7-Eleven

We found ourselves with some time to kill in between meetings on a trip to Monterey. This place…read morelooks cute and my husband and I are both readers so we decided it would be a no-brainer to stop by. The bookstore section is kind of small, but it is nicely decorated and organized. There's a large children's section that I appreciated and the plethora of plush puppets was something I had never seen before. They had several items that were gift varieties like candles and stationary and crayons, etc. It's attached to a coffee shop so if you wanted to grab a book pay for it and then grab a coffee, you could actually sit and read for a bit.

I love the vibe here at Bookworks, but the Wifi is very poor here. Every time I come to get coffee…read moreand work, I end up finishing my drink as fast as I can, and heading down the street to other places with Wifi. There are folks living here who simply need 21st century pipes. For example, if you're doing university work with Stanford and want to get away from Hopkins. But the Wifi here is from the 1990s. If you don't need reliable wifi, Bookworks is amazing. The food, the service, the bookstore, everything. Unfortunately, living in a "connected" world, I can only give it 3 stars, as cafes are workplaces now.

Oatmeal cookie, pumpkin bread, macadamia nut latte, lavender honey latte

Inside seating

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Coffee shop

Captain + Stoker

4.5(134 reviews)

0.8 mi

What an adorable little place, with cute atmosphere! The…read morestaff was all super friendly from the cashiers to the baristas. The coffee was smooth, I applaud their ability to flawlessly whip a thick foam on non dairy milk and even decorate the top, oh and also their cups are so darn cute! I will definitely be back next time I'm traveling to Monterey.

We were in town for a street festival. We wanted to start the day with some coffees…read more This location is right on the main street. So there was a line. The barista s kept the line moving. Good thing I pre read the menu. When I got to the front, the barista said what do you want. Not the most polite greeting. But I truly understand that this was not a normal day. So I quickly explained what we wanted. The coffee was good. A nice smooth roast. Because of the crowds, I didn't get to look around. Is it just me, or has coffee really gotten expensive.

Standing view from the window table (no chairs)

Sign

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Sign

Captain + Stoker

4.4(953 reviews)

1.4 mi

A staple in this community for ages and always the freshest, most delicious everything. CS is more…read morethan coffee but community and culture. Every order is treated with care & artistic vision, as is the merch. Thankful they exist.

Stopped by Captain + Stoker and really enjoyed it. The matcha latte was DELICIOUS, best matcha yet!…read moreI subbed oat milk and a little vanilla sweetener and it was perfect. Service was quick and friendly, and parking was super easy with plenty of open spots nearby. When I got there there was no line at all, but by the time I left there was a line out the door, which definitely says something. I didn't try the food this time, but everything coming out looked amazing. Looking forward to going back!

The ordering counter. Still nostalgic

Iced matcha latte

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Pistachio and rosehip latte

The PG MeetingHouse

3.7(215 reviews)

0.8 mi

The meetinghouse is a great place to be. I remember when it was juice and Java, which used to be…read morereally great, but I'd argue this is even better. My matcha was earthy and just the right amount of sweet. The cookie I got was huge and seemed like it was made with good butter. The staff behind the counter were kind and efficient. Im excited to come back for their early evening offerings with friends. It definitely makes downtown PG feel more alive.

Popped in for a cocktail and some live jazz last night on the recommendation of Scott the owner…read more Man, that was some good stuff! Very small, very intimate coffeehouse setting. The music was really, really good. I kept thinking of Vince Guaraldi and Bill Evans! The decor is eclectic but oddly harmonious. Coffee, cocktails, jazz, a fireplace, and community? Pretty good. The cast of characters peppered throughout the venue really adds to the ambiance: there's a kind of quirky benevolence floating through the air and it's nice to hang out there. If PG MeetingHouse were a home-cooked stew, and Scott the cook, he's not cooking from a recipe; he's intuitively grabbing what's fresh and what he has on hand, mixing it up with a little love, spice, and personality, and you wouldn't think it all goes together, but somehow it does, and I'm coming back for seconds.

Smoothie

Inside

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Christmas Jazz band.

Pavel's Backerei

4.6(809 reviews)

0.8 mi

Cash only! Traditional establishment with large pastries…read more - Muffin : was a blueberry flavor that day, very soda bread scone tasting. Enjoyed the crumb top and plentiful berries! Very moist - Berry danish : the pastry itself was a little chewy for my taste, but overall not bad!

