Barmel is a must place to stop and grab a cocktail. Their espresso martini is pretty good!read more

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

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

Best fkn bar ever! Famiky reunion vibes. Walk in not knowing anyone and leave having made a bunch…read moreof new friends. Bring back SADE's!!!

If you're looking for a good chill vibe, come here! We…read moreended up coming when the power came back on due to the tree falling into power lines barely came Back on but we were greeted by Parker who was so kind and had such hospitality. They had power out for a few days but were still so Chipper They serve beer wine and cocktails Everyone was so warm and friendly Parker had such a romantic vibe going on with all The candles on his bar So sad to hear he will be relocated across the street but so glad we got to experience this bar here while it's still in this location My mom and I loved the bathroom due to how good it smelled funny note but we love meyers soap and Parker had it ! Parker is such a character and such a vibe He has a few cats and a dog which were unfortunately not at the bar but def shows his true character as a pet dad. Can't wait to be back and visit the new location. What a Christmas 2025 this was. This is also a pet friendly bar! (: Thanks for such a great vibe our first Xmas Parker You're such a great host!

Absolute hidden gem!! We were in town and I asked the local bartender at a restaurant where to go…read morefor a drink. He suggested Buds and it totally made our night! Swanky spot in a gorgeous hotel and the cocktails and bar bites were on point! Love the vibe but also loved learning about their history and the renovation that was done. Will for sure be back any time we're in town!

Looked like cool ambiance initially, but I was under the impression this was more like laid back,…read moreold school, not pretentious and kinda stuffy? We sat at the bar, the hostess was very nice and helpful, but once we took our seats it took forever for the bartenders to say anything to us or even acknowledge us, which I found very rude. Cocktails were good but bartenders seemed annoyed, not solely at us, but just their overall vibe.. it was very strange. I'd expect this type of service in a NYC, popular-scene, swanky bar but this attitude seems out of place. Even asking the bartender about a drink we saw him make, because it looked good and we were about to order, he responded like we were bothering him. It was totally uncalled for. There is nothing wrong with questions or small talk, and a good bartender should know this. We were there Saturday evening around 7pm if you all want to retrain your staff. I wouldn't go again, but fine to try once.

Fun to try several different oysters. Fish and chips were very bland. We liked tha atmosphere, but…read moredid not love the food.

Great fish and chips , we passed on the chips and had a salad instead. Conveniently located in the…read moremiddle of all the shops, we sat right at the bar and enjoyed our meal. Spicy bloody was delicious too! Service was very good and we had a front row seat to watch the chefs in action . Definitely recommend checking out Aw Shucks!!!

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.

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.

Eh...we really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately, we're not fans and probably won't be…read morereturning. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, exactly what we were looking for. The service was pleasant, although at times it felt a little condescending. They have their own very specific tequila collection, so don't expect to see many familiar brands. That's not necessarily a bad thing. We're always willing to try something new. The margaritas, however, were very tart. Just too much lime juice. We ordered tacos and asked for flour tortillas, only to be surprised when they arrived on corn tortillas. When we asked about it, we were told they simply don't serve flour tortillas. Fair enough, but that would have been helpful to know when we ordered. The good news: the chicken tinga, barbacoa, and carnitas were all excellent. Unfortunately, we just couldn't get past the corn tortillas which fell apart when you tried to eat the tacos. Ended up using a fork. For dessert, we ordered one of our favorites, churros. They arrived warm, but were very dry and tough. A churro should make you happy. These made us wish we'd stopped for dessert somewhere else. There were definitely some bright spots, especially the meats and the cozy atmosphere, but restaurants generally get one first chance to make us want to come back. Unfortunately, this one didn't.

We had previously enjoyed live music in the lounge and vowed to come back another time for a meal…read morebecause of the ambience and menu. We came back last night and enjoyed a delightful meal. Some had the fish tacos, others had salmon and sand dabs. All were excellent and topped off with the peach cobbler. (Also excellent!) The only negative was the hostess. We were torn between the inside or outside because of the chill and the inside had no ambiance. The hostess was quick to seat us inside but the wait staff let us know there were blankets available which made our dining experience excellent. Blankets and a heat lamp made all the difference. I'm not sure why the hostess did not offer the blankets right away!

Another great meal at Terry's. Started with an old fashioned and a glass of the clos du val cab…read more Had a Ceasar salad and a bowl of beef barley soup. The soup was delicious. It was flavorful and so tasty. Not many restaurants make delicious, homemade soups, but Terry's does not disappoint. We had the short ribs and filet mignon. Both tender and delicious. We ended with a keoke coffee and the molten chocolate chip cookie with caramel sauce. Jacob was our server and he was attentive and professional. We have never been disappointed here. Good job Terry's!!

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.

Grasing's is one of those restaurants we make a point of visiting once or twice during our annual…read moretrip to Carmel by the Sea, and the food never disappoints. They have a great selection of wines and cocktails, and our go to entrée is the 8 ounce filet mignon with a spiny lobster tail and loaded baked potato. The steak is always prepared perfectly, the lobster is excellent, and the chef consistently delivers. The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable, making it a great spot for a nice dinner in Carmel. The service on this visit was professional and polite, although the bartender/server was a little short on warmth and personality. Nothing bad enough to spoil the evening, but a smile and a little friendly conversation never hurt anyone. Someone might also want to remind the staff that conversations about staffing problems or the performance of other servers are best saved for the back of the house. Hearing employees complain about staffing and coworkers in front of customers is uncomfortable and reflects negatively on the culture of the restaurant. This a leadership problem that needs to be addressed. Whatever you do, save room for dessert. Their chocolate brownie with chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream is easily one of our favorite desserts in Carmel by the Sea. Rich, warm, decadent, and worth every calorie. Grasing's remains one of our regular Carmel stops, and we'll likely be back.

Found yourself in Carmel-by-the-Sea and looking for a laid back sports bar with great service, a…read morefun atmosphere, live music, karaoke, and games? Look no further than Links! Links is one of my favorite spots in Carmel, and is one of the places regularly on my list whenever I go back. Carmel-by-the-Sea isn't necessarily known for the bar scene, but Links offers an excellent option for anyone looking to extend their night and keep the fun going! They have a pretty extensive menu of food and drinks. The food is pretty standard bar fare, but with no shortage of options. The drink selection is quite varied as well, with a good selection of beers on tap. Service has always been exemplary when I've been here - the staff is friendly, fun, and have the gift of quickly remembering their return visitors, which really makes Links feel like a welcoming spot. Food and drinks come out quickly, and my beer glass was rarely empty without the staff coming up and offering another round! Links also has several large golf simulator areas, where you and your friends can practice your swing while playing a number of games against a large virtual projector screen. Add on top of all this the regular rotation of live music and karaoke, and you've got an excellent sports bar that should be on anyone's list who's looking for a fun, casual, energetic sports bar in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Thanks for all the fun times, Links!

Went there a week ago with my wife. We had a table near the bar and the manager lady kept talking…read moreto us and wouldn't leave us be. I believe she stated she was the owner but she seemed like an annoying regular.