Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Barmel

    3.7 (290 reviews)
    Closed 2:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

    Barmel Photos

    BARMEL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Live music
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Barmel

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    A passionfruit margarita

    Went here for some late-night drinks to relax and unwind. Unfortunately, I had a very uncomfortable experience. The female waitress took my credit card before I even had a chance to order and kept it for the entire evening, even though I only purchased two drinks. My card was not returned until I was ready to leave, which I found very strange. I've never had that happen before at any other establishment. When I asked why my card had been taken and held, I was not given any explanation. After that, I felt uneasy and uncomfortable for the rest of my visit. Because of this experience, I will not be returning.

    As you can see this was the back of the Main Street showing where Batmel was PHEEW we found it!
    Cristina F.

    This lovely bar is located right off the center of Carmel. The address seems easy enough but it is in its own enclave behind all of that. We were able to find it by asking locals, one person was kind enough to walk us to it. It was a perfect bar that had a warm feel of bars of yore. There was a warm darkness to it that was brightened by the bartender Jayna. We chose to sit at the bar and delighted by our banter with her. It was happy hour and we both had the margarita which was excellent! The chips and salsa hit the proverbial "spot"! I also opted for the Barmel Manhattan that Jayna said was "world renowned". I must say that it was excellent, the Luxardo cherry was the crowning touch! Best of luck to Jayna! Thank you!

    Chili dirty martini and Red G$T
    susan s.

    Cozy small place, very laid back, not trendy and upscale. Fun music and bar food. Service was attentive and this place is a real contrast to most of the rest of Carmel!

    Lucy K.

    All the locals had been recommending BarMel as the spot to go after dinner and we finally decided to check it out. It was a little tricky to find at first, but once we walked in the atmosphere immediately pulled us in. We asked to be seated at a cozy booth which gave us a great view of the room. A DJ was playing when we arrived and it looked like there had been live music earlier in the evening which added to the lively and creative vibe of the space. We had been cold all day from walking around the city, so warm drinks sounded perfect. I ordered a nonalcoholic option and it tasted amazing with the perfect balance of flavor and comfort. The staff was friendly and made the entire visit feel relaxed and welcoming. We did not stay too long, but we were happy we finally experienced this place that everyone talks about. It is definitely worth a stop if you are looking for a late night drink and a fun atmosphere.

    Ramah H.

    Little gem in Carmel, great ambiance, fantastic drinks and great service Fun and welcoming spot, hospitality is still alive here!

    Left: Orangesicle | Right: Serrano Margarita
    Natalie P.

    OPEN LATE NIGHT! Found a spot finally that opens past 12am for drinks. This place is pretty small on the inside but I love their outdoor area. Plus the bartender who helped us was the sweetest girl ever! My friend and I got the Orangesicle and Serrano Marg. I personally loved the orangesicle! Drinks here are pretty pricey, it averages around $16 for a cocktail. They also serve food and play great music. Even on the weekends they have DJ's! Reasoning for 4* is just cause of the price but, you're in Carmel so very expected!

    Gwen L.

    Expansive and unique bar menu - definitely something for everyone. Funky bar vibe inside. Not very busy when we stopped in. We sat outside on the patio for a quieter vibe and the beautiful sunshine! Did not see much of a food menu, but wasn't looking for one either.

    Ginger Sour
    Michelle R.

    We were in search of an authentic Carmel experience! We hit the jackpot! With the fun history and amazing drinks, it was a hit! The historic decor had my hubby drooling! The bar came from a bar in Sausalito owned by a former Madam! So fun! Our server, Angel, was the sweetest! She took such good care of us, checking in on a regular basis! We decided to grab an appetizer to go along with our cocktails...who knew a basket of French fries could be so tasty! The cocktails did not disappoint! We each tried new drinks (2 each) and were pleased with all of them! If you are heading to Carmel and need a little fun break...stop in! You will be glad you did!!

    Mockjito
    Rossana C.

