The duck might've been the best thing I've eaten in a very long time. I enjoyed the grilled oysters, heirloom rice (usually my go-to), dry aged duck, and the sticky toffee pudding. I have no complaints. Thank you! c: read more

Solstice - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Big Sur, California

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What a little gems this is for Big sur Area, it is the same caliber as Sierra Mar at Post Ranch. Beautifully decorated with dimlite ambiance. The cocktails and they make a mean martini, one of the best really. From.the hostest to all the staff are so friendly and the resolution to the minor issue we had was generous in their part. The Bread was one of the best, we ended up ordered a second round. The ingredients were farm fresh and effort to have the food delicate and bright and well balance was there with the exception of the Trout. The red cabbage was extra salty for all of us so we didn't touch the food. We shared the feedback just so chef can lighten a salt a bit for the next guests. They offer to refried the food but we were done with the meal. They took care of our first round of drinks, we asked to pay for it but they refused. So appreciate the effort but truly the feedback was for chef to make adjustments. We end up paying for the cocktails in tip as we know how hard for small business to survive in this economy. All in all we had a wonderful evening despite of the hiccup with the fish and will be back for new menu options when the season changed. read more

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We had an incredible meal last night at Solstice. I'd never been - If you live in Carmel, Monterey, the Highlands, PG, or Big Sur or are visiting the area, and you haven't been here yet, it's worth the (gorgeous) drive! One of the best restaurants on the coast, I'd say. For starters, the ambience and cuisine is unparalleled. Rustic, natural wood, an epic wood plank full bar - and casually cool interior and outdoor seating overlooking the forest with lanterns swaying in the breeze- And all with an elevated focus on local, sustainable and organic ingredients (and wines). The menu changes once in a while, and they have the cutest coffee shop with lunches and wine to go, should you be trekking around if sure during the day. I'm a Carmel local now by way of NYC, and I've been seeking a restaurant that has this rare blend of conscious, well-crafted, chef-driven food - that's straightforward enough that you actually want to eat it, in an environment that feels local and worldly (and otherworldly) all at the same time. Best sourdough bread I've ever had, from their 160 year old starter. An avocado that's cold-smoked with a divine seed blend and flaxseed cracker that melts in your mouth. Black cod - so easy to get wrong but here it's perfect, including a corn wrap and foraged chanterelles. The chef described every element of the dishes - down to the microgreens brought in each week by a local without a phone, but with a stellar garden, apparently. The fire crackles in the kitchen, as the wood is brought in and stacked, and the chef fans the coals by hand. The wine selection- out of this world. I'm telling you...just go! read more

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The ambiance, service and food were delightful. Depth of flavor and interesting combinations. A real gem. We are vegetarians so it's often hard to find gastronomical fare but this blew us away. The lentils were surprisingly rich and the gnocchi just light pillows. The desserts dreamy. We will be back. Well done. Share feedback read more

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Fantastic attention to detail and balance of ingredients . The food and ambiance are great! The staff are engaged and excited to be there. I can't wait to go back. read more

Solstice - Brokaw Avocado - cold smoked avocado with tomato miso and assorted seeds. One of our favorite dishes of the night. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Big Sur, California

Absolutely fantastic experience! Exactly what I was looking for when I was here to visit. Beautifully tucked away location with great parking by the river. Four course menu was to die for. Hats off to the chef(s)! The ambiance in the dining room was lovely. Great music too! Natalia was our server. She was very knowledgeable and thoughtful. We felt very welcomed, cozy, and now I'm full with delicious food. I HIGHLY recommend read more

Solstice - Dinning room vibes - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Big Sur, California

We accidentally discovered Solstice last year when there was zero online information but luckily open reservations! We were blown away by every aspect of the experience. The service was impeccable the setting warm and thoughtfully surprising and the food... my god the food was elevating. We couldn't wait to go back! We tried Solstice again in the fall of 2024 (milestone bday) and though it was good it just didn't inspire and we wondered - was our first experience an outlier? Well I am happy to say that NO - it wasn't. We went back again in Aug25 and, if anything, the food surpassed our first date there. I am still remembering the squid hugging tomatoes on a bed of plums. A religious experience- Go to Solstice!!!! read more

