Earthbound Farm Stand is a total gem. We stopped by on a Sunday morning for some grocery shopping…read moreand were so impressed by how beautifully maintained the entire market is. Everything is fresh, organic, and well-organized. The experience is more than just shopping, though. Their cafe serves delicious sandwiches (perfect for a quick lunch), and there is a great seating area to relax. For those with kids, the garden space is a lifesaver--it's a safe, open area for them to run around and play while you enjoy your meal. Definitely a must-visit for families in the Monterey area!

A really cute farm stand with a garden in the back! We came to check out the market inside which…read moresells Earthbound produce, local specialty food products, flowers and doubles as a cafe. We grabbed a cold brew to go and then wandered around the garden in the back. It wasn't the season for berries but I loved walking through herb garden and trying to identify what herbs there were. The backyard space is great for dining outside on a sunny day and it's the ideal spot for a picnic. They also sell local beer and wine which you can get by the glass!

This place is awesome. The service is top tier- so friendly and also so quick! They were great…read morehosts. The vibe inside is also very fun. There is some really cool art on the walls, and seems to tell a story. I'd recommend trying to sit in the middle section if possible- it has a cool mural around the whole room that's very fun. We sat in the front by the window and it was cool but I'd love to be by the mural next time. We split an order of the cheese blintzes and a waffle with eggs and sausage. All of it was amazing. The blintzes were so rich, it would have been a lot to eat by itself, so I'm glad we split it. The waffle was incredible, and the rest of the meal was also solid. It was also just so quick. Even though they seemed busy, we were in and out in a relatively short period of time on a Monday morning in May.

Amazing experience from start to finish! We were seated right away, and after ordering. Our food…read morewas served very quickly after ordering. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive making sure my coffee was always refilled, which I really appreciated!! Everything we ate was absolutely delicious. The only downside is how small the café is. I just wish it were bigger because it's so good! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Carmel. P.S. Try the pancakes!!!

Holllyy. The best bakery I've ever had! &…read moreI'm that person that sees out bakeries everywhere I go! - get there by 10:30/11 for the best baked goods! - try: fruit tart, almost croissant, chocolate croissant Cute, homegrown, very nice staff!

I visited at the recommendation of a friend. I was headed to Carmel and decided to stop for…read morebreakfast. There was quite a line early Saturday morning. It didn't look like it died down which is awesome for this business. I believe I waited 20-30 minutes in line before I reached the display case. There were so many delicious things to choose from, it was a challenge to decide! I opted for a croissant sandwich, a blue corn cookie, and some sweet treats for the beach. I also ordered a seasonal latte, I believe it was cherry chocolate with oat milk less sweet. There's a nice outdoor seating area with many tables in chairs. Since the weather was nice we decided to stop and eat for a bit. The ambience was very nice and calm. The food was delicious and their house made pickles were fantastic. They were crisp, fresh, and complimented the turkey sandwich so well. The blue corn cookie was very interesting and reminiscent of a tortilla chip. I'd definitely come back here if I were in the area.

Cute little coffee spot, they are very friendly and their coffee is delicious. Definitely our new…read morespot for a quick pick me up while in Monterey.

Lovely cafe! Quick, good service, great ambiance, and tasty pastries and coffee!…read more This place is a vibe and I love all of the decor! We didn't try any of the hot food like their burritos so I can't say if they're good but the New York crumb cake was just what I expected, simple, not too sweet, and moist! It went perfectly with my caramel macchiato which was piping hot, not too milky nor too sweet! We'll be back! Overall, very solid cafe and great spot to grab a small bite and beverage!

On a rainy afternoon in Monterey, we were wandering around Fisherman's Wharf looking for something…read morewarm, coffee or tea, and a cozy spot with a view of the water. After lunch at Sand Dabs, we stumbled across this really cute café, and it ended up being the perfect stop. When we walked in, the first thing we noticed was that they were making fresh taiyaki, those sweet, fish-shaped pastries. The fillings offered were red bean, Nutella, and Oreo. There's a small discount if you order two, so we started with the red bean and Nutella, and honestly, they were so good that wished we ordered the Oreo too...warm, freshly made, and really delicious. I'll admit, I've had Taiyaki desserts before and was never a huge fan, sometimes they're bland or overly sweet. These were different. Even my friend said the same thing, we were both pleasantly surprised by how good they were. We both ordered hot teas, which felt perfect for the rainy weather, and I was totally intrigued by their ramen vending machines. You pick your ramen, choose your toppings, place it in the machine, and it fills with hot water and cooks right there. A few minutes later, your bowl is ready. It felt very Asia-inspired and not something you see very often around here, especially in a café setting. This spot is the café version of their main restaurant, which I believe is on Alvarado Street (I haven't been there yet). The service was genuinely great. The guys working were friendly, patient, and took the time to explain everything to us without rushing. You could tell they enjoyed what they were doing. Because it was raining, it wasn't crowded at all, which made the experience even better. We ended up hanging out for about an hour, just chatting, sipping tea, enjoying dessert, and looking out at the water. They also carry Marianne's Ice Cream, so I'm already planning a return visit on a warmer day. And honestly, next time I'll probably try the ramen too, if only for the fun of it and all the topping choices. Parking around the wharf is paid. We parked in a nearby lot and walked over, which was pretty easy, just something to keep in mind. Overall, the vibe was fun, cozy, and relaxed. Great desserts, a unique experience, kind staff, and a really nice place to spend a rainy afternoon by the water. I'll definitely be back.

