Travel & Recs
Carmel, California
Recommendations
A few of our favorite places to eat, sip, hike, and explore while you're in the area. See our full list of recommendations here.
Coffee & Bakeries
Carmel Coffee House
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Charming courtyard coffee spot right off Ocean Avenue.
Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co.
Carmel-by-the-Sea & Carmel Valley
Easy local coffee stop in the center of town for a quick morning coffee.
Carmel Bakery
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Classic pastry and coffee stop while walking Ocean Avenue.
Alta Bakery + Cafe
Monterey
Great coffee, pastries, breakfast, or casual lunch in a historic adobe setting.
Captain + Stoker
Monterey
Strong local coffee option.
Restaurants & Dining
Stationaery
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Great brunch, coffee, and a polished casual meal.
Carmel Belle
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Easy, casual breakfast or lunch.
Treehouse Cafe
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Casual lunch or dinner spot with a rooftop/treehouse-style patio.
La Bicyclette
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Cozy European-style bistro; great for lunch or dinner.
Casanova
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Romantic Carmel classic for dinner.
Chez Noir / Aubergine
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Fine dining “fancy” dinner options for a special night out.
Trailside Cafe & Beer Garden
Carmel Valley
Casual breakfast, lunch, beer, or an easy group stop.
Corkscrew Cafe
Carmel Valley
Relaxed Carmel Valley classic with a garden/patio feel.
Cafe Rustica
Carmel Valley
Cozy, rustic dinner option.
Stokes Adobe
Monterey
Stylish dinner in a historic adobe home.
Schooners Monterey
Monterey
Waterfront seafood option with ocean views.
Alvarado Street Brewery
Monterey
Casual, group-friendly spot for beer and food.
Old Fisherman's Wharf
Monterey
Classic Monterey waterfront stop for seafood and views.
Wineries & Tastings
Folktale Winery
Carmel Valley
Beautiful winery setting for a tasting, glass of wine, or relaxed afternoon.
Carmel Valley Village Tasting Rooms
Carmel Valley
Easy place to wander between wine tasting spots.
Bernardus / Lucia Restaurant & Bar
Carmel Valley
Polished option for wine, lunch, dinner, or drinks.
Things to Do & See
Carmel Beach
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Walk by the water at the end of Ocean Avenue. Sunset is incredible on a clear night — bring a hoodie or blanket, it gets chilly and windy.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey
The main attraction in Monterey and a great family-friendly activity, right on Cannery Row.
Cannery Row
Monterey
Waterfront shops, restaurants, and walking after the aquarium.
17-Mile Drive
Pebble Beach
Scenic drive with ocean views, cypress trees, dramatic coastline, and classic photo stops like The Lone Cypress.
Mad Dogs & Englishmen
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Bike rentals and a fun way to explore Carmel, 17-Mile Drive, or the coast.
Hikes & Outdoors
Point Lobos
Carmel
One of the best nearby nature stops — short coastal walks, coves, cliffs, wildlife, and beautiful ocean views. Pair it with lunch or shopping in Carmel.
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Big Sur
A “mini Yosemite” feel, with redwoods, forested trails, the Big Sur River, and shaded hikes.
Andrew Molera State Park
Big Sur
A beautiful, more open coastal park with meadows, beach access, and hiking trails.
Pfeiffer Beach
Big Sur
A unique beach known for dramatic rock formations, purple-tinted sand, and wild coastal scenery.
Highway 1 & Big Sur
Bixby Bridge
Big Sur
Iconic photo stop and one of the most recognizable Big Sur views.
Coastal Viewpoints
Highway 1
Pull over where safe and enjoy the cliffs, ocean, and winding coastline.
Nepenthe / Cafe Kevah
Big Sur
Classic Big Sur stops for lunch, coffee, or drinks with incredible views.
The Village Big Sur
Big Sur
Stylish stop for coffee, matcha, pastries, snacks, and light bites.
Big Sur River Inn / Taphouse / Deli
Big Sur
Casual, road-trip-friendly options for a meal or post-hike stop.
Accommodations
We have secured small room blocks at two nearby options. See full list of recommendations below.There are many accommodation options nearby (both hotels / airbnbs). We have secured small room blocks at two nearby options & included a full list of recommendations below. Feel free to reach out if you need any help determining where to stay!
The Pine Inn
Historic Inn
The Pine Inn is a historic inn in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea 10-15 minutes from our venue. To secure a rate of $279 call the Pine Inn at 831 624 3851 & mention McCarthy / Mannara wedding.
Distance: 10-15 minutes
Rate: $279/night
Hyatt Monterey
Resort-Style
The Hyatt Monterey is a resort-style hotel located in Monterey about 20 minutes from our venue. To secure a rate of $309/night please click here.
Distance: 20 minutes
Rate: $309/night
For a full list of recommendations provided by the venue please click here.
The Holly Farm is located just a few miles inland from the coast, centrally positioned near several distinct areas:
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Charming seaside town located about 10 minutes (4 miles) from the venue. There are many hotels in the walkable downtown area; The Pine Inn is an affordable choice (refer to room block info below), while La Playa is a higher-end option.
Carmel Valley
This area offers a sunnier, relaxed "wine country" feel. Both The Quail Lodge and Carmel Valley Ranch are higher-end resorts located in very close proximity to the venue—approximately 2 miles and 1.5 miles away, respectively.
Monterey & Pacific Grove
Historic waterfront towns, famous for Cannery Row and the Aquarium, are situated about 15 minutes (7 miles) from the venue. The Hyatt Regency Monterey is a large, full-service resort option (refer to room block info below), while Green Gables Inn is a high-end, waterfront option in Pacific Grove.
Airports
Monterey (MRY)
15-min from Carmel. Direct flights from LAX, SFO, DEN, DFW, and SEA.
Distance: 15 minutes
San Jose Airport (SJC)
1.5-hour drive from Carmel. Direct flights from most major cities (including BOS, NYC).
Distance: 1.5 hours
San Francisco (SFO)
2-3 hour drive to Carmel. You can catch a connecting flight from SFO to MRY.
Distance: 2-3 hours