Carmel-by-the-Sea Restaurants - Cultura Carmel

Experience the Ancestral Flavors of Oaxaca at Cultura

Like its menu, Cultura's ambience is unique. "Our goal is that people are transcended to a different realm when they walk through the door," says Managing Partner Sarah Kabat-Marcy. "We have a lot of return guests, many of them locals. And quite a few Bay Area people come to Carmel just to eat with us."

What creates that kind of customer loyalty? Cultura represents the word "culture" and is not what Americans think of as a typical Mexican restaurant. The cuisine focuses primarily on the flavors of the state of Oaxaca. Sarah became a frequent visitor to that region, famous for its Mezcal, and with her partners created a restaurant that serves the Oaxacan foods they were craving while back in the US. "Our main focus is education and preservation of the integrity of the culture we are honoring," she says.

Chef Michelle Estigoy's Pork Mole is at the top of many diner's list of menu items. "In Oaxaca, each mole is unique to each household, and everyone thinks theirs is the best," Sarah explains. "Michelle's is a traditional dark mole, not overly sweet with just a little bit of spice." And true to its Oaxacan roots, Cultura features a curated Mezcal program that Sarah says is one of the finest in the country.

"Our goal is to exceed our guest's expectations while providing a unique cultural experience for them and our staff," Sarah adds.

Hours of Operation: Tuesday—Sunday from 4pm to 9pm. (Happy Hour from 4pm to 5:30pm)
Closed Mondays