I thought the cafe name was super cute. After browsing the menu, I decided to give this place a…read moretry. It's the only place that offers matcha/taiyaki so I thought it was worth a go. I ordered the mango matcha latte, which was a whopping $8.75 ($9.55 after tax). I gulped pressing the "pay" button; part of me wanted to swallow the doubt and see if it was any good. TLDR: it was bad. I'm not sure what the mango is made out of, but it is not smooth like a mango jam or puree. The texture is like blended up unripened mango meat. I will say, matcha taste is there, but the entire drink was just extremely sweet and there was little to no mango taste, besides chewing on the chunks in each sip. It's as if the drink was purposely made extremely sweet to hide the quality of the matcha and fruit. I tried finishing the drink since I paid nearly $10 for it but I couldn't, and had to throw the rest away. However, the worker who made my drink was kind and seems very friendly. The interior is very simple and cute, and there is a nice view of the ocean from the outside seating. I just wouldn't recommend the matcha here. Especially for what I paid for, I am pretty disappointed! :(

Excellent little Paraguayan snack bar!!…read more I saw this spot while scrolling thru Yelp's nearby function and curiosity of their yerba mate and empanadas brought me in. I was still feeling kind of sick but wanted something hot to drink so I ordered a mate latte with oat milk. I also had one of their beef empanadas to take away so I could eat it later. Mate latte was great and definitely would get this drink again. They also have a smoked mate drink and I would definitely come back to try this too! You have to like yerba mate to fully appreciate this drink. The mate latte is kind of a light version of what mate is like. Maybe start with this first to prepare you for traditional mate. If you get traditional mate, be prepared to have your mouth jolted and doing jumping jacks, its definitely stimulating and I love it! Later when I reached my destination, I ate the beef empanada with chimichurri sauce provided and it was delicious! After I polished it off, I had wished I brought a few more to take with me. But, at $9.50 a piece, they aren't cheap, so keep that in mind. They also have other Paraguayan/South American offerings here and I was so tempted to get a mini alfajor as it was eyeing me in the display case that said EAT ME (like Alice in Wonderland), but I did not give into this, but I so wish I did!! I will definitely come back here again and again when visiting Monterey! A true gem and next time, I have to check out their secret back garden too!

K this was not our first pick but we wanted to go to 1st awakening which is half a block away but…read moretheir wait was 2 hrs so we stumbled upon this cafe and we were lucky to. No long wait times. Outdoor seating in the back patio. The empanadas are sooo good. Best ones that I've had. So crispy and filled with vegetables and soy. The soy croquettes were so tender and creamy. We are vegetarian so that's what we got. got. I wanted to go for more seconds.

This spot is located conveniently on the street that we take to walk down to the beach. We visited…read moreit a couple of times during our latest trip. From the outside, the place looks like a little hole in the wall with just a sign outside and an A-frame advertising their specials. When you step inside, however, it is surprisingly roomie with a few places to sit. My +1 tried the lavender latte (with honey) and liked it so much that she ordered it again. I'm not one for lavender, but I took a sip just to try it, and the latte was very pleasant and the honey added just the right amount of sweetness. I on the other hand, opted for the Tidal Wave, which was their blend of energy drink, and raspberry syrup added. It was admittedly, a little sweet, but I found myself ordering it again. Also just because I needed that extra kick, and the sugar didn't bother me with all the walking we were doing. There are several coffee shops that we visited in Carmel, and we found things to like about every one, but we did find ourselves walking into this one every time we were nearby

Visiting Downtown Carmel after a business event. Walking around just after 530pm on a Wednesday in…read morethe rain looking for a place to Sit and have a cup and enjoy what Carmel had to offer. I saw a man walking with a cup of coffee so I asked and he directed us down a little shopping alley to TCCS. The door was open (we my photo) so we walked in. A customer had just gotten her drink From a female employee who Was behind the counter. There were other customers In the shop as well. A male employee was in another part of the store nearby. The female walked out from the counter and talked with the male About she was out of there and that the male could use something to make coffee, or not, she did not care. The male saw us and walked behind the counter but did not address us at all. He Started Stocking shelves. Other people Walked in and were ignored as well. No Hi or welcome from either or it will be just a minute. We were throughly ignored and waited an unreasonable amount of time without acknowledgement and/or service. So we left. Not the friendly Carmel greeting we had hoped for actually completely the opposite. We definitely won't be back. We walked one street over to All about the chocolate and had an awesome experience and a good latte. I checked the CCH hours and saw they close at 500pm I get it but close your door and if not tell People your Closed. Nothing was said to us nor did we see any Sign up that said closed. Also there were customers there. I stand by My review.