    My second time at this place. First time, I had only cocktails and everything was great. Yesterday was my second time there, I tried their mocktail called Mockjito, which tastes delicious. I tried their Guacamole and chips as well as their chicken and beef tacos. I really liked everything that I tried, the food is very well presented and the salsas were pretty good. The tacos come with beans, which was tasting amazing. The ambiance is very nice and the service was awesome, I was attended by a super nice guy that gave me a lot of good suggestions. I can't wait to go back to Barmel when back to Carmel.

    Negroni
    Matt C.

    Where's a bar rat to go in Carmel? Enter Barmel! I'm going to describe this place as a sophisticated dive bar. There's some cool historical artifacts inside and the place also has a retro/bohemian vibe. Definitely a change of pace from the buttoned up, traditional places of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Barmel is a breath of fresh air for people like me. Wish I knew they served food prior to coming here (not that we had a bad meal prior), but the menu sounded very good. We stuck with cocktails, and even though this place has a divey feel, the cocktails are anything but that. A dedicated Gin & Tonic and Negroni section on your cocktail menu? Call me a happy freakin' camper. Negronis sounded like the move after a heavy meal. I ended up having two, the Classic Negroni and Coffee Negroni. Both were prepared perfectly. These were great slow sippers as we sat and soaked up the atmosphere. Speaking of atmosphere, it appears they house live music pretty regularly. I will say, the performer was fine at best. He seemed to not the read the room so well, and was going a little over the top for the fan engagement he was receiving in return. It's nice they have live music, but as music fans, we felt like it wasn't a good fit on this particular night. Need an unpretentious spot with a stiff drink? Barmel is your home away from home!

    Fortaleza Blanco w/ club soda | $20 (dog-friendly patio!)
    Cherylynn N.

    3.5 Stars When 95%+ of Carmel is sleeping... *UNCE, UNCE, UNCE* Whaaaa? I had no idea Carmel had a nightlife! Not that I was searching for one because these days, my nightlife is in bed by 9 pm watching cheesy Dhar Mann videos. So you see... Haven't been out late late since I ran into my friend's 21 year old brother who screamed: "OMG, what are YOU doing here?!" Yup, def my cue to stay home. Annual trip to Carmel and I found Barmel on Yelp after searching for dog-friendly bars. Barmel is a chill bar by day (opens at 2 pm), supperclub during dinner, and turns into a club after 10 pm. Check the events calendar for the live music/DJ line up. We visited two nights in a row: Thursday + Friday (after 9 pm - midnight). Thursday was def preferred as it was chill with a more diverse crowd. Friday was packed with a line to get in. No cover charge and no dress code. M E N U American & Mexican/Latin American cuisine: Salads, tostones, tacos, burger, steak frites, etc (we didn't try any of the food). Kitchen closes at 11 pm. Bottle service available - bottles start at $350 (Ketel One/Titos) - $1250 (Casa Dragones). D R I N K S * Fortaleza Blanco w/ club soda ($20 x3): https://tinyurl.com/bdd8u533 Happy to find this on the coast because it's incredibly hard to find in the city. Light on the alkie as I barely got a buzz after three rounds. Make sure to get a receipt! We ordered the same drinks on both nights, and I was overcharged $25+ on the second night. Mistakes happen. I tried calling several times during off-peak hours (weekday at 2-2:30 pm) and couldn't reach a live person so had to dispute it through my cc company. S E R V I C E Awesome service from the staff. Angel and Bea were our servers, and they were sweet and attentive. Immediately brought a bowl of water for TT without asking. Security was friendly and customer oriented which is rare...people kept handing him their drinks/empty glass before taking a smoke break/leaving and he put it on a table for them. Didn't get their names but other staff also checked in with us. A M B I A N C E Divey, old-skool saloon with a small dancefloor and separate dining room area. Both nights we sat in the courtyard patio away from the main crowd so it was chill. Big plus, is the table service for the patio and not having to wait in line for drinks. First night (Thursday) was hip hop night with the DJ playing hits from the 90s and early 2000s. We returned the next night on Friday for 90s freestyle and hip hop but when we got there, they changed the line-up. =( The DJ that night played a wide range of genres - from oldies to EDM to latin pop. The transitions between tracks were sometimes abrupt and awkward. TIP: Use the plaza's public restrooms outside to the right of the dining area. No line. P A R K I N G Plenty of easy parking for club nights. Staying at a nearby Vagabond's House so we walked here. The streets were eerily pitch black so we had to use the flashlights on our phones to get there. Overall, solid place for small town nightlife if you're visiting the coast. There were peeps in their early 20s to 70s. Twerking has no age limit.

