I won't lie and say I wasn't annoyed at first because my boyfriend and I had a reservation, yet we…read morewere waiting over 20 minutes at the front because the host was missing...? I am a patient person but I was hungry!! Lol. Once the host got back and seated us, my mood changed and I was just glad to be seated. Our waiter came by and let us know the specials, etc... he was nice. Food was really good! Totally ordered too much. Let us keep the miniature jars of jam. Overall, good experience was just a tad hangry at the start. Definitely going back for the dinner portion!

Being that my Brother & Family flew in from Kansas City for the Weekend, we all decided that it…read morewould be best for us to go and grab a bite to eat somewhere that he selected. After him telling me that he was staying at a Hotel in Carmel, he was advised by the Hotel to come here because the view and the food were wonderful, so we followed through with that recommendation. After driving in, and finding a place to park, and the place where you can actually park is that once you get into the Restaurant area where there is Valet parking, you actually drive up a bit past the Valet and then take an immediate left to go behind the Hotel rooms that are on the left hand side and you can park anywhere there. From there its about a 2 to 5 minute walk to the Restaurant that is also a part of the Hyatt Hotel. Before walking down to the Restaurant I actually took a stunning picture from a View where I was able to park which is attached to this review. After walking up stairs to meet my wife we walked inside and approached the Hostess at the time our Reservation was. After being seated I explained that the rest of my Family would be walking in and then they would just come over to our table. After they arrived we sat down and were greeted by our Waiter who then introduced himself to us and asked what we wanted to drink. My wife and I ordered a Sprite and a Dr. Pepper and my Brothers Family all ordered water. After sitting for about another minute or 2, the waiter came over with our Drinks and then asked what Entree's we would like. I ordered the Spinach Artichoke Ravioli and my Wife ordered a Spring Salad with a Dungeness Crab Cake. My Brothers Family ordered the Short Rib and the Bread and explained that the Water didnt taste very well but it was drinkable. The waiter I must say was very attentive to our needs and if you get an opportunity to have a conversation with Andrea who is the Food And Beverage Manager, let me tell you how pleasant she was. Not only was she very friendly and professional but also asked us if we wanted to take pictures outside of our Family because she knew exactly where the best pictures to be taken were. I have to agree that the pictures outside of the Restaurant on the lanai are very Beautiful and if you get her to help you take the pictures, you'll be very satisfied. A little bit after we received the bread, we received our Entrees and let me tell you that our food, the view and the service was absolutely wonderful. This place doesnt deserve a 5 star, it deserves a 10. However, the only thing I was very unhappy about is while the pricing is a bit high, the portions are a bit small. None the less, everything else was wonderful. Thank you to Andrea & Staff for making this Family of 6 very happy.

This hotel has a great location. Driving up the steep, windy road and around the property is a bit…read moreharrowing. Check in was subpar. We were greeted with sparkling champagne. We arrived 30 minutes before official check in so we parked and waited. Two hours later and 90 minutes post check in we finally got a room. They did give us resort credit to make up for the delay which was nice. Also they required us to stop at vacation club sales counter to complete check in, which I wish they had not required. We did get away after a few minutes simply by letting them know we were not interested. The room itself is very nice. It had a good view of Point Lobos and the ocean but not the sunset. (Some rooms have that view.) The room essentially is a one bedroom condo with a pull out sleeper sofa so up to 4 could stay comfortably. Sliding panels let you close off the master bedroom for privacy or full open the condo for more openness. It has a small kitchen and dining table so you can cook for yourself if you want to avoid the pricey area and hotel restaurant. Below the room and throughout the complex you find hot tubs, gas grills, and an exercise room. They have a heated pool, too. You can go up to the main lodge for dining, drinks, sunset watching. The main lodge is well done with great views and large fires in large fireplaces and cool nights. It's very enjoyable. Our first night they had the fireplace set up for us. We just had to light paper under firewood to get a nice fire going. After that though we were on our own. You had to clean out your own fireplace and fetch more wood everyday. Apparently you could pay them to clean the fireplace daily. They gave no instructions on ash disposal other than place it in a bag and leave it on the stoop for housekeeping. (What if you don't have a bag?) It has a good location: Carmel-by-the-sea about 10 minutes away, point Lobos 5 minutes away, great sunset views, Pinnacles National Park east entrance 85 minutes away, and Big Sur and related vistas and sights 20 to 40 minutes away. One disappointing policy: their restaurant is not open Mondays and Tuesdays. I can't understand why they don't run the restaurant 7 days a week. Monday and Tuesday guests don't deserve the chance to dine without having to go into town? For some reason the last full day of our stay they left us only 2 clean towels and no bath mats. But for the delayed check in, fireplace cleaning, and inadequate towels, I probably would go to 5. It's a close call. It's definitely a place I would stay again.