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.

On our almost 8 hour trek to San Francisco, my BFF planned for us to reserve an inn in Carmel to…read moresleep and rest up before we finish the last leg of our trip. One of the things I was looking forward to on our leisurely drive up the 101 freeway to the Bay Area was the 17-mile drive in the Carmel/Monterey area close to the Pebble Beach PGA golf course. After a restful respite, we started on the 17-mile drive that included 17 stops to take beautiful and breathtaking pictures. We had planned to eat breakfast during this scenic drive and decided to stop at #14 to grub at the Gallery Cafe, which overlooks the start of the Pebble Beach golf course. The Gallery Cafe served one of the best biscuits and gravy, flapjacks, and a cinnamon roll that was to die for. Besides the memorable food, we received excellent customer service from our server Ana. Gallery Cafe is located where the Pebble Beach golf course starts. Specifically, it can be found at Spot #14 of the 17-mile drive. It's just a short walk from the Welcome Center, a short walk up from The Lodge, and it just above where the Pebble Beach golf course shops and restaurants can be found. There is plenty of visitor parking. As you enter the restaurant, you'll be immersed with framed pics of some of golf's greats like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. One of the great things about dining here is seeing golfers hit their first drive towards the fairway of one of the best golf courses in the world. It's a spacious restaurant with wooden tables and cushioned seats. There is plenty of covered outdoor seating where you get a closer look of the golf course. There's also bar top seating for adult beverages. Make sure to pay for the 17-mile drive because that fee will be taken off of your bill if you spend more than $35. Our server Ana provided attentive, friendly, and impeccable customer service providing great recommendations. Service was prompt and Ana checked on us at a good pace. When the wifey and I discussed what we wanted to eat for breakfast, I asked that we eat somewhere that served a traditional breakfast. At the Pebble Beach golf course, there are several options to dine at. We initially thought we'd look for a restaurant at The Lodge, but as we were walking, I saw a staff member and asked where a good restaurant was to eat breakfast and he recommended the Gallery Cafe. They serve a variety of coffee, blended drinks, omelets and egg plates, specialties, griddle dishes, traditional breakfast items, and sides and small bites. I selected a biscuit and gravy, stack of 3 pancakes, and my wife and I shared the recommended house-made sticky roll. That biscuit and gravy was one of the best I've ever eaten. The biscuit was fresh, rosemary flavored, and covered with a creamy, hearty, and savory gravy. It was really tasty and I enjoyed every single bite. The pancakes were fresh, sprinkled with powder sugar, and I made sure to coat each flapjack with their whipped butter. They were a good size and I couldn't finish all three pancakes. Make sure to order the house-made sticky roll, which is made fresh daily, comes in a cinnamon swirl, and it's covered with warm cream cheese frosting. It was too beautiful to eat, but we couldn't resist and loved how luscious it was. This sticky roll satisfied our sweet tooth, it was creamy, and the cream cheese frosting was finger licking delicious. If you're visiting Carmel/Monterey, I highly recommend experiencing the 17-mile drive. Part of that drive will involve visiting spot #14, so make sure to stop here to enjoy delectable grub at the Gallery Cafe.

We have eaten lunch at Gallery Cafe many times. We bike 17 mile drive and stop here for lunch. It's…read morean awesome location, with beautiful views of the golf course and peek-a-boo ocean views. The outdoor terrace is especially nice on a warm day, like today. I have ordered almost everything on the menu and all of it is good to great. My go to is chicken quesadilla and hubs fave is the Reuben. These are both solid. Service is great here. If you order a soda, they are all about keeping your glass full. Thanks for that! We prefer to come to this restaurant over riding all the way into downtown Carmel, where prices are higher and the food isn't better. If you eat at the restaurant, your admission to 17 mile drive is comped. So there you go! Have a great lunch!

REALLY good Vietnamese food. I ate the garlic noodles per recommendation…read more I get to eat a lot of good Vietnamese food, especially Pho and banh-mi sandwiches up in the San Francisco Bay Area. So I wasn't expecting anything special when I walked into this place. But this is definitely a step above simply good fare. I'll be back for more.

We went for Memorial Day and the small interior dining space was packed!…read more We had to wait a while to get seated, to order, and to get our food so we easily spent over 2 hours there, which isn't ideal for 60 min street parking. They also forgot my beef pho combo after bringing out all of the other entrees. With that said, the food was pretty good. Egg rolls were crispy and flavorful, beef pho broth was clean tasting and not too salty with premium beef cuts and good noodles (though it had smaller noodle portion), garlic noodles with ribeye were enjoyed by the kiddos, and the chicken wings were tasty. The prices were also higher by a few $ than the usual Vietnamese places back in the East bay with larger portions. We just went on a busy holiday so our experience suffered a bit but I'm sure going on a regular day and/or getting takeout would have been better.