    We absolutely love Barmel! We've come by for drinks before, and we had our wedding afterparty there. It was a blast, exactly the party we wanted for everyone to let loose after the big day! Carlos was a ton of fun to work with, he was very responsive and had very helpful guidance for us when we weren't sure about something. All of the staff working our event were very friendly and helpful, and they made some fantastic drinks and bites! The bartenders even remembered the bride and groom's specially requested drinks at the end of the night. Barmel was very accommodating to make the event what we wanted, we really felt at home. We were able to have our friend DJ, bring in foggers and lasers, and set up a temporary tattoo station! We definitely recommend Barmel for an event or a fun night out!

    Terrible manager who discriminated us at the front door
    Kristina S.

    My little sister got married tonight and when my family (5 of us) arrived to celebrate her with a night cap, we were told we needed to buy bottles to reserve a private table. Meanwhile, the manager let a group of 8 single women behind us in line enter no questions asked. Totally disgusted & disappointed in the discrimination demonstrated by the bar door staff that my family wasn't let in yet the mgr let the people behind us go ahead of us for no reason other than they're single. Sad ending to what was a beautiful day/ celebration. Do not recommend- terribly rude & discriminatory

    Mescal cocktail

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eve K.
    586
    1829
    2695

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lucy K.
    193
    175
    1138

    7 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ramah H.
    213
    12
    10

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Matt C.
    4329
    1769
    17818

    2 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 3
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 59
    Thanks 21
    Love this 50
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 3

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Saleen M.
    1065
    2564
    2303

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 5
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jim B.
    0
    11
    0

    5 months ago

    Great bar and bartenders. Awesome atmosphere and vibes. Live music and DJs. Would recommend to others for a good time fosho

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 3
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    The bartender was so sweet!! Drinks were good. Loved the music and decor of this spot.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of BA M.
    22
    18
    0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Julius R.
    176
    13
    1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kim C.
    111
    60
    23

    1 year ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 7
    Love this 7
    Oh no 4

    6 months ago

    Came for Happy hour. Great drinks, good food. Super friendly service and great atmosphere. Highly recommend.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 3

    Page 1 of 8

    Barmel Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Barmel

    Is this a cigar lounge as well? Looking for something casual yet classy for this coming Saturday.

    Hi, sorry but we don't have a cigar lounge. We share a courtyard with other businesses so we cannot allow smoking outside either. We hope you come by after your cigar and have a drink with us.

    Hi - I keep trying to call but no one picks up the phone. How can I get in contact with you regarding a lost credit card that I left at your bar last weekend?…

    Hi Lauren. Sometimes we don’t hear the phone over the music. Feel free to call our manager Carlos directly. (831) 293-4397. He can help you get your card back.

    What time does the music start?

    View All 6 Questions

    Review Highlights - Barmel

    Came here after dinner looking for some cocktails and this place did not disappoint!

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Pangaea on Ocean Ave

    Pangaea on Ocean Ave

    4.5(2.6k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$
    Locally sourced ingredients
    Locally owned & operated

    Wonderful grill spot in the heart of downtown Carmel by the Sea. The staff was attentive, the…read moreprices aren't cheap but you get what you pay for. I had a nice steak, my wife had the curry, and we were both delighted. Very filling portions and unique flavors. Highly recommended.

