Guidebook for Monterey Area

Rachel
Guidebook for Monterey Area

Food Scene

No frills, no seating, but they serve the best tasting coffee around. It's clean-grown and fairly-traded, too!
22 locals recommend
Acme Coffee Roasting Co
485 B Palm Ave
22 locals recommend
No frills, no seating, but they serve the best tasting coffee around. It's clean-grown and fairly-traded, too!
Delicious and massive breakfast. Perfect carbo load before going to the Aquarium or a bike or run on the rec trail.
55 locals recommend
First Awakenings
300 David Ave
55 locals recommend
Delicious and massive breakfast. Perfect carbo load before going to the Aquarium or a bike or run on the rec trail.
Good Italian food to enjoy with friends and family. The gnocchi is incredible.
26 locals recommend
Gusto Handcrafted Pasta & Pizza
1901 Fremont Blvd
26 locals recommend
Good Italian food to enjoy with friends and family. The gnocchi is incredible.
Best local place for seafood (in our humble opinion). Make a reservation or get there early, because the space is tiny and the lines get long.
60 locals recommend
Monterey's Fish House
2114 Del Monte Ave
60 locals recommend
Best local place for seafood (in our humble opinion). Make a reservation or get there early, because the space is tiny and the lines get long.
New(ish), local family-owned breakfast and lunch place just down the street with great homestyle American and Pacific islander dishes. Loved the chicken and waffles, breakfast burrito, and egg benedicts.
The Butter House
1760 Fremont Blvd
New(ish), local family-owned breakfast and lunch place just down the street with great homestyle American and Pacific islander dishes. Loved the chicken and waffles, breakfast burrito, and egg benedicts.

Drinks & Nightlife

Best brewery on the peninsula! Great happy hour, rotating selection of house-brews, and excellent indoor and garden seating. Be sure to make a reservation if you are going later in the evening and/or have a larger group.
65 locals recommend
Alvarado Street Brewery
426 Alvarado St
65 locals recommend
Best brewery on the peninsula! Great happy hour, rotating selection of house-brews, and excellent indoor and garden seating. Be sure to make a reservation if you are going later in the evening and/or have a larger group.
Great beer garden right in downtown. Bring your own food and make a night of it.
8 locals recommend
Fieldwork Brewing Company
560 Munras Ave
8 locals recommend
Great beer garden right in downtown. Bring your own food and make a night of it.
Huge selection of beers. Bring your own food and enjoy the local crowd.
25 locals recommend
Post No Bills Craft Beer House
600 Ortiz Ave
25 locals recommend
Huge selection of beers. Bring your own food and enjoy the local crowd.
Come for the tasty and diverse beers; stay for the incredible in-house breads from Ad Astra bakery and friendly locals. Just one mile away (you can walk there) for a chill evening of games and conversation.
8 locals recommend
Other Brother Beer Co.
877 Broadway Ave
8 locals recommend
Come for the tasty and diverse beers; stay for the incredible in-house breads from Ad Astra bakery and friendly locals. Just one mile away (you can walk there) for a chill evening of games and conversation.

Parks & Nature

Best trail running place around. Rolling (and steep) hills to get your blood pumping.
39 locals recommend
Fort Ord National Monument
Toro Creek Road
39 locals recommend
Best trail running place around. Rolling (and steep) hills to get your blood pumping.
Pristine views and easy hiking/nature walking. Good for families, on your way to Carmel, or if you don't have time to visit Big Sur.
309 locals recommend
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
62 CA-1
309 locals recommend
Pristine views and easy hiking/nature walking. Good for families, on your way to Carmel, or if you don't have time to visit Big Sur.
Favorite day hiking trail, hands down. Do the Andrew Molera Loop hike (~9 miles): http://www.hikinginbigsur.com/hikes_moleraloop.html and experience breath taking views and climbs.
40 locals recommend
Andrew Molera State Park
45500 CA-1
40 locals recommend
Favorite day hiking trail, hands down. Do the Andrew Molera Loop hike (~9 miles): http://www.hikinginbigsur.com/hikes_moleraloop.html and experience breath taking views and climbs.
Miles and miles of paved trail. Bike from Marina to Pacific Grove.
10 locals recommend
Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail
Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail
10 locals recommend
Miles and miles of paved trail. Bike from Marina to Pacific Grove.

Arts & Culture

34 locals recommend
Monterey Museum of Art
559 Pacific St
34 locals recommend
Great live shows that attracts well-known musicians, comedians, and speakers.
9 locals recommend
Golden State Theatre
417 Alvarado St
9 locals recommend
Great live shows that attracts well-known musicians, comedians, and speakers.

Essentials

Your warehouse store that has everything you need and don't need.
22 locals recommend
Costco Wholesale
801 Tioga Ave
22 locals recommend
Your warehouse store that has everything you need and don't need.
Close by store for your grocery essential needs.
16 locals recommend
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market
1523 Fremont Blvd
16 locals recommend
Close by store for your grocery essential needs.
Your typical Safeway (Vons) grocery store.
128 locals recommend
Safeway
815 Canyon Del Rey Blvd
128 locals recommend
Your typical Safeway (Vons) grocery store.

Entertainment & Activities

One of the best aquariums in the world. Go, even if you don't like fish. Be sure to catch the otter and penguin feeding and at least one of the shows/talks (Luna: A Sea Otter's Story is a personal favorite).
668 locals recommend
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
668 locals recommend
One of the best aquariums in the world. Go, even if you don't like fish. Be sure to catch the otter and penguin feeding and at least one of the shows/talks (Luna: A Sea Otter's Story is a personal favorite).

Getting Around

Close by car rental.
11 locals recommend
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
1178 Del Monte Ave
11 locals recommend
Close by car rental.