7 Things To Do In Carmel by the Sea

Fairy tale cottages, art galleries, and impeccable design and architecture are just some of the few highlights of the quaint town of Carmel by the Sea. These 7 things to do in Carmel by the Sea will help you understand the magic of this village.

Our first stop on our California road trip as we headed down South from San Francisco was the coastal and artsy town of Carmel. Sure it’s on everyone’s itinerary as a must-do, and sure it’s expensive, but I promise you…there’s a reason why everyone wants to visit this quaint town. This one square mile town has dedicated its history to art and you can tell just from how quirky each house is built. It feels like a fairytale.

The drive down from San Fran was an hour and a half long. On the way down, we stopped by Davenport Pier to take a few pictures. It is an abandoned Pier that now has a swing on it which makes it perfect for pictures. We originally wanted to go own to the beach, but when we saw that the only way down a steep cliff with nothing but a rope, we turned it down. If you decide to go though, make sure you’ve got the right shoes since the water will be soaking your jeans as you sit on the swing.

We eventually pulled into our “hotel” which was truly more of a bed and breakfast in the heart of Carmel. Quick tip: When booking a place to stay in Carmel, keep into account that you will not find a place that’s cheaper than $240 a night. It is a wealthy town and is fully booked on a regular basis, particularly on weekends. So if you are planning a trip here, remember to look into accommodations ASAP. Why is it so wealthy? Because it’s known as one of the most beautiful coastal towns in the US and it also has one of the most expensive housing markets in the US.

As you walk around you’ll notice a few things. First, it’s one of the most dog-friendly towns you will ever see. They have inns made exclusively for owners and their dogs, allow dogs into almost every restaurant, and some even have dog menus! If you have a dog, there are a number of things to do in Carmel by the Sea with your pup. You’ll also notice as you walk around that there aren’t any street numbers, that’s because residents identify locations based on intersections and crossings (sounds like St. Barth’s doesn’t it?).

The town is home to many rich and some famous stars. Many are writers, painters, authors, former athletes, musicians and comedians. Others are just wealthy tech entrepreneurs. Needless to say that if you find yourself here during off-season, you are bound to be rubbing elbows with someone notable.

We were in search of food and were starving. Knowing that the grills in Carmel close at 3PM, we rushed to find a place that would still serve us. Just around the corner from our Inn, we came across La Bicyclette. What attracted us to La Bicyclette was not the food, but the ambiance. Step in and you feel like you’ve walked into another European country village. The tone is French—wood-fired open oven, napkins covering the light fixtures, a small house located inside the locale where you can eat. It feels like a whole separate town within Carmel. I ordered the heirloom salad (tomatoes were in season while we were there) with mozzarella and Pat ordered a pizza. To top it off, I ended with an affogato coffee to help keep me awake on this drizzly and rainy Sunday.

Now I’ll try to piece together a must-do and see list of things to do in Carmel by the Sea, but to be honest, it really is all about getting lost in the tiny streets and following the cute paths. Pat and I started by wandering around the Secret Garden, a hidden oasis and garden shop joined by the last bookstore in Carmel.

As we walked around this rich and quirky area, I stopped to snap a quick pic of Tuck Box, a vintage eatery. The building reminded me of the Smurf’s house I used to play with as a kid in Italy; I just had to take a picture! Further down you’ll run into a cute outdoor garden at The Cypress Inn with a Charlie Chaplin mural. Now as with all things in Carmel, this isn’t just a random mural it’s here for two reasons. 1) Charlie Chaplin used to visit a good friend of his in Carmel very often and 2) Charlie Chaplin’s cook used to live in Carmel.

Carmel is known for their art galleries, so you have to walk into at least one of the many when you are there. Pat’s favorite and mine was Galerie Rue Toulouse on the main road in Carmel, Ocean Avenue. It spoke to our inner nerdy side with Pop Art featuring Marvel and the Godfather, but mainly Marvel. His art include iconic yet modern renderings using logos such as Coca Cola and figures such as Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Wonder woman and more!

Once you’ve browsed around Galerie Rue Toulouse, we took a stroll down Ocean Avenue and explored the cute stores, art galleries, hidden wine tasting rooms and Snow White looking bakeries and chocolate stores.

Prior to dinner, we decided to stop by one of the many wine tasting rooms for a tasting. We chose De Tierra. The wines are from nearby Monterey County and a flight of 6 wines costs you only $15. The pours are very generous, the staff is super friendly, the vibe is super casual and the place is packed with locals. The tasting fee is even waived if you purchase a bottle. That’s how you know you’ve come to the right place. But you really can’t go wrong in Carmel.

We had made reservations at Casanova for dinner given all the raving reviews and the super cute restaurant décor. Ironically, we later found out that Casanova is also owned by the owners of La Bicyclette. The outside was inspired by the owner’s old family farmhouse house in Belgium with romantic and inviting outdoor seating, yellow washed walls, and a small fountain. Step inside and there is a romantic atmosphere created by small waterfalls, warm tiles and porcelain plates. In the middle of the restaurant a skylight opens up to the outside. One of the long family style tables even has a tree in the middle! But the restaurant is more than just pretty. The house previously belonged to Aunt Fairy Bird, Charlie Chaplin’s cook we mentioned before! And even more, the table at which Vincent Van Gogh enjoyed his meals at the Auberge Ravoux is in Casanova, and yes, you do have the opportunity to dine at it as a special request if you are lucky!

Casanova serves classic Italian and French food. As you take a seat, the restaurant hands you an impressive and extensive wine list of 120 pages (I am not joking). Pat and I chose beers, which were served to us and paired with specific cheeses. We both ordered a plate of pasta, which was pretty good. It tasted like a homemade meal to be honest, which was exactly what I was craving. The food was good, but the portions were a bit small and the price was a bit high. But I guess that’s Carmel for you! Needless to say, if you are looking for a fun and unique restaurant experience, this is the way to go if you are not concerned about price!

A few parting words about Carmel, Pat and I like to think of Carmel as the artsy town with strange laws and regulations. To name a few…

1. It is illegal to wear high-heel shoes (taller than 2 inches) unless you have a permit. They do this to prevent any lawsuits from happening due to the irregular pavement.
2. All restaurant grills must close by 3PM for lunch and 9PM for dinner, except for 2 restaurants who got permits to stay open past 9PM.
3. Live music cannot be played in a restaurant unless you have a permit and they can only play until a certain hour, so as to not disturb the locals. There are only 2 restaurants that are permitted to play loud music.
4. There is only one bar in town that has drinks and dancing and it only stays open till 1AM. As you can see, it’s a town of strange laws, but I guess the locals have a right to keep their residential town in check.
5. Chain restaurants are banned from this area in order to sustain local eateries

This, and the fact that Clint Eastwood was once the mayor of Carmel, is what makes this town so unique! If you have time I recommend you also visit Point Lobos State Park. It might not be as known as Big Sur, but it’s in the area and home to whales, seals, and some beautiful nature reserves worth seeing.

Get my look!