I went to the Ferrari Challenge dinner at Stonepine a few weeks ago. The famous house and…read moreequestrian property is now a "Private Function" retreat only. No more hotel though rooms are available if part of the function. Think Weddings, Corp Events. If you ever read the Great Gatsby or saw the movie you'd feel like you were back in time. An elegance that felt more European than US.

Wow! Our wedding was at Stonepine Estate and it was an incredible weekend. The venue is so unique…read morefor California and it truly feels like you are transported to Italy. Each space is so well thought out, detailed, and beautiful. We loved the charming Italian feel of the Chateau and the Western contrast of the Double H Ranch. We incorporated both into our wedding day and our guests were continuously wow-d as they moved through the spaces. The venue also needs very minimal decorations for a wedding since it is so grand. We stayed on-site in the Chateau which was so amazing. The grounds are beautiful and it was fun to use the pool and enjoy the many available spaces over our three days there (and the incredible breakfasts!). Stonepine has an amazing team. Oceanne and Ari helped us navigate every detail and gave so much care into the planning of our day. Nathan and Julie were excellent hosts in the Chateau and went above and beyond to make our stay wonderful. The wedding truly could not have been a more beautiful or special day.

Holman Ranch is truly one of the most breathtaking wedding venues in Carmel, and it's always a joy…read moreto photograph weddings there. With sweeping views of the Carmel Valley, a stunning ceremony space, and endless backdrops for portraits, it's a dream location for any couple looking for a timeless and picturesque setting. Every time I work at Holman Ranch, I'm reminded why it's one of my absolute favorite venues--the golden hills, the vineyards, and that iconic tree at the entrance make for the most incredible sunset portraits. Whether capturing intimate moments under the oak trees or heading up the hill for panoramic views, every wedding here feels like pure magic. I can't recommend Holman Ranch enough for couples who want a venue that is as breathtaking as their love story.

My best friend just held her wedding here over the past weekend! Absolutely gorgeous!!! The views…read moreare breathtaking, everybody is so nice, the wine is amazing and it was convenient to park too. She had a wonderful time and was so happy she chose this venue.

IG: rs.Albright TikTok: m.Albright…read more We came here in April on a Friday night. It was very cold so we decided to eat inside by the fire. Although, they did have heaters outside and it the view was so beautiful! My fettuccine Alfredo was delicious, definitely fresh and farm to table style. The garlic bread was also amazing. They don't take reservations so be prepared to wait. The parking lot is fairly small as well. The service was amazing and I would come back!

This is my first 1 star review to ever write. This gets interesting, so if interested read on…read more We attempted to book a birthday celebration for my wife and what should have been an exciting experience turned into one of the worst interactions I've ever had with a restaurant and management.  We were planning a party for 10 adults and 10 children and were shocked when the event coordinator quoted us an outrageous $30,000. Putting aside the price itself, the far bigger issue was how incredibly rude and dismissive she was toward my wife during the conversation. After we expressed concerns, we were referred to the General Manager. I emailed the GM and heard absolutely nothing for over a week despite leaving multiple voicemails. After trying a third time, I finally received a return phone call. I was told my email was never received. We explained how poorly the event coordinator treated us and that we had specifically been directed to management. Initially, the GM seemed understanding. She spoke about how small the kitchen is and how larger parties can impact other guests' experiences. She said she'd try to help, recommend alternative venues if needed, and asked me to email details again. I thought we were finally making progress. Then things somehow got worse. After sending the email, I received what was obviously an accidental phone call. During the call, the GM appeared to be speaking with a colleague and was talking negatively about me for absolutely no reason. I heard comments about how she receives lots of emails and assumes many are spam until someone sends a second email, and that she handles voicemails similarly. Hearing that level of disregard for guests regardless of how serious or beneficial the inquiry might be for the business was honestly shocking. At that point, any chance of earning our business disappeared. Even if I receive an apology, I will never spend a dollar at this establishment. The ownership seriously needs to evaluate the management team because I've never felt so disrespected by a restaurant in my life. Extremely disappointing experience from start to finish. Unfortunately can't say anything about the food and never will.

