Guide to Carmel - 2026–2027

Taste your way through Carmel-by-the-Sea. Explore 60+ restaurants and 18 wine tasting rooms, all within walking distance. The impressive array of restaurants and award-winning wines showcase the bounty of Monterey County's fresh produce, locally sourced seafood, and one of California's largest premiumwine regions. Two Michelin Stars and one Michelin Bib Gourmand. Stroll and Sip. Carmel's downtown tasting rooms put world-class wines within easy walking distance of each other. Sip your way through Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from celebrated Monterey County appellations like Santa Lucia Highlands and Carmel Valley AVA. Download the FREEWineWalk mobile guide at visitcarmel.com . FromFarm to Table. Visit our Farmers Market everyThursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Sixth Avenue between Junipero and Mission Streets. Wander through stalls brimming with organic fresh produce, farm-fresh eggs, plants, and fresh-cut flowers. Discover specialty finds like local olive oil, house-made hummus, artisan breads, and wood-fired pizza. Pick up something familiar, try something new, and let the season guide you.Then take your finds home, uncork a bottle of local wine, and let the flavors of Carmel inspire your own kitchen creations. A Day Exploring the Big Sur Coast. Head south on Highway 1 and stop for a casual, laid-back lunch at the iconic Big Sur River Inn, where you can pull up an Adirondack chair riverside and enjoy a great meal. As the afternoon light turns golden, make your way to Pacific's Edge Restaurant at Highlands Inn for one of the most dramatic sunset dinners on the California coast. Sunset Picnic on Carmel Beach. Pack a bottle of local Pinot Noir, a wedge of cheese from a down- town deli, and a warm blanket and head to one of the most breathtaking stretches of coastline in California. Carmel Beach faces due west, making it a perfect front-row seat for spectacular sunsets that paint the sky in layers of gold and coral over the Pacific. It's the simplest experience on this list—and arguably the most unforgettable. AFood andWine Paradise DMT Imaging E X P L O R E T H E M A G I C O F C A R M E L