There's no doubt that the views you get while dining are just incredible. All staff are polite and…read moreinformative on telling you about the menu. However the food was pretty average nothing outstanding. Such a nice experience though would recommend!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING AMBIANCE AND PERFECT VIEWS + LOCATION. This is hands-down one…read moreof the MOST BEAUTIFUL restaurants I have ever been to. It is like something out of a DREAM literally. lol. It is settled perfectly on the edge of the Carmel hills overlooking a gorgeous view of the ocean, beach, and towns houses. The views are MESMERIZING and breathtaking on a sunny day. This is one of the most SPECTACULAR, epic date spots you can ever imagine. It's also such a beautiful place to bring family and loved ones. It honestly reminds me of something so beautiful like out of the movies. Everything is. PERFECT. We arrived at an odd hour (3:40pm) and it wasn't the prime lunch/ dinner time unfortunately but we were lucky enough to arrive during their Happy Hour selection time. Yay! It is definitely a less extensive menu but you get a nice little discount of 20% (?) which is honestly great. We requested to sit on the outside terrace and OMG ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! Words cannot express the absolute BEAUTY and MAJESTIC views that you see from the terrace. AMAZING! (Please see my photos/views lol.) Since we had a limited menu at the time we chose 3 items to share. We decided on the Short Rib Tostone, Fritto Misto, and the Gilroy Garlic Truffle Fries. Yummy! Also for drinks we ordered the Coconut Tide and Mezcal Paloma. Mm mm! We were highly impressed by the drinks and food here. Everything was GREAT. The drinks are sooo flavorful, visually appealing, and decently strong. The food was DELICIOUS and plated beautifully. The Short Rib Tostone was my favorite for sure, it's lovely and packed with sooo much flavor. It's also plated like a masterpiece. Compliments to the chef. The Fritto Misto is your classic calamari paired with yams that are perfectly toasted and the green aioli sauce gives it the perfect dash of flavor. The Garlic Truffle fries had lovely flavor also and just a heads up the portion is HUGEEEEEE. It's so humongous we laughed about it so much. lol. I would highly recommend the fries for a family appetizer it could easily feed 4/5 people. Definitely a great deal. :) Overall I am COMPLETELY IN LOVE with this location. I cannot say enough good things about it, the beauty of this restaurant and location is BEYOND WORDS. lol. I will definitely be coming back to dine here anytime I am in town. It was such a beautiful experience and also the staff was polite + nice enough to take some amazing terrace views photos for us. Thank you so much. A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED. :)

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.

All the locals had been recommending BarMel as the spot to go after dinner and we finally decided…read moreto 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.

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

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.

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!

Wow! This place is fantastic! On our last night in town, we ate dinner here. We arrived a little…read moreafter 5pm and were told it was 60-90 minute wait, which we were fine with. We were able to get seats at the bar and hung out there until our table was ready at about the 90 min mark. The vibe of the building, views, quality of service and food/drinks were all top notch. I had a steak, and my girl, had the bolognese. Both were fantastic. This spot was the highlight of my 3 days trip. The next time I visit the area I'll definitely eat here again. I'd want to stay at the resort as well.

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.

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.

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.

Food: Food menu is ok, basically American food but they can…read moredo much better. They don't have much healthier choice but overall satisfactory. Definitely will feed your hunger Service: Great service,but little slow for such a small place they can do better. However the bar ladies is amazing and friendly. Ambiance: Good, does get little crowded but they have this large share table which basically take a lots of space they should replace that with circular tables which will make the place little bigger and make dinning more intimate rather than sharing the table with strangers. Price per Person: $$ 10-20