IT WOULD be nice if there were an awards show everyone could relate to. Something that combined the production numbers of the Oscars and Grammies with the challenge of bathing a cat or landscaping a deer-proof yard. A giant screen could show the Best Plumber nominees in action, rushing to find leaks as small rivers flowed into the street and homeowners stood by nervously, imagining water bills of epic proportions. An envelope would be torn open, and someone with the sonorous tones of the late James Earl Jones would say, “And the Golden Pine Cone goes to ....”
The song-and-dance numbers would be top-notch, with the Best Local Musical Group and the Best Performing Arts Company providing talent. Just imagine the catering in the green room — the Best Burger, the Best Pizza, beers from (where else?) the Best Place for a Beer, and the Best Desserts.
For the setting, how about the Best Beach or the Best Place to Watch the Sunset? Heck, around here, the sunset could be the opening act. People would come from near and far, clamoring to stay at the Best Inn or Best Hotel — or perhaps the Most Dog-Friendly Hotel, because there’d be a whole section of the spectator area roped off for man’s best friend. Dozens of dogs dressed up in tuxes, bowties and top hats would bark and howl their approval of whatever dogs approve of. When you’re talking about a species that’s been known to swallow socks whole, there’s no telling, really. But around here, they’re part of the holy trinity: Canines, trees, and ineffable charm.
The great thing is that — even if there’s no big ceremony — these awards actually exist, and you, the esteemed audience, have been the judges. You’re the people who know the agony of finding a ding in your Bentley, the joy of a new pair of shoes, the thrill of finding a childhood toy in an antique shop and the challenge of choosing the right lawyer — making you the most qualified folks to determine our winners.
So, as the curtain rises and your favorite show tunes play in your head, we once again welcome you to the Golden Pine Cones.
FOOD AND WINE
Best Neighborhood Market
Best Deli
Bruno’s Market & Delicatessen — NE Junipero & Sixth – (831) 624-3821, brunosmarket.com
Bruno’s Market, family-owned and operated for decades, with Fermin and Ryan Sanchez in charge these days, is a downtown institution that wins praise from Pine Cone readers every year for its perfect selection of necessities and its fantastic deli. It’s stocked with everything you might hope to find at a local market — fresh bread and pastries from area bakeries, the best hot sauces in a variety of flavors, locally made jams, freshly squeezed juices, a great collection of bagged snacks, and everyone’s favorite gourmet ice cream (Marianne’s) — and that’s just for starters.
Out of baking soda or short a cup of flour and don’t want to get in the car? Want a snack and a good bottle of wine to carry down to the beach for sunset? Need a last-minute dessert for your dinner party? Bruno’s has you covered. Considering its convenient downtown location and easy parking, it’s the ideal spot to pick up necessary supplies and picnic items, and its deli is famous for turning out freshly made, delicious — and gigantic — sandwiches made to order, along with offering various cold cuts, salads, cheeses and meats. Online ordering is now possible, too, so folks in need of sandwiches for a day on the bay or an afternoon at a golf tournament can plan in advance.
Carmelites, as well as the city’s many visitors, always appreciate being able to find exactly what they need. And as of last year, thanks to famous local sculptor (and frequent Golden Pine Cone winner) Steven Whyte, Carmel Cares, donors and the Madden family, customers can share a bench with a brilliant bronze sculpture of one of the market’s biggest fans, the late John Madden.
Best Fruits and Vegetables
Farmers Markets — oldmonterey.org, montereybayfarmers.org, everyonesharvest.org, wcfma.org, ci.carmel.ca.us/farmers-market
To the great fortune of Monterey Peninsula residents and visitors in search of the freshest produce, there’s a farmers market almost every day of the week, and Pine Cone readers know where to find the best fruits and vegetables, eggs, pasta, cheese, yogurt, nuts, meats and other staples, pastries and bread, prepared foods and plants — and where to get their knives sharpened while they shop and chat with farmers and other purveyors. Del Monte Center hosts the popular Friday market where customers can expect to find the greatest number of farmers and other producers, as well as the aforementioned knife sharpener, from 8 a.m. to noon in a parking lot near the shopping center’s lower entrance.
A market takes over Alvarado Street in downtown Monterey on Tuesdays from 4 to 8 p.m. (4 to 7 p.m. in winter) and has plenty of products and crafts for sale, too. Pacific Grove presents a modest Monday afternoon market on Central Avenue from 3 to 7 p.m. Other markets are held on Thursdays at Sixth and Mission in downtown Carmel from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., from 3 to 7 p.m. in Laguna Grande Park in Seaside, and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 215 Reservation Road in Marina and at Mid Valley Center in Carmel Valley. Seasonal markets take place at the Barnyard at the mouth of the valley on Tuesday mornings and at Del Monte Center in Monterey on Sunday mornings May through September.
Best Seafood Market
Sea Harvest Fish Market & Restaurant — 100A Crossroads Blvd. and 598 Foam St., Monterey – (831) 626-3626 and (831) 646-0547
Fishing has long been a major industry in Monterey Bay and is an indelible part of its past and present. Capitalizing on the abundance of local waters, the Pacific and beyond, Sea Harvest opened four decades ago to fulfill a demand for high-quality seafood. The markets in Monterey and at the Crossroads boast the best fresh fish and shellfish every day, from the area’s famous Dungeness crab and sand dabs, to halibut, sushi-grade tuna, locally caught squid, and a wide range of other sustainably harvested bounty from the sea. “We purchase only from the healthiest sustainable fisheries from all over the world,” they claim. The knowledgeable staff will help you select the best and freshest choices, and will offer cooking tips, too, if needed. The owners also reopened a fish market in Moss Landing at 2420 Highway 1, bringing their services back to North County.
Best Butcher
The Meatery — 1534 Fremont Blvd., Seaside – (831) 656-8810, themeateryseaside.com
Since Todd and Ada Fisher purchased The Meatery, they have worked hard to ensure it lives up to its name. It should have prime cuts of the highest quality beef, pork and poultry from local and sustainable farms where animals are well treated — and it does. “Happy cuts for happy cooks,” is one of their slogans, after all.
“Our mission is simple: to provide home cooks with accessible butcher services that prioritize the health and happiness of our animals and the sustainability of small farming practices,” the couple says. “As a family-owned and operated business, we take great pride in the quality of our products and the care we put into our food. We believe that happy animals make for better meat, and that sustainable farming practices are not only good for the environment but are essential for the long-term health of our communities.” Online ordering is available, and The Meatery offers a wide range of fresh house-made sausages, as well as prepared foods and epic sandwiches. Oh, and for your furry four-legged friends, the butcher shop offers four varieties of freshly made dog food.
Best Bakery
Best Coffee
Carmel Bakery — Ocean between Dolores and Lincoln, and at the Portola Hotel in Monterey – (831) 626-8885 and (831) 402-7373, chefpepe.com/carmel-bakery
Founded in 1899, Carmel Bakery claims to be California’s oldest bakery in its original location, and Rich Pèpe and his family have owned it since 1986. Practically famous for its lavish window display full of pastries and other baked goodies, Carmel Bakery always has a line out the door — especially in the morning — and two years ago, Pèpe opened a second Carmel Bakery location in the plaza next to the Portola Hotel at the foot of Alvarado Street in Monterey to offer signature coffee drinks, baked goods, breakfast and lunch items there, as well. Carmel Bakery also claimed the Golden Pine Cone for Best Coffee this year. While the bakery offered Starbucks in the past, it’s since developed a signature line of organic coffee roasted in small batches in Carmel Valley that’s “crafted with care and precision to offer an unforgettable Italian-inspired coffee experience,” and obviously the newspaper’s readers have taken note.
Best Bread
Ad Astra Bread Co. — 479 Alvarado St., Monterey, and 319 Mid Valley Center, Carmel Valley – adastrabread.com
Pastry-chef-turned-bread-baker Ron Mendoza is a Monterey institution. He quickly became well known locally years ago for his incredible creations at upscale Aubergine restaurant in L’Auberge Carmel and went on to launch the hugely popular Ad Astra Bread Co. — his “micro bakery focusing on natural leavened sourdough breads.” Ad Astra “is committed to using all-organic flours to create Old World style sourdoughs over a two-day bake process,” he says, and the sourdoughs are “mixed, hand-portioned and shaped, and allowed to slowly ferment overnight,” with baking taking place the next day. Daily offerings include Seaside sourdough, olive and seeded sourdoughs, French baguettes and focaccia, but the bakery also turns out sweet and savory specials each day, from cardamom rolls and bread pudding, to doughnuts and pretzels. It’s hard not to get excited about cutting a fresh slice from one of the best loaves in town. In addition to its busy and popular location in Old Monterey, Ad Astra’s products can be found at local farmers markets, stores and restaurants, and Mendoza recently opened Ad Astra Atelier at Mid Valley Center to offer hot drinks and baked treats, along with a selection of sandwiches. And keep an eye out for Mendoza’s dessert pop-ups, too.
Best Caterer
Paradise Catering — Carmel Valley – (831) 659-3417, paradisecater.com
Carmel Valley residents Jon Kasky and Nancy Rohan have been catering together for more than 30 years, and Pine Cone readers recognize them for their talented use of the best ingredients — including fruits, vegetables and herbs grown in the 1-acre garden at their home in Carmel Valley Village — to create beautiful and memorable dining experiences for clients and their guests. In their cooking, which is elegant but not at all fussy and deftly embodies the farm-to-table philosophy, the duo draw on their experiences learning from highly regarded chefs Wolfgang Puck and Alice Waters, as well as from their travels around the world. “With organic in mind, we source our food from local meat and produce companies (or our own garden!) and serve real food with no-fuss ingredients and a perfect balance of seasonings to create the farm-to-table experience we are known for,” they say.
Best Wine Store
Total Wine & More — 808 Playa Ave., Sand City – (831) 920-0154, totalwine.com
Since opening its first Monterey Peninsula location in the Sand Dollar Shopping Center in late 2021, Total Wine & More has strived to make its mark here. And it’s clearly succeeding as it offers an ever-expanding selection of beers, ciders, wines, spirits, ready-to-drink cocktails, mixers, ingredients, garnishes, equipment and other bar necessities — including a giant selection of minis — at reasonable prices, hires informed and helpful staff, and participates in local events. The chain was started in 1991 by brothers David and Robert Trone, who opened their inaugural store in Delaware. Since then, they’ve added more than 225 locations focusing on “unbeatable prices and unrivaled service from our expertly trained staff.”
Their store here, though small compared to most, carries thousands of products and contains a climate-controlled wine room for rare offerings and a walk-in humidor for fine cigars. Online ordering is available, easy and convenient, too, and the stock changes frequently, so customers should keep an eye out for their favorites.
Best Tasting Room
Best Monterey County Pinot Noir
Best Monterey County Merlot
De Tierra — Mission between Fifth and Sixth – (831) 622-9704, detierra.com
Under the leadership of Jeffrey Meacham, and Andrew Schoenfeld, who purchased De Tierra several years ago but have long been connected to the winery and its vineyards, De Tierra has thrived, and its tasting room can always be counted on for fun, informative, lively and delicious experiences, whether you’re looking for a traditional tasting flight, a round of trivia or some live entertainment.