Oh Pavels! How dear you guys are to my heart…read more If you are in pacific grove on a Saturday do yourself a favor and wake up early and head down to pavels. Open one day a week...sold out by noon. Truly deserving of all its praise. If you want to do Pavel's right, get the berry danish. Yes you can get the cream cheese berry but if you want the true fall in love experience, get the berry danish. Trust me. The sheepherders bread is to die for. I always get a few loaves. Slice it up and put them in the freezer for my avocado toast in the morning. The salami sandwich is also a must. Never have I ever had a sesame seed baguette be so soft. Other than that, you really can't go wrong here... it's a sweet community of people that lineup in the morning. Locals and travelers that have found this hidden gem. Anybody with a negative review about them being open only one day we're having a line in the morning needs to learn how to enjoy the simple things in life. Pavels is an experience. A true joy to get to enjoy. BRING CASH THEY ARE CASH ONLY:)

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Patisserie Bechler

4.3(370 reviews)

1.2 mi

Such a good little place ! We had a light and easy lunch- I got the grilled cheese with turkey and…read moreit was so good (avocado, lettuce, turkey, cheese, tomato). And I got a vanilla iced latte and it was pretty tasty! Overall great little place.

Extremely decadent and correct almond paste croissant. The multiple French patisserie on the…read moreMonterey Peninsula is absolutely awesome. This is a good one.

Dining area

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Tidal Coffee

3.9(391 reviews)

0.5 mi

After completing the Big Sur 11 miler, I had the biggest headache and needed my caffeine fix. This…read morecoffee shop was adjacent to my hotel and literally a few feet away from the exit/entrance. It's a smaller shop with breakfast and various coffees. I got a large hazelnut latte which I enjoyed with an ocean view. Outside the entrance is a skywalk with a terrace and tables where you can sit, enjoy your coffee and admire the view. It was perfect.

2.5 stars I've had…read moremuch stronger coffee even with two shots of espresso so I was surprised with how milky and weak my large white mocha macchiato was at 3 shots. It took the cashier a while to type in my order in the system which is fine but I was surprised that the order was put in for hot instead of iced. Then for the barista to say "seriously?" and rolling his eyes when I told him that I asked for iced, I understand that was at the situation and of course not at me. All that, only for the coffee to not be good anyways. Disappointed and cannot recommend this place.

Check out

Dill, kale, and feta scone

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Wonderful view on a beautiful morning.

Lucy's on Lighthouse

4.4(276 reviews)

1.7 mi

Excellent service and food! Banana-split best on the west…read morecoast! Great hotdogs and cold Drinks ‼

This place was so much more than I expected! Delicious Hot dogs! So many choices! And Brussel…read moresprouts were delicious! And Marianne's ice cream( we got milkshakes) Grandkids loved it and ate all of their food. Cool surf/skater vibe. Customer service was excellent. Will go back and try more menu items.

Board art abound

Banana Split

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Tots and mac&cheesr

First Awakenings

4.3(4.1k reviews)

0.0 mi

Food always good and worth the wait....Have followed this restaurant for many many years…read more Call ahead and out your name in the waiting list as very popular.

The food here is always great, as someone from the Bay Area whenever I go down to Monterey I always…read moreenjoy coming here and eating the food! I should've taken more pictures but from the pancakes to the omelettes it is ALL good. The food portions are huge so trust me, do not over order unless you want a bunch of leftovers (Win win tho!) They also sell their hot sauce in the front which is DELICIOUS, if you try the omelette give their hot sauce a try it's amazing as a hot sauce lover. They also were able to mix orange juice and pomegranate juice which I appreciated. The service is always great, they make sure you're enjoying your food and check in consistently. The environment is always so lively and great, there's outdoor and indoor seating, though it does get pretty busy the wait is never too long. I love coming here and I hope to come back soon!

Innenbereichen

Day Starter Skillet

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Sonoran Frittata

Phoebe's Cafe

3.8(34 reviews)

1.7 mi

Alas, I thought I reviewed this last February 2025 after visiting, but I did not! This is a lovely…read morelittle cafe located in the Asilomar Conference Grounds. The staff is friendly. They serve drinks, sandwiches, and snacks. If you are staying on the grounds, you'll likely make at least one stop here daily. There is a nice view toward the Pacific Ocean as well, but to see it you'll have to get a bit closer to the shore. The staff was nice and helpful. Jovel was always a friendly presence. It's been a year since I stayed at Asilomar for a conference, but this was a welcoming cafe.

Short stroll from the beach, the shop has plenty of food and beverage options…read more Service is quick and friendly. Muffins and latte are excellent!