Carmel Restaurants and Dining

(Carmel - Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey County, California - CA, USA)

The 'fusion' style of Californian cuisine is ever present within the plentiful restaurants around Carmel and throughout the Monterey Peninsula. Dining is often a real highlight at the end of a day's sightseeing around Carmel, and tasty, well-presented food is generally what you can expect to find at most eateries, and although quite affordable, it is not what you could ever call cheap.

The oceanfront setting of Carmel is reflected on the varied menus at the town's restaurants, with freshly caught seafood being a firm favorite, particularly the outstanding Monterey Bay salmon. Other dining options include everything from steaks, hamburgers and barbecued food, to pizzas and even Chinese cuisine, all of which is best accompanied with a bottle of local Californian wine.

Where to Eat

Fast-food restaurants in Carmel offer the best value for a family meal and a choice of these are to be found within both the Barnyard and Crossroads shopping villages.

At the Barnyard, popular dining venues include Allegro Gourmet Pizzeria, the Lugano Swiss Bistro, the Robarta Sushi Grill and also Bentleys, a rather English-style pub serving hearty pub meals. Carmel's Crossroads Shopping Village is home to eateries such as Bistro 211, Café Stravaganza, the Sea Harvest Fish Restaurant, and Island Taco, where grilled Mexican dishes await.

Further dining venues are located along the Highlands Drive, the Big Sur Coast Highway Route 1, Ocean Avenue, San Carlos Street, and also Dolores Street, where the Mission Ranch Restaurant resides, a historical farmhouse enjoying views of green pastures and Carmel's stretching coastline.

Just a relatively short drive away from Carmel are a bigger selection of restaurants in Monterey, although those around Cannery Row and the Fisherman's Wharf do tend to be a little 'touristy'. Also look to Pebble Beach and Carmel Valley for more options.