Carmel-by-the-Sea Weekend Guide

Ahhhhhh, Carmel! I forgot how much I love this sweet little town. The first time I visited California was on my 16th birthday (oh my god, I’m old!) We hopped off the plane and went directly to Carmel and Pebble Beach for the week. Needless to say, almost exactly 10 years later, the rest is history! California is home and Carmel is most certainly an important piece of that reality. Craving a little getaway, we booked our trip two nights before on HotelTonight. Last minute trips always end up being some of the best trips.

Kate Spade Bucket Bag, also seen here on the blog.

Where We Stayed:

Carmel has so many little boutique hotels and cottages, and only a few higher end options. I’m dying to stay at L’Auberge for a special occasion! For this trip, we picked The Getaway, an adorable new hotel located right at the top of the hill in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. The Getaway is owned by one of our favorites in Tahoe, the PlumpJack group, so we knew it would be a safe bet. It’s actually a renovated motel, but you certainly would never know this while staying there. The rooms are absolute luxury in every way – we all know I love pretty decor and #robelife when I travel and they definitely delivered on that! The gorgeous light-filled lobby with a cozy fireplace, serve-yourself candy jars, and all the Gray Malin books made this place swoon worthy. Lets not forget the complimentary happy hour with local wine and bites, and the delicious breakfast we had in the AM! Can’t wait to visit this spot again.

Where We Sipped:

Carmel Valley 

Georis Winery: An adorable must-stop, especially at lunch time. We arrived around 11:30am and had the place to ourselves! The tasting room itself has outstanding interior design, and the patio makes you feel like you’re in Italy. We ordered two flights to share — the rosé and red, then enjoyed a pizza delivered right to our little tasting spot from next door cafe, The Corkscrew. The arugula meyer lemon ‘za was out of this world.

Cow Girl Winery: Adorable outside seating area with fire pits, large tables and beautiful flowers. The live music and attached gift shop makes this a fun stop. It’s definitely a bit touristy, but would be fun for a group or Bachelorette party. You’re also allowed to bring your own snacks while you enjoy the wine.

Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea

Scratch: Open late for pre-dinner tastings (which is rare for tasting rooms.) This is a different spot as the tasting room is inside a beautiful gallery right in the middle of Carmel. We loved their pinots.

Yeast of Eden: Located less than a block away from The Getaway, this brewery and casual restaurant is the perfect place to cool off in the afternoon with a brew (and maybe a snack or two!)

Sade’s Cocktails: The ultimate late-night dive bar.

Sanctuary Wrap Dress, also seen here on the blog.

Eats

We had dinner at Affina Food and Wine — a cute father/son owned and operated restaurant. The decor was pretty and the live piano playing in the background made this a romantic dinner choice. I’ve also heard that Little Napoli is delicious.

We love grabbing coffee at Carmel Coffee Roasters in the mornings whenever we’re in town.

The Cheese Shop is always a must-stop! The perfect place to grab a bite for the beach.