Blue Fox is family owned wine tasting business in Carmel Valley Village. Their wines are all made…read morefrom grapes harvested in Mendocino county. Their wines are crushed, fermented, and bottled in Mendocino county and the family lives here locally and runs their wine business here in Monterey County (they also have a new tasting room in Monterey). Julia was our hostess and runs the tasting room in the village (and it sounds like she runs their family business as well). My wife and I enjoyed a flight of 5 wines. We liked their reds (Grenache, Syrah, and Zinfandel) more than their whites. All three reds were older 'library' wines, being 10-12 years old, which is unusual and a fun angle to their wine tasting offering. We haven't experienced being served older wines in the neighboring wine rooms, which makes blue fox unique in the village. Blue Fox had an unassuming tasting room, but has spectacular exterior grounds. Lots of room for serving large parties. In fact, they have a beautiful wood burning pizza oven for serving flatbreads on Sunday and have live music on occasion. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Blue Fox and learning about Julia and her husband's family business. We will be back with friends and family on Sundays to try their wood fired flatbreads paired with their delicious Syrah.

Such a nice place with great ambiance & worth the visit here...just it!…read more We had a wonderful time with friends...here for a couple of hours, easy!

Our visit took place on a Friday around 7 pm. As a group of 4 we showed up with no reservations and…read morethere was luckily one seat available that could accommodate our party. Stepping into Los Laureles felt like we went back in time to an old western saloon, it was dimly lit, rustic and full of character. Our friends recommended the loaded burger, so all 4 of us ended up ordering one. For $20, the loaded Laureles burger comes with bacon, avocado, mushrooms, grilled onions and your choice of Cheddar, Swiss or Bleu cheese. In addition to the burger it comes with fries. For $20, this feels like an absolute steal. I have to say, this burger may be the best burger I've ever had. It was juicy, flavorful, and fully loaded. I will certainly be back and can't wait to share this hidden gem with some friends.

Stayed at the Lodge this week on the advice of my friend (a local) and now that I know about it,…read morethis is the place I'll always stay whenever I come up to Monterey or the Carmel Valley. It feels like you've sat stepped back in time to the 1930s or earlier - the cottages are charming, and have lots of little nice touches. It's not fancy by any means, but that's why I like it - it's not colorless and bland like modern hotels. I would choose this every day over those types of hotels! The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the area. There's a nice cat that likes to hang out in the lobby, which contributes to the cozy vibe. Breakfast is light, which is fine with me - the granola is great, and tastes homemade. They have fruit and boiled eggs and a homemade coffee cake, which was a little dry but tasty. I didn't have a chance to try the restaurant, but I will on my next visit. Definitely coming here again!

If you are considering Holly Farm as the venue for your wedding, and you just want the tl;dr, then…read morehere are my three most important suggestions for you: 1) You should absolutely go with Holly Farm. 2) You should accept every piece of advice Erin, Ryan, and the rest of the incredible team have for you along the way. 3) You should start getting excited right now about La Creme because their food is out of this world. Picking Holly Farm as our venue was the first choice we made in our wedding planning process, and trust me when I say that it was by far the best one. The pictures speak for themselves, and yes, it's as amazing as it looks (though if you haven't visited, you should take the excuse - it's truly stunning in person), but the real game changer is the team. The Holly Farm fam has been at this for decades, and it SHOWS. They cater to your needs and your vision, whether you want to be super hands on and into the nitty gritty on everything, or whether you want somebody to completely take the reins for you. We were so so appreciative for Erin's help during the planning process; any time we were stuck on something, she had a recommendation ready that was never just "off the shelf". We didn't want to be totally consumed by wedding planning all the time, and even though Erin had a big list of vendors ready to go, we were more than happy to listen every time she said "here's the 2 who I think you guys would love". It's really really telling to me that every single vendor we spoke to - without exception, including the ones we didn't end up choosing - all said some version of the same thing: "oh man I LOVE doing weddings at Holly Farm". Here's what I'll say about the weekend itself - it truly feels like you are staying at a luxury resort where you and your friends are the only guests. The entire staff is so attentive, so friendly, and they take care of all the details and logistics so that your only job really is to just enjoy the weekend and stay relaxed. We cooked a huge friends and family dinner in the Adobe and they cleaned the entire kitchen for us! Anytime we were hanging out in the evenings they rolled the portable heaters up without us asking! They moved our rental equipment around to make cool outdoor spaces for us so that we could get more use out of it than just the wedding itself! And nothing felt so satisfying as passing by Ryan on a path and hearing "hey I just lit your fireplace for you!". Of everything we loved about our wedding, the thing we loved most was getting to have this full weekend experience with our closest friends and family in one place, made truly special by the care the entire Holly Farm team put into making us feel at ease and at home. And one final thing - lest I leave you with the impression that this is only about good vibes - the operations for the wedding itself were incredible. Every vendor knows the team and knows the venue, everything works like clockwork without you having to supervise anything, and Erin, Ryan, and their staff have things so tightly coordinated that we didn't have to stress about logistics at all once the weekend got started. I can't emphasize enough how big a difference that made to us compared to some horror stories we'd heard from other weddings. Here are some final quick hits on other things you might be wondering about - but seriously, pick Holly Farm: - I didn't write an entire review for Tamie and La Creme, because it would be just as long, but they do amazing work. This is straight up excellent food, not excellent "wedding" food. - The rooms and buildings are very cool and very comfortable. - Yes, the Paraiso suite is "open air". Yes, it really does stay warm. Having a roaring fire in there, plus a heated blanket on the bed....A+. - The optional River House for extra space is definitely walkable (~3 mins), but it's nice to have flashlights at night. - Having the flexibility to use the space however you want for the entire weekend is a highly highly underrated perk. We had people hanging out on Thursday and Friday and it was a ton of fun. Highly recommend making plans that utilize the space every day. - We were nervous about the higher cost at first, but asking friends and family who stayed on site to pay for rooms turned out to not be a very big deal, and what we charged them was still way less than area hotels. - The music has to switch from DJ's speakers to house speakers at 9:30pm, but the house speakers can stay on all night if you want. We had just as much fun after the switchover. - No curfew is also a huge perk not to overlook. Erin and Ryan if you're reading this THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN YOU GUYS ARE ROCK STARS!!