The near death of a iconic California property Not think of…read moreold as the owners allow it to deteriorate Nice staff and passable food but the rooms are akin to a holiday inn Sad to see

fun place to lounge and enjoy the music! lively!…read more it gets BUSY in the evenings and weekends. hard, very hard, to find a table. i came, saw no seats, left for dinner, came back after to wait for a table. still waited a long time pretty sweet spot for a date. food is good.

Cool spot for a drink in downtown Carmel. 3.5 stars…read more Highlights: - Nice space at night with hanging lights and fire pits Midlights: - Lots of old school Britney Spears playing Lowlights: - Can get crowded and run out of seating - Didn't care for the old fashioneds and tried 2 different ones

If you're looking for a delightful dining experience in Carmel, Shearwater Restaurant is an…read moreabsolute must-visit! Our recent visit on a Tuesday evening was nothing short of fantastic. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm hospitality and a cozy atmosphere. The highlight of our meal was undoubtedly the homemade bread--light, fluffy, and piping hot, it melted in our mouths and set the tone for the rest of the evening. We started with the calamari, which was especially impressive with its crispy coating--definitely not soggy! The roast beet salad was another standout; it offered generous chunks of fresh beets, perfectly balanced with savory flavors. The artichoke dip was unique, featuring ground artichoke instead of the usual chunks, making each bite rich and smooth. The French onion soup was a delight, loaded with gooey cheese in every spoonful--comfort food at its best. For the main course, the fish and chips stole the show! With three substantial pieces, the fish was flaky and incredibly fresh, proving it was far from the frozen variety you might find elsewhere. We also enjoyed happy hour drinks and food, enhancing our experience even more. The service was impeccable, making us feel well taken care of throughout the evening. As a bonus, we enjoyed an open mic night (a.k.a. karaoke), where talented local musicians entertained the crowd while others sang along. The lively atmosphere created a great crowd and added to the overall enjoyment of our visit. In summary, Shearwater Restaurant offers delicious food, excellent service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. We can't wait to return for another unforgettable meal!

For a hotel restaurant, Shearwater Tavern is pretty darn good. The menu is simple and doesn't take…read moretoo many risk which is common for a hotel restaurant. Nothing about the drink or dinner menu was too wild or stood out as unique. Considering there are many interesting dining establishments in the Carmel area, I felt like Shearwater Tavern upheld their standard in a foodie town by sourcing local ingredients and craft beers. The artichoke dip pays tribute to a local crop and was pretty tasty. The serving was generous, so we were grateful to our server for providing some extra sourdough for scooping up the last of the cheesy, warm dip. Oh, and Wednesday's are half off bottles of wine! The restaurant was situated away from the hotel common area to allow for a more intimate dining experience but still close enough to the lobby and rooms for convenience. There were some folks smoking in the parking lot, and the smoke smell was making its way into the dining room. A band was wrapping up for the night as we were being seated, and it seemed like there is regularly live music in the lounge area of the restaurant. The service was friendly, prompt, and food decent. As a guest in the hotel, it was easy to charge the meal to the room. Solid choice for an easy meal if staying at the hotel. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to dine at Shearwater Tavern though.

We were so happy to find this cosy bar in downtown Carmel, great service, amazing drinks and a…read morecosy, comfortable vibe. Next time we are in Carmel, we will stop by again.

Only bar open late in Carmel where the younger generation hangs out…read more Highlights: - Open spot for a drink past 10pm - Fun music Midlights: - Just bullet ginger $18 Lowlights - Have $25 cover and a rope for a line like it's a Vegas club - Packed later at night

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.

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.

