With summer in full swing, there’s no better time to play tourist in your own backyard. The Monterey Peninsula’s most captivating hotels have plush bars and restaurants serving craft cocktails and stunning views—no room key required.
Whether you want to sample some of the region’s finest wines while listening to live music in the heart of Monterey, enjoy happy hour at one of the region’s newest luxury hotels or indulge in a country chic lunch in the Carmel Valley, the options are boundless for the local traveler.
Let’s take a look at what’s happening this summer. So, grab your keys, text your friends, gather the tías and get ready to vibe like a tourist in the Monterey Bay. Who knows, you may be inspired to stay the night.
Level up your happy hour
Level up your happy hour at The Caledonian, the restaurant at Pacific Grove’s newest luxury hotel, the Kimpton Mirador, located half a mile from the ocean and nestled among historic homes, walkable streets and iconic landmarks such as Monarch Grove Sanctuary and Point Pinos Lighthouse.
An inviting atmosphere awaits at The Caledonian with its cozy fireplace lounge, semi-open kitchen and outdoor patios. Specializing in modern American cuisine rooted in seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, its beverage menu features inventive cocktails, including a thoughtful zero-proof selection, and a curated wine list from celebrated California vineyards.
Happy hour runs 4-6 p.m. daily, with $2 off bar bites, $10 glasses of wine and $11 crafted cocktails.
Also check out Wine Down Wednesdays at Jacks Monterey, the onsite restaurant at Portola Hotel and Spa in Monterey, where each Wednesday they offer one-half off select bottles of wine. Locals enjoy 15% off food and complimentary self-parking at Peter B’s, the hotel’s onsite brewery with 22 HDTVs, a heated, pet-friendly patio and private Barrel Room. Enjoy a pint while listening to live music every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.
Go country chic in wine country
Escape from the coastal fog in sunny Carmel Valley wine country at Lucia Restaurant and Bar at luxe Bernardus Lodge and Spa. A recipient of a 2025 Michelin Plate, the restaurant serves French inspired farm-to-table cuisine and seasonal menus that feature ingredients from the restaurant’s own organic herb and vegetable garden as well as homemade honey and wine.
With a backlit bar, 15,000-bottle wine cellar and open-air patio with views overlooking the valley, the restaurant is a bucket-list worthy destination for an exquisite, country-chic meal or a glass of the valley’s finest.
Also check out Bud’s Bar, the cocktail bar and restaurant at historic La Playa, located steps from the white sands and boutique shops, galleries, and restaurants of downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. Replete with historic memorabilia and a bohemian past, the lounge offers a daily “Dime Time” happy hour where once a day, at the bartender’s discretion, drinks are 10 cents.
Go line dancing, bring the pooch
The Shearwater Tavern at Carmel Mission Inn hosts plenty of fun no matter the day of the week. Dog Bar, where the dogs call the shots, features live music, happy hour specials, a dog menu and full menu in the courtyard, complete with open fire pits—every Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Oyster Jams features live music with pay-as-you-go freshly shucked oysters, beer, wine and full bar the last Thursday of the month, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy complimentary wine tastings of regional and local wines on Wine Wednesdays, from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by Shearwater Sessions, a singer and songwriter showcase hosted by musician Doug Fearnside from 6 to 9 p.m.
Also check out trivia and line dancing at the Lido Stage along with DJ sets, movie screenings, live music and other community events in Sand City at Courtyard by Marriott Sand City Monterey and Residence Inn by Marriott Sand City Monterey.
Get the special treatment
Monterey Beach Hotel, located just off Highway 1 offers panoramic views of the Monterey Bay from its top-floor restaurant, The Lantern Room—serving farm-to-table cuisine and a full bar with handcrafted cocktails. The hotel’s other onsite restaurant, Tidewater, offers a sublime alfresco dining experience replete with soft seating surrounding beachfront firepits, where diners can savor New American cuisine made with fresh, local ingredients while taking in the views of the crashing waves.
The beachfront hotel offers an exclusive discount on food and beverage for locals at their lobby bar and two on-site restaurants, Tidewater and The Lantern Room.
Also check out Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa. Spa Adeline at Hyatt Regency offers locals 20% discounts on massages and facial treatments during the weekdays, with access to the men’s and women’s sauna and steam rooms.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Live the guest life, minus the check-in at these Monterey Bay hotels
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian / Salinas Californian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian | USA TODAY Network