This place is so refreshing. My wife and I have been everywhere in Big Sur and payed way too much just to eat mediocre food at a great location. This place absolutely shines when it comes to the location, atmosphere, and especially ESPECIALLY the quality and care put into the food and drinks. The founders are in the restaurant putting in the work and you can tell it's an absolute passion project for them and it is reflected in every detail. I can't wait to come back. I just don't understand how this place isn't packed out the doors every night. It's really a cool experience even if you get a slice of bread and a cocktail you're guaranteed to leave happy. read more

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This might be one of the greatest restaurants I've tried in the Bog Sur area ever. I can't stop thinking about the beans and rice dish. It's one of those dishes that sounds like a meh, but stays with you fo a lifetime. read more

This place is a gem. The food was amazing as was accompanied by great service and ambience. My wife and i both walked out saying it was one of the best meals we've ever had. We both had the prefix. I had the steak tartar, lobster, sea bass and a chocolate desert and she had the beets, lobster, chicken and apple desert. Can't say enough. Enjoy read more

Great food and ambiance. It feels very chic and modern. Our server Natalia was also excellent. This is a gem in the middle of the beautiful redwoods. read more

I think I set my sights too high for Solstice and was ultimately let down. The service was great except for one small thing, more on that later. But the food is where it needs to shine, and they fell short there. That said, they used phenomenal ingredients and that was clear. Bread was the best thing we had. The crudo was fresh, but the sauce left something to be desired. Rice was texturally interesting. Got the trout entree which was underdone by about a minute. Asked server about it and she maintained it was safe. Im sure internal temp was a tad underdone though from the way the fish was flaking. My biggest gripe with the trout was that the fish was not salted at all. It was completely bland. I asked for salt and got a judgy look from the server and brought it up to which she defended with another look. I wasn't going to argue about how the fish should have been cooked but serving a piece of unsalted and undercooked fish in a restaurant at this caliber is unacceptable. Solstice is aspiring for a certain level and it missed the mark for me. It's a shame because I really wanted to like it. At least it was a beautiful drive down to Big Sur. read more

My friend and I were visiting Big Sur and were given a tip about a newish restaurant there called Solstice...we checked it out and it did not disappoint. The vibe is deep wood and sweet lighting classic, rustic mixed with midcentury modern complete with a disco ball that gently casts shadows on the room. The food, each course (we did the prix fix) was a celebration of the food on the plate. The Lamb I had with the mushrooms was exquisite as was the smoked avocado. The service--A+--just great people who obviously love working there, together. AS I left I found another room near the bar where I would love to get lost in with one of their killer beverages. This meal was not cheap. But if you are going to blow it, this is the place to do so. read more

Beautiful place.... But a train wreck in service and gastronomy. Ordered starters oysters and their bread. After 25 minutes of waiting , we asked a staff how much longer and they checked and came back and said they made a mistake and forgot to enter the order. So redtart, and 30 minutes in now starters finally came. Second oyster in was bad. Shockingly surprising at a restaurant trying to be of this caliber as it was visibly rotten and such a junior junior mistake. Bread was amazing... but that was the peak. Had the cod and the chickens. Cod with gravy was ok just a bit tame on flavor and the chicken had the wrong ratio of seasoning between the layers. This restaurant has all the right pieces to be looking at a Michelin future that it's trying so hard to be but they need to do much better with food and service. read more

Our favorite new restaurant on the Monterey Peninsula! From the moment we stepped outside the car we knew this place would be special. You can smell the wood burning fire and hear the hum of the river before you even step foot inside the door. And the inside matched the ambiance of the outside. We instantly felt right at home. Everything from the decor, to the cocktails, to the wine selection, and of course to the food feels curated. You can tell there was a lot of thought that went into every little aspect of this restaurant. Even if you can't quite put your finger on it, like the custom made abalone shell sconces, you can feel it. The menu itself was a feast for the senses and will leave you dreaming about your next visit. You NEED this place in your life! read more