    Restaurants in tourist areas often get inflated reviews. People are on vacation, in a good mood,…read moreand not always judging the food very critically. Carmel-by-the-Sea has plenty of highly rated restaurants with fairly average food, and Pangea on Ocean Ave felt like one of them. The kimchi dumpling soup, artichoke chicken, and stuffed mushrooms were all fine, but nothing special. The service was good, the staff were attentive, and the ambiance was pleasant. What really bothered me was that every glass of water came with a plastic straw, even though we did not ask for one. In 2026, most restaurants use paper straws or provide straws only by request. Plastic is forever, breaks down into microplastics, and contributes to pollution in our water and environment. Plastic debris also harms marine life, including sea turtles. If Pangea serves even 100 customers a day, that could mean around 36,500 unnecessary plastic straws a year. Pangea on Ocean Ave should switch to paper straws and provide them only when customers ask. Average food I can forgive. Needless plastic waste is harder to overlook

    Photos
    Pangaea on Ocean Ave - Dinner in the best way!

    Dinner in the best way!

    Pangaea on Ocean Ave
    Pangaea on Ocean Ave - Great place to gather!

    See all

    Great place to gather!

    Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro - Pulled pork sandwich with fries

    Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro

    4.1(405 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Every time we are up in this area, we make a point to stop at this brewery. Even if it's a little…read moreout-of-the-way. There are plenty of amazing places to eat in Carmel, but this is a hidden gem. It's practically hidden away in a plaza with an outdoor patio, but there is plenty of indoor seating as well parking of course can be tricky in this area, but you shouldn't have to walk more than a block or two. I've been to other Alvarado Street brewery locations, but they each independently run and this one is by far my favorite. They always have different things on the menu to eat and drink and we are always satisfied. My +1 has a go to salad with raw beets in it, and I usually prefer something meatier. This time I went for a brisket sandwich, which was a little bit greasy (as expected) but was incredible. The meat was cooked to perfection and it paired well with the brioche bun and whatever sauce they put on it. We also had a calamari appetizer, which was elevated with some furikake seasoning. The beers, of course were absolutely delicious. I tried one of their sours and a barley wine. My +1 opted for a stout. The flavors are always changing, so we never know what we're going to get to try the next time we visit. If elevated bar food and craft beer, sounds like a good time to you, I would recommend this place in a heartbeat!

    Alvarado Street Brewery is located in Carmel Plaza. A fairly large restaurant setting with an…read moreoutside seating area with heaters. Inside table seating is booth, table and offers even larger groups available seating up to 10. The food is "Brewery" oriented of course and done well. We had a Smash Burger that came with fries, a Seafood pasta, and a fish and chips that also included a tasty coleslaw. A huge assortment of House made Brews is featured and they have a full bar that servers mean cocktails. A little noisy inside but hey, it's a Brew Pub! BTW: they do excellent specials-- Monday night--burger and beer $-15! Wednesday- 6 epic Wings and beer for $10!

    Photos
    Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro - Fish and chips

    Fish and chips

    Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro - Mai Tai PA

    Mai Tai PA

    Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro - Restaurant table area

    See all

    Restaurant table area

    The Grill On Ocean Ave - Fish N Chips

    The Grill On Ocean Ave

    4.1(126 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    This is a great locals spot! I've been going there for three years and am now treated like family!…read moreFood is amazing. Prices are reasonable and the wine is local.

    I should have taken the fact that the restaurant was completely empty as a warning sign…read more This was honestly one of the worst dining experiences my family and I have had in a long time. The fish and chips were inedible--the fish was gray on the inside and didn't look appetizing at all. The chicken sandwich came with wilted, brown lettuce and a tomato that was clearly spoiled. It had a sour taste and a foul odor that immediately ruined the entire sandwich. When we brought it to our server's attention, there wasn't even an apology. Instead of addressing the overall issue, he simply brought out another tomato. The chicken quesadilla was shockingly small, looked like something from a kids' menu, and had almost no flavor. Even the beer tasted off. At that point, it felt like every item that came to the table had a problem. The most surprising part was that the bathroom seemed cleaner and better maintained than the food being served. We spent around $140 and left wondering what exactly we paid for. To make matters worse, several members of my family felt sick after eating here. Between the poor food quality, lack of concern from the staff, and overall experience, I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.

