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Barmel

3.8 (289 reviews)
Open 2:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

Barmel Photos

BARMEL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Live music
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Barmel

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Reviews With Photos

As you can see this was the back of the Main Street showing where Batmel was PHEEW we found it!
Cristina F.

This lovely bar is located right off the center of Carmel. The address seems easy enough but it is in its own enclave behind all of that. We were able to find it by asking locals, one person was kind enough to walk us to it. It was a perfect bar that had a warm feel of bars of yore. There was a warm darkness to it that was brightened by the bartender Jayna. We chose to sit at the bar and delighted by our banter with her. It was happy hour and we both had the margarita which was excellent! The chips and salsa hit the proverbial "spot"! I also opted for the Barmel Manhattan that Jayna said was "world renowned". I must say that it was excellent, the Luxardo cherry was the crowning touch! Best of luck to Jayna! Thank you!

Chili dirty martini and Red G$T
susan s.

Cozy small place, very laid back, not trendy and upscale. Fun music and bar food. Service was attentive and this place is a real contrast to most of the rest of Carmel!

Lucy K.

All the locals had been recommending BarMel as the spot to go after dinner and we finally decided to check it out. It was a little tricky to find at first, but once we walked in the atmosphere immediately pulled us in. We asked to be seated at a cozy booth which gave us a great view of the room. A DJ was playing when we arrived and it looked like there had been live music earlier in the evening which added to the lively and creative vibe of the space. We had been cold all day from walking around the city, so warm drinks sounded perfect. I ordered a nonalcoholic option and it tasted amazing with the perfect balance of flavor and comfort. The staff was friendly and made the entire visit feel relaxed and welcoming. We did not stay too long, but we were happy we finally experienced this place that everyone talks about. It is definitely worth a stop if you are looking for a late night drink and a fun atmosphere.

Ramah H.

Little gem in Carmel, great ambiance, fantastic drinks and great service Fun and welcoming spot, hospitality is still alive here!

Left: Orangesicle | Right: Serrano Margarita
Natalie P.

OPEN LATE NIGHT! Found a spot finally that opens past 12am for drinks. This place is pretty small on the inside but I love their outdoor area. Plus the bartender who helped us was the sweetest girl ever! My friend and I got the Orangesicle and Serrano Marg. I personally loved the orangesicle! Drinks here are pretty pricey, it averages around $16 for a cocktail. They also serve food and play great music. Even on the weekends they have DJ's! Reasoning for 4* is just cause of the price but, you're in Carmel so very expected!

Gwen L.

Expansive and unique bar menu - definitely something for everyone. Funky bar vibe inside. Not very busy when we stopped in. We sat outside on the patio for a quieter vibe and the beautiful sunshine! Did not see much of a food menu, but wasn't looking for one either.

Ginger Sour
Michelle R.

We were in search of an authentic Carmel experience! We hit the jackpot! With the fun history and amazing drinks, it was a hit! The historic decor had my hubby drooling! The bar came from a bar in Sausalito owned by a former Madam! So fun! Our server, Angel, was the sweetest! She took such good care of us, checking in on a regular basis! We decided to grab an appetizer to go along with our cocktails...who knew a basket of French fries could be so tasty! The cocktails did not disappoint! We each tried new drinks (2 each) and were pleased with all of them! If you are heading to Carmel and need a little fun break...stop in! You will be glad you did!!

Mockjito
Rossana C.

My second time at this place. First time, I had only cocktails and everything was great. Yesterday was my second time there, I tried their mocktail called Mockjito, which tastes delicious. I tried their Guacamole and chips as well as their chicken and beef tacos. I really liked everything that I tried, the food is very well presented and the salsas were pretty good. The tacos come with beans, which was tasting amazing. The ambiance is very nice and the service was awesome, I was attended by a super nice guy that gave me a lot of good suggestions. I can't wait to go back to Barmel when back to Carmel.

Negroni
Matt C.

Where's a bar rat to go in Carmel? Enter Barmel! I'm going to describe this place as a sophisticated dive bar. There's some cool historical artifacts inside and the place also has a retro/bohemian vibe. Definitely a change of pace from the buttoned up, traditional places of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Barmel is a breath of fresh air for people like me. Wish I knew they served food prior to coming here (not that we had a bad meal prior), but the menu sounded very good. We stuck with cocktails, and even though this place has a divey feel, the cocktails are anything but that. A dedicated Gin & Tonic and Negroni section on your cocktail menu? Call me a happy freakin' camper. Negronis sounded like the move after a heavy meal. I ended up having two, the Classic Negroni and Coffee Negroni. Both were prepared perfectly. These were great slow sippers as we sat and soaked up the atmosphere. Speaking of atmosphere, it appears they house live music pretty regularly. I will say, the performer was fine at best. He seemed to not the read the room so well, and was going a little over the top for the fan engagement he was receiving in return. It's nice they have live music, but as music fans, we felt like it wasn't a good fit on this particular night. Need an unpretentious spot with a stiff drink? Barmel is your home away from home!