“Come visit us and experience our extensive wine portfolio which features many single-varietal wines, unique blends, sparkling and dessert wines,” they say. “Make it a perfect match with our available locally sourced small bites.”
Best Monterey County Pinot Noir is a highly competitive category, considering the incredible wines produced here and the fact that Monterey County has more acres of pinot noir vines than any other in the state. De Tierra earned top honors for its iterations this year, as well as for its merlot. “De Tierra, as our name suggests, focuses on providing the best representation ‘of the land,’” they say. “Great wines begin in the vineyard, and it is our goal to translate the defining flavors of place into great wine.”
Best Monterey County Chardonnay
Best Monterey County Sauvignon Blanc
Bernardus — 5 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley – (831) 298-8021, bernardus.com
As Pine Cone readers have said for years, Bernardus Winery produces some of the best chardonnay and sauvignon blanc in Monterey County. Longtime winemaker Dean DeKorth retired a couple of years ago, but not before ensuring the talented and affable Jim McCabe, who has been on the team for many years, was ready to take the helm.
The sauv blanc, made with grapes grown by Michael Griva in Arroyo Seco, is bright and crisp, but far less grassy than most, with notes of citrus and white peach. It’s absolutely perfect to sip during one of the area’s famously beautiful fall days.
As for the chardonnay, well, Bernardus produces several — one that blends fruit grown in some of the best vineyards in the county, and others showcasing single vineyards, including its own Ingrid’s Vineyard in front of Bernardus Lodge (not affiliated with the winery). Styles range from bright to opulent, ensuring there’s a chardonnay for everyone.
Best Monterey County Rosé
Dawn’s Dream Winery — NW San Carlos & Seventh – (831) 659-2649, dawnsdreamwinery.com
So many Monterey County wineries produce delicious rosés that this category has become very competitive, but Pine Cone readers consistently say their favorite is made by Dawn’s Dream. Owned by Dawn Galante, the winery produces a dry rosé that goes with just about everything — especially Carmel Beach on a sunny afternoon, or a picnic while on a hike in one of the region’s wonderful parks. A winner annually for more than a decade, Dawn’s Dream rosé is often sold out, but this year, its 2023 vintage is still in stock at $39 per bottle (or $88 for a magnum, also known as “party size”).
“Brilliant, pale pink in color, this star in Dawn’s portfolio draws you in with scents of wild strawberry, rose petals and delicate orange zest,” the winery says. “Flinty, light peach and tangerine notes follow, finishing with orange blossoms and a crisp acidity.”
Dawn’s Dream is socially conscious, too, as Galante founded it with a mission of supporting charities benefiting women and children.
Best Monterey County Cabernet Sauvignon
My Favorite Monterey County Wine
Galante Vineyards — Dolores between Ocean and Seventh – (831) 624-3800, galantevineyards.com
Just as Dawn Galante’s rosé has won the hearts of Pine Cone readers for years, so too have several of the red wines — like the cabernet sauvignon in 2024 — produced by husband Jack’s Galante Vineyards.
While the Galantes sold their vineyards and winery to a young couple several years ago, the tradition of focusing on sharing the finest wines and letting the fruit express itself in each vintage continues — efforts that have been rewarded with praise year after year.
“All our wines originate in vineyards of the highest quality, where the finest agricultural standards are applied and adhered to. Each bottle of wine we produce embodies the characteristics of these unique vineyards, exhibiting the natural flavors that are born from the land,” they say.
Well known for its cabernet sauvignon, Galante also crafts small amounts of estate-grown malbec, petite sirah, merlot, pinot noir, sangiovese and several other blends. Galante Family Wines celebrated its 30th anniversary last year and offers several current releases of cabernet sauvignon, as well as some precious library bottles.
Best Place for a Beer
Best Sandwich or Burger
Alvarado Street Brewery — Carmel Plaza at Ocean & Mission, 426 Alvarado St., Monterey, additional locations in Marina and Salinas – (831) 293-8621, (831) 655-2337, asb.beer
With Alvarado Street’s stellar lineup of locally made brews, from perennial favorites like the Mai Tai IPA and Monterey Beer, to seasonal, sour and other more creative offerings — paired with delicious high-level pub food, plenty of indoor and outdoor seating at both spots, and a lively yet sophisticated atmosphere — it’s really no surprise ASB won this year’s award as the Best Place for a Beer … again. And rightfully so. The father-and-son duo that brought immensely successful Alvarado Street Brewery to the Monterey Peninsula in 2014 also operates Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro in Carmel Plaza, and both are ideal spots to enjoy a beer (or several) on its own or alongside snacks, lunch or dinner. While each location offers many different menu items, its signature burger and its iteration of the popular smashburger can be found at both, and they are equally delicious — as Pine Cone readers will attest. They also offer fantastic specials and deals throughout the week. The Monterey beer garden and the patio in the Plaza provide great spaces for dining and drinking outdoors, with or without the family dog. ASB serves in the taproom at its Salinas production facility, the pitch in Marina where Monterey Bay Football Club plays its home games, and Alvarado Street Brewery Taproom in a former bank on South Main Street in Oldtown Salinas.
Best Cocktails
Best Breakfast
Pangaea Grill — Ocean between Lincoln and Dolores – (831) 624-2569, pangaeaoceanave.com
Pangaea Grill’s East-meets-West culinary flair is reflected in its signature cocktails, too, earning the restaurant its first Golden Pine Cone in this category. Crafted at the diminutive bar, the drinks are creative, well balanced — and beautiful to look at, as well. The Surfer RX, for example, with bourbon, apricot liqueur, lemon juice, Campari and orange zest, is at once refreshing while offering enough complexity to be interesting and avoiding being too sweet. When the weather’s warm, it might be hard to resist the little tropical vacation that is The Bixby — Hawaiian light rum, coconut rum, pineapple liqueur, lime juice and demerara sugar — while the Beach Bonfire (tequila blanco, passionfruit liqueur, pineapple juice, agave, jalapeño and a spicy rim) will up the temperature for you. Some postprandial sweet concoctions are available, too.
Also, if you want breakfast to be not only the most important meal of the day, but the most luxurious, our readers think this is the place. Benedicts with smoked salmon, crab cakes or steak, Asian-style repasts — this elegant East-meets-West eatery has lots of options to get you off to a great and memorable start.
Anyone who just wants their bacon, eggs and potatoes won’t be disappointed, and a stack of classic pancakes with eggs, bacon and fruit will certainly keep you full as you wander downtown shops and galleries or stroll along the beach. But if you want breaded sand dabs with lime dressing with your eggs, or kimchi fried rice, you can take a little walk on the wild side here, too.
Best Restaurant for Seafood
Best Desserts
Best Chef
Best Restaurant in Carmel
Best Place to Take Clients
Foray — NE San Carlos & Fifth – (831) 250-6100, forayrestaurant.com
Since opening in late 2022, Foray restaurant has consistently garnered Golden Pine Cones — netting a half-dozen last year and taking five this year. Proprietors chef Michael Chang and Caroline Singer have been busy testing and showcasing Chang’s impressive culinary prowess, while Singer’s hospitality and all-around knowhow — including behind the bar, which produces creative and elegant cocktails — adds to diners’ overall delightful experience. The venue is contemporary but not cold and is elegantly appointed, making it an ideal place to take (and impress) clients. It also offers a private room that’s perfect for larger parties, including business dinners. And Chang, whose cuisine is stunning to behold and capitalizes on as many local and foraged ingredients as possible — and whose quiet but sociable personality has him visiting with customers at their tables — is being celebrated as Best Chef for the third year in a row. Foray’s seafood dishes, including Chang’s now legendary roasted scallop, and selection of sweets, among them the foraged candy cap brioche bread pudding and the dark chocolate tres leches, have garnered it praise again this year, as well. “A feast for the eyes” may be cliché when it comes to commenting on food presentation, but when you’re describing dishes at Foray, it’s absolutely on point. The restaurant offers a prix fixe menu, as well as a la carte dishes, a selection of “accompaniments” and a delightful Happy Hour.
Best Happy Hour
Vesuvio — Sixth between Junipero and Mission – (831) 625-1766, chefpepe.com/restaurants
A lively rooftop deck and a long indoor bar make Rich Pèpe’s Vesuvio a fun spot for Happy Hour — which is offered every day from 4 to 6 p.m. — and it’s not unusual to see people lined up around the corner before opening time. The restaurant offers plenty of specials, with anitpasti like bruschetta, arancini, fried calamari, truffled gnocchi, meatball lollipops and baby back ribs, all at reasonable prices, and a full bar capable of turning out a wide range of cocktails. Happy Hour specials include house wine, white or bubbles for $9.50, and classic cocktails — think martinis, Manhattans, margaritas, cosmopolitans and lemon drops with well spirits — for the same price. The Burger Bar lists $15 selections, among them the McSuvio burger and a chicken sandwich, and no fewer than eight pizzas are offered for $18.50 apiece, ranging from the traditional Margherita to the spicy diavola. The place is popular, so reservations are recommended.
Best Family Restaurant
Best Outdoor Dining
Best Restaurant Service
SUR at the Barnyard — 3601 The Barnyard – (831) 620-5456, surcarmel.com
Sur is easy to get to, and its Barnyard location makes parking a cinch. It’s got a boisterous and happy vibe that’s welcoming to adults and kids alike, not to mention your dog, and the service — cheerful, personal and attentive — gets rave reviews on social media. The servers have a rep for thoughtful problem-solving and cheerfully meeting customers’ needs.
Outdoor dining at the charmingly landscaped Barnyard shopping center is a great option and is especially romantic under twinkling lights in the evening.
Space heaters — a mainstay of Peninsula outdoor dining — seem to keep everyone sufficiently cozy, and well-behaved doggos are welcome.
The appetizer menu includes the restaurant’s signature cheese bread, crispy ciabatta topped with white cheddar and parmesan, white corn, savory herbs and seasonings. Poached pear salad with arugula, cucumber, orange, candied pecans, sweet poached pear and goat cheese, tossed in orange ginger dressing, is a refreshing change to a green routine.
Get your carnivore fix between bread — maybe the bacon cheeseburger or filet mignon sliders — or have a fried chicken breast and thigh with all the fixings. There’s a traditional herb-roasted chicken, as well as walnut-crusted chicken with butternut squash ravioli. Splurgy options include a 12-ounce Kona-coffee rubbed steak, lobster ravioli and seared scallop risotto.
For the little ones — or your inner child — you can’t beat the chocolate ice cream bonbons served on dry ice. The server pours in a little water, and clouds of fog bring drama to dessert.
Best French Restaurant
La Bicyclette — Dolores & Seventh – (831) 622-9899, labicycletterestaurant.com
Old-timers will remember that the Georis family’s first restaurant, La Boheme, opened in this location in 1974. The same family owns La Bicyclette — rustic, charming and bicycle-themed.
According to the restaurant’s website, “The kitchen is tiny, with all food prepared on a six-burner stove and in our wood-fired oven.” But don’t be fooled — whether you pop in for pizza or indulge in one of the exquisite entrees, you are sure to leave delighted.