Grasings is a very good fine meal option for Carmel with great menu that doesn't remain static. It…read moreshines as a singular Carmel restaurant when the town is moving towards too many restaurants owned by two groups that have turned into tourist food traps serving less than average food. However, the differentiator at Grasings is the bar and that differentiator's name is Kevin. If not for Kevin, we would still frequent from time to time but with Kevin we go in at least once weekly. Kevin and servers like Kevin are solid gold in Carmel and ensure 5 star ratings for atmosphere and service. When you find them you never have a bad experience in fact you are guaranteed a great experience. The menu caters to all, carnivores, seafood, steaks and vegetarians - love the veggie burger! Great place to meet locals and tourists, especially if Kevin is working. We admit that when we walk to Grasings and find that Kevin isn't working, we find another venue. That isn't a knock on Grasings but rather a nod to Kevin.

Disappointing experience this time around. We had a pleasant experience two days prior at the bar…read morewhere we had great lunch and service was very pleasant. So we decided to return for dinner to dine at the main dining room. The food was good, but the service was atrocious. Our appetizers arrived immediately, but then we waited a long time for our salad, and our main course took so long to arrive that we decided we would take it as a to go as we didn't want to spend any more time at the restaurant. the dining room by then was already empty. To cap it all there was an extra bottle of wine added to our bill! If you think "we're just tourists" and "we will not see you ever again, so we don't have to deliver," you are wrong. We come to Carmel at least four times a year, but we will not be returning to Grasings.

My husband is a huge Doris Day fan. On the bucket list was to visit the hotel and Terry's…read more We had to stop in for a cocktail. Sat at the bar with our dog. Jacob was our bartender. Husband had the espresso martini. Described as "awesome and very good ". I had the Mai tai. Perhaps the best I have had on the mainland. This one and perhaps one other compared to the Islands. The ambience of the lounge is definitely Doris Day era. Ceilings painted to appear like drapes. Every other song or so was a Doris.

We recently stayed at the Cypress Inn and while the property itself is charming and in a fantastic…read morelocation, the service throughout our stay was consistently disappointing. Nothing catastrophic happened, but it felt like we were inconveniencing staff rather than being welcomed. We experienced multiple instances where basic hospitality was lacking. At meals, we often had to ask for water, request the check, and follow up on things that should have been proactive. One evening we came downstairs for dinner around 8:25 PM and were told the kitchen stopped taking orders 30 minutes before the restaurant closed. While that's certainly their policy, it wasn't communicated beforehand and the interaction felt more dismissive than apologetic. There were several small moments like this throughout our stay. Individually they may seem minor, but together they created an atmosphere that felt awkward, rushed, and inattentive. Given Carmel's reputation for hospitality and the price point of the hotel, we expected a much warmer and more polished experience. The inn itself has a lot of charm, and we enjoyed the area, but the level of service simply didn't match the setting or our expectations.

Stopped in on a whim while passing through Carmel and so glad we did. The ambience is fantastic,…read moredimly lit with great music and TVs everywhere, the kind of place I'd love to come back to and watch a game. Service was excellent. Our waitress Rachel was great and took good care of us. We ordered the French dip (added Swiss, onions, and mushrooms) solid sandwich, though it could've used a touch more salt. The real star though, was the fish and chips. Genuinely some of the best I've ever had. Lightly battered, flaky, perfectly cooked. The vibe lands in that sweet spot of upscale casual without crossing into fine dining, comfortable but elevated. Highly recommend if you're passing through Carmel. We'll definitely be back.

Lunch after a beach walk was just what we were looking for. Walk in and find a seat. Music and…read moreambiance brought a nice vibe the whole time we were here. Food is tops. The fish and chips is the ultimate meal. The burger was savory, soft and creamy just he right amount. It perfectly paired with the Talbott pinot noir they recommended. The only comment is make is the amount of French fries that were served with the burger. The plate was a lot larger looking because a sparse amount of fries was served alongside. Maybe add a little more next time just to balance it off. The servers/bartenders knew their stuff. They provided what they could in terms of what was popular and well liked. They said both items we ordered were the most popular. The fish and chips have won best fish and chips 3 years in a row. I would agree with this since I usually am not wowed with this dish. I couldn't resist ordering a dessert. The applied tart with vanilla ice cream was so satisfying. Overall service, food quality and experience was very good. If return over and over again for this same food and experience. If I could give 10 stars I would. Carmel and Brody's is a new destination.