Everything was wonderful! From top to bottom. We did the tasting menu and ordered a few drinks. The patio was lovely. We also had amazing service. read more

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Delightful! This was an all-around fun dinner experience! The ambiance is cozy and romantic. The food is creative and intriguing. Everyone on staff is kind and genuine. Would recommend to anyone looking for fine dining in Big Sur. read more

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This was the first time my ladyfriend and I have dined at Solstice (early Wed eve, July 2, 2025). In short, we had a marvelous experience, and look forward to returning. We had intended to leave our dog in the car, but she began to whine, so we sat with her at an outside table. The staff quickly arranged a heater for our table. We were very comfortable. The food was excellent -- preparations were very creative, well presented. The portions are not large, so I do recommend taking advantage of the prix fixe 4-course option. [Note: there is no separate prix-fixe menu; the prix fixe option is just to order one choice from each course group. The a la carte pricing of each item is shown. The 4-course prix fixe option costs about the same as ordering three items a la carte. *** Solstice -- please correct me if I have misstated about the prix fixe option. ***] I especially appreciated that oysters can be singly ordered. I thought the food and beverage choices were very good. My vegetarian ladyfriend had no trouble finding food items she enjoyed very much (she had the grilled avocado; I had the yellowtail crudo and the lamb). There was a good selection of specialty mixed drinks. The wine list was very good, not run-of-the-mill. We found the service to be exemplary, the staff courteous and friendly. We were the only ones seated outside on the patio, yet they kept an eye out and responded very quickly to our needs. Our server was very helpful with menu and drink suggestions. I thought the cost of our dinner was right in line with what I would expect for our area and the quality of our experience. read more

Absolutely loved this restaurant for many reasons. First, it's beautiful.....the design, the open space, the open kitchen and the lovely outdoor patio space. The staff was so pleasant and accommodating in every way and the Duck Hash blew my mind! The French Toast was the lightest and fluffiest I have ever had and so delicious. Will definitely be returning to try some other dishes and to also enjoy the ambience that this restaurant offers in abundance!! read more

Restaurant is gorgeous & food is amazing! I highly recommend getting the full tasting. Completely worth it. read more

Solstice - Wine - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Big Sur, California

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My wife and I had dinner here to celebrate our anniversary, and we were absolutely amazed by the quality of the food, the service, and the ambiance (seriously--even the decor is fantastic). We got married in Big Sur, and I've been camping up there every summer since I was born, so it's thrilling to see a restaurant of this caliber open up right there on the 1. Any sit-down meal along that stretch of coast is going to be relatively expensive, but at Solstice we actually received the level of brilliance we'd paid for, as opposed to certain other nearby restaurants where you're mostly just paying for location. The levain bread, the crudo, the rice, the cod, and the lamb were all insanely delicious and creative. Of all the fine dining you can do in the area, this place has the freshest and most exciting food by a long shot. We'll be making it a tradition. Thanks, y'all. read more

Unbelievable dining experience at Solstice. Somehow, impossibly, each bite is more delicious than the last. The dishes are inventive but not fussy. Local and seasonal ingredients tell the story of Big Sur and it all tastes like a celebration. The atmosphere is beautiful and peaceful. The wine list and cocktails are interesting and unique. The service was is unmatched. I really can't wait to return. read more

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Amazing concept but waaay overpriced! Food is delish but why inflate the prices so much? I appreciate fine ingredients, which they offer but not at such inflated prices. read more

Amazing food in a beautiful setting! Felt like a Michelin caliber restaurant One of the best places I've ever eaten at.

