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    Alfredo's Cantina

    3.7 (119 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Alfredo's Cantina Photos

    ALFREDO'S CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Juke Box
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual

    Recommended Reviews - Alfredo's Cantina

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    Reviews With Photos

    Deron R.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Best dive bar in Monterey!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Don't be fooled, this is not a Mexican restaurant. the drinks are high octane and it's full of rummies. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Everyone is chill and friendly, chat up your bar mate.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Don't order any fancy drinks, hi balls or beers only. Don't be afraid!

    Don't take shrooms and look in the mirror.
    Bill S.

    The Mrs. and I visited Alfredo's Cantina on Tuesday night. It was a cold quiet night in Monterey. Perfect for visiting a dive bar. Alfredo's is located on the corner of Pearl and Houston in historic Downtown Monterey right next door to the Robert Louis Stevenson house. It's a small place with walls cobbled together with nothing more than rocks and mortar. In fact, there is a warning sign in the window that tells you the building isn't earthquake proof. We arrived around 5:30 and the place was quiet. The bar was occupied by some older locals. I've been to a few dive bars. I have certain exceptions such as sticky floors, torn barstools, dim lighting, chipped tables and chairs, a bar top engraved with notes to loves lost, a bathroom so small only one person can be in it at a time, and cheap strong drinks. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Alfredo's can best be described as a well maintained dive bar. With the dim lighting and cheap strong drinks being the only prerequisites above that were met.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The bartenders were friendly. Especially the lady that was behind the bar when we arrived. Drinks were $11 each which isn't bad considering we called our alcohol. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The other patrons were very friendly. I could tell we were the only tourists in the place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The older crowd left around 6 and the younger crowd shuffled in when the bartenders had their shift change. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is a jukebox that will give you eighteen songs for $5. The selection is eclectic. Mostly older stuff.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] If you're in Monterey and want to go to a classy dive bar I highly recommend Alfredo's.

    Jim W.

    5 star dive bar! My kinda place - I've dropped in here a number of times over the years, I've been visiting Monterey for work and pleasure for awhile. The after work service crowd drops in as the local restaurants close - always a good sign. I've sat at the bar and talked with servers on my left and millionaires on my right - all drinking and chatting no pretense...the essential quality of a dive bar in my book: no pretense. Cheers! No food though. Snacks available. And if the patrons get drunk enough some of them will insist the huge mirror is another room, you can have some fun with that.

    Owner of the bar to the right
    Jennifer H.

    What an incredible spot!!! We came here on a Sunday night and was the perfect way to end our first day of our vacation. We got to meet the owner of the bar. Well he is actually the son to Alfredo but his father has passed away and he now owns the location. We got to share stories, be provided a free drink, and just ultimately be happy we decided to stop here. Everyone inside that night was truly super sweet and kind. My purse might of helped open up the conversations lol. The place has a lower light setting and quite small in size, but makes it feel that much more cozy. If you are in the area, come stop by.

    Lily O.

    The bartender was fantastic and so accommodating. Made the evening unforgettable. The atmosphere was perfect. There were no chairs when I arrived, but I was fortunate enough to snag a bar rail on the wall adjacent to the bar. When I looked about, I observed that the area is nicely designed in an art-deco style. However, there was no place to hang a coat ((add coat hooks, please!!)). There were a lot of people waiting to be served at the bar, but the bartender appeared to be slinging drinks swiftly enough.

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    Review Insights

    10 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Absolutely worst service. Very rude bartenders.... Last time asked for water and had the worst response ever...And cash only!

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    18 years ago

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    15 years ago

    This place is legit. You feel like you're in the Harry and the Hendersons house or something. Good stiff drinks.

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    17 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    15 years ago

    If you need a break from all the tourism, go to Alfredo's. Great local spot, firepit, juke box, and of course good drinks.

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    14 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    14 years ago

    This bar sort of takes you back in time. In a good way. Great bartenders, great drinks, and friendly customers.

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    16 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Alfredo's is my favorite tavern for when I'm feeling moody. The darkness is always soothing and their jukebox is probably the best in town.

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    16 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    15 years ago

    Best bar in Monterey. Stiff drinks. Affordable.

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    16 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    15 years ago

    this place is a hidden gem! its small dark and the A-hole partyboys dont know about it

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    15 years ago

    This bar is what bar dreams are made of: locals, strong stiff drinks, great bartender, dark and cavernous setting.