    Photos
    The Grill On Ocean Ave - Picture of the an appetizer

    Picture of the an appetizer

    The Grill On Ocean Ave - Chicken & Bacon flatbread

    Chicken & Bacon flatbread

    The Grill On Ocean Ave - Shrimp and sirloin Steaks

    See all

    Shrimp and sirloin Steaks

    Edwins Carmel

    Edwins Carmel

    3.9(178 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    I usually only do positive reviews, but I had to share how put-off I was with my family's…read moreexperience here. When we originally walked in there were very few parties seated. We had a party of nine. Shortly after we were seated, a party of well-dressed ladies that the employees seemed to be familiar with, so I can only guess they were "regulars", arrived. When we first got there, it was fine, but once the other party arrived, we were completely cast aside. We ordered two cups of coffee that we observed an employee walk around with for 20 minutes, stopping to chat , before he plopped it down on a counter before our server brought it to our table. Needless to say, it was already cold. As far as other drinks, we didn't order any. We all drank water and we weren't offered a refill literally until the end when we were almost done with our meal. They were tending to the other party the entire time. When I saw that the other party received all their meals before we did - even though we were there, seated and ordered before they were, I stopped what I can only guess was the manager (dare I say an owner?) and said, "Excuse me sir, we got here before the other party and they've already gotten their food, and we're still waiting." His response was not, "I'm sorry it's taking so long. Let me check on it." Or "I know it's been a while, your food is coming right out." He actually said to me in an irritated tone, "Well because they got all fried food and you got all grilled!" And walked away. And here's the kicker - all our food wasn't grilled. Most of us ordered salads. Granted one had chicken and one had salmon, but who says this to a customer? I honestly wouldn't have cared so much about getting our food after the other party had he responded differently but for someone in the food service industry to treat a customer that way is just gross; for someone to run a business that way is just gross. I wanted to walk out of there without paying, because honestly, the food was gross and the service made it even worse. We got an order of egg rolls (that were all lumpia wrapper with no meat, by the way), my Caesar salad? Every piece of lettuce in my salad was the core, so I pretty much picked out the chicken, and to top it off we ordered clams, which wasn't even part of the delay because they forgot to include it in the order all together. Don't even get me started about how he couldn't answer the question about the menu. I'm Filipino, and that was an insult to Filipino food and to Filipino hospitality. I have so many family and friends in the food service industry and for this reason, I have never given less than 20% gratuity. I cringed doing that here, but I honestly wanted to leave nothing. That's how bad the taste Edwin's left in my mouth. Do better next time. No matter who enters your restaurant, treat all your customers with some warmth, no matter who they are, even if they aren't your regulars, don't make out-of-towners feel like you're doing THEM a favor by LETTING you feed them. Everyone who enters your doors helps keeps your doors open. They have a lot of restaurant choices in the area. Don't make them regret choosing yours.

    I really wanted to love this place…read more We came across this cute corner spot in Carmel flying a Filipino flag, and as a Filipino myself, I was so excited to see Filipino food represented here. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to that excitement. After being seated with menus, we waited about 15 minutes without anyone checking in, offering water, or asking for a drink order. It honestly felt like we had walked into a private gathering, as staff were engaged in long conversations with other tables. Since we were already pretty hungry and hadn't even received water, we decided to leave, so I can't comment on the food itself. This is a bit of a late review, as the visit happened just shy of New Year's Eve. To be fair, they may have been understaffed or we came on an off day, but it was still disappointing. I hope others have a better experience.

    Photos
    Edwins Carmel - Javanese Prawn Pasta

    Javanese Prawn Pasta

    Edwins Carmel - House made crispy rolls (aka lumpia)

    House made crispy rolls (aka lumpia)

    Edwins Carmel - Island Kawali

    See all

    Island Kawali

    Barmel - cocktailbars - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...