I went to the Ferrari Challenge dinner at Stonepine a few weeks ago. The famous house and…read moreequestrian property is now a "Private Function" retreat only. No more hotel though rooms are available if part of the function. Think Weddings, Corp Events. If you ever read the Great Gatsby or saw the movie you'd feel like you were back in time. An elegance that felt more European than US.

Wow! Our wedding was at Stonepine Estate and it was an incredible weekend. The venue is so unique…read morefor California and it truly feels like you are transported to Italy. Each space is so well thought out, detailed, and beautiful. We loved the charming Italian feel of the Chateau and the Western contrast of the Double H Ranch. We incorporated both into our wedding day and our guests were continuously wow-d as they moved through the spaces. The venue also needs very minimal decorations for a wedding since it is so grand. We stayed on-site in the Chateau which was so amazing. The grounds are beautiful and it was fun to use the pool and enjoy the many available spaces over our three days there (and the incredible breakfasts!). Stonepine has an amazing team. Oceanne and Ari helped us navigate every detail and gave so much care into the planning of our day. Nathan and Julie were excellent hosts in the Chateau and went above and beyond to make our stay wonderful. The wedding truly could not have been a more beautiful or special day.

Holman Ranch is truly one of the most breathtaking wedding venues in Carmel, and it's always a joy…read moreto photograph weddings there. With sweeping views of the Carmel Valley, a stunning ceremony space, and endless backdrops for portraits, it's a dream location for any couple looking for a timeless and picturesque setting. Every time I work at Holman Ranch, I'm reminded why it's one of my absolute favorite venues--the golden hills, the vineyards, and that iconic tree at the entrance make for the most incredible sunset portraits. Whether capturing intimate moments under the oak trees or heading up the hill for panoramic views, every wedding here feels like pure magic. I can't recommend Holman Ranch enough for couples who want a venue that is as breathtaking as their love story.

My best friend just held her wedding here over the past weekend! Absolutely gorgeous!!! The views…read moreare breathtaking, everybody is so nice, the wine is amazing and it was convenient to park too. She had a wonderful time and was so happy she chose this venue.

mission ranch was on every single carmel-by-the-sea itinerary that i had come across, so i knew i…read morehad to visit at least once! we came around 4 PM for the early grazing/cocktail menu and were seated right away with a front view of the ranch. we mainly came bc we wanted to see the sheep grazing, but we were unfortunately seated behind a giant fireplace and weren't able to see any sheep during our meal... it was also cloudy we went, so the views weren't as nice as i had seen in pics with the sun, but that couldn't be helped ofc! moving onto the food, i'd say that it was overall good but nothing outstanding that would make me come back solely for the food. i think mission ranch is definitely best for the views! - crispy calamari: had a crispy batter, and the calamari was soft with a good chew! - bbq beef ribs: these were really tender and fell off the bone! the sauce was a good sweet & salty balance. - clam chowder: this was okay, but it was missing some depth and clam flavor personally. there were definitely better clam chowders elsewhere in monterey bay and carmel. - garlic bread: good and crispy, but it was just bread LOL it was yummy dipping it into the clam chowder tho! - orange sunrise: this cocktail was kinda expensive for how little alcohol was actually in the drink, and it tasted alright. nothing memorable i'd say. overall, mission ranch was a fun place to visit for the vibes! i think it's a good place to visit at least once during your carmel trip.

My colleague retired so we celebrated her with dinner at Mission Ranch Inn. It was my first time…read moreand the day was overcast but it was still beautiful and we saw the sheep! It was hustling and bustling and we had to wait about 30 minutes for a party of 7. We ordered the filet mignon, prime rib, bacon wrapped porch chop, fish of the day which was sea bass. For dessert not pictured was the crème burlee, bread pudding, and affogato. Some of us got the same meal. I had the prime rib median well and I wasn't expecting it be so big! It was tender and came with veggies and a baked potato. I was pleasantly surprised by how good the veggies were cooked. I'm not a huge fan of squash but I really enjoyed it. I had left overs because of how big the steak was. We also had a basket of garlic bread which was good. It wasn't the best garlic bread I've had but it was and they gave us a lot. I tried both the bread pudding and affogato which were delicious. All were made in house including the ice cream. Overall, it was a great experience as the ambiance was amazing. It was like three different sections: outside, inside, and closer to the bar area which got really packed. I want to return to experience the Sunday brunch.