“Our menu is updated weekly, allowing us to make use of the freshest locally sourced ingredients,” the owners say, for dishes such as Gnocchi Parisiens, Salad Rouge with radicchio, and French classics like coq au vin, featuring organic chicken braised in red wine, with heritage-breed bacon, mushrooms, caramelized onions, baby carrots and potato purée.
That whole rule about “not filling up on bread” shouldn’t apply here, where assorted wood-fired breads are served with local butter.
You can’t skip the wine — the list has something for everyone — or dessert, like profiteroles Madagascar. Those are beignets filled with vanilla ice cream and served with dark chocolate sauce, whipped cream and candied almonds.
Best Chinese Restaurant
Tommy’s Wok — Mission between Ocean and Seventh – (831) 624-8518, tommyswokcarmel.com
Picking up Chinese takeout from Tommy’s Wok is a quiet way of showing your friends that you know how to find good food. Locals have loved this little spot for years, and our readers keep choosing it as their go-to for favorites like sizzling rice soup, spareribs, egg rolls, Mu Shu or chow mein. Szechuan, Hunan and Mandarin dishes are served up piping hot and ready to go — or eat in, if you like. That’s probably the best way to enjoy the Flaming Pu Pu Platter with BBQ spareribs, veggie egg rolls, paper-wrapped chicken, beef kabobs, deep-fried prawns and cream cheese crab puffs.
Tourists manage to find it, too, giving it rave reviews on social media and travel sites for great food, solid value and excellent service. You can’t argue with the prices, and the portions are substantial. An order of Cantonese roast duck with steamed buns is almost a steal for less than $20. Asparagus beef, batter-dipped prawns marinated with mayo and topped with honey-glazed walnuts, curry chicken and more have price tags that might make you check to see what year it is.
Best Indian Restaurant
Aabha Indian Cuisine — 3690 The Barnyard – (831) 250-5940, aabhaindiancuisine.com
Aabha is a repeat Golden Pine Cone winner, and no wonder, with a warm welcome and a roster of comforting foods to satisfy people new to Indian cuisine as well as those well-versed in the cuisine. Bring your vegetarian friends — Indian food offers a variety of meatless dishes bursting with flavor. Start with the samosas — crispy pastries stuffed with potatoes and peas — or get a little spicy with Cauliflower Manchurian, in a “tangy soy garlic sauce with a hint of chili.” For a main dish, paneer — a fresh cheese — simmered with spinach is a mainstay, or there’s dal Aabha, black lentils kidney beans, chickpeas, garlic, tomatoes, chili and cream.
If you don’t have a tandoor (Indian clay oven), Aahba’s wide assortment of entrees includes chipotle chicken tikka, ground lamb kebabs, not to mention sea bass and salmon.
Make sure to get some warm naan (Indian flatbread) to mop up the sauces or try a trio of naans — butter-cilantro, whole wheat and one stuffed with onions.
Classic butter chicken, assorted curries, and spicy lamb vindaloo are all there, too. Aabha also serves a wildly popular lunch buffet, where you can sample a variety of dishes without having to commit to one.
Everyone who comes to the hospitable and spacious restaurant feels the love, and the food never disappoints.
Best Italian Restaurant
Little Napoli — Dolores & Seventh – (831) 626-6335, chefpepe.com/restaurants/little-napoli
Part of the Pèpe Family group of restaurants, Little Napoli is relatively casual — although the website does request that guests remove their hats. Once you get settled, peruse the menu featuring Chef Rich Pèpe’s “signature family recipes reminiscent of Napoli and the Italian countryside, with a side of Pèpe’s gutsy New Jersey roots.”
The place has its own selection of barrel-aged cocktail classics — Negronis, Manhattans, Boulevardier (Kentucky rye, Italian vermouth, Campari and an orange slice). Mocktails, beer on tap and in bottles, and a selection of wines by the glass and bottle are also available.
Lunch and dinner menus offer plenty of options — soups, salads, pastas, pizzas, and, interestingly, hobo stew.
Hobo stew (aka Mulligan stew) has a surprising tie to Pèpe’s New Jersey roots. One possible origin of the term “hobo” is the City of Hoboken, where railroad terminals attracted transients who wanted to hop a freight train and unemployed folks looking for work.
Although in all likelihood the stew wasn’t invented there, it was once a poor man’s repast. Little Napoli’s version with beef short ribs, potatoes, carrots, celery and black pepper comes studded with gnocchi — something that probably didn’t happen on the mean streets of north Jersey. And the “1944” lasagna? That’s a family recipe from the chef’s father, who brought it back from his time in the service during World War II.
The cashless eatery says reservations are “recommended but not required.”
Best Japanese/Sushi Restaurant
Toro Sushi — Dolores between Fifth and Sixth – (831) 574-3255, torosushicarmel.com
A previous multiple Golden Pine Cone winner, Toro has once again made it to the top of our readers’ list for Best Japanese/Sushi. The spot also won a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence this year. In addition to a lengthy selection of Japanese sake, you’ll also find bottles from California and Europe on offer. You’ll encounter all the things you’d expect — edamame (soybean appetizer), tempura, assorted rolls, and a few interesting twists on the traditional, like the Uni Shooter combining quail egg, Santa Barbara uni — sea urchin — Junmai sake and roe. Teriyaki, poke bowls and combo plates are also available. Online reviewers rave about the freshness, service and ambience.
Best Mediterranean Restaurant
Dametra Café — Ocean between Dolores and Lincoln – (831) 622-7766, dametracafe.com
A culinary version of a “Small World” (without the song), Dametra offers fare from Greek, Italian, Spanish, Moroccan, Turkish, French, Israeli and Lebanese cuisines and consistently attracts a queue of hungry diners.
“Our kitchen is really small but with a big heart. Our ingredients are fresh and bought locally, but without a doubt, the best ingredient of them all is love.” So say Dametra Café owners and multiple Golden Pine Cone winners Faisal Nimri and Bashar Sneeh.
The list of starters is a great example of the place’s skillful cultural mashup. You can get pita with Lebanese hummus or Greek tzatziki sauce. Or order some Italian-style calamari, Spanish-style prawns, or a French plate of smoked salmon with goat cheese.
There are, of course, kebabs, gyros, shawarma and kofta (seasoned ground beef wrapped in lavash bread), but you’ll also find an All-American cheeseburger, a fresh mozzarella sandwich and lasagna, as well as paella, not to mention a variety of other pastas and generous salads. The international theme continues through dessert — if you have room — with baklava sharing the bill with tiramisu and triple-fudge cake.
Best Thai Restaurant
Krua Thai — 731 Munras Ave., Monterey – (831) 655-9797, kruathaimonterey.com
The Best Thai Restaurant again this year, Krua Thai probably owes part of its popularity to its proximity to, well, almost anything in Old Monterey. You can walk to banks, city offices, the Path of History that winds from Custom House Plaza to Colton Hall, and, of course, that large collection of medical offices on Cass Street.
Of course, none of that matters if the food isn’t good, but when all that walking works up an appetite, this place has you covered. Nearly every item on the menu costs less than $20, which is nice if you’re watching your wallet. All the usual suspects — pad Thai, tom yum, a collection of curries in many colors — are there, along with Vietnamese rolls (tofu, noodles, cucumber, and cilantro in a rice paper skin), chow mein and pot stickers. There are several duck dishes and vegetarian options, and among the restaurant’s signature items is Panang Salmon, grilled over sauteed asparagus, spinach, bell pepper and carrot, with curry sauce. Wine is available by the glass and bottle, along with Corona, Heineken, and two Thai beers, Chang and Singha.
Krua Thai’s website tells the story of the Susawee family, who immigrated to the Peninsula in 2003 from their native Thailand and opened their eatery. “You don’t need to travel all the way to Thailand to experience the tastes, aromas and culture,” of their home, their narrative reads. “Relish the flavors of our dishes like pad Thai, chuchee trout, pad prik khing, spring rolls ….” Our readers seem to think this is sound advice.
Best Mexican Restaurant
Nicolás Cocina de Herencia — Carmel Plaza – (831) 574-8802, nicolascocina.squarespace.com
If the words, “Mexican food,” conjure up images of taco trucks and big sides of rice and refried beans — not that there’s anything wrong with that — you might want to check out a fancier branch of that culinary family tree. Although it took much longer to open than originally anticipated, Nicolás Cocina de Herencia immediately impressed with its beautiful, expansive space, menu of delicious, sophisticated fare, and its full bar stocked with some of the best tequilas around.
Whether you go for lunch or dinner, you’ll see familiar-looking items with an upscale twist, as well as items that are a bit more unexpected. For example, queso fundido, a reliably delicious dish of melted cheese into which tortillas or chips are dipped, is right there, but with ribeye steak and chorizo, poblano pepper and corn. At dinner, the menu offers lamb chile rellenos, a well-marbled wagyu tomahawk steak with chipotle potatoes, halibut mole and more.
Reflecting its founders’ love and appreciation for family, tradition and cuisine, the menu features “flavors passed down generations,” and every dish is prepared “with the same love and attention that chef Susana’s father, Nicolás, the family’s patriarch, bestowed upon his land in Mexico, ensuring a dining experience that feels both intimate and extraordinary.” This unique restaurant is a welcome addition to Carmel’s culinary landscape and truly is a family affair.
Best Restaurant for Steak
Grasing’s — NW Sixth & Mission – (831) 624-6562, grasings.com
Grasing’s — the namesake of chef-proprietor Kurt Grasing — is now more than 25 years old, and in addition to serving his fine food in the dining room, he does catering for
private jets and cruises. You can learn more about signing up for one of the nautical adventures on the website under the “About” tab — previous voyages have taken guests to British castles, sailed to China, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, and cruised the Mediterranean from Rome to Bologna. And now our readers, who have honored Grasing’s in the past in several categories, have reconfirmed that it’s the place to go for steak.
That shouldn’t be surprising — coveted cuts of Brandt Ranch prime beef occupy their own section of the dinner menu. They range from an 8-ounce filet mignon, to a 22-ounce T-bone, 34-ounce porterhouse and a whopping 42-ounce tomahawk ribeye with truffle French fries. Decadent wagyu beef is also on the menu, and while wagyu translates simply to “Japanese cattle,” its heavy marbling and tenderness have made it a sought-after delicacy.
There are other things on the menu, of course. You might want to start your dinner with some oysters, for example, or maybe some crispy pork belly or crab cakes. Our readers say you should go for the steaks, but it’s really hard to go wrong at Grasing’s.
Best Restaurant for Vegetarians
Julia’s Vegetarian Restaurant — 1180 Forest Ave., Suite F, Pacific Grove – (831) 656-9533, juliasveg.com
Back on top of our vegetarian readers’ list this year, Julia’s has come a long way from its humble and, dare we say, rustic, beginnings. In addition to an expansive menu, the expanded dining room is home to live music and a nice selection of wine and beer. Vegan and gluten-free options are also on offer.
If you thought this category was for glassy-eyed ascetics and fussy hippies, however, a quick glance at the menu will quickly disabuse you of that notion. French toast is made with three slices of house-made ginger apple bread in a candy cap mushroom batter — and just as the name implies, those are some sweet fungi — and topped with walnuts and candy cap caramel sauce.