My wife, daughter, and I had an exquisite meal at Solstice Friday evening. It's pretty rare that a new restaurant opens in Big Sur (every 20 years or so?). I hadn't realized it was such a world-class experience. The food was original, fresh, and absolutely delicious. Uniquely, it pleased both sophisticated adults and our 13-year-old daughter. The vibe of the restaurant is relaxed and mellow, yet still very sophisticated. Not too uptight for such a fancy restaurant and everyone seems to be treated with dignity and equity. This is our new favorite restaurant in Big Sur, and I have been coming to Big Sur for 45 years! read more

My husband and I went to this restaurant for our 18th year anniversary and we had the most amazing experience. The ambience was amazing and the staff was incredible. Our waitress was absolutely top-notch. She literally explained every dish to us to where we wanted to order everything off the menu. Her name I believe is Tyrosa (spelling?). She was EXCELLENT! The food was melt in your mouth delicious. We decided to each have the 4 course meal off the menu. It was perfect. We were able to have 8 different dishes off the menu. We enjoy every single dish. We were enjoying ourselves so much. We didn't take any pics of the restaurant or the food. But trust me you won't be disappointed. We will definitely be back. read more

Solstice - Our waitress as well as the rest of the staff signed a menu to wish us a Happy Anniversary. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Big Sur, California

Dining at Solstice is like being invited to a dinner party at a friend of a friend's house, where would-be strangers become friends from the moment you walk through the door. Here, you'll find locals and industry (chefs, FOH staff) on their night off sitting shoulder to shoulder with out-of-towners, from first-timers to long-timers. Slurping oysters. Tearing into a loaf of sourdough so springy you're tempted to take one home to use as a pillow. Laughing and sharing the kind of "if you know, you know" tips about little-known trail heads and pop-up DJ sets that flow freely after a glass of wine in good company. Everyone here is happy to see you, whether, like me, you've come to savor your meal into the late hours or you're simply passing through. Like skilled dinner party hosts, the staff balance presence with absence so that all your needs are met, and you have the time, space, and privacy to be truly in the moment. They'll deftly guide you through the menu -- the value of the four-course tasting menu for $100 is unmatched anywhere on the peninsula, and agruably much, much farther away -- and the wine list, which emphasizes natural, sustainable, and bio-dynamic wines with stories as winsome as the wines themselves. But the real reason you've come, whether you knew it already or not, is for the food. Chef Tim, formerly of Post Ranch and the Big Sur Bakery, takes local ingredients at the height of their season, and from those he says, "now let me show you what Big Sur can REALLY do." Unbridled by the strictures of any one cuisine, in a given dish you may find those ingredients prepared with French or Japanese techniques, and apotheosized with touches of huitlacoche or house-made XO sauce or urfa or markut lime or parsley oil or.... or... or... Brokaw avocados are smoked over the open hearth and played off of with early-girl tomatoes, pickles, and a top-secret toasted seed mix I can only hope finds its way onto the shelves in the forthcoming Big Sur Bodega. A humble dish of rice and beans is elevated with Koda Farms heirloom rice, served both tender and puffed, cranberry beans, tamari-cured egg yolk, nori, and trout roe. The best way to appreciate this dish, once admired, is to break into the yolk and stir everything around like it's your 1pm breakfast fried rice after a night on the town -- unceremoniously and with relish. Whole lamb are broken down and served as tenderloins cooked to perfection, as sausage stuffed inside cabbage leaves that melt in your mouth, and shredded, pressed, and fried until they're dripping with fat to the point that you may want to think twice about posting that photo you took to Instagram. It could very well be flagged as pornographic. For dessert, a whole nixtamalized stone fruit, a revelation with its crisp outermost shell-of-sorts and perfectly succulent insides, and a flavor I can only describe as, if you'll forgive the youthful aphorism, the MOST peach. If it's not too late, close out your dinner tab and take an empty seat at the bar for a nightcap. The cocktails change with the seasons and to complement the menu. Favorites include: a vodka concoction with snap peas, a dirty martini with spruce and pickled ramps, a coconut-washed daiquiri, and a worthy rival of the Tall Southie (iykyk). And when you are finally satisfied, cross the threshold once more, leaving that feeling of an endless summer day behind and stepping out into the night, already looking forward to your next trip to Big Sur and to Solstice. And know that when you do come back, you'll see familiar faces, and it'll be as if no time has passed. read more

