Top Rated Nightlife in Carmel-by-the-Sea

This restaurant was voted the best by Adventures in Dining Magazine's readers' poll and it offers a delicious variety of Central California coastal cuisine using fresh, local produce. Locals haunt the place. The selection of wines is designed to perfectly complement the dishes. You can eat inside, surrounded by polished wood surfaces, or on the patio. It is a great bet for a reception or an intimate dinner. The service is warm and friendly.

Many explore the Terry’s Lounge for a laid-back brunch and the place's scrumptious menu also makes it perfect for a lunch detour. From crab cakes, steaks, sliders to burgers, fried calamari and more, Terry’s Lounge has an array of offerings to keep your appetite in check. As the evening draws closer, Terry’s Lounge takes on the role of a local watering hole where potent cocktails take center stage. From concoctions infused with Champagne to a tall glass of Long Island Ice Tea, Terry’s Lounge serves them all. Live music performances add the much-needed vigor to your evening. If you are a music aficionado with a liking for cocktails then Terry's Lounge is one place you simply should not miss.

Here is an intelligent solution to the dilemma of how to wine-taste while navigating curvy mountain road: just make one stop. Make it in downtown Monterey, where there is nary a deer in sight. Spend the whole day here where you can sample from dozens of vintages collected from nearly 40 local wineries. Taste the riches of Carmel Valley, Monterey and Arroyo Seco. Buy a few bottles or a few cases, as you like. When it is time to get some solid food in your overtaxed stomach, simply walk on over to one of the many restaurants on Cannery Row. See website for online shopping, wine club details, event calendar and more.

Primarily a pub and tavern, Post No Bills - Craft Beer House also doubles up as a retail shop for the many craft brews they offer on tap. Taking pride in its unique concept, this bar lets you experience the convenience of trying a new craft brew and then being able to take home a six pack if you like it. Featuring a collection of rare, hard-to-find brews there is much to explore and experience at this one-of-a-kind bar. If you really aren't the adventurous kind, or none of the lesser-known brews excite you, then you could choose from one the popular brands of bottled beers.

To walk in to the Big Sur Taphouse after munching on sandwiches from the deli next door is just like going to a friends place to hang out after dinner. The atmosphere of the bar is pretty casual and homely, with a large television screen on the wall and a few tables and chairs placed across the room. As for the selection of beers and wines, the owners have purposely kept it local to give you a taste of the local flavor, with beverages sourced from areas fringing the Monterey County. Expect the likes of excellent home-cooked wings, Italian meat platters and tacos to complement your selection of beer or wine. The bar also hosts live music by local and national bands, which spices up the atmosphere of the laid back bar.

Barmel is Carmel's version of the quintessential neighborhood watering hole, with all the warmth, charm and local flavor of a dive bar minus the undercurrent of seediness. Enjoy live musical performances, and DJ sets late into the night. Happy Hours at Barmel are truly some of the happiest in town, with amazing drink specials to help you get the party started. Stop by with friends earlier in the evening to enjoy delicious food and conversation, stay for drinks and live acoustic music, and before you know it you'll be dancing the night away to the DJs tunes.