Options are available for smaller plates and full entrees, from salads, to curries and pizzas. The taco salad, which combines arugula, red onions, tomato and cucumber in a creamy cilantro dressing, comes with two adorable and tasty fried tamales. House-made kombucha on tap is refreshingly tangy, too.
Best Salad
Carmel Belle — San Carlos between Ocean and Seventh – (831) 624-1600, carmelbelle.com
What’s so great about the salads at Carmel Belle? Like other menu items, they’re made with organic ingredients whenever possible, “purchased from local farmers markets, farmers, and/or distributors that support small farms,” the proprietors say. The choices range from the Orchard, with mixed greens topped with stone fruit, pecans and goat cheese and served with lemon vinaigrette, to the traditional Greek, with romaine, feta, tomato, red onion and cucumber. The chicken Cobb comes with free-range Mary’s chicken, and other selections include a market vegetable offering, a farmers salad, a walnut-blue cheese-apple combo, and mozzarella and roasted tomato salad — clever, since roasting wonderfully concentrates flavor and brings out the best in the tomatoes. You can add the chicken or wild grilled salmon to any salads.
The Belle Bowl, listed under “Comfort Classics,” gets an honorable mention for its use of quinoa and arugula, as does a veggie plate with truffled mushrooms, roasted tomatoes and goat cheese crostini complementing market vegetables.
This casual spot in the Doud Arcade appears to be perpetually busy, but there always seems to be room for one more diner near the fireplace, or on the periphery that’s great for people-watching.
Best BBQ
The Crossroads Barbeque — 241 Crossroads Blvd. – (831) 250-7616, thecrossroadsbbq.com
Casual? You bet. This BBQ joint feels like one of those Southern spots where everything — metal trays covered in butcher paper, serve-yourself soda fountain, checkered table coverings and the like — is just a supporting character for barbecued and smoked goodness.
You wanna know how good it is? Pre-orders for smoked Thanksgiving turkey were sold out by Oct. 8. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of food available from breakfast (sandwich or taco options) through dinner, when you can have your favorite slab of meat as a meal or sandwich. Choose from tri-tip, pulled pork, brisket, chicken, St. Louis-style pork ribs, and burnt ends — the flavorful trimmings from smoked brisket. You can also order smoked turkey breast as a meal or sandwich through November.
Home-style potato salad is chunky and flavorful, baked beans are sweet and savory — just like you might remember from BBQs past — and there’s mac-and-cheese (extra amazing when topped with pulled pork) and creamy crunchy cole slaw. Sip one of the rotating beers on tap, if you like. For dessert, homemade bread pudding and berry cobbler from family recipes are not to be missed, even if you must take them to go. Feeding a crowd? Order a family pack of smoked meat and buy additional sides by the pint.
Best Fish & Chips
Brophy’s — San Carlos & Fourth – (831) 586-5566, brophystavern.com
What’s that? “It’s just fried fish and French fries, for heaven’s sake, even a fast-food joint can pull that off!” Don’t say that around here unless you want to find yourself in the Police Log for starting a brawl. Fish and chips, like roast chicken or beef stew, is one of the holy grails of cooking — and, if you’ll excuse the mixed metaphor, a bone of contention for purists. It’s simple, but elusive.
Pine Cone readers get it. The struggle to find the best is real. The fish, in this case fresh halibut, has to be prepared so that the crust doesn’t shatter or disintegrate at first bite. It should be golden brown on the outside, while the fish stays moist and tender in its batter-quilt. The chips should be crisp, but fluffy inside. Everything must be adequately seasoned straight out of the fryer, and the same temperature — searingly hot — when it hits the table.
We’ll leave you to argue about whether you should add malt vinegar or dunk the chips in the remoulade sauce that comes on the side, along with the cole slaw. You should probably order an ice-cold brew, too.
Best Place to Get Ice Cream
Revival Ice Cream — 463 Alvarado St., Monterey – (831) 747-2113, revivalicecream.com
“It’s more than ice cream...it’s a movement. A movement to uplift our community and to create memorable experiences — through the pure joy of ice cream!”
So says the website for Revival Ice Cream, an exceptional artisanal spot that manages to elevate one of Thomas Jefferson’s favorite desserts while remembering that the customer’s inner child doesn’t care about anything but taste.
Their staff is dedicated to “delicious ice cream you can feel great about eating,” using locally harvest and sustainable ingredients and dairy with no artificial ingredients or sweeteners, selling reusable containers and offering vegan flavors.
They also offer gluten-free vegan waffle cones.
Attention to detail in crafting (and for once, that’s the right word) the frozen treats ensures a high-quality product that still resonates with the part of you singing “I scream, you scream….”
It’s made locally in smallish batches, and the retail shop is right in the middle of Old Monterey, but you can have it delivered or shipped nationwide. Favorite flavors include Bees Knees made with local honey, the eucalyptus mint chip and the dark chocolate. The shop also sells 5- or 9-inch ice cream cakes (advance notice required), ice cream sandwiches and gluten-free cookies.
Not gonna lie — at around $14 a pint, this is a splurge for most folks, but once you’ve had it, you’ll know why our readers keep going back for more.
Best Coffeehouse
Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co. — Ocean between Lincoln and Monte Verde, 3720 The Barnyard and 246 Crossroads Blvd. - carmelcoffeeroasters.com
CVCRC has been roasting, brewing, and supplying the Peninsula with high quality coffee — both retail and wholesale — since 1994. Rory, one of the head roasters, has been operating Big Vinny, the 1940s-vintage Farina Italian coffee roasting machine for just about a decade now, and a recent blog post on the company’s website said, “roasting demands presence of mind — you have to be fully aware of what you’re tasting, open to the nuances, and able to articulate those differences.”
The business prides itself on sourcing coffee ethically and carefully roasting the beans, so the Peninsula always has quality and flavorful brews. It’s no wonder they are a repeat Golden Pine Cone winner.
Whether you visit the Crossroads, Barnyard, or downtown location, you are sure to be greeted by cheerful baristas, you can enjoy the music and a cup of joe while reading The Pine Cone, or catch up with friends while enjoying some of their fresh and locally made pastries — sourced from Ad Astra in Monterey and Lupita’s in Seaside, with gluten-free options from Nece’s in Monterey.
Best Special Occasion Cake
Layers Sensational Cakes — 9 Soledad Drive, Monterey – (831) 655-1544, layerscake.com
Layers’ cakes and desserts have been pleasing the Monterey Peninsula since 1989. Now a multigenerational operation, Layers is a culinary staple. Take a look at their website or Instagram feed, and you’ll understand why people are captivated by the visual appeal … but have a taste and you’ll be hooked. Whether you’re looking for a wedding cake or just a classic chocolate chip cookie, Layers is there to please. Cakes range from German chocolate cake, Funfetti, and carrot cake, to more elaborate themed confections like one in the shape of a saddle for a “horse-loving girl’s wildest dreams,” They even offer local delivery.
And when it’s holiday time, Layers Sensational Cakes is here for all your dessert needs. You can get cake layers in different flavors and completely customize your confection right on the website, call for a consultation, or better yet, pop into their brick-and-mortar location to place an order — and of course, grab yourself a goodie. They usually have some same-day availability, too, just in case you forgot it was your wedding anniversary, again.
Best Pizza
Best Restaurant in Monterey
Cibo — 301 Alvarado St., Monterey – (831) 649-8151, cibomonterey.com
Right in the heart of Monterey, Cibo Ristorante Italiano has been charming diners for over 30 years. Now under new ownership — the proprietors of Pangaea on Ocean Avenue and Sur at the Barnyard — Cibo has expanded its hours to serve breakfast. The morning menu includes classics like French toast and eggs Benedict, plus an ample selection of Bloody Marys and mimosas. We suspect that our readers love their pizza, which has gluten-free crust options. Take a classic like the Pizza Margherita with tomatoes, fresh whole milk mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil, and basil), or the Pizza Cibo covered in prosciutto di Parma, crimini mushrooms, mozzarella and truffled treviso radicchio.
For lunch or dinner, you can enjoy dishes like a Caesar salad, pizza or a burger, grilled salmon or a skirt steak. And dinner offerings include a nice selection of antipasti (appetizers) like bruschetta, tuna poke, and arrabbiata (spicy tomato sauce) chicken wraps. There are also traditional pasta favorites, from prawn pappardelle, to ravioli and even risotto.
Cibo has a full bar and an extensive wine list. “We host live entertainment by talented local artists and offer an exceptional patio space, perfect for al fresco dining under the Monterey sky,” per its website.
Best Wine List
Best Restaurant for a Special Occasion
Best Sommelier
The Sardine Factory — 701 Wave St., Monterey – (831) 373-3775, sardinefactory.com
Opened in 1968, The Sardine Factory is a staple of Monterey fine dining, with tuxedoed staff and white linen tablecloths. The menu includes fine-dining classics like oysters Rockefeller, escargot, and prime beef, as well as a wide selection of salads and other entrées, and you should definitely order the sorbet in an ice swan as a palate cleanser between courses.
If you can, save room for dessert. The chocolate-dipped ice cream bonbons over dry ice are shareable and fun, and the Flaming Sardine, a signature Galliano cocktail that brings its own fiery drama to the table, is also a dramatic end to the meal.
There are various rooms to accommodate larger parties, from 12 in the upstairs wine cellar, to 100 in the Conservatory, and several options in between. The downstairs wine cellar is an experience in itself, carved into arched brick catacombs with wrought iron-gated wine vaults surrounding the 25-foot banquet table made from a single piece of Big Sur redwood.
But the Sardine Factory offers more than a destination for fine dining — it’s a hot spot for happy hour, when guests enjoy classic cocktails and small bites by the fireplace as they listen to Dave Conley on the piano Tuesday through Saturday evenings.
Dave Sidener, winner of this year’s new Golden Pine Cone award for best sommelier, can help you navigate the multiple-award-winning 60-page wine list. Sidener is a self-described “homegrown Carmel kid” who started as a busboy at the now-closed Butcher Shop and Gold Fork in Carmel — a sister property of the Sardine Factory many moons ago. A second-level certified sommelier, Sidener is also incredibly experienced with the local wine families of the area, having worked with the Antinori family at Péppoli and Bernardus in the Valley, among others. He is passionate about helping people find wines to suit palates and price points.
Best Bartender
Joshua Perry at Cella — 525 Polk St., Monterey – (831) 920-1046, cellarestaurant.com
A San Francisco native who’s been in the bartending business for nearly three decades, Joshua Perry cut his teeth in his hometown and beyond before moving to Monterey about 10 years ago to run the bar at the since-closed Restaurant 1833, which could always be relied upon for creative and delicious cocktails. Perry moved on to oversee cocktails and drinks at Cultura in Carmel, did a brief stint at Carmel Valley Ranch and then joined Cella in February 2022, a month after it opened. There, he said, he has “basically carte blanche” when it comes to creating cocktails, and his menu changes every 12 weeks in step with the restaurant’s seasonal ethos. That includes distinct seasonality and “not relying on a lot of premade and prebought stuff.”