Excellent food and service! We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner here. We had the four-course tasting menu. I started with the beet salad with dates and walnuts, and it was very good. Such a delicious melding of flavors. Then I had the pumpkin (or squash) soup, which was light and also very good. The entree of black cod I liked the least. The flavors didn't quite make it for me. My husband said his duck entree was excellent. My dessert of chocolate ganache with yuzu, I believe, was original and quite good. The wines chosen by the waitress were good, especially the Chardonnay. The Pinot was a little young but good. The courses were excellently timed, and the servers were very personable. The restaurant was a little noisy. Perhaps some soundproofing on the ceiling would help. We will definitely return the next time we are in the area. read more

What a special spot! We loved every bite at Solstice! It has great ambiance, an incredible wine list, and most importantly delicious food. My advice is to try different items and share with your group and make sure to order the bread! We can't wait to go back. read more

Booked on a whim while in Big Sur. We did the dinner 4 course sampling. Absolutely the way to go. Cannot recommend this place highly enough. Went back for brunch the next day. Highly-recommend. Great, food, drinks and vibes. read more

Wow, an amazing meal w/ service to match most worthy of the Michelin guide and a star. I always went to Big Sur primarily for the Bakery and now they have another spot of elevated dining. The remodel of this restaurant was gorgeous and was barely recognizable from past business which filled this space. We ate the night before at the Michelin restaurant at a resort up the way and were surprised to get a much more creative and beautifully presented meal. They delightfully catered to my vegan & GF friend. Solistice is worthy of being the center point of coming Big Sur. read more

Excellent 4 course fixed price menu. Wife and I chose different dishes, shared tastes. The plating was superb, showed the dishes off well. Service was attentive, appreciated having a full water glass without asking. Halibut cucumber crudo was enjoyable, the duck was superb, chocolate meringue tart was intriguing. read more

I had a fabulous dinner with friends at the lovely Solstice the other night. A warm and inviting ambiance, friendly and professional service, and excellent food. Five Stars and 2 thumbs up. I'll be back. Tom K Berkeley CA read more

Absolute gift to the Big Sur community. Wonderfully and elegantly designed from largely repurposed wood and furniture. Scrumptious and innovative cuisine. We went for brunch ... the hash, french toast and the frittata were all delicately prepared and exquisite. So happy that this place opened as Big Sur has few places with thoughtful, elevated cuisine, centrally located and affordable (brunch for 3 with espresso-based drinks was $85, after included gratuity)! Also, everyone there was patient, friendly and fun. read more

I have had the pleasure of dining at this awesome new restaurant and it is quite simply one of the best restaurants in the Monterey Big Sur area. We had the fixed price menu and enjoyed a variety of dishes. The halibut crudo was delicious. The squash soup was awesome and the trout and duck entrees were beyond amazing. I suppose that I could be more descriptive regarding the flavors of each dish, but that would just be pretentious and not helpful. You need to dine at Solstice and enjoy the entire experience. The service was absolutely impeccable and on par with the attentive staff of a Michelin restaurant. Our server, Athena, was personable and delightful. Matt, the wine guy, has selected a great wine list and the wines by the glass are perfect complements to the menu. The setting is serene and just steps away from the Big Sur River. Quite frankly, if Chez Noir in Carmel got one Michelin star, Solstice should get two or maybe three Michelin stars. read more

We had such a wonderful evening celebrating our anniversary at Solstice. We sat on the patio at dusk, which was enchanting with expansive old oaks and the sound of the Big Sur river nearby. The service was warm, caring and very excellent at every step (but never felt pretentious or fussy). The food was thoughtful and passionate. It's obvious a lot of care and effort goes into it. We were excited to experience some entirely new flavors that were born of unique local ingredients and/or processes. Our favorites were oysters with bay laurel mignonette and homemade hot sauce, Koda farms heirloom rice & beans with roe and nori (which was the warmest umami yumminess), and a Pacific mackerel crudo with a seriously delicious salsa verde, and various magical cocktails! We look forward to going back - both for special occasions and just casual nights out....it feels like both are welcomed and possible at Solstice... a very good vibe all around. read more