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Alfredo's Cantina

    Review Highlights - Alfredo's Cantina

    It goes down fast which gets a few knowing glances when the bartender is back to your spot sooner than he expected.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Alejandro's

    Alejandro's

    4.2
    (287 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    My friends made a reservation at this Michelin Star restaurant and it was a 5-star experience…read moreindeed! From the food to the drinks to the overall chic and comfortable ambiance, it was an absolute treat! The service was impeccable for our party of 8. We had various tequila drinks and the chips, salsa, hot sauces (some quite hot!) made for an exception start. I ordered the salmon, which was sitting on a bed of cauliflower mashed potatoes and draped with an arugula salad, topped with a mache chili oil drizzle. The taste was as perfect as the presentation! The best salmon I've ever had, indeed. One of the guest had birria tacos served with a split bone marrow! Never saw that combination before! He let me try some and it was delicious! Overall, a perfect setting, a perfect meal and a truly 5-star evening!!

    Tried Alejandro's because it's part of the Resy dining network, and we wanted to use our quarterly…read moreAmex Platinum dining credit. If you're an Amex Platinum cardholder looking to burn Resy credits in Monterey, this Mexican restaurant is worth a try -- but manage your expectations. We had a reservation and were seated right away, which was a plus. Started with chips and guac and a couple of drinks, then ordered the chicken enchiladas and the skirt steak and arugula salad, adding shrimp to the salad. The food was fine, the atmosphere was fine, the service was fine -- nothing memorable, nothing bad. The real issue is price. Adding shrimp to a salad cost about $15, and our total with tip came out to around $140 for two people. For that price point in Monterey, I expected more from the food and overall experience. Would I come back? Probably not at full price. But if you have the Amex Platinum and quarterly Resy dining credits to use, it softens the blow enough to make it worth trying once.

    Photos
    Salmon
    Salmon
    Alejandro's
    Alejandro's

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    Stokes Adobe

    Stokes Adobe

    4.5
    (397 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    Service - excellent. Food - soup…read moreyummy Chicken delish The best was the Hen of the woods pasta dish. Can't wait to go back

    My family and I came to visit Monterey Bay for Mother's Day weekend and it was a nice and relaxing…read moredinner. We booked Stokes Adobe for table of 8 (including two small toddlers) They brought out little coloring paper & crayons which was super nice of them. We were seated in a private area which was nice since our two small toddlers like to walk around and it's less distraction. We did family style and ordered a bit of everything! Crispy potatoes: Love the carbs! The potatoes were crispy and delicious. The lemon truffle crema sauce was so yummy! Oysters: Definitely order half shell oysters! They were delicious! Hamachi: This was okay, nothing special to be honest sinc Mussels: This one was also delicious as well. It was made with white wine and tomato broth with butter, shallot, garlic. Beets salad: You can't go wrong with ordering a beet salad! The honey vinaigrette was delicious! Santa Cruz King Salmon: This dish was simple but tasty. The Meyer lemon sauce went well with the salmon. 12oz Pork chop: The meat was soft and easy to bite into. The cauliflower puree was delicious! Snake River American Wagyu: I thought the steak was okay. It was a bit too rare for me personally but my husband liked it! Brussels sprouts: Yummmm! Love the crispy Brussels sprouts. Overall service was great and the food was good. The only downside of the night was not getting the duck liver mousse toast. Not sure why the order went through when we mentioned in the beginning but hope to try it next time we're in town.

    Photos
    Inside, you can choose different rooms to sit in
    Inside, you can choose different rooms to sit in
    Crispy potatoes
    Crispy potatoes
    Duck terrine

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    Duck terrine
    Compact Disco

    Compact Disco

    3.9
    (50 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    Family-owned & operated
    Veteran-owned & operated

    Awesome vibe gray place for a good time with friends . Drinks are worth the visit and food was a…read moreplus .