Fortaleza Blanco w/ club soda | $20 (dog-friendly patio!)
Cherylynn N.

3.5 Stars When 95%+ of Carmel is sleeping... *UNCE, UNCE, UNCE* Whaaaa? I had no idea Carmel had a nightlife! Not that I was searching for one because these days, my nightlife is in bed by 9 pm watching cheesy Dhar Mann videos. So you see... Haven't been out late late since I ran into my friend's 21 year old brother who screamed: "OMG, what are YOU doing here?!" Yup, def my cue to stay home. Annual trip to Carmel and I found Barmel on Yelp after searching for dog-friendly bars. Barmel is a chill bar by day (opens at 2 pm), supperclub during dinner, and turns into a club after 10 pm. Check the events calendar for the live music/DJ line up. We visited two nights in a row: Thursday + Friday (after 9 pm - midnight). Thursday was def preferred as it was chill with a more diverse crowd. Friday was packed with a line to get in. No cover charge and no dress code. M E N U American & Mexican/Latin American cuisine: Salads, tostones, tacos, burger, steak frites, etc (we didn't try any of the food). Kitchen closes at 11 pm. Bottle service available - bottles start at $350 (Ketel One/Titos) - $1250 (Casa Dragones). D R I N K S * Fortaleza Blanco w/ club soda ($20 x3): https://tinyurl.com/bdd8u533 Happy to find this on the coast because it's incredibly hard to find in the city. Light on the alkie as I barely got a buzz after three rounds. Make sure to get a receipt! We ordered the same drinks on both nights, and I was overcharged $25+ on the second night. Mistakes happen. I tried calling several times during off-peak hours (weekday at 2-2:30 pm) and couldn't reach a live person so had to dispute it through my cc company. S E R V I C E Awesome service from the staff. Angel and Bea were our servers, and they were sweet and attentive. Immediately brought a bowl of water for TT without asking. Security was friendly and customer oriented which is rare...people kept handing him their drinks/empty glass before taking a smoke break/leaving and he put it on a table for them. Didn't get their names but other staff also checked in with us. A M B I A N C E Divey, old-skool saloon with a small dancefloor and separate dining room area. Both nights we sat in the courtyard patio away from the main crowd so it was chill. Big plus, is the table service for the patio and not having to wait in line for drinks. First night (Thursday) was hip hop night with the DJ playing hits from the 90s and early 2000s. We returned the next night on Friday for 90s freestyle and hip hop but when we got there, they changed the line-up. =( The DJ that night played a wide range of genres - from oldies to EDM to latin pop. The transitions between tracks were sometimes abrupt and awkward. TIP: Use the plaza's public restrooms outside to the right of the dining area. No line. P A R K I N G Plenty of easy parking for club nights. Staying at a nearby Vagabond's House so we walked here. The streets were eerily pitch black so we had to use the flashlights on our phones to get there. Overall, solid place for small town nightlife if you're visiting the coast. There were peeps in their early 20s to 70s. Twerking has no age limit.

We absolutely love Barmel! We've come by for drinks before, and we had our wedding afterparty there. It was a blast, exactly the party we wanted for everyone to let loose after the big day! Carlos was a ton of fun to work with, he was very responsive and had very helpful guidance for us when we weren't sure about something. All of the staff working our event were very friendly and helpful, and they made some fantastic drinks and bites! The bartenders even remembered the bride and groom's specially requested drinks at the end of the night. Barmel was very accommodating to make the event what we wanted, we really felt at home. We were able to have our friend DJ, bring in foggers and lasers, and set up a temporary tattoo station! We definitely recommend Barmel for an event or a fun night out!

Terrible manager who discriminated us at the front door
Kristina S.

My little sister got married tonight and when my family (5 of us) arrived to celebrate her with a night cap, we were told we needed to buy bottles to reserve a private table. Meanwhile, the manager let a group of 8 single women behind us in line enter no questions asked. Totally disgusted & disappointed in the discrimination demonstrated by the bar door staff that my family wasn't let in yet the mgr let the people behind us go ahead of us for no reason other than they're single. Sad ending to what was a beautiful day/ celebration. Do not recommend- terribly rude & discriminatory

Mescal cocktail
Susan S.

Cool bar. Cocktails were all $16. We got a martini and mezcal cocktail. Server friendly. Kinda noisy but it was fun.

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5 months ago

Great bar and bartenders. Awesome atmosphere and vibes. Live music and DJs. Would recommend to others for a good time fosho

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4 months ago

The bartender was so sweet!! Drinks were good. Loved the music and decor of this spot.

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5 months ago

Came for Happy hour. Great drinks, good food. Super friendly service and great atmosphere. Highly recommend.

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Barmel Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Barmel

Is this a cigar lounge as well? Looking for something casual yet classy for this coming Saturday.

Hi, sorry but we don't have a cigar lounge. We share a courtyard with other businesses so we cannot allow smoking outside either. We hope you come by after your cigar and have a drink with us.

