Did you know that Carmel has more restaurants per capita than any other town in the USA?

We’ve gone ahead and done all the research to show you which restaurants are the best in Carmel!

That way you’ll have more time to wander around the fairytale-like alleyways and white sand beaches of Carmel.

Stationaery

Stationaery is an intimate cafe specializing in quality comfort food plated ever so beautifully. They are tucked away inside an adorable alleyway with plenty of outdoor seating open for brunch and dinner.

We stopped by for brunch on a sunny day and loved their menu drawn from local, seasonal ingredients!

Here is what we ordered:

Chilaquiles - A splash of color on a plate - these were so delicious! We loved how the salsa roja seeped into the tortilla chips, giving them a nice red color.

Avocado Toast - an upscale version of avocado toast, the Ad Astra bread makes a huge texture difference as well as the Meyer lemon.

Potato Pancake - if you love potato brunch dishes, definitely go for this one. It had just the right amount of crunch, cheese, and sweetness from the pear.

Chai latte - served in a beautiful mug, the chai was perfect. Not too sweet but full of flavor.

Passionfish

Passionfish, while not technically in Carmel, is just a quick drive to Monterey and had to be included due to their amazing seafood selection.

They’ve been serving sustainable seafood for nearly twenty years with a fantastic California seasonal menu.

Here’s what we ordered when we visited:

Buttermilk Biscuit - one of the best biscuits we’ve ever had, it was fluffy, buttery, and just amazing.

Sea Scallops - we loved how perfectly these scallops were made but the highlight of the dish was the rice custard!

Dungeness crab salad - if you love Dungeness crab, go for this one. It’s full of crab, avocado, ginger, and fennel.

Black cod - super moist cod with an interesting cardamom syrup and green onion cream - really great!

Make sure to call ahead for a reservation, since Passionfish is quite popular amongst both locals and tourists.

Akaoni

This no-frills Sushi joint is a local favorite for great quality sushi, Japanese food, and homemade tofu dishes. The couple that runs it are dedicated to the craft and usually have seasonal specials on top of the regular menu.

Highlights include any of the sushi, homemade tofu, local spot prawns, and light and crispy tempura.

Cultura Comida Y Bebida

Cultura Comida y Bebida merges the tastes of Oaxaca, Mexico with California coastal flavors.

You can pick from an excellent array of street tacos, mole based dishes, and other Oaxacan influenced dishes.

Make sure to check out the full bar that is full of excellent smoky mezcals, chapulines (grasshoppers), and sal de guano (worm salt).

Aubergine

Located inside the cottage like L’Auberge Hotel, this Michelin starred restaurant focuses on seasonal California coastal fare and is worth the splurge for just that special occasion or foodie in your life.

Normally they only serve a nightly tasting menu comprised of 8 to 10 artfully composed dishes but due to the pandemic they also offer takeaway meals on the weekend.

Lucia Restaurant

Located in the up and coming Carmel Valley area, Lucia Restaurant is a well regarded culinary destination amongst those in the know. It’s headed by Chef Cal Stamenov who honed his culinary techniques in famous kitchens like Alain Ducasse and Pierre Gagnaire. He’s also mentored many chefs in the Central Coast and Bay Area.

Lucia is located in Bernardus Lodge, which is one of few 4 star Forbes establishments in the USA. It specializes in coastal California cuisine merged with French techniques.

We recommend going with the chef tasting menu or choosing any of the seafood items such as the tuna tartare or scallops.

They also have an extensive wine list with many great bottles from their own Bernardus winery.

Seventh & Dolores Steakhouse

As its name implies, this exceptional steakhouse located at Seventh and Dolores and serves elevated steakhouse fare as well as sustainable seafood.

Some highlights include the 32 day dry aged prime Kansas City steak, Miso Butter Sea Bass, and Miso roasted Brussel sprouts.

They have an extensive wine list as well as a top-notch cocktail list.

Alta Bakery and Cafe

Located in the historic Cooper-Molera Adobe - Alta Bakery was created by Ben Spungin, formerly of Post Ranch Inn. It’s famous for the inventive pastries and bread program, resulting in long lines down the street.

There is a lovely outdoor courtyard in the back where you enjoy your flaky croissants, lemon verbena doughnuts, and fresh pizzas in the California sunshine.

Make sure to try any of their coffee drinks - we loved the rosemary latte.

Rise + Roam

At Rise + Roam, their Roman style pizza is all about the dough. It takes about 72 hours of cold fermentation to produce a light, savory crust that is also easier to digest for those with gluten intolerances. Hand formed and baked until the bottoms are crisp yet still airy, the pizzas here are really good!

While most pizza shops lean towards a Neapolitan way of making pizza, the Roman method is more like an airy focaccia-like body but still has a good crispy crust. When you bite into the pizza you’ll notice very large air bubbles in the crust.

They serve the pizza just like in the Italian old country - by length (quarter meter, half meter, full meter).

La Balena

One of the best Italian restaurants in Carmel - La Balena takes after the classic osterias from the chef’s home of Florence with a focus on fresh pasta, slow cooked meats, and seasonal produce from local farms.

Highlights include the grilled octopus, ricotta gnocchi, braised beef short rib, and the chili fried cauliflower.