“I always want to have something new and fresh for people to come in and enjoy,” Perry says, which is especially important at a restaurant that has so many local regulars. He strives to concoct drinks that complement the menu but which stand well on their own, as well, and it all comes down to “finding the pieces that fit to make the right menu and to be accessible to a wide range of people,” while also perhaps pushing them a bit out of their comfort zones. And all of that is why, unsurprisingly, Pine Cone readers chose Perry as the Golden Pine Cone winner for Best Bartender. (The honor also makes the “World’s Okayest Bartender” pin on the apron Perry customarily wears even more ironic.)
Best Brunch
Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant — 26270 Dolores St. – (831) 624-6436, missionranchcarmel.com
Mission Ranch’s Sunday brunch buffet is loved by visitors and locals alike. The buffet ensures that you don’t have to sift through a menu on a Sunday morning, when maybe your brain is a bit foggy from a glass — or three — of your favorite wine the night before. You can choose from prime rib, made-to-order omelets, French toast or baked salmon. There’s a full bar, although drinks are not included in the $45 per person price for adults and $25 for children ages 5-10.
Don’t forget “Chef Charlie’s Fabulous Dessert Table,” from which you can take more than one — because who wants to make that decision? The view is incredible, too — so much so that getting married there has become wildly popular. Rest your eyes on the flock of grazing sheep, or peer beyond to Point Lobos and the blue Pacific ocean.
Best New Restaurant (opened in last 12 months)
Nora’s — San Carlos between Ocean and Seventh – (831) 250-7447, norascarmel.com
Opened in August, it didn’t take long for Nora’s to be packed every night — and with good reason. The owner is Loie Alnimri, a restaurant-industry veteran whose family is involved in several Monterey Peninsula enterprises. In town, Alnimri also lays claim to the Tree House and Anton & Michel. “Nora’s is a heartfelt tribute to the beloved grandmother of the Nimri family, a name well-known among restaurateurs in Carmel-by-the-Sea,” Alnimri says, and the restaurant was created “to celebrate the warmth of home-cooked comfort food” offered on “a menu inspired by cherished family recipes.” The restaurant’s tag line is “Carmel’s comfort cuisine,” and it certainly lives up to that billing. If nothing else, the house chicken pot pie made to order will inspire nostalgia in even the most ardent futurist, and it’s hard to resist the lobster ravioli and the fried chicken and waffles. The menu is diverse but not too large and is delightfully accessible, with its most expensive dish — San Francisco cioppino — coming in at $39, while most main courses are priced in the $20s. The frequently bustling but intimate indoor space and busy outdoor patio are evidence of the restaurant’s popularity — as is Nora’s taking the Best New Restaurant crown this year.
Most Romantic Restaurant
Casanova — Fifth between Mission and San Carlos – (831) 216-3811, casanovacarmel.com
Casanova wins again for most romantic restaurant … and it’s pretty obvious why. The Georis family renovated this cozy little place in 1977 with what they describe as traditional Belgian architectural influences. The spot’s namesake is 18th-century Venetian Giacomo Casanova, whose romantic exploits are legendary. Van Gogh’s table, which the website describes as “the table at which Vincent Van Gogh enjoyed his daily meals while boarding at the Auberge Ravoux in France,” is there, too. Once you’re done swooning over the charming history and cozy décor, it’s time to order.
Casanova gathers ingredients from small, organic farms and local fisheries and seems to make all that attention to detail appear effortless. The menu, which is a love letter from the kitchen, woos you with the promise of French onion soup and lures you in deeper with duck leg confit. An excellent wine list is available along with help to find just the right glass or bottle.
In “History of my Life,” Giacomo Casanova wrote, “Cultivating whatever gave pleasure to my senses was always the chief business of my life; I never found any occupation more important.” The restaurant in this magical village seems to have taken that sentiment to heart.
Most Dog-Friendly Restaurant
Cypress Inn/Terry’s Restaurant + Lounge — Lincoln & Seventh – (831) 624-3871, cypress-inn.com; (831) 620-7454, carmelterrys.com
Once again, Terry’s has been voted by readers as Carmel’s most dog-friendly restaurant, paws down. (Cypress is also the winner for the Most Dog-Friendly Hotel.) It has charmed visitors — and their four-legged best friends — for decades. Continuing the legacy of the late co-owner, legendary singer, actress, and animal lover Doris Day, the hotel’s philosophy takes pet friendliness seriously.
Terry’s Restaurant and Lounge welcomes your furry besties, and the staff there loves feeding people, too, with lunch and dinner menus that feature options like a grilled steak salad, the famous Cypress Burger, or truffle-mushroom ravioli in a saffron cream sauce. The bar menu, available all day, offers filling and tasty small bites.
“By combining Mediterranean grace and charm with warm hospitality and exemplary service, Cypress Inn has drawn everyone from kings, queens and Hollywood royalty to the everyday traveler, and especially all those who like to travel with their pets,” the inn says.
Best Restaurant in Big Sur
Nepenthe — 48510 Highway 1 – (831) 667-2345, nepenthe.com
More than 800 feet above the ocean, Nepenthe, a frequent Golden Pine Cone winner, is an impressive alchemy of coastal views and great food that makes for a dining experience worthy of the drive and the setting. The family-owned and -operated locale has long been a place where locals gather in good times and bad. “Nepenthe” is derived from Greek and means “no sorrow,” and is also the name of a mythical Egyptian drug said to cause forgetfulness and relieve sadness. Of course, that may also be thanks to the lack of Wi-Fi, spotty cell reception, and spectacular views.
Nepenthe feeds everyone on a first-come, first-served basis — no reservations. The menu offers simple fare done well, like diver scallops, roast chicken and steak frites. Of course, you can always fall back on the Ambrosia Burger, a favorite for decades. Spend a few minutes perusing the impressively curated wine list with great bottles in a range of prices, or enjoy a cocktail from the full bar. Café Kevah — one level down from Nepenthe — opens early and offers a nice selection of breakfasts and coffee. Once your belly’s full, stop in at the Phoenix Shop on the parking lot level of the complex and get lost among the works of local artists and craftsmen.
Best Restaurant in Carmel Valley
Café Rustica — 10 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley – (831) 659-4444, caferustricacv.com
Even though it’s nestled out in Carmel Valley Village, you’d think you were in the Alsatian countryside. Café Rustica has been a destination for locals and tourists since 2000 and Julien Belliard took it over in 2006. He describes the cuisine as “country European,” offering a variety of dishes, like Hungarian goulash, French escargot, classic roast chicken, and ratatouille, among others. There’s something for everyone, from pork to steak, to light dishes like salads, grilled meats and fish, and pastas.
There’s also a wide variety of wood-fired pizzas that are characteristically thin-crusted and slightly charred to perfection. The ingredients are sourced locally, and dressings and sauces are made in house. Their wine list offers a nice selection of wines curated to pair with the cuisine, with wines from Spain, France, Italy, California, and even South Africa. Don’t forget to round out your meal with one of their desserts, like country apple galette (a rustic, free-form pie), fresh lemon pudding cake, or an old-fashioned root beer float. Café Rustica is the perfect place to enjoy the Carmel Valley sun and a great meal when Carmel-by-the-Sea is socked in fog.
Best Restaurant in Pebble Beach
Roy’s — 2700 17 Mile Drive, in the Inn at Spanish Bay – (831) 298-5907, pebblebeach.com/dining/roys-at-pebble-beach/
A regular Golden Pine Cone winner, Roy’s at Spanish Bay is a gift to the Peninsula. The verdant golf course, the azure Pacific beyond, the outdoor fire pits where a bagpiper seems to singlehandedly conjure the sunset and the evening fog ... and of course, great food. Fortunately, Chef Roy Yamaguchi — celebrity chef, James Beard Award winner and the father of Hawaiian-fusion cuisine, and chef de cuisine Pablo Mellin have made sure that the food matches the view.
Although Yamaguchi’s roots are in Tokyo, he’s known as a major innovator in Hawaiian fusion cuisine. While it sounds high-falutin’, it translates to beautiful and deceptively simple-looking plates that promise big flavors in unexpected combinations. Breakfast is traditional — why would anyone mess with waffles or steak and eggs, anyway? Lunch, however, takes a hard western turn toward Hawaii and Japan with tiger shrimp and beef spring rolls and Kona coconut shrimp. Bento boxes, island-themed salads and a selection of entrees make for a satisfying meal. Dinner continues in the same vein, with entrees like Huli Huli Hamachi (yellowtail) and yuzu chimichurri local halibut with heirloom tomato confit. Meat lovers can choose from roast chicken, beef short ribs, rack of lamb or pork, among others. Signature cocktails include a spicy mango margarita and Roy’s mai tai, and the wine list is excellent.
Best Restaurant in Pacific Grove
Passionfish — 701 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove – (831) 655-3311, passionfish.net
A repeat Golden Pine Cone winner known for sustainable seafood and an extensive wine list at “realistic prices,” according to its website, Passionfish is committed to fresh, local ingredients, farmers and sustainable farms and fisheries. “America’s Last Hometown” seems like an apt place for a restaurant devoted to quality food that’s harvested nearby. It was recently purchased by a member of the family that owns The Fishwife in P.G., and they have wisely decided to stick close to the eatery’s original vibe while introducing new special dishes now and then.
Diners’ favorites include Nancy’s buttery buttermilk biscuit from the starter’s menu. Dungeness crab salad with avocado, spicy ginger vinaigrette and braised fennel, Alaskan halibut, served with roasted Brussels sprouts, squash, maple pecans, cranberries, lemon-herb oil and many others. If seafood isn’t your thing, try the spoonable 12-hour lamb breast with chickpea and Meyer lemon stew, or the chef’s take on classic duck confit served with a honey reduction, smoked chile-potato cake, and grilled broccolini. For dessert you cannot miss the organic mint and espresso mud pie or the maple-banana bread pudding, then walk some of that off with a stroll down to Lover’s Point and along the coast, enjoying the charming Victorian houses along the way.
Best Restaurant in Seaside
Maligne — 600 Broadway, Seaside – (831) 601-1302, restaurantmaligne.com
A repeat Golden Pine Cone winner, Maligne gets its moniker from owner Klaus Georis’ childhood nickname, which means “clever, sly, or even troublesome,” according to him. Georis — a member of the family that has brought much fine food and good wine to the Peninsula over the decades (think La Bicyclette in Carmel and Georis winery) — seems to enjoy playing with people’s expectations. Located in an unassuming corner lot on Broadway and Hillsdale in Seaside, the restaurant is teeming with activity and flavor. The menu feels like it could come have straight from a French country cookbook.
The food is cooked to perfection and presented in a way that’s both beautiful and accessible. The service is excellent, and even simple things like focaccia bread served with the Georis family’s estate olive oil become sublime. Other items, like a whole deboned chicken, grilled rockfish with asparagus and au poivre (pepper) sauce, are excellent examples of treating ingredients with respect, and everything is made with care. Three-course meals can be had for $40 and up, parking is easy and, if you haven’t been there in a while, you’ll find that Broadway has had quite the facelift in recent years.