Blue Fox is family owned wine tasting business in Carmel Valley Village. Their wines are all made…read morefrom grapes harvested in Mendocino county. Their wines are crushed, fermented, and bottled in Mendocino county and the family lives here locally and runs their wine business here in Monterey County (they also have a new tasting room in Monterey). Julia was our hostess and runs the tasting room in the village (and it sounds like she runs their family business as well). My wife and I enjoyed a flight of 5 wines. We liked their reds (Grenache, Syrah, and Zinfandel) more than their whites. All three reds were older 'library' wines, being 10-12 years old, which is unusual and a fun angle to their wine tasting offering. We haven't experienced being served older wines in the neighboring wine rooms, which makes blue fox unique in the village. Blue Fox had an unassuming tasting room, but has spectacular exterior grounds. Lots of room for serving large parties. In fact, they have a beautiful wood burning pizza oven for serving flatbreads on Sunday and have live music on occasion. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Blue Fox and learning about Julia and her husband's family business. We will be back with friends and family on Sundays to try their wood fired flatbreads paired with their delicious Syrah.

Such a nice place with great ambiance & worth the visit here...just it!…read more We had a wonderful time with friends...here for a couple of hours, easy!

Los Laureles Lodge - Carmel Valley I was hesitant to stay…read morehere because the property looked very rustic, but it was one of the recommended hotels for a wedding at Stonepine Estate and a shuttle stop, so I decided to join the group. Unfortunately, the reservation process was a major issue. Despite multiple calls ahead of time confirming room types and occupancy, several reservations were incorrect upon arrival, leaving guests scrambling to find rooms, adjust arrangements, or pay unexpected additional costs. The property itself is rustic but clean. We did not experience any bugs or critters, and the grounds are actually quite nice to explore. The rooms, however, are very basic and dated, with dark wood paneling, minimal amenities, cramped bathrooms, and inconsistent shower temperatures. Our decorative headboard was not securely attached and fell off the wall, which was unsettling, especially since one of the few outlets was underneath it. The refrigerator worked well, and the front desk provided extra towels when requested. The complimentary breakfast was simple but adequate (coffee, tea, hot cocoa, juice, melon, hard-boiled eggs, and coffee cake). We did not use the restaurant or bar during our stay. The property has a pool and event spaces that looked nice, although they seemed quiet during our summer weekend visit. Bonus: there are two resident cats, one very friendly and one more mangy. The best part of our stay was Colin at the front desk. He was kind, helpful, and went above and beyond,helping with questions, last-minute deliveries, and even assisting with a wedding-related printing request. Overall, I'd rate this as a solid 3-star hotel. It's clean, safe, and has a charming rustic setting, but the rooms and amenities are very basic. I would consider staying again only if the price was reasonable and options were limited.

Our visit took place on a Friday around 7 pm. As a group of 4 we showed up with no reservations and…read morethere was luckily one seat available that could accommodate our party. Stepping into Los Laureles felt like we went back in time to an old western saloon, it was dimly lit, rustic and full of character. Our friends recommended the loaded burger, so all 4 of us ended up ordering one. For $20, the loaded Laureles burger comes with bacon, avocado, mushrooms, grilled onions and your choice of Cheddar, Swiss or Bleu cheese. In addition to the burger it comes with fries. For $20, this feels like an absolute steal. I have to say, this burger may be the best burger I've ever had. It was juicy, flavorful, and fully loaded. I will certainly be back and can't wait to share this hidden gem with some friends.

