo good.
Sunday Brunch Buffet Must!! Who doesn't want to eat breakfast at Clint Eastwoods property, overlooking sheep and the ocean?? The food is good too!
59 locals recommend
Mission Ranch Restaurant
26270 Dolores StSunday Brunch Buffet Must!! Who doesn't want to eat breakfast at Clint Eastwoods property, overlooking sheep and the ocean?? The food is good too!
Iolis' Pizzeria
307 Carmel Valley RoadGood spot for pizza, calzones, salads and more!
Jeffrey's Grill & Catering
112 Mid Vly CtrGreat breakfast and lunch.
Entertainment & Activities
By far the best aquarium in the country. Make sure you check out the sea horse display.
668 locals recommend
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowBy far the best aquarium in the country. Make sure you check out the sea horse display.
This is an amazing couples type activity, or big group. They have cold pools, warm pools, hot pools, sauna, steam room, fire pits....Its amazing. Go in the evening after you have had dinner and just relax. Check out their website.
65 locals recommend
Refuge
27300 Rancho San Carlos RdThis is an amazing couples type activity, or big group. They have cold pools, warm pools, hot pools, sauna, steam room, fire pits....Its amazing. Go in the evening after you have had dinner and just relax. Check out their website.
Great atmosphere, wine tasting, small bites. Games outside. Fun spot
11 locals recommend
The Wine House
1 E Carmel Valley RdGreat atmosphere, wine tasting, small bites. Games outside. Fun spot
Carmel Valley Ranch Clubhouse and Driving Range Lawn
1 Club House RdFocusing on artisanal California wine producers and small craft breweries; They have a small, carefully curated menu of beer and wine along with seasonal small bites. They provide casual counter service with large fire pits and outdoor patio space.
11 locals recommend
The Wine House
1 E Carmel Valley RdFocusing on artisanal California wine producers and small craft breweries; They have a small, carefully curated menu of beer and wine along with seasonal small bites. They provide casual counter service with large fire pits and outdoor patio space.
Drinks & Nightlife
Dive bar, decent drinks, usually fun crowds on the weekend. They don't have live music but they do have a music machine.
30 locals recommend
Running Iron
24 E Carmel Valley RdDive bar, decent drinks, usually fun crowds on the weekend. They don't have live music but they do have a music machine.
This is a great place to go wine tasting and have a little food. The chef is a local favorite so the food is always good. Great atmosphere, games and live music. Check out their website for events schedules.
32 locals recommend
Folktale Winery & Vineyards
8940 Carmel Valley RdThis is a great place to go wine tasting and have a little food. The chef is a local favorite so the food is always good. Great atmosphere, games and live music. Check out their website for events schedules.
Sly McFly's
700 Cannery RowGood for drinks and live music on the weekends
Great local bar. Sit outside on the deck or inside at the bar. Sometimes they have live music on the patio. During summer they have car shows on Thursday evenings. During football season they have Monday night football. Make sure you stay through half time for the raffle!
49 locals recommend
Baja Cantina & Grill
7166 Carmel Valley RdGreat local bar. Sit outside on the deck or inside at the bar. Sometimes they have live music on the patio. During summer they have car shows on Thursday evenings. During football season they have Monday night football. Make sure you stay through half time for the raffle!
Parks & Nature
Garland Ranch Regional Park
700 W Carmel Valley RdGreat hiking, great for dogs. Views of the Valley
Carmel City Beach
Best beach in the area, dog friendly too!
Palo Corona Regional Park
California 1Great for hiking, views of ocean
This is the ultimate local hike. Start at sea level and finish at a bench high above the ocean. This is a strenuous hike.
45 locals recommend
Garrapata State Park
34500 CA-1This is the ultimate local hike. Start at sea level and finish at a bench high above the ocean. This is a strenuous hike.
Have a picnic in Carmel Valley Village. This beautiful grassy park is dog friendly, and has a playground for the littles
6 locals recommend
Carmel Valley Community Park
25 Ford RdHave a picnic in Carmel Valley Village. This beautiful grassy park is dog friendly, and has a playground for the littles
Easy walking trails on the Ocean. Go early, this spot gets VERY crowded
309 locals recommend
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
62 CA-1Easy walking trails on the Ocean. Go early, this spot gets VERY crowded
Shopping
This is a high end mall in down town Carmel, follow the directions to here. Find a parking spot and walk the town.
24 locals recommend
Carmel Plaza
Mission StreetThis is a high end mall in down town Carmel, follow the directions to here. Find a parking spot and walk the town.
Closest large grocery store. There is also a pizza place, breakfast spot and nail salon in this shopping center
128 locals recommend
Safeway
815 Canyon Del Rey BlvdClosest large grocery store. There is also a pizza place, breakfast spot and nail salon in this shopping center
Sightseeing
Main tourist area on the ocean in Monterey. Lots of shops and food! Right next to the Aquarium.
25 locals recommend
Cannery Row
Cannery RowMain tourist area on the ocean in Monterey. Lots of shops and food! Right next to the Aquarium.
Take a beach towel, pack a lunch and some adult beveridges. You can sit out on the lawn and picnic.
If you don't want to take your own food, eat at the restaurant overlooking the river. Then go sit in one of the lawn chairs in the river.
29 locals recommend
Big Sur River Inn
46800 CA-1Take a beach towel, pack a lunch and some adult beveridges. You can sit out on the lawn and picnic.
If you don't want to take your own food, eat at the restaurant overlooking the river. Then go sit in one of the lawn chairs in the river.
Take a drive along the coast through Pebble Beach. You do have to pay a fee to get into Pebble Beach....unless you tell them you are going to lunch at the lodge or spanish bay :)
17 Mile Drive
17 Mile DriveTake a drive along the coast through Pebble Beach. You do have to pay a fee to get into Pebble Beach....unless you tell them you are going to lunch at the lodge or spanish bay :)
This is the one to book if your wanting to go out and see the marine life. They are usually on Groupon too.
17 locals recommend
Sea Goddess Whale Watching
7881 Sandholdt RdThis is the one to book if your wanting to go out and see the marine life. They are usually on Groupon too.
Essentials
Jerome's Carmel Valley Market
2 Chambers LnSmall store for essentials, good deli too.
Safeway
815 Canyon Del Rey BlvdClosest large grocery store
Carmel Valley Ranch
1 Old Ranch RdGreat spa, great pool. Beautiful property.