As my husband and I drive up the central coast to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary, we…read morethought this was the perfect time to share a little bit about our insanely incredible experience getting married at Holly Farm. Our wedding was an absolute dream come true. The love we had for each other and for our family and friends that traveled from across the country to celebrate with us was reflected in the beauty and spirit of Holly Farm and all of the wonderful folks that work there. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the warmth and charm of the space. It was as if every inch of the venue was designed to make us and our guests feel at home, while still capturing an elevated, magical atmosphere that was simply unforgettable. Everyone at Holly Farm went above and beyond to ensure each detail of our wedding weekend was flawless. Their attention to detail was extraordinary, and it was clear they genuinely cared about making our day perfect. Ryan and Erin were so caring and attentive, and they made us feel like family. They were there for every little detail and made us feel completely at ease. The food, catered by La Creme, was nothing short of five star restaurant quality. We've received countless compliments from our guests about how delicious everything was! This was a big deal, especially coming from our families who are used to extravagant New Jersey weddings with an abundance of food. They all told us it was the best wedding food they'd ever had, which is about the highest praise you can get from a family who knows food! Everything about The Holly Farm was perfect--from the gorgeous, tropical setting that felt like a hidden paradise against the coastal backdrop of Carmel to the impeccable service and food. We couldn't have imagined a more beautiful, heartfelt, and memorable experience, and our friends and family STILL haven't stopped raving about it! Our wedding weekend was made even more special thanks to the onsite haciendas where we, along with some of our close friends, stayed. The houses were cozy yet luxurious, and perfectly appointed with a level of service that truly felt five-star. Each detail was perfect, from the unbelievably comfortable beds to the wood burning fires that were lit by hand each night and the wonderful house staff that made everyone feel at home the moment they arrived. Getting to spend the whole weekend in such an enchanting space made the whole wedding feel so much more special, a truly immersive experience vs a single-day event. We loved discovering the countless nooks and crannies throughout the property where our friends and family could relax, chat, and soak in the surroundings. It created a sense of intimacy and closeness that made the entire experience feel so special. When the weekend was over, we genuinely didn't want to leave. Heck, we may even crash the wedding that's probably getting ready to kick off this weekend! The Holly Farm made every moment magical, and we will forever cherish our time spent there with the people we love most.

Our experience at Folktale Winery & Vineyards was exceptional. The cuisine and service were both…read moreoutstanding, creating a memorable and welcoming atmosphere. Nick, our server, was particularly impressive--personable, attentive, and highly knowledgeable about the wines. His thoughtful recommendations and warm hospitality made our first visit truly special and inspired us to return. On our second visit, the experience was just as wonderful as the first. The live music added to the ambiance, and watching the sun set over the vineyards provided a spectacular and unforgettable backdrop. It's a beautiful setting paired with excellent service and food--an experience we would gladly repeat

Nick was our server today. He was so kind and knowledgeable in the wine. I have never been wine…read moretasting before and he made such good recommendations. He was nice, funny, and made this experience so nice. I appreciate the service and the ambiance of the winery. I would come back!