If you are considering Holly Farm as the venue for your wedding, and you just want the tl;dr, then…read morehere are my three most important suggestions for you: 1) You should absolutely go with Holly Farm. 2) You should accept every piece of advice Erin, Ryan, and the rest of the incredible team have for you along the way. 3) You should start getting excited right now about La Creme because their food is out of this world. Picking Holly Farm as our venue was the first choice we made in our wedding planning process, and trust me when I say that it was by far the best one. The pictures speak for themselves, and yes, it's as amazing as it looks (though if you haven't visited, you should take the excuse - it's truly stunning in person), but the real game changer is the team. The Holly Farm fam has been at this for decades, and it SHOWS. They cater to your needs and your vision, whether you want to be super hands on and into the nitty gritty on everything, or whether you want somebody to completely take the reins for you. We were so so appreciative for Erin's help during the planning process; any time we were stuck on something, she had a recommendation ready that was never just "off the shelf". We didn't want to be totally consumed by wedding planning all the time, and even though Erin had a big list of vendors ready to go, we were more than happy to listen every time she said "here's the 2 who I think you guys would love". It's really really telling to me that every single vendor we spoke to - without exception, including the ones we didn't end up choosing - all said some version of the same thing: "oh man I LOVE doing weddings at Holly Farm". Here's what I'll say about the weekend itself - it truly feels like you are staying at a luxury resort where you and your friends are the only guests. The entire staff is so attentive, so friendly, and they take care of all the details and logistics so that your only job really is to just enjoy the weekend and stay relaxed. We cooked a huge friends and family dinner in the Adobe and they cleaned the entire kitchen for us! Anytime we were hanging out in the evenings they rolled the portable heaters up without us asking! They moved our rental equipment around to make cool outdoor spaces for us so that we could get more use out of it than just the wedding itself! And nothing felt so satisfying as passing by Ryan on a path and hearing "hey I just lit your fireplace for you!". Of everything we loved about our wedding, the thing we loved most was getting to have this full weekend experience with our closest friends and family in one place, made truly special by the care the entire Holly Farm team put into making us feel at ease and at home. And one final thing - lest I leave you with the impression that this is only about good vibes - the operations for the wedding itself were incredible. Every vendor knows the team and knows the venue, everything works like clockwork without you having to supervise anything, and Erin, Ryan, and their staff have things so tightly coordinated that we didn't have to stress about logistics at all once the weekend got started. I can't emphasize enough how big a difference that made to us compared to some horror stories we'd heard from other weddings. Here are some final quick hits on other things you might be wondering about - but seriously, pick Holly Farm: - I didn't write an entire review for Tamie and La Creme, because it would be just as long, but they do amazing work. This is straight up excellent food, not excellent "wedding" food. - The rooms and buildings are very cool and very comfortable. - Yes, the Paraiso suite is "open air". Yes, it really does stay warm. Having a roaring fire in there, plus a heated blanket on the bed....A+. - The optional River House for extra space is definitely walkable (~3 mins), but it's nice to have flashlights at night. - Having the flexibility to use the space however you want for the entire weekend is a highly highly underrated perk. We had people hanging out on Thursday and Friday and it was a ton of fun. Highly recommend making plans that utilize the space every day. - We were nervous about the higher cost at first, but asking friends and family who stayed on site to pay for rooms turned out to not be a very big deal, and what we charged them was still way less than area hotels. - The music has to switch from DJ's speakers to house speakers at 9:30pm, but the house speakers can stay on all night if you want. We had just as much fun after the switchover. - No curfew is also a huge perk not to overlook. Erin and Ryan if you're reading this THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN YOU GUYS ARE ROCK STARS!!