Hi - I keep trying to call but no one picks up the phone. How can I get in contact with you regarding a lost credit card that I left at your bar last weekend?…

Hi Lauren. Sometimes we don’t hear the phone over the music. Feel free to call our manager Carlos directly. (831) 293-4397. He can help you get your card back.

What time does the music start?

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Review Highlights - Barmel

Came here after dinner looking for some cocktails and this place did not disappoint!

Mentioned in 3 reviews

Read more highlights

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Sade's Cocktails - The atmosphere is so bad and the servers are super rude! Just check the picture on the left, they like it if you are offended!

Sade's Cocktails

4.0(203 reviews)
0.1 mi
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Best place to spend your time in Carmel (between golfing & gallery hopping)…read more If you want to feel local-ish, go here. I drove hundreds of miles for this place. (You should too.) Parker (the owner) is the real deal--passionate, witty, sometimes sarcastic, and genuinely fun. The cozy bar is surrounded by ever-changing photos, art, and laugh-out-loud signage. Stories live here: wall to wall, corner to corner, and everywhere in between. Locals and travelers exchange stories, play dice or cards. The drinks are beautifully basic--three ingredients, one of them ice. No fancy nonsense--just premium pours, neat or on the rocks. *And now the gut punch: they're being forced to close the same month they're celebrating their 100-year anniversary. The new building owners don't seem to care about the character and legacy of Carmel, the devotion of a fourth-generation owner, or what it means to lose a place that's thrived for a century. It's heartbreaking--for locals and travelers alike. Go while you still can. Last call, and cheers to everyone who's loved this place--"where everybody knows your name." XX

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!

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Sade's Cocktails - Street view

Street view

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Cocktails at Sade's Cocktails

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Brophy's Tavern - @lilybubbletea

Brophy's Tavern

4.3(809 reviews)
0.0 mi
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I didn't think it was possible for a grilled cheese sandwich to exceed my expectations, but here we…read moreare. I'd spent the morning hiking around Pfeiffer Beach and arrived in Carmel in the early afternoon. I was looking for basic sustenance. On the menu it didn't appear fancy-- a basic grilled cheese sandwich with tomato bisque. The combination was delivered to my table hot and fresh. I waited for a few minutes so as to avoid burning my tongue. I observed the bread was crispy, and the cheese combination was nicely melted. The bisque had a nice aroma. The first bite of sandwich was perfection, and following it up with a spoonful of bisque was pure rapture. I was impressed by a humble grilled cheese sandwich because it was made to perfection.

Came here because my friends love the fish and chips - which were good, but not my go to…read more We started with the fried calamari and truffle fries. Calamari was very lightly breaded and maybe it was timing but not as crisp of breading as I prefer. That said, it tasted good- I just prefer more crunch. The truffle fries were GREAT. Extra crispy, perfectly salted and seasoned w truffle. I shared the nicoise salad and roast beef sliders - the salad was good, the meat of the sliders was good and the crispy onions were a nice touch. The actual sliders were a tad dry. I think an au jus would've paired perfectly with this and resolved any dryness problem. My boyfriend got the Brophy's burger - extremely cheesy and loved the mushrooms. I'm not often in Carmel, but if I am and need a solid, casual bite, I will definitely be back!!

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Brophy's Tavern
Brophy's Tavern
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@feedmeimei

Terry's Restaurant + Lounge - Calamari

Terry's Restaurant + Lounge

3.9(260 reviews)
0.1 mi
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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.

This should be a slam dunk. You're in the historic Cypress Inn (Doris Day's legendary dog-friendly…read morehotel), you have a gorgeous patio, excellent location, and built-in clientele. And yet somehow, Terry's manages to squander all of it with terrible food. To be fair, our server was sweet--a nice girl who was clearly trying. But one kind server can't make up for what was coming out of the kitchen. We played it safe and both ordered the chicken piccata. Big mistake. What arrived was one of the most depressing plates I've seen in a while: basic-béarnaise sauce dumped on top of chicken. Not piccata. Not even close. Just... butter sauce on chicken. This is a meal I'll be thinking about for a long time, and not in a good way. It's genuinely sad to see a restaurant with this much going for it just completely blow it. Cypress Inn deserves better. Carmel deserves better. Skip Terry's and eat literally anywhere else.

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Terry's Restaurant + Lounge - Nice cozy spot inside.

Nice cozy spot inside.

Terry's Restaurant + Lounge
Terry's Restaurant + Lounge - Irish coffee and dogs!!

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Irish coffee and dogs!!

Links Club - Nachos are always a crowd pleaser

Links Club

4.1(76 reviews)
0.0 mi
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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!

Great spot in Carmel if you need something active to do besides sitting in a bar! They have golf…read morestimulators and board games! Great for big groups and kids. They also have karaoke and trivia night on some nights.

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Links Club - The Ace Chocolate Chip Cookie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

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Cocktails

Barmel - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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