Sofanya came through for us to make our wedding dreams come true despite super chaotic…read morecircumstances. When our wedding venue fell through a week before our wedding because they refused to let us put up a canopy to get out of the rain, she was kind enough to let us rent our cottage two days early and gave us several location options for our ceremony, whatever would suit us best. She helped me get ready & offered as much love, kindness & support as she could offer. Then, when the weather turned south & started storming extremely heavily during our outdoor ceremony, she generously opened up her own home to us in the top floor of the beautiful dome house to complete our special day. She truly saved the day for us, and treated us like family. The location couldn't be more beautiful. Everywhere you look, beautiful art peeks through the landscape as if placed thete by fairies, and the beauty of nature here creates a sense of tranquility among the redwoods crawling with ivy. Beautiful photo opportunities everywhere you look. A true hippy paradise! The Cala Lily Cottage was cozy, private and intimate, and we felt right at home. PLEASE avoid wasting your money at overpriced, inhospitable cabins/campgrounds out at big sur and come here instead, where you'll be treated like a treasured guest. My new husband and I look forward to returning on an anniversary!

What an aptly named little slice of paradise. Only a few minutes from breathtaking views of the…read morecoast, you take one turn and suddenly you are immersed in a lush redwood forest. This place is magical. I have so many good things to say about the Jewel in the Forest and Sofanya. I feel connected to them now as they are a part of my story, and I'm so grateful for that! On October 1st, I married my best friend in a small 10 person ceremony at the Jewel in the Forest. It was the most perfect day of my life, and there could not have been a better place for it. We rented out all 4 of the cabins on property to accommodate all of our guests. That allowed us to stay together and bond through the whole experience, while still providing ample privacy and sleeping space for our guests The Dome House is the most beautiful place I have ever stayed in my life. From the skylights that allow you a peek of the tops of the redwood trees, to the eclectic and beautiful furniture and decorations, to the wood burning heater, topped off by Sofanya's amazing artwork, it is truly an immersive experience. Sofanya provides games, movies, books, musical instruments, and a full kitchen. Everything you need for the perfect escape. We cut our cake and drank champagne as a group of about 12 in the living space comfortably. Most of our guests stayed at the Jasmine house, which has 3 private rooms and a large living space where we all enjoyed dinner the night before the ceremony. Sofanya even strung up the cutest string lights on the patio for us so we could enjoy the outside space as well. My parents stayed in the adorable Calla Lily cabin, which is perfect for a couple or small family. It is cozy and charming. Our photographer stayed up in the adorable Lotus Blossum, which had the most spectacular windows and a one of a kind outside bathroom. So cool! We held our ceremony near the stream amongst the redwoods. It was breathtaking. Overall, the space was beyond perfect for what we needed. Each of the cabins are unique and have so much character. I recommend that EVERYONE visit and escape from reality to this magical place at some point in your life. You won't regret it. Now, I have to say a few things about Sofanya. She is wonderful! She really went above and beyond making sure our wedding was perfect. She hung the aforementioned lights for me, provided several bouquets around the property, received packages with things for my wedding for me ahead of time, and ensured everyone's comfort the whole stay. Thank you so much for all you did to make my wedding truly perfect Sofanya.