As my husband and I drive up the central coast to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary, we…read morethought this was the perfect time to share a little bit about our insanely incredible experience getting married at Holly Farm. Our wedding was an absolute dream come true. The love we had for each other and for our family and friends that traveled from across the country to celebrate with us was reflected in the beauty and spirit of Holly Farm and all of the wonderful folks that work there. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the warmth and charm of the space. It was as if every inch of the venue was designed to make us and our guests feel at home, while still capturing an elevated, magical atmosphere that was simply unforgettable. Everyone at Holly Farm went above and beyond to ensure each detail of our wedding weekend was flawless. Their attention to detail was extraordinary, and it was clear they genuinely cared about making our day perfect. Ryan and Erin were so caring and attentive, and they made us feel like family. They were there for every little detail and made us feel completely at ease. The food, catered by La Creme, was nothing short of five star restaurant quality. We've received countless compliments from our guests about how delicious everything was! This was a big deal, especially coming from our families who are used to extravagant New Jersey weddings with an abundance of food. They all told us it was the best wedding food they'd ever had, which is about the highest praise you can get from a family who knows food! Everything about The Holly Farm was perfect--from the gorgeous, tropical setting that felt like a hidden paradise against the coastal backdrop of Carmel to the impeccable service and food. We couldn't have imagined a more beautiful, heartfelt, and memorable experience, and our friends and family STILL haven't stopped raving about it! Our wedding weekend was made even more special thanks to the onsite haciendas where we, along with some of our close friends, stayed. The houses were cozy yet luxurious, and perfectly appointed with a level of service that truly felt five-star. Each detail was perfect, from the unbelievably comfortable beds to the wood burning fires that were lit by hand each night and the wonderful house staff that made everyone feel at home the moment they arrived. Getting to spend the whole weekend in such an enchanting space made the whole wedding feel so much more special, a truly immersive experience vs a single-day event. We loved discovering the countless nooks and crannies throughout the property where our friends and family could relax, chat, and soak in the surroundings. It created a sense of intimacy and closeness that made the entire experience feel so special. When the weekend was over, we genuinely didn't want to leave. Heck, we may even crash the wedding that's probably getting ready to kick off this weekend! The Holly Farm made every moment magical, and we will forever cherish our time spent there with the people we love most.

Folktale is hands down my favorite winery in the area. Not only is it gorgeous but the wine and…read morefood are delish and the service is always next level. As a local I am really excited about all the live events they have going on and love that you don't have to be a member to go to any of it. it's a perfect spot to bring in out of town visitors or just a lovely Friday night with friends. Folk yeahhh!!!

Nick was our server today. He was so kind and knowledgeable in the wine. I have never been wine…read moretasting before and he made such good recommendations. He was nice, funny, and made this experience so nice. I appreciate the service and the ambiance of the winery. I would come back!

Sofanya came through for us to make our wedding dreams come true despite super chaotic…read morecircumstances. When our wedding venue fell through a week before our wedding because they refused to let us put up a canopy to get out of the rain, she was kind enough to let us rent our cottage two days early and gave us several location options for our ceremony, whatever would suit us best. She helped me get ready & offered as much love, kindness & support as she could offer. Then, when the weather turned south & started storming extremely heavily during our outdoor ceremony, she generously opened up her own home to us in the top floor of the beautiful dome house to complete our special day. She truly saved the day for us, and treated us like family. The location couldn't be more beautiful. Everywhere you look, beautiful art peeks through the landscape as if placed thete by fairies, and the beauty of nature here creates a sense of tranquility among the redwoods crawling with ivy. Beautiful photo opportunities everywhere you look. A true hippy paradise! The Cala Lily Cottage was cozy, private and intimate, and we felt right at home. PLEASE avoid wasting your money at overpriced, inhospitable cabins/campgrounds out at big sur and come here instead, where you'll be treated like a treasured guest. My new husband and I look forward to returning on an anniversary!

What an aptly named little slice of paradise. Only a few minutes from breathtaking views of the…read morecoast, you take one turn and suddenly you are immersed in a lush redwood forest. This place is magical. I have so many good things to say about the Jewel in the Forest and Sofanya. I feel connected to them now as they are a part of my story, and I'm so grateful for that! On October 1st, I married my best friend in a small 10 person ceremony at the Jewel in the Forest. It was the most perfect day of my life, and there could not have been a better place for it. We rented out all 4 of the cabins on property to accommodate all of our guests. That allowed us to stay together and bond through the whole experience, while still providing ample privacy and sleeping space for our guests The Dome House is the most beautiful place I have ever stayed in my life. From the skylights that allow you a peek of the tops of the redwood trees, to the eclectic and beautiful furniture and decorations, to the wood burning heater, topped off by Sofanya's amazing artwork, it is truly an immersive experience. Sofanya provides games, movies, books, musical instruments, and a full kitchen. Everything you need for the perfect escape. We cut our cake and drank champagne as a group of about 12 in the living space comfortably. Most of our guests stayed at the Jasmine house, which has 3 private rooms and a large living space where we all enjoyed dinner the night before the ceremony. Sofanya even strung up the cutest string lights on the patio for us so we could enjoy the outside space as well. My parents stayed in the adorable Calla Lily cabin, which is perfect for a couple or small family. It is cozy and charming. Our photographer stayed up in the adorable Lotus Blossum, which had the most spectacular windows and a one of a kind outside bathroom. So cool! We held our ceremony near the stream amongst the redwoods. It was breathtaking. Overall, the space was beyond perfect for what we needed. Each of the cabins are unique and have so much character. I recommend that EVERYONE visit and escape from reality to this magical place at some point in your life. You won't regret it. Now, I have to say a few things about Sofanya. She is wonderful! She really went above and beyond making sure our wedding was perfect. She hung the aforementioned lights for me, provided several bouquets around the property, received packages with things for my wedding for me ahead of time, and ensured everyone's comfort the whole stay. Thank you so much for all you did to make my wedding truly perfect Sofanya.

