Best Kept Carmel

Culinary & Wine

Sample All the Flavors of Carmel-by-the-Sea

A kaleidoscope of flavors and settings, the culinary scene in Carmel-by-the-Sea is undefinable and evolving. Indigenous tastes, refined comfort food, fine dining with flare, restaurants with long, legendary histories — it is all here in a single-square-mile walkable village where there is a place to dine, drink or snack around every corner and down almost every passageway.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is geographically blessed to sit in one of the sweetest spots of ingredient abundance on the planet. Almost every imaginable ingredient is at the fingertips of Carmel chefs. Monterey Bay's deep and nutrient-rich waters serve up the freshest seafood. Fertile fields with some of the richest soil on earth lie just northeast of Carmel with an astounding array of produce. Vineyards drape the hillsides surrounding Carmel, yielding a spectacular array of delicate, cooler-weather wines and warmer-weather robust vintages as you move inland.

Image of Restauranteur in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

"I think that a lot of people don't realize how fortunate we are to have at proximity such amazing ingredients to work with. And I think a lot of people arrive not realizing what a plethora of restaurants exist in this little tiny village. Inevitably as you're walking down the street, you'll see the people that you just had breakfast with and maybe end up at the same place again for lunch. So, in that sense, even if you're a visitor, you'll very quickly feel like you're a local. And I think that's definitely part of the charm."

– Anthony Carnazzo, Owner, Stationæry

Dine at Van Gogh's Table

Casanova has been a landmark restaurant in Carmel-by-the-Sea since the 1970s. Founded by Walter Georis in 1978, the restaurant serves up French and Italian specialties in an intimate setting. The hand-dug wine cellar holds an extraordinary 2,200-bottle wine selection. But it is here, alongside the wine cellar, that Casanova diners can have a truly unique experience. This is the location of "Van Gogh's Table" a re-creation of the setting where Van Gogh dined during his final months. The table, brought over from Auberge Ravoux – the French countryside restaurant and boarding house where Van Gogh painted, dined and stayed in his final days – is the centerpiece. Meals are intimate and family-style, a setting that replicates a time when food was the focal point of long evenings of delightful conversation.

Explore Carmel's Own Vintages

Blessed with abundant fog and sun, the coastal climate of the region surrounding Carmel-by-the-Sea grows some spectacular wines. Walking through town there are plenty of places to sip and savor the grapes grown in this acclaimed wine-growing region. Stop in to taste Windy Oaks Estate Winery's estate-grown Pinot Noirs that are prized for their depth and flavor. Or stroll through Carmel Plaza, stopping to taste Blair Estate, C halone Vineyards and Wrath Wines. Or simply wander and sample wines at nearly 20 tasting rooms spread throughout the town.

Be Tantalized by Next-Generation Tastemakers

Carmel-by-the-Sea has seen a surge in new culinary energy to complement the landmark restaurants that continue to make their mark on the town. From delicious brunch spots to Michelin-star-pedigreed culinary talent, you'll find a new generation carrying on Carmel-by-the-Sea's remarkable culinary and hospitality legacy, with their own twist. Stop at Stationæry, an immaculately designed breakfast, brunch and lunch spot to taste local ingredients expertly crafted and elegantly presented. Husband-and-wife team Anthony and Alissa Carnazzo have combined the tasteful design, warm service and uncompromising culinary into a true gem. Or taste the flavors of one of the newest, and buzziest, spots in Carmel-by-the-Sea — Chez Noir. Launched by another husband-and-wife team, Jonny and Monique Black, the restaurant leans into the couple's Michelin star culinary experience in classic cooking with a Carmel-by-the-Sea twist. In a town known for outlawing high heels, there is no stuffiness here, simply immaculate food in a stunning setting. And from a third new spousal team, Caroline Singer and Michael Chang, you can find approachable fine dining at Foray – a restaurant featuring Modern American cuisine sourced from West Coast ingredients. Foray's chefs search high and low for the best local ingredients – especially Falco, the truffle hunting dog.

"Carmel-by-the-Sea has all the necessary components of a great culinary destination. We are blessed with an extremely fertile area that is ideal for growing great vegetables, along with many farmers who are focused on quality over quantity. We sit on a cold and nutrient rich bay which provides a bounty of fresh seafood. The natural beauty of the area and the quality of life attracts chefs and restaurateurs who prefer the quality of ingredients and the quality of life here to the hectic pace of most other culinary cities. Finally, we have a competitive but friendly industry in Carmel that pushes us all to be at our best while also working in harmony. Carmel is truly lucky to have one of the best culinary scenes on the west coast."

– Gabe Georis, Owner, La Bicyclette and Barmel

Sample the Sea

The simple act of being on the coast whets your appetite for sea-to-table fare. Fresh oysters, delicate filets of fish, straight-from-the-sea crab — it all tastes better when you're within earshot of the crashing waves of the California coastline. Drop into A.W. Shucks Oyster Bar, where their mantra — "Only Otters Eat Fresher Oysters" — is a commitment to their oyster quality. Or stop into Catch, Carmel's Fish House for local sand dabs or mouth-watering lobster risotto. Flaherty's Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar will satisfy every seafood desire of the most discerning diner. With acclaimed cioppino, fresh lobster bisque and live crab and oysters, the restaurant is a true fish house. The Flying Fish Grill delivers a dining experience reminiscent of an upscale Japanese fish house with immaculate seafood, impressive service and a stylish interior. For something truly unique try the restaurant's clay pot dinners for two, cooked right at your table.