    The vibes are here but it all stops there…read more.. Let me start by saying that I love this place. Just needs a bit of cleaning up on their transparency. The 'keep it open' policy is something I appreciate but would also appreciate an itemized receipt when you close out. Here's why to keep your eye out when drinking at this establishment. 1- when you close out, it's helpful to verify what you consumed to ensure you're corrected charged. My receipt was the merchant copy and the customer copy. Itemized? Really had to ask for it. 2- the merchant copy - it asked for a tip and the total amount. When we closed out our beer and well drink, it was ~$28. Weird, right? So my thought was that they clearly charged something incorrect. 3- when there's something automatically charged, it had better be communicated to me upfront. The gratuity was automatically added and IT WAS 20%! No sign, no way to notify me that it was already added. It didn't even say so on the merchant or customer copy. On top of that, the copy asked for AN ADDITIONAL TIP. For something like that, I had better get great service. 4- The service here is spotty at best. There's usually one bartender for the often busy bar. Not a problem, usually. But with that high of a price, better serve your customers well and have a fully stocked bar. 5 - the options were lacking. Two things you'd think would be stocked but weren't - espresso (come on, even Kahlua) and apple liqueur for an espresso martini and appletini were too much to ask for, I guess. Overall, a disappointment. Good thing they have the vibes nearly right. But awful business practices.

    Photos
    They are on the guestlist.
    They are on the guestlist.
    The hallway has become the place to take photos for some reason. And we approve!
    The hallway has become the place to take photos for some reason. And we approve!
    Always awesome when the Naval Post Grad folks come by

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    Always awesome when the Naval Post Grad folks come by
    LindaRose Rooftop Bar & Grill

    LindaRose Rooftop Bar & Grill

    4.2
    (37 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    10/10 MUST VISIT! The ambiance, food, and VIEWS. This is a must see. All food made from scratch and…read moreabsolutely delicious. Our waitress was a joy as well. We will be coming back!

    Beautiful ambiance and a relaxing vibe--this place really has that dialed in. The…read moreMediterranean-inspired appetizer board (hummus, pickled veggies, nuts, cheese) was a great choice and very well done. I stuck with a classic martini, but others in our party of five explored the cocktail menu and were impressed. The bartender was warm and welcoming and greeted us right away for our reservation. Unfortunately, the experience took an awkward turn at seating. We had requested a view and were about to be accommodated when another staff member (auburn hair) interrupted abruptly and loudly, insisting we not be seated up front due to other reservations. It was uncomfortable and felt unprofessional--especially in front of guests. As it turned out, she was our server. Throughout the evening, her demeanor didn't improve and felt out of step with the otherwise welcoming environment. Having spent over 25 years in the industry and as a restaurant owner, I know how important frontline staff are to the guest experience, and this simply didn't reflect the level this place is capable of. That said, this feels like the exception--not the norm. I've had pleasant experiences here before and will return, hopeful that this was just an off moment.

    Photos
    Panna Cotta
    Panna Cotta
    Berrytini
    Berrytini
    View from the roof

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    View from the roof
    The Crown and Anchor

    The Crown and Anchor

    4.1
    (1.4k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Three of us stopped by here on 3/8/26 during a road trip…read more It's everything one would expect out of a British-themed pub. It had good beer, character, and friendly bartenders. It reminded me of a couple of Irish pubs in and around Bedford and Boston, Massachusetts.

    We came here when in town for the aquarium (of course!) and found a quaint, authentic-feeling…read morerestaurant on the nondescript basement level of a building you would probably just walk by. Yet the ambiance, service, and food are very good! I love the various aspects of the decor, as well. Other than parking challenges on a busy night in the downtown, we were lucky to get a table for 5 relatively quickly, as this place isn't that large, with some additional bar seating, and it seems very popular. 5:30 was a great time, as we watched the waiting line grow longer after we were seated. Our server, Michael J., did a great job of greeting us, providing menus, and taking initial drink orders while we decided what to try. We decided to try BBQ honey wings, fried artichoke hearts, and onion rings for appetizers. The main courses were two orders of kids' cheese pizza and tater tots, a small dinner salad, a cup of New England-style clam chowder, and a NY Steak sandwich. The food came in a reasonable time, with appetizers and salad first, then the rest. The apps were good, but the onion rings were a bit greasy. The honey wings were well-liked, as well as the artichoke hearts, which, strangely, were not oily like the onion rings. Yummy! The cheese pizzas paired with tater tots were certainly different, but the pizza was more like a reheated frozen pizza. The tots were okay. The NY Steak sandwich was good as well, with a side of steak fries - obviously! Overall, we enjoyed the meal and would definitely consider dining here in the future when in town.

    Photos
    Inside restaurant
    Inside restaurant
    Honey BBQ wings. Yummy!
    Honey BBQ wings. Yummy!
    New York Steak sandwich.

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    New York Steak sandwich.

    Alfredo's Cantina - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

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