We have been to Bernardus at least 5 times now, it never changes. The staff is awesome, the food is…read moreamazing, and the beauty is second to none. Starting with Michael in reservations, to the first impression with Miguel at the valet. The front desk is always smiling and welcoming, and is a fingertip away if needed. The management is wonderful, we will miss Alysse but wish her well on her new job. Wait staff is always amazing, Kerry and Henry (I am so sorry if I got this wrong) Housekeeping is so friendly, the turndown is the added touch to a wonderful stay. The rose garden is beautiful, and so peaceful. We will be back!

My father loved taking us here for their BBQ's . My girlfriends and I love this spa for girls' days…read moreand the restaurant is superb. We have had a lot of wonderful family celebrations at Bernadus restaurant. It is a splurge for me to stay here, but my bougie sisters tend to prefer Bernardus, as their is no longer room at the inn ( my brother's house in Carmel. If there is sun on the Monterey Peninsula, this is where you will find it.

We had the pleasure of working with Coastside Couture for our wedding in Nov of 2022 and we are…read morestill reminiscing about the incredible day they helped us create. From the very beginning, their team was dedicated to understanding our vision and bringing it to life in ways that exceeded our expectations. They dug deep to get to know us and our families and words can't do them justice. One of the standout aspects of their amazing work was their recommendation and orchestration(no pun intended) for a band that matched and exceeded our hopes for a lit and epic dance floor. The energy and talent of the band they suggested turned our reception into an unforgettable celebration. Our guests are still talking about how much fun they had dancing the night away. The attention to detail and commitment to excellence from Heidi, Sonja, and Harley were evident in every aspect of our wedding. They managed to seamlessly blend elegance and fun, creating moments that reflected my husband and myself and will be memories we will literally never forget. Also I reflect now on how much stress they removed from our lives and I am eternally grateful. We have no idea all the ways they just allowed us to have fun in the process. We truly believe that our wedding was one of the best day of our lives, and much of that is thanks to the hard work and dedication of this dream team. If you are looking for a wedding planning company that will go above and beyond to make your day as special as possible, we highly recommend Coastside Couture. Their expertise, passion, and personal touch made our wedding day epic and unforgettable. Love them!!

Heidi, Sonja and Harley were great to work with for our wedding. We started working with Heidi 9…read moremonths before our wedding in Carmel Valley and she immediately started reserving/confirming vendors that we absolutely loved. She is experienced, and really knows the area and the best vendors to work with. She managed to reserve one highly in-demand vendor before we had even finalized our contract with her, anticipating that it would be the best option for us (which it was). That is how forward-thinking and proactive Heidi is - a true godsend for two people with busy schedules and very little time to plan a wedding. Without Heidi, our wedding would be an absolute shadow of the wonderful event that it turned out to be with her at the helm. We recommend Heidi for any event in and around Carmel, particularly for those individuals with tight schedules, busy lives or far reaching visions of what you want out of your event. She really focuses on personalizing your wedding day to reflect the couple's tastes and vision. Heidi and her incredible team will move heaven and earth to make sure that you have the event that you want. We hope that we will have many opportunities to work with Heidi and her team in the future. To Heidi and her team - thank you for everything.