Rio Grill

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

The lady bartender gets 5 stars. She was professional, funny, and made very good cocktails!…read more But the rest it? 2 stars. The other FOH staff acted like our presence was a huge inconvenience. I'm not saying lick your clients bums, but ffs maybe try some remedial niceties and practice neutral facial expressions in the mirror. We opted to eat elsewhere.

Le Bicyclette Burger

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Cocktails

The Star Bar at Vesuvio

4.2(198 reviews)

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

6/24/25 FYI. Happy hour, Full bar. First floor.

Fireplace

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Sade's Cocktails

4.0(203 reviews)

•$

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!

Street view

Cocktails at Sade's Cocktails

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Bud's at La Playa

4.4(29 reviews)

This woodsy moody cocktail bar is straight out of an oldies magazine. Dimly lit, great music, and…read moreamazing vibes will make you feel like you've been transported back in time. So entertaining to sit at the bars, be waiting on, and watch creative cocktails be poured. Brenda waited on us and man I can't recommend this place more.

$28 for French fries... Not sure if this is attempting to be a deterrent? But feels criminal. Small…read moreportion, lots of Parmesan, not any noticeable "truffle"... Service was a bit somber or not very positive and upbeat Ambiance was beautiful and quaint

Old Fashioned

Pretzel (@joeynht)

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Mission Revival... So good!

A W Shucks Oyster Bar And Cocktails

4.1(1.3k reviews)

If you're wandering through Carmel and want a spot that feels like it's been there forever, A.W…read more Shucks is the place. It's a local restaurant with that classic, unpretentious historical charm and always crowded. The oysters are the spotlight. It's super fresh, perfectly shucked, and they really hit the spot if you're looking for a Pacific flavor. I also highly recommend trying the fried squid, crispy, flavorful (ask for extra lemon cause you will love that juice). It's one of the best appetizers on the menu, even better than the fish and chip (surprised, it's just bland, soggy and soft, and lacking the wow factor). And honestly, I can't leave without trying clam chowder. It's thick, creamy, has a taste of the ocean and is exactly the kind of warm-your-bones meal you need when the coastal fog just rolls in. And Carmel is just that cold, so I need this warm soup. Overall, just stick to the raw bar and the chowder, and you're in for a great meal. I couldn't recommend this place enough!

Aw Shucks Oyster Bar and Cocktails is officially our new go-to spot in Carmel! We came in as a…read morewalk-in on a Saturday afternoon and were pleasantly surprised to be seated immediately at the bar. We ordered the pomegranate margarita and hibiscus mojito -- both were refreshing, well-balanced, and perfectly crafted. For food, we had a 1/2 dozen raw Kumamoto oysters, a 1/2 dozen oysters Rockefeller, and the fish and chips. Everything was absolutely delicious. The Kumamotos were fresh and briny, the oysters Rockefeller were rich and flavorful, and the fish and chips were crispy, light, and cooked perfectly. On top of the amazing food and drinks, the service was outstanding -- friendly, attentive, and welcoming. We truly loved the entire experience and can't wait to come back. Highly recommend if you're in Carmel!

It fills up at the bar, but service is always fast!

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Vibe

Brophy's Tavern

4.3(809 reviews)

1.3 mi

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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@feedmeimei

Cultura

4.3(1.1k reviews)

1.5 mi

WHAT CAN I SAY…read more This meal was PHENOMENAL (*'o'*) I never had Chapulines before but the texture was unlike anything i could've imagined. the flavour was mind-blowing too. It was fun to snack on them and eat them with the CHIP and dip. The Habañero carrot sauce was far superior to all the salsa. HIGHLY recommend it to accompany ur dinner. The Mole was so rich, and chicken so tender and juicy. The interior is quite cozy! Defo like here, but parking took over an hour so just beware what time u go and when

Cultura was such a vibe! We chose to sit outside by the fireplace, and the ambiance alone made the…read moreexperience feel special. Quick service still happens outside when your af Carmel by the Sea! The drink drinks were flowing and I was going! Every drink was so adorable. It made me want to try all of them. I love it when effort is put into making my drink. The chips and salsa are always a must! Fresh and Flavorful. While I didn't love the specific entrée I chose, everything around it really stood out. The potatoes and asparagus were absolutely Devine. Everyone else at the table genuinely enjoyed their meals, which says a lot about the consistency of the kitchen. Must stop by for outdoor fireplace setting.

Another side of the bar seating area

NY steak, black beans, & assorted vegetables.

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Wine & Warm Water

Terry's Restaurant + Lounge

3.9(260 reviews)

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.

Nice cozy spot inside.

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Irish coffee and dogs!!

Grasing's

Locally owned & operated

Best cocktails + dinner with friends in the bar with Kevin! It's what Carmel nights are all about!read more

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.

Highest grade prime cuts and wagyu beef

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Terrace Bar

4.5(6 reviews)

Located in the La Playa Hotel is the Terrace Bar. Want to go way back in time? In a good way? I'd…read morerecommend Terrace Bar for great cocktails, and a fun bay food menu. First the good Stuff: dark and cozy inside, lots of wood, missing was a fireplace but plenty of those in the hotel. Started with Martinis, Old Fashioned. Superb. Very generous pours. Like the old days....the menu offered about 15 items- salads, apps, burgers, steak, fish, pasta all Priced very fairly. It's feels like a date night without the fuss. Go, soon, enjoy. I'd say it's 4.4.

Stopped by to get the famed pretzel and so worth it. And the drinks were great. With beautiful…read moreviews of garden and ocean.