I am back with part 2 of our trip to Carmel (see part 1). Today, I am sharing all the places that we ate and options on where you should stay if you are planning a visit. My overall Carmel experience was better than I could have imagined. It was one of my favorite trips I have ever taken, right behind my trip to Hilton Head Island.
WHAT TO EAT
I was happy with every single meal we had while on vacation. There wasn’t one that I was disappointed or wouldn’t recommend, so I am sharing them all!
The nice thing about Carmel is that most places are dog friendly. My in-laws brought their dogs, so the dogs had breakfast, lunch and dinner with us most days. Some places even have a doggie menu.
The Haute Enchilada – It is located in Moss Landing, about 30-45 minutes from Carmel. I was very surprised by the meal here (in a good way)! I had the halibut tacos and they were very good. The chips and salsa were also a winner. Brian went for the ceviche and loved it.
OUTFIT DETAILS: Cold Shoulder Top // Denim Jacket // Denim Jeans // Slides // Purse
The Valley at Carmel Valley Ranch – Brian and I both were very excited for this meal. Our in-laws made it sound so good and while the food was amazing, the service was not. I think it may have been because it was Labor Day weekend, but it took us 4 hours to have dinner. That is unusually long! I want to give this place a try again next time we are in town because everything we ate was fabulous! They also have a s’mores area for desert, complete with a fire pit, graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows.
From Scratch Restaurant – We treated our in-laws to breakfast here and loved it. This restaurant was featured on Diner, Drive-Ins and Dives. It did not disappoint. It is located in the Barnyard shopping center.
Carmel Valley Coffee – We stopped in here while shopping in Pacific Grove. The atmosphere is very peaceful and the iced tea was good. I would have loved to stop back by for a coffee, but we didn’t have enough time.
Red House Cafe – This was a yummy little lunch spot to grab a half sandwich and soup while sitting outside. It had great service and atmosphere!
OUTFIT DETAILS: Peplum Top // Shorts // Slides // Denim Jacket // Purse
The Forge – Another great spot to sit outside. They even have a fire place and outdoor heaters if it gets chilly. I had lobster tacos and Brian went for the ribs.
Scales Seafood & Steaks – We ate lunch here after we spent the morning at the Monterey Aquarium. My goal for this trip was to eat as much seafood as I could. I love a good lobster roll and this one was up there with one of my favorites. It was very fresh and tasted good. Brian ate the fish and chips in honor of my uncle who loved fish and chips.
Baja Cantina – The only photo I was able to snap of our dinner here was the gorgeous sunset. This particular night was really cold, so we decided to sit indoors, but they have a nice large sitting area outside. I loved the chips and salsa here too! I always judge a good mexican restaurant by how good the salsa tastes. My meal was equally as good!
Village Corner – Another great spot for breakfast! Again, we sat outside and had a wonderful meal here. They also serve lunch and dinner here too!
The Tap Room – This was our last meal of the trip. It was a must in my opinion. It is located on the Pebble Beach Golf Course. The food here was the best of the whole trip! I tried sand dabs (like a flounder) and was pleasantly surprised with my choice. We also had the largest banana split you’ve ever seen for desert. I wish I would have gotten a good picture of it. It was bigger than my head!
Carmel Bakery – I stopped in here for an iced coffee and my father-in-law grabbed some yummy pastries. The iced coffee was one of the best I have had in a long time! Wish I could go back here again! A great spot for coffee, cookies and more!
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed in Carmel, but there are a ton of other places around Carmel that I would love to stay next time. I would recommend also staying in Pacific Grove or Pebble Beach. My in-laws rented a house to stay in through a friend, but there are also a ton of boutique motels and inns. It is a bit like stepping back in time, because the motels are nicely maintained, unlike some motels that you see around the Dallas area.
Overall, this trip was amazing! I am wishing I was back there right now. I am hoping we can go back again next year. My in-laws have made a tradition out of going there every year for the month of September.
Thank you so much for reading! xo, Nataly
