We recently discovered this lounge after coming to visit Monterey for years. It's close by to Point…read moreLobos and perhaps most perfect for an after-hike libation. They do have a happy hour but all I can remember is the that time listed on the web is incorrect. I would call ahead to time your hike to end before happy hour ends. The prices are expensive but you are in fact paying for the view. The host was a bit dismissive when we came in, probably because we look like two gray squirrels and asked about happy hour. Most of the customers when were there were blonde and beautiful, wearing Burberry. We may go back again but not sure since we get treated so much better in town at places like Stokes Adobe. They do not, however, have the stunning ocean view.

Valet parking is available. There is a bar with a food seating area as well as a lounge. Would…read morehighly recommend if you are looking for good vibes (with views). The steak was very well made. Our server was thoughtful and attentive.

Stopped here while driving down Highway 1 and it was a great find. It's tucked right off the road…read morewith a cozy, cabin-style feel, and there's a really nice patio in the back with heat lamps (perfect if it's a little chilly). The food was honestly better than expected. Everything we ordered was solid, but the shoestring fries stood out, some of the best I've had. Definitely add the mushrooms to the French dip! Overall, a really good stop in Big Sur if you want something casual that still delivers on food and atmosphere.

Fernwood Tavern is such a classic Big Sur experience. We must see the kitty she was so cute and…read moresweet. This place is tucked right in the redwoods along the river, the setting alone makes it worth the stop. It has that rustic, laid-back mountain vibe that feels authentic and unpretentious. We stopped in after exploring Big Sur and it was the perfect place to unwind. The food hit the spot (great comfort options), the drinks were strong, and the atmosphere was lively without feeling overwhelming. If there's live music, even better -- it really adds to the whole experience. It's not a fancy fine-dining spot, but that's exactly the charm. It feels local, relaxed, and full of character. Definitely a must-visit if you're in the area and want good food, good drinks, and a true Big Sur vibe.

Cute gift shop and nice beer selection. The burrito bar was fire. So stinking good, staff was…read morefriendly.

For a road trip pit stop, this place has a super cute ambiance with the river lights, red woods,…read moreand the cabinesque style here. Parking is a bit difficult, having a smaller car is definitely to your advantage to just find a weird spot and call it a day. The line for the burritos and other quick stop food is in the general store, expect long lines! This seems to be one of the most popular big sur road trip stops and everyone is getting food here. We spent probably around 30-40 minutes here just walking around and then waiting for food/bathroom lines. The woman's bathroom was pretty clean and surprisingly had no line, though I can't say it'd be like that all the time! The burritos themselves were $18 each and I guess that is just the cost of burritos in CA nowadays, though there was nothing really special about them, just ingredients slapped together. I'd probably rather get something to go from an earlier location/grocery store next time.

I visited Cultura with my greyhound, so we sat outside in the courtyard near the firepit tables…read moreshared with Vin, next door. It was a cool, breezy night, typical when the summer marine layer moves in over Carmel, but the propane heaters kept us toasty. If you prefer dining indoors, the interior bar and dining spaces had an intimate, funky, but very cool vibe. The host and servers were all extremely friendly and helpful. Despite being outside in the courtyard, they were also incredibly attentive, checking frequently to see if we needed anything. Their recommendations were spot on, too. I was wowed by the cocktail menu. I'll have to return to try more of their bar offerings. This trip, I took advantage of Happy Hour to order the blood orange margarita, and I was not disappointed. I ordered the ceviche appetizer. My greyhound thought it smelled as wonderful as I did. He rested his head between my feet in hopes of catching any ceviche dropping from my hands. This was so tasty, he was out of luck on the table droppings. I also had the chicken enchiladas for my entree. It was one of the best enchiladas I've had in a couple of years. My server, Mario, brought me out a small cup of their take on Mexican hot chocolate, made with oat milk, as an aperitif. It was so delicious, I almost wished I'd ordered a full cup as dessert.

Stopped by Cultura for a light dinner takeout order after over overindulging in seafood during the…read moreday. Everything I ordered --Lime/hibiscus agua fresca, guacamole, house made tortilla chips, salsa and smoked mushroom taco, was on point and I enjoyed chatting with Gladys and Mario. Definitely plan to enjoy a full meal here the next time I'm in town.

This place is awesome. The food is great. The service is good. The owner is so professional and…read moreaccommodating. And they've added music on many nights which is a plus.

This place is only grass fed beef and the best quality food we had since moving to Monterey, don't…read moremiss this place. Ask for Cesar, he will make certain you have a great time. Enjoy the music Friday and Saturday nights Mikey V

Awesome vibe gray place for a good time with friends . Drinks are worth the visit and food was a…read moreplus .