Disappointed. We've been coming here for years and loving…read moreit! Staff have been wonderful and the grounds heavenly. Now however, though it is still beautiful, it has become disappointing. 1. There is loud construction & traffic late into the night and early mornings. 2. Many staff were nice but too many were not, the last ones helping us and bringing our car at the end did not even say anything, just disappeared without anyone saying a simple goodbye or thanks for visiting. 3. Multiple/many rooms have very loud equipment you can hear from inside the rooms: large heating/air conditioning units and pool and spa heaters, pumps. We did ask to have a quiet room but were moved to a noisy one by the pool. We had to wait till the next day, then had to move rooms. No compensation. The second room we got however was nice. 4. Service Inconsistency: We checked before booking that we could have a mother-daughter spa get-away and were told we could but once there, were turned away rudely by Destynee. A mix-up is one thing but she was very rude: actually interrupted, talked over us raising her eyebrows and treating us like we lied. I felt awful, my daughter just wanted to leave and we both felt very uncomfortable: AND their sign posted by the spa states under 18 can use it with supervision (the website states nothing about age exclusions). My daughter is almost 17. 5. It is nice they ask if you're celebrating something special. We were but received a plate of dried fruit & a couple macarons with a lovely note but addressed to another guest for the wrong occasion, saying "Happy Birthday." 6. Peace & quiet, relaxation? We had specified a quiet room. There were multiple large equipment units buzzing loudly for heating/cooling rooms and one right below our balcony for the pool. Leaf blowers woke us early around 8 9 am around the pool which itself isn't quiet later with kids playing (though they are adorable). 7. Added fees on top of the usual such as $70 resort fee, $30 nightly parking fee (it's remote so you need a car) add $100/night which we were surprised by. Overall we left and though my daughter was a good sport and we always love our time together at Bernardus, we sadly have the memories above. Management moved us after a day but were not available the rest of the time and never returned my call. The rudeness of the spa staff was the most unfortunate part. Though the loudness, traffic, significant extra fees, service mistakes or lack of etc.. just make me wonder if this is the right place anymore, especially given so many other options.

It's a beautiful place but I hate how they nickel and dime you. Their resort fee went up to $70 a…read morenight. Parking was always free but now they charge $30 a night whether you use valet or self parking in their outdoor lot. Since it's so far off the beaten track you need to bring your car. That's an instant add on of $100 a night. The added parking fee and increased resort fee convinced me not to return a 4th time. On a positive note, the setting is beautiful and relaxing. The gardens are beautiful and fun to walk around. There are 3 pools, a full service spa on site and each room has lovely amenities like fresh fruit, beverages cheese and crackers. All rooms have fireplaces and outdoor patios or balconies. I tried their restaurant several times and have not been overly impressed. My experience has been that they keep their food rather bland. I recommend going into town for fine dining and many choices. You can borrow a Mercedes Benz convertible for a 2 hour drive in the area. That's a lot of fun. While there are many positives, I now prefer to stay in the town of Carmel. Preferably with an ocean view room.

We had the pleasure of working with Coastside Couture for our wedding in Nov of 2022 and we are…read morestill reminiscing about the incredible day they helped us create. From the very beginning, their team was dedicated to understanding our vision and bringing it to life in ways that exceeded our expectations. They dug deep to get to know us and our families and words can't do them justice. One of the standout aspects of their amazing work was their recommendation and orchestration(no pun intended) for a band that matched and exceeded our hopes for a lit and epic dance floor. The energy and talent of the band they suggested turned our reception into an unforgettable celebration. Our guests are still talking about how much fun they had dancing the night away. The attention to detail and commitment to excellence from Heidi, Sonja, and Harley were evident in every aspect of our wedding. They managed to seamlessly blend elegance and fun, creating moments that reflected my husband and myself and will be memories we will literally never forget. Also I reflect now on how much stress they removed from our lives and I am eternally grateful. We have no idea all the ways they just allowed us to have fun in the process. We truly believe that our wedding was one of the best day of our lives, and much of that is thanks to the hard work and dedication of this dream team. If you are looking for a wedding planning company that will go above and beyond to make your day as special as possible, we highly recommend Coastside Couture. Their expertise, passion, and personal touch made our wedding day epic and unforgettable. Love them!!

Heidi, Sonja and Harley were great to work with for our wedding. We started working with Heidi 9…read moremonths before our wedding in Carmel Valley and she immediately started reserving/confirming vendors that we absolutely loved. She is experienced, and really knows the area and the best vendors to work with. She managed to reserve one highly in-demand vendor before we had even finalized our contract with her, anticipating that it would be the best option for us (which it was). That is how forward-thinking and proactive Heidi is - a true godsend for two people with busy schedules and very little time to plan a wedding. Without Heidi, our wedding would be an absolute shadow of the wonderful event that it turned out to be with her at the helm. We recommend Heidi for any event in and around Carmel, particularly for those individuals with tight schedules, busy lives or far reaching visions of what you want out of your event. She really focuses on personalizing your wedding day to reflect the couple's tastes and vision. Heidi and her incredible team will move heaven and earth to make sure that you have the event that you want. We hope that we will have many opportunities to work with Heidi and her team in the future. To Heidi and her team - thank you for everything.