Our friends bought us a private tour - Enjoy Carmel by Carmel Food Tours. We would highly recommend…read moreCarmel Food Tours - we thought they did a great job. They were super responsive when we wanted to book our tour with just a few days notice - so mad props for their fast, friendly service in getting us booked so quickly!! Our guide was friendly and very knowledgeable about Carmel, and provided an overview about the area and was very willing to answer any questions we had. We enjoyed chatting with her throughout the 4 hour experience. We enjoyed tastes from 5-6 different locations throughout the downtown Carmel area. We were definitely provided a lot of variety and everything was delicious - from doughnuts and coffee and nuts to French onion soup and sushi. We had the opportunity at one of the locations (Toro) to have an interactive experience, spending time speaking with the general manager learning the background about the restaurant. We also had a special sake tasting featuring three different sakes. It was a very unique experience and the sushi was also extremely fresh and delicious. Overall, it was a good experience and we were able to enjoy a nice variety of food that local restaurants provide. Important tips for future tour goers: 1. Don't eat before going on a food tour. We thankfully didn't eat -otherwise, we would not have been able to enjoy the food tour to its fullest. 2. Don't book any reservations to restaurants that same day. We were still stuffed by the time it was time to go to dinner - and that was more than 5 hours later!

This was such an amazing experience! I learned so much about Carmel. Our tour guide Bonnie was…read moregreat! All the food and wine stops were exquisite! Lives this and will definitely do this again!

We had the opportunity to cook with Valerie as a fun Fathers Day gift. It was a intimate setting as…read moreour own private session. She was fabulous including Dad who wanted to learn to cook fish better and involving the kids. It was a gourmet experience with a custom meal and two types of fish, marinated grilled artichokes and a delicious puff pastry appetizer. We now have new cooking and knife skills that will last us all a lifetime! She was very flexible, patient and thorough. Her time is worth every penny.

We had a very fun and productive evening with Valarie. She managed six adults and two children with…read moreease and grace. We learned new recipes, including four sauces. Thank you Valerie for making it a memorable evening for our family.

Staff were organized, friendly, and fast! We went straight out across the street and were kayaking…read morewithin 10min of checking in! Advice for a simple trip, bring flip flops/water shoes, a change of clothes (at least pants), and a towel. They have a restroom but more importantly they have dressing rooms and complimentary HEATED towels! Only problem is there really isn't a "secure" place to store your stuff, but it is pretty safe behind their counter! Great adventure!!

We rented a two row bike to get some excercise and ride around Cannery row. It was a nice cruise…read morestarting from Lover's point beach. The girls working here were friendly and helpful. We took a few breaks to just take in the views. Of all the times I visited Monterey, I'm glad we did this with our kids this go around. There's a basket in the front with a seatbelt for the younger kids. It was an enjoyable activity for our whole family and the weather was beautiful. We got to see the seals the Monterey bay Aquarium are trying so hard to keep safe. We rotated so all of us got to ride in the back and enjoyed the cruise. I recommend this activity if you have other adults, older kids (teens and up) or if your little ones can fit in the basket. Not the in between ages, there aren't any seatbelts or safety restraints. If you are in the area keep this activity in mind. It's cost friendly and the views are beautiful.

Much more fun than I thought it would be, when my 8 year old asked if we could do this I thought…read morealright we can but I can't imagine it'll be great, but I was definitely wrong, it was great fun and I'd do it again. We did the hour tour but could have easily done a 2 hour one, time went by so quickly on that thing. Plus they're really easy to operate, my 78 year old mom did it with one of my kids and they managed to have fun and be safe. It's enjoyable and would recommend as a nice way to see town, and can easily spend 2 hours or more on this, very fun!

i've never done anything like this so it was definitely exhilarating!! skrtttt driving on the…read moreactual street down the pacific grove highway for the scenic view. felt like i was in mario kart. would do again and recommend to everyone visiting monterey bay

To say this team only provides an exceptional food experience would be selling them short. More…read moreaccurately they deliver an experience that would leave any world class Butler, Maitre d, Server or Chef in awe. They say the difference between average and exceptional is in the details. These guys take it to a whole new level. Our group of 9 wanted for nothing over the entire weekend. Cocktails. check. Wine. check. Appetizers and Hors d'ouevres. check. Amazing dinners. check. Attentive service including clean up. check. Even an extra run to the store because someone needs more tequila and snacks! All done without asking. Carmel Private Chef is the real deal. We'll be using them again.

The best service ever. I would highly recommend them. They go above and beyond and help bring your…read moreevent to life by creating a highly curated and tailored culinary experience. They brought in food from local farms, wine from their favorite wineries and went above and beyond in every detail.

We've been coming to this art class 3x now and intend to continue coming for the kid's art class on…read moreWednesday. My daughter truly enjoys the class and intends to turn her room into an art studio. Tami, the owner, is a wonderful art teacher and truly great with kids. She also provides snacks and drinks for them as well. I'm looking forward to trying one of their craft classes. The studio itself is clean and inviting. We just love this place!

Hosted my daughter's 9th birthday party at the studio with Tami. I'm so thankful I did!…read more My daughter and her friends had a great time painting, eating pizza and cupcakes. Tami made the painting of the unicorn easy that every girl enjoyed the event and they were proud of their artwork. I highly recommend planning your next party with Tami. She made the party planning stress feel, and my daughter loved picking out what her friends would paint. The space of the studio was perfect and so cute with twinkle-lights and artwork all over. This place is such a gem for Gilroy! My daughter looks forward to going again to paint just for fun on one of studio's themed painting afternoons.

Carmel is a great escape. It has a special charm and dramatic beach landscapes with blue waters,…read morecliffs and majestic cypress trees. It is quaint, perfect for a 1-2 stop, great to stroll on Ocean Ave. and check out the art galleries, the nice shops and enjoy a fresh seafood meal. Life stops its fast pace while here. Wear layers! I always get cold here and bring comfy shoes to explore the small, cute town! A landmark of California!

Brought family down to see Big Sur. We stopped by Carmel to get some food…read more I love that this has got to be the most dog friendly city in California. Almost all restaurants and stores are accommodating. Saw couple of people picking up after their dogs. Also saw plenty of trash cans. Also street parking is still free, if you can find a spot.