The vibes are here but it all stops there…read more.. Let me start by saying that I love this place. Just needs a bit of cleaning up on their transparency. The 'keep it open' policy is something I appreciate but would also appreciate an itemized receipt when you close out. Here's why to keep your eye out when drinking at this establishment. 1- when you close out, it's helpful to verify what you consumed to ensure you're corrected charged. My receipt was the merchant copy and the customer copy. Itemized? Really had to ask for it. 2- the merchant copy - it asked for a tip and the total amount. When we closed out our beer and well drink, it was ~$28. Weird, right? So my thought was that they clearly charged something incorrect. 3- when there's something automatically charged, it had better be communicated to me upfront. The gratuity was automatically added and IT WAS 20%! No sign, no way to notify me that it was already added. It didn't even say so on the merchant or customer copy. On top of that, the copy asked for AN ADDITIONAL TIP. For something like that, I had better get great service. 4- The service here is spotty at best. There's usually one bartender for the often busy bar. Not a problem, usually. But with that high of a price, better serve your customers well and have a fully stocked bar. 5 - the options were lacking. Two things you'd think would be stocked but weren't - espresso (come on, even Kahlua) and apple liqueur for an espresso martini and appletini were too much to ask for, I guess. Overall, a disappointment. Good thing they have the vibes nearly right. But awful business practices.

Made a reservation 1-2 months before and was still only able to get an outdoor reservation. After…read morebriefly seeing the inside, I do think the outside patio is preferable as the tables are spaced apart slightly more. The inside seemed pretty cramped, although pretty dim in lighting and a bit on the romantic side (although the tightness seems to diminish the mood). Service was great throughout the night - attentive, efficient, and approachable. I wish I had taken a picture of the full menu, as it was slightly different than the menu on their website. I actually think the new additions were more enjoyable than what was on the website. Also opted for the wine pairing, which was good - all wines are from California. Almost all dishes we had were great, from the shrimp hand roll addition to the starters like the tuna crudo. Second course sweet corn pasta was also a surprise as it was sweet, creamy, salty, and even slightly spicy (only a hint). Sauce was great. The complementary bread (brioche) was great with the butter. Slightly crispy outside but soft and airy on the inside. Reminded me of the bread they give at House of Prime Rib. My lamb entree was tasty, although it was 25-35$ or so extra. Very well cooked lamb, along with some sort of flavorful red pepper sauce roasted lettuce. There was also small sides of yogurt and another side with the lamb that you could use as a sauce/dip. Dessert was good but not my favorite, as it was a cherry tart. I'm more of a cake or pudding person, but the tart was still light and not too sweet with the pistachio gelato on top.

I'm always down for an excuse to return to Carmel, so decided to scratch another Michelin starred…read morerestaurant off my list. Of the 5 courses, I enjoyed the tuna appetizer the most, but it was mostly just my personal preference of enjoying raw seafood. None of the courses stood out to me in a good way. Unfortunately, I also just did not like the flavor they used for the salmon sauce at all. The meal came out to ~443 for 2 people. For fine dining in California, the price isn't insane, but I did not feel like it lived up to my expectations for a Michelin starred restaurant to justify it. The service was pleasant, but I'm mostly here for the food. When my husband and I got home, we both got diarrhea :)

My cousin recommended this place for brunch during our 17-mile drive, and she was right--it was the…read moreperfect stop! The views alone are worth the visit. The scenery is beautiful, and we enjoyed taking it all in while having brunch. Service was friendly, attentive, and the staff was very knowledgeable about the menu. The food was delicious! We ordered: Humboldt Fog & Beet - Fresh, light, and refreshing. Cauliflower Shawarma Sandwich - Packed with veggies with a nice tangy flavor and great texture. The only miss for me was the Bloody Mary--it just wasn't quite what I was hoping for. Overall, this place is definitely worth the stop. Bonus: the entrance fee can be applied toward your meal, which makes it even better!

Like the majority of visitors, we took a pit stop at The Bench mid 17-Mile Drive (bonus: they…read morededuct the entry fee off your bill!) We were given the option of a communal fire pit or a private table and opted for the latter - the wait was around 30 minutes, which I think was well worth it for own space. We just perused the visitor center while we waited and then headed over once we got the text. They have varying options for lunch and dinner. For lunch, we were told the Korean brisket sandwich is "by far the best", second to the fried chicken sandwich. While the Korean brisket sandwich was surprisingly flavorful, it seemed to just be a really flavorful sandwich rather than "Korean" inspired. It contained marinated brisket, shredded carrot, cilantro, and bell pepper in a baguette which was somewhat reminiscent of a banh mi; and it came with a side of "Togarashi" fries, a Japanese spice that sneaks up on you the more you eat. The service was a bit underwhelming as we were left without napkins/silverware until we managed to flag down our waiter mid-meal (which we found ourselves having to do a second time to get the bill), but the view was nice and the food was solid.