RECREATION & THE ARTS
Best Local Artist
Delia Bradford Fine Arts — Sixth between San Carlos and Mission – (831) 601-4957, deliabradford.com
The daughter of two professional artists who grew up on Partington Ridge in Big Sur, Delia Bradford has a passion for plein air painting, which is the art of painting outdoors. Surrounded by the elements, she creates impressionist landscapes and florals that showcase her passion and vitality for life and for nature. Vibrant and colorful, her creations also exude peace and tranquility. You can often find Bradford in her downtown gallery, standing in front of an easel with a brush in her hand and a bright smile on her face.
Best Local Photographer
Sherman Chu — (925) 683-2320, shermanchu.com
A Carmel Valley resident who specializes in real estate, corporate and golf photography, Sherman Chu goes to great lengths to document an event, employing his camera to tell a story.
“The best photographers are gifted storytellers,” Chu explained. “They allow people to get swept away in the event knowing that their greatest moments will be captured in brilliant photographs.” His online wedding portfolio shows creativity, juxtaposing traditional portraiture with the unusual — a couple standing in a river or a sun-dappled barn — and nicely captured candid moments.
His work is highly respected within the local real estate industry, and you can often find his still, drone and 3D imagery on realtors’ websites and in The Pine Cone’s “In Your Dreams” special sections.
Best Photo Gallery
Center for Photographic Art — Sunset Center at San Carlos & Ninth – (821) 625-5181, photography.org
Tracing its roots to the Friends of Photography group founded by Ansel Adams and others in the late 1960s, the Center for Photographic Art offers a busy slate of group shows, solo exhibits, receptions, juried competitions, book signings and talks. Some exhibits recall long-forgotten photographic processes from the late 19th century, while others explore the future of the medium in the digital age. The group’s gallery is located at Sunset Center, where executive director Ann Jastrab and a host of volunteers create a welcoming place to celebrate photography — and put on a lively mix of events to keep everybody connected.
Best Sculpture Gallery
Steven Whyte Gallery — Barnyard shopping center – (831) 620-1917, stevenwhytesculptor.com
Widely acclaimed for his heroic bronze sculptures that adorn many public spaces in England and the United States, Steven Whyte again wins a Golden Pine Cone. Now working out of a studio in The Barnyard, Whyte is widely acclaimed for his public sculptures, which can be found in the United States, Europe and Asia. His work is displayed in multiple Smithsonian museums, as well as at the Florida State Capitol, Texas A&M University and on Cannery Row. He’s also committed to social justice — of the more than 84 life-size and larger bronze public figures he has created, more than 30 depict non-Caucasian subjects and 30 depict women, “reflecting his long-standing commitment to expanding diversity and inclusivity in public art.”
Best Art Gallery
Carmel Art Association — Dolores between Fifth and Sixth – (831) 250-3347, carmelart.org
The town’s oldest gallery and one of the most enduring nonprofit galleries anywhere, Carmel Art Association showcases the work of about 80 contemporary local painters and sculptors. Its earliest members included luminaries like Armin Hansen, Francis McComas and E. CharIton Fortune, while today’s roster features notables like Johnny Apodaca, Lucas Blok, Will Bullas, Erin Gafill, Gerald Martin and many others. Founded in 1927, the gallery hosts an array of group shows for adults and students, along with receptions, talks, demonstrations and fundraisers.
Best Performing Arts Company
Pacific Repertory Theatre — Monte Verde between Eighth and Ninth – (831) 622-0100, pacrep.org
Founded in 1982 by longtime creative director Stephen Moorer, PacRep is the Monterey Peninsula’s premier theater group, producing a generous number of plays, musicals and concerts. The theater company celebrates the genius of William Shakespeare each year with a festival in his name, kicks off the New Year with a rock ’n’ roll tribute concert and mentors the next generation of theatrical talent through its School of Dramatic Arts.
“In celebrating the transforming power of the creative spirit, PacRep Theatre produces bold and daring interpretations of the great plays from the world stage — plays that engage, excite, educate and inspire, presenting a world-class theatrical experience,” according to its mission statement.
Best Concert Venue
Sunset Center — San Carlos between Eighth and 10th – (831) 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org
Committed to delivering diverse, high-quality arts programming — and promoting arts education for all ages through accessible education programs — Sunset Center attracts big-name talent to its main stage. It also provides a venue for concerts presented by local classical music groups and features a gallery that hosts exhibits by local artists.
Once the historic Sunset School, it has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility with soaring ceilings and excellent acoustics.
“At Sunset Center, we bring world-class entertainment close to home,” according to its representatives. “We guarantee there’s something for everyone with our curated series.”
Best Place to Relax and Listen to Music
Folktale Winery — 8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley – (831) 293-7500, folktalewinery.com
With the Santa Lucia Mountains providing a stunning natural backdrop, it’s difficult to imagine a more perfect garden setting to sip wine and enjoy live music than Folktale Winery. Its busy live music schedule highlights local talent as well as up-and-coming acts from out of town.
The music is mostly acoustic and often falls within the realm of country, folk and Americana. “Come sip on our award-winning wines, kick back — or jam out — to the music and enjoy the panoramic views of our estate vineyards,” the winery suggests.
Best Local Music Group (classical)
Monterey Symphony — (831) 646-8511, montereysymphony.org
Founded in 1946 and dedicated to entertaining and engaging the local community through musical performance and education, Monterey Symphony is dedicated to fostering an appreciation for classical music’s rich past and is committed to keeping it fresh and vibrant in the 21st century.
This season’s schedule features six concerts at Sunset Center that not only showcase the symphony’s many gifted musicians, but also an array of world-class instrumentalists. In addition, the symphony celebrates its 80th anniversary Jan. 23 with a Ruby Gala at the Monterey Peninsula Country Club featuring dinner and dancing with a live big band.
Best Local Music Group (pop rock or jazz)
The Bubba Pickens Band — instagram.com/bubbapickens
With six local teachers in its expanded lineup, the Bubba Pickens Band plays mostly bluegrass, with an array of influences like blues, jazz, gospel and folk sprinkled in, along with three-part harmonies.
While they rarely play far from where they are based in Carmel Valley, the group can often be found performing at local fundraisers or down the coast in Big Sur. They don’t have a website or a Facebook page — if you want to see their schedule, check out their Instagram page.
Best Place to Take Visitors
Point Lobos State Reserve — Highway 1, 2 miles south of Rio Road – pointlobos.org
Called the “greatest meeting of land and water in the world” by late local painter Francis McComas, Point Lobos State Reserve is a magnet not only for painters and photographers, but for just about anyone who loves the outdoors. Famous for its rocky coastline, windswept cypress groves and ancient forest of Monterey pines, it’s extremely accessible, and some of its trails can even accommodate wheelchairs. It’s also home to one of the richest marine environments on earth — every weekend, scores of scuba divers explore the mysterious world beneath the waves.
If you want to show off the best of where we live, Pine Cone readers agree that Point Lobos is the place to do it.
Best Family-Friendly Activity
Monterey Bay Aquarium — 886 Cannery Row, Monterey – (831) 648-4800, montereybayaquarium.org
Located at the site of a former sardine cannery that John Steinbeck made famous through books like “Cannery Row,” the aquarium is one of the world’s best — and easiest — places to see marine life up close. More than 2 million people each year visit the destination, where they can learn about the rich and diverse marine life that inhabits Monterey Bay and be dazzled by the colorful spectacle.
While everyone crowds around to see the playful sea otters, don’t miss the “flashy fishes, mesmerizing jellies and swirling sardines” in other areas of the sprawling facility. Penguins and puffins provide adorable distractions, while the multistory Outer Bay and Kelp Forest exhibits can be calmingly hypnotic.
The aquarium offers an educational and entertaining experience for all ages.
Best Local Festival
The Carmel Bach Festival — 10th & Mission – (831) 624-1521, bachfestival.org
Started in 1935 by Dene Denny and Hazel Watrous as a four-day series of classical concerts at the Sunset School Auditorium — which is now Sunset Center — the Carmel Bach Festival is a two-week celebration of concerts, recitals, master classes, lectures and open rehearsals that brings hundreds of musicians to town every summer. The festival is dedicated to the “works, inspiration and ongoing influence of Johann Sebastian Bach.”
“Our vision is to be a world-class festival of music and ideas transcending the traditional boundaries of performance and presentation — and to provide fresh musical contexts that spark the imagination, stimulate the mind, and enrich people’s lives in multi-faceted ways,” according to its website.
Led by artistic director and principal conductor Grete Pedersen, the festival remains anchored in Bach and the Baroque era, but its musical reach spans the globe — incorporating international influences — and the centuries, with works of contemporary composers performed in the same concerts with the old masters.
Best Church-Sponsored Event
Jewish Food Festival — 5716 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley — jewishfoodfestivalcarmel.org
Presented yearly by Congregation Beth Israel in Carmel Valley, the Jewish Food Festival celebrates the many charms of “Jewish Soul Food,” with favorites like hot pastrami, brisket, latkes, blintzes, matzo ball soup and egg creams on the menu. Besides tasty food, the festival features “a tantalizing array” of cultural performances and family-friendly activities. The congregation, meanwhile, “serves the spiritual, educational, and social needs of Jews on the Monterey Peninsula,” and is “a welcoming and inclusive center for Jewish life.”
Best Place to Watch the Sunset
Best Place to Walk Your Dog
Best Beach
Carmel Beach — Ocean and Scenic — ci.carmel.ca.us
With its clean, white sand cooling your toes and a bank of fog framing the horizon, there can’t be many better places to watch the sun sink beneath the waves. Parking is free and often surprisingly easy to find, and it’s one of the most dog-friendly spots you will ever visit — you don’t even need to bring a leash. At sunrise and sunset and in between, canines of every imaginable shape and size can be seen dashing and splashing along the shoreline.
While well-behaved dogs are always welcome, beach fires are strictly regulated. Wood can’t be used, and only propane-fueled devices are allowed — and then only south of 10th Avenue.
Just minutes away from popular take-out spots like Bruno’s Market on Junipero or The Cheese Shop in Carmel Plaza, the beach is the perfect location for a picnic.
Best Place to read The Pine Cone
At home — Where the heart is
For so many readers, the arrival of The Pine Cone on newsstands every Friday morning — or Thursday evenings on the internet for early birds — is part of a treasured weekly ritual. While some prefer to get their news on the go — or while sipping coffee at Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Company — many others are content to simply peruse the newspaper in the comfort of their own homes. So put on your robe and slippers, pour a warm soothing drink, put your feet up and dive into the latest edition to learn more about what makes your hometown such an interesting place.
Best Hiking Trail
Palo Corona Regional Park — 4860 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley – mprpd.org/palo-corona-regional-park
Palo Corona Regional Park technically isn’t a trail, but it features one that is among the most popular of all local hiking routes — especially with Pine Cone readers. Unofficially known as the Inspiration Point Trail, it’s a 5.4-mile round trip that travels from the park’s Discovery Center to a dramatic vista that offers sweeping views of Point Lobos and Carmel. Along the way, you’ll gain about 750 feet of elevation as you marvel at the sights. Parking is easy and restrooms are available at the trailhead. But be sure to wear sturdy shoes and bring water.
“Hug the hill as you travel under the oak woodland canopy before ascending to Inspiration Point,” reads the park’s trail map. “Take in a birds-eye view of the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary as you stop to take a breath.”
My Favorite Park
Garland Park — 700 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley – mprpd.org/garland-ranch-regional-park
The crown jewel of local regional parks, Garland Ranch Regional Park is home to more than 60 miles of trails set aside for hikers and equestrians. It also has an array of natural attributes, including majestic stands of oak trees, vast hillsides of dense chaparral, meadows that explode with colorful wildflowers every spring, and an abundance of wildlife that’s full of surprises. It also offers enough topography and elevation to make fitness enthusiasts sweat — and it’s dog-friendly, too.
From cool canyons with meandering creeks, to sun-kissed ridges with distant views, Garland Park, with its many trails, is a hiker’s paradise — yet its trail heads are just minutes from the shops and galleries of Carmel Valley Village.
Best Fitness/Health Center
Carmel Valley Athletic Club — 27300 Rancho San Carlos Road, Carmel Valley – (831) 624-2737, cvaclife.com
Offering members just about everything they need to reach their health and fitness goals — as well as feel and look good — Carmel Valley Athletic Club offers seemingly endless ways to stay in shape. It features a two-story fitness center, dozens of weekly workout classes, private family changing rooms, nine lighted tennis courts, four lighted pickleball courts, adult-only locker rooms with saunas and steam showers, and array of social events and much more. Local chef and entrepreneur Tim Wood has recently opened an outpost of his popular Woody’s restaurants there, too.
“Start your weekend with a heart-pumping high-intensity interval training workout led by our top-quality instructors,” the club suggests. “Unwind and relax afterward with a sauna session in our luxurious locker room before heading over to your massage appointment next door at Refuge, our award-winning spa.”
Best Yoga Studio
Salty Soul Sanctuary — Ocean & Mission, Carmel Plaza, Third Floor — (831) 877-0042, saltysoulsanctuary.com
Describing itself as “a nurturing, vibrant community where warmth and love greet every soul,” Salty Soul Sanctuary, with its calming ocean-themed interior, offers a busy schedule of classes, along with workshops and special events allowing students to deepen their practices. A variety of perks are offered, including an unlimited memberships package and a Locals Newbie Exploration Pass.
“Our sanctuary provides a safe space for connection and growth, offering diverse yoga classes that cater to various movement styles, ensuring accessibility and a welcoming experience for all,” according to the yoga studio. “Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or taking your first steps on the mat, we’re excited to welcome you to our studio and share the transformative power of yoga together.”
Best Golf Course
Pacific Grove Golf Links — 77 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove – (831) 648-5775, playpacificgrove.com
The only golf course on the Monterey Peninsula with both bay and ocean views, Pacific Grove Golf Links doesn’t receive the fanfare that goes to its more famous courses in neighboring Pebble Beach. But the 18-hole course has around since 1932 and has a rich and storied history.
The first nine holes were designed by U.S. Amateur Champion H. Chandler Egan in 1932, partly on land the city bought from Pebble Beach Co. founder S.F.B. Morse for a $10 gold coin and a handshake promise to maintain it as a golf course for at least five years. In 1960, Jack Neville, who designed the Pebble Beach Golf Links with Douglas Grant, created the second nine holes.
The course is complemented by a clubhouse and a newly constructed golf shop.
The Pacific Grove Golf Links is open sunup to sundown, seven days a week, 365 days a year. “If it’s playing the great game of golf for the first time or playing as a seasoned tournament player, guests of the Pacific Grove Golf Links are sure to find everything they are looking for, and much more,” its website says.
Best Museum
Monterey Museum of Art — 559 Pacific St., Monterey – (831) 372-5477, montereyart.org
Every year, tens of thousands of people visit the Monterey Museum of Art, which hosts a busy slate of exhibits along with a permanent collection of more than 10,000 works of art. Founded in 1959, the museum features eight galleries showcasing the diversity of local and regional art, displaying paintings, sculpture, photography and mixed media from the 19th century to the present. It also offers educational programs that reach thousands of local students, as well as docent programs, classes, lectures and workshops and exhibit tours.
The museum describes itself as “a collaborative center where art and community engage,” where “there is always something new to discover.”
Best Library
Harrison Memorial Library — NE Ocean & Lincoln – (831) 624-4629, ci.carmel.ca.us/library
In a town where residents love reading and books, the Harrison Memorial Library is an institution. Located in the heart of town and designed by noted architect Bernard Maybeck, the library was built in 1928. Besides its vast collection of books and a beautifully manicured garden, the library offers a mix of community resources and lectures, as well as the opportunity to borrow day-use passes to California State Parks. If there’s something you can’t find on The Pine Cone’s website, you can find the rest of the newspaper’s 100-plus years via the library’s website. It’s open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Park Branch Library at Mission and Sixth features a kids’ library and history department.
Best Inn/B&B
Carmel Garden Inn — Fourth and Torres – (831) 624-6926, carmelgardeninn.com
Carmel Garden Inn has once again been chosen by Pine Cone readers as the Best Inn/B&B around. Everything about this place is quaint and screams — or delicately whispers — “Carmel-by-the-Sea.” With a charming garden setting surrounding 10 cozy guest rooms offering wood-burning fireplaces, what’s not to love? Guests enjoy the breakfasts, especially the homemade granola and summer vegetable frittatas.
The inn offers complimentary wine and cheese in the afternoon to top off a day of stress-free vacationing or staycationing. Just three blocks from Ocean Avenue, Carmel Garden Inn is walking distance from downtown and Carmel Beach, where you can watch the sunset or enjoy a stroll with your pooch, who is welcome in the inn’s designated pet-friendly rooms. Staff members can recommend a sitter so pet parents can have some alone time, too.
Best Hotel
La Playa Hotel — Camino Real and Eighth – (800) 582-8900, laplayahotel.com
This historic spot offers a modern luxury experience where bohemian spirit meets coastal sophistication. La Playa remains a beloved institution that celebrates the artistic heritage of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Nestled in a quiet neighborhood just a few blocks from the beach, the 75-room boutique is surrounded by European-inspired gardens and turn-of-the-century architecture, and has expansive views.
During a $20 million renovation, the hotel was thoughtfully enhanced — preserving its quiet eclecticism while adding three one-bedroom suites, converting all single queen bedrooms to kings, upgrading the bathrooms and generally sprucing up the interior and exterior. La Playa pays tribute to its legendary past, offering an intimate and elevated experience for today’s creatives, adventurers, raconteurs and academics. It’s also a really cool place to hang out.
Most Dog-Friendly Hotel
Cypress Inn — Lincoln and Eighth – (831) 624-3871, cypress-inn.com
When a hotel is located in one of the world’s foremost canine communities, and was once owned by legendary dog devotee Doris Day, you know there will be room at the inn and a place at the table for your four-legged companion, where “Canine Delights” are featured on the menu, and dogs may dine from their own tea tray of delectable doggie treats.
Humans can enjoy lunch, dinner, cocktails or afternoon tea at Terry’s Restaurant + Lounge, whether accompanied by a faithful furry friend or not. Rooms are appointed with Fido in mind, including special blankets, a place to shower off your pooch after a romp on the beach, doggie pickup bags, and a list of local pet sitters if you want to venture out to a place for people only.
Longtime owner Denny LeVett may have passed away just a few weeks ago, but his legacy is very much alive at the Cypress Inn.
RETAIL
Best Florist
Fleurs du Soleil — 598 Fremont St., Monterey – (831) 656-0455, fleursdusoleil.com
Customers come into Fleurs du Soleil not just to order a fresh, natural, picked-from-the-garden arrangement, but also for the experience. The design studio with its floral bar and retail boutique offers a delightful oasis next door to El Estero Car Wash. With influences from the South of France and the local coast, Fleurs du Soleil designers create bouquets that combine natural beauty with the substance, form, color and design inherent in fine art. Although floral designer and owner Kim England locally sources most of her flowers, she also introduces blooms from all over the world via the San Francisco Flower Market.
Best Furniture Store
Mum’s Place — 246 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove – (831) 372-6250, mumsfurniture.com
Step into Mum’s, and you’ll find a showroom filled with a full range of furniture styles plus accessories and objets d’art. For nearly 40 years, the shop has been dedicated to bringing in a wide variety of designs to satisfy locals’ needs, tastes and budgets. “Design and quality are important, but so is value,” said owners Mugo and Talin Tersakyan. “Our vision is to bring in the latest and enduring designs at accessible prices.”
Wander among classic, traditional, transitional, country French, and contemporary collections. Tell the knowledgeable staff what you’re looking for and a bit about your lifestyle, and they’ll help you make a great selection. That’s important, because the high-quality furniture is built to last. Clients can also customize their choices with more than 80 furniture lines and some 5,000 fabrics.
Best Golf Shop
Pebble Beach Pro Shop — 1700 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach – (831) 622-8723, pebblebeach.com
Pebble Beach Golf Links is known the world over for its championship pedigree and breathtaking views, and while these attributes draw guests to the resort from around the globe, it is the friendly staff of the Pebble Beach pro shop who are there to welcome first-timers and returning guests alike. Each round played on the famed course is unique to the player, but one thing all of them share is a warm welcome and a genuine “welcome back” after they hole out on the iconic par-5 18th.
Each morning, the team is up with the sun and there around the clock until well after the final group has finished. Whether it’s souvenir golf balls to remember a once-in-a-lifetime round, an extra layer against the morning fog or a few calming words of encouragement before guests approach the 1st Tee, the Pebble Beach pro shop staff delivers the same world-class standard as the course itself. You may not end up driving like Jordan Spieth, but you’ll look and feel your best as you play a round in paradise.
Best Hardware Store
Ace Hardware — 290 Crossroads Blvd., 401 Mid Valley Center, Carmel Valley, 229 Forest Ave. and 1136 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove – acehardware.com
Imagine a Saturday afternoon when you’ve just finished walking your dog, and for the umpteenth time, you’ve thought, “I really should put a hook by the door for that leash,” — but you don’t happen to have the right hardware just lying around. Or, less aesthetically, you’ve discovered a plumbing problem that you know would be an easy fix if you just had the right stuff. Whether it’s duct tape, WD40 or some other antidote, Ace Hardware has you covered. Although each store is a member of the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the business, these shops, locally owned and managed, give customers a sense of being where everybody knows your name, but with the benefit of a big business. In an era when it’s hard to find specialized service or even someone to work the register, a company that says, “Ace is the place with the helpful hardware folks,” invites confidence.
Best Housewares Store
Shoshin — San Carlos, between Fifth & Sixth Avenues –(831) 877-6300, shopshoshin.com
Interior designer Alexis Smith opened the doors to her Carmel store, Shoshin, in 2022, and has since developed a devoted customer base of design enthusiasts. Named for the Zen principle of “beginner’s mind,” her interior design shop has ideas for every room in the house. She’s been an interior designer for eight years, and her father was an architect. Smith earned a master’s degree in public policy and was successful in that field, but after redoing her best friend’s house, word of her skills got out and she found herself back in the world she’d grown up around — making houses beautiful.
