All the best places to fuel up after the aquarium and before winding your way along 17-Mile Drive
Updated Apr 24, 2025, 2:04 PM PDT
There’s plenty of food and drink that counts more as a destination than a pitstop along Highway 1. There’s Half Moon Bay, of course, but further south, the Carmel and Monterey area is its own west of Eden, a coastal trove of fine dining restaurants, breweries, and taco shops. You absolutely can’t go wrong with well-loved and time-tested local favorites such as one-Michelin-starred Aubergine and Michelin Guide-listed (and celeb-approved) La Bicyclette — though we’ve left both off this map to make space for some lesser-known gems. Here, then, is a roster of restaurants, cafes, and breweries between Seaside and Carmel-By-The-Sea worth checking out for your first visit or your hundredth.
And if you’re looking for kid-friendly spots in Monterey and Carmel, here are some suggestions for restaurants and outings.
— Additional reporting by Dianne de Guzman and Lauren Saria.
Passionfish
A pioneer in Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch and Restaurant Partner program, family-owned Passionfish has served sustainable seafood for nearly two decades. The seasonal menu offers small plates and entrees that are balanced, thoughtful, and fresh. Dishes such as smoked trout ceviche and Dungeness crab salad are offered alongside a considerable 400-item list of local and imported wines offered at close to retail prices.