Bistros, trattorias and the everyday places where Carmel-by-the-Sea actually eats.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Carmel-by-the-Sea actually eats.
9 places
Order Grilled Castroville artichokes, then the Plains Drifter prime rib French dip.
Hog's Breath Inn, the Carmel courtyard restaurant Clint Eastwood founded in 1970, reopened in August 2025 restored with steaks and clam chowder.
Order A terrace table under the oaks; order mezze to share.
Tree House Cafe sets a second-storey terrace among the oaks on San Carlos Street in Carmel, serving Mediterranean plates from late morning nightly.
Order The day's nigiri selection, with a hot plate for the table.
Toro Sushi rolls creative Japanese plates on Dolores Street in Carmel, running long all-day hours that the village's older sushi counters do not.
3 hours
Taste local specialties with a knowledgeable local guide in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Explore charming streets, hear local stories, and enjoy five tastings with adult beverag...
1.5 hours
Learn to make macarons from scratch in a small, hands-on class in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Discover the secrets to creating the perfect macaron and take home a dozen macaron...
Viator · 3.2 h
Carmel-by-the-Sea's original and only locally owned food tour, rooted in this community since 2012. Discover the village's best-kept culinary secrets on this 3-hour gu...
Order A morning pastry, then a pizza once the oven switches to lunch service.
Rise + Roam Bakery and Pizzeria bakes organic-flour breads and pastries in Carmel Plaza, then turns out pizzas, soups and salads through the day.
Order House scones with olallieberry preserves and a pot of tea.
The Tuck Box serves scones and Welsh rarebit inside a 1927 Hugh Comstock fairy-tale cottage in Carmel, a tearoom trade running since the 1940s.
Order Any of the twenty-plus eggs Benedicts; the classic sets the baseline.
Katy's Place has cooked breakfast on Mission Street in Carmel since 1982 and calls itself the Capital of Eggs Benedict, listing over 20 versions.
Order Whatever came off the tiny in-house brewhouse that week.
Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro brews 150-gallon batches at the back of its Carmel Plaza dining room, pairing them with Californian bistro plates.
Order A pastry from the case; the savoury menu waits if you sit.
Patisserie Boissiere pairs a French pastry case with a chateau-styled Carmel dining room, moving from morning patisserie to full dinner service.
Order Monterey Bay calamari, then the Brophy's burger.
Brophy's Tavern runs Carmel's Irish pub and sports bar at 4th and San Carlos, plating Monterey Bay calamari and fish and chips under seven screens.
Nothing matches.