As 2022’s Best New Business and now three-time Golden Pine Cone winner in the Best Housewares category, Shoshin offers an ever-evolving array of unique, high-quality decor and furnishings for the home.
Best Pet Store
Diggidy Dog — NE Corner of Ocean & Monte Verde – (831) 625-1585, diggidydog.com
In a canine community, it only makes sense to have a dedicated dog boutique (or two or three). Since 2003, this shop has catered to canines but also doesn’t neglect felines, providing unique, functional and healthy products for dogs and cats.
While its primary focus is on animals, a lot of what the shop sells delights people as much as — if not more than — it does their pets. Diggidy Dog’s wide array of quality treats, toys, apparel, collars and leashes is sure to satisfy the most discerning dog or finicky feline — and their people. While they love locals, the staff at Diggidy Dog is also ready to help out visitors who left their friend’s favorite chew-toy at home, or discovered that their Chihuahua needs a sweater in mid-July. Yet surely the biggest attractions are two Westies, plus an English cream golden retriever. The trio are shop dogs who just might make this the happiest store in town.
Best Garden Shop
Griggs Nursery — 9220 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley – (831) 626-0680, griggsnursery.com
Gardeners have long known that digging your hands into the soil has a centering, nurturing effect. Locals count on Griggs Nursery for houseplants and succulents, seasonal annuals, perennials, California natives, trees and shrubs to plant in the places where they spend their days. For more than 20 years, Griggs Nursery has been thriving in Carmel Valley, helping to improve the local landscape one plant at a time.
“We know what works here, so we can grow the variety and quality we want for our customers,” said Catherine Griggs. With more than 60 acres dedicated to interesting and exciting California natives and other less thirsty plants, Ken and Catherine Griggs are cultivating a larger variety of offerings, which they bring into the nursery weekly to the surprise and delight of customers. The only thing more important to a growing business than the plants, they said, is their dedicated, longtime staff, many of whom are known and asked for by name.
Best Place to Buy Athletic Wear
The Treadmill — 111 Crossroads Blvd. – (831) 624-4112, thetreadmill.com
For more than 40 years, The Treadmill has been part of daily life for the active communities of Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur and the Monterey Peninsula. Family-owned and operated since 1983, the store has built its reputation on exceptional service, premier athleisure and lifestyle brands, and a genuine passion for helping people live well.
The Treadmill’s welcoming team of experts offers thoughtful guidance and personalized care that make every visit feel like a tailored experience.
Buying shoes is a walk back through time, as they carefully measure your feet, watch your gait as you walk around the store, ask what kinds of activities you’ll participate in and then patiently pull box after box from the back until you get just the right pair.
It’s no wonder Carmel Pine Cone readers have named The Treadmill their go-to place 10 years in a row — a distinction that reflects its enduring excellence and deep local roots.
Best Pharmacy
Carmel Drug Store — Ocean between Dolores and San Carlos – (831) 624-3819, carmeldrugstore.com
Independently owned and serving the community since 1910, Carmel’s classic drug store and family pharmacy invites you to “shop back in time.” Known for giving many a high-school kid their first job, the pharmacy is renowned for providing quality products and service. This drug store just might be the most convenient stop in town — and it also offers a delivery service Monday through Friday for those who are housebound or have difficulty finding parking.
Located in the heart of Carmel, the shop’s narrow storefront is chock-full of everything folks might need or maybe forgot on their way into town. The back looks like the old-fashioned pharmacy it is, yet it provides state-of-the-art products. Additionally, there are greeting cards, postcards and books by local authors. You can find high-end bath and body products, including Mason Pearson hairbrushes, hand made in England, and Bonny Doon Farm’s soaps, salves and lotions, in soothing lavender and invigorating lemon verbena. If only the place had a soda fountain, it would complete the hometown experience.
Best Children’s Clothing Store/Boutique
Heaven A Child’s Boutique — Lincoln between Ocean and Seventh – (831) 624-6550
Ash and Monique Vasanji, who hosted the grand opening of Heaven in 2001, are celebrating the 23rd anniversary of their European-style children’s boutique, designed for the customer who has exquisite taste and seeks quality and style for their little ones.
“Throughout the years, our family has remained committed to bringing in really special clothing, shoes, and gifts for the children of our community and beyond. We are so grateful for the support and recognition,” said Monique.
Located on Lincoln in the site of the legendary Village Straw Shop, Heaven beckons customers through double doors into a gracious, well-lit salon appointed with very special, very select children’s apparel.
It’s as if you’ve wandered into the custom wardrobe of a favored child. Perhaps yours.
Best Men’s Clothing Store
Khakis of Carmel — Carmel Plaza, Ocean and Mission – (831) 625-8106, khakisofcarmel.com
Jim and Connie Ockert and their team at Khakis of Carmel have created what some believe is the finest men’s store in the United States.
Offering the very best in luxury menswear, Khakis sources an incredible selection of men’s clothing from Europe and especially Italy, with bespoke items and a carefully selected sportswear collection from Isaia, Canali, Pescarola, Eleventy, and Maurizio Baldassari, as well as fabrics from Loro Piana, Holland & Sherry, Ariston and customer favorite Peter Millar.
Trained stylists help create and define each customer’s personal look.
Said Jim, “We travel the globe to search for unusual handmade luxury menswear products, which emphasizes our own aesthetic for the modern man.”
Best Men’s Shoe Store
Hedi’s Shoes — Ocean and Mission, additional locations at 3630 The Barnyard, and Del Monte Shopping Center in Monterey – (831) 624-5580, hedi.com
Walking is a preferred mode of transportation around here, and Haydar “Hedi” Movahedi’s goal is to make sure customers feel as good as they look while they stroll along Scenic Road or enjoy brunch at Mission Ranch. He opened his first Carmel shoe store more than 30 years ago. Since then, he’s cobbled together comfort, quality, convenience and cool, paired with customer service from experienced staff who understand fit, form and function.
Featured brands offering dressy, casual, or rough-wear shoes, include Ugg, Ecco, Pikolinos, Mephisto, Paul Greene, HOKA, Birkenstock, NAOT, Ara, Dansko, Joseph Seibel, Rieker, Remonte, Olukei, and Finn Comfort, plus a complement of Kühl clothing and accessories.
Best Women’s Clothing Boutique
Girl Boy Girl — Mission and Seventh – (831) 626-3368, girlboygirlcarmel.com
How do you find just the right outfit in a community with a reputation for being a bit bohemian, which puts on full theater productions outdoors and hosts the fancy likes of the Carmel Bach Festival? Girl Boy Girl, established in 1991, wants to help. It aims to “to create the most joyous and unforgettable shopping experience for everyone that walks through our doors.” Known for its exceptional curation and large selection of more than 80 contemporary brands, GBG, and its sister store, Paloosh, try to present something for everyone seeking fun, festive fashion. Guests have come to expect excellent customer service by professionals uniquely qualified to style women from head to toe while honoring each client’s personality.
Best Resale/Consignment Shop
Yellow Brick Road Benefit Shops — 26388 Carmel Rancho Blvd. – (831) 626-8480, yellowbrickroadbenefitshop.org
The folks at Yellow Brick Road say they are pleased, once again, to receive the Golden Pine Cone award. In 1989, Carmel Presbyterian Church developed a plan to more closely connect to the people and needs of Monterey County and worked with the community to establish the Yellow Brick Road Benefit Shops. They offer a meaningful way to offer shoppers the chance to give back through donations, providing others with the opportunity to purchase bargains while raising funds to support local needs.
Thrifters love browsing and shopping there. They can find designer clothing — occasionally with the tags still attached — as well as opportunities to snag high-end accessories, books, and household goods, from fine china and Waterford crystal, to kitchen gadgets, all in one area with ample parking.
Yellow Brick Road has three locations in Carmel Rancho — the main store, with clothing, household items, jewelry and collectibles, a well-stocked bookstore that also carries CDs, and a furniture and art store. Since opening its doors, Yellow Brick Road has generated and distributed $9.3 million. In 2024, and 2025 to date, it’s funded more than 209 grants, along with 90 scholarships to qualifying students attending colleges and universities throughout the country.
Best Women’s Accessories
Best Place to Buy Designer Clothes
Foxy Couture Carmel — San Carlos near Fifth – (831) 625-9995, foxycouturecarmel.com
Since 1991, Susan Galvin has recycled vintage and contemporary designer clothing into a business which, more than 10 years ago, became Foxy Couture Carmel, a sustainable luxury, designer, and vintage consignment store. “We are sustainable because everything in our store is pre-owned,” she said. “We recycle and repurpose timeless products from design houses whose allure typically doesn’t change that much. These luxury fabrics and designs have been gently worn or not at all.”
In a community where a calendar can rapidly fill up with things to see and places to be seen, and the only excuse anyone needs for a special night out is “it’s Tuesday,” an interesting wardrobe that reflects its owner’s individuality is a valuable asset.
Galvin takes pride in the special things she sleuths out all over the world. “We are honored to receive this award from The Carmel Pine Cone, the cornerstone, along with the Carmel Library, of our community,” she said.
Best Women’s Shoe Store
Lloyd’s Shoes — Ocean and Dolores – (831) 625-1382, lloydsshoes.com
If you want to know what shoes are in this season, check out what Lloyd’s owner Tess Calhoon is wearing. Perhaps her handmade Italian suede ankle booties by AGL, in espresso, the trending color of the season. A third-generation Italian shoe company, AGL is run by three sisters who created this weatherproof suede boot with the perfect heel for working or wearing for after work out to dinner.
Lloyd’s entire staff is obsessed with sneaker brand Back 70. A slightly elevated alternative to an Adidas, these super-comfortable sneaks come in every color imaginable. Throw them on with jeans, a dress or leggings for a casual errand day.
“And we finally received a reorder of our favorite handbags,” Calhoon said. “Handmade in Milan by Reptiles House, they are the most beautiful, buttery leather in fall colors, and they sit perfectly on the shoulder. Lastly, Falke is a luxury hosiery brand founded in Germany. We are loving the polka dot tights — the perfect accessory to any fall or holiday outfit.”
Best Vintage Clothing Store
Wally’s — Fifth and San Carlos – (831) 224-7075, wallys-cbts.com
Andrew Chugg was rockin’ it in the digital audio business, which meant sitting in front of a computer screen for 11 hours a day. He decided his next adventure should be more about meeting people and having fun. So, with his wife, Jordan — a seventh-generation Monterey County resident — Chugg, who hails from the East Coast, settled here. They brainstormed a business that would make a social connection, paired with their passion for treasure hunting, collecting, being resourceful — and fashion.
In May 2024, the couple established Wally’s, a vintage clothing store that specializes in menswear they — and their customers — actually consider unisex. The store’s named in honor of their elderly mixed-breed pup.
Chugg curates clothing for the shop throughout California, including a network of auctions and estate sales, and also buys special items from locals.
“We’ve had fantastic support,” said Chugg, who won the Golden Pine Cone for Best New Business last year. “A lot of locals seem excited about the idea of some of their nicer pieces having a second life. Our business is about a little risk taking and a lot of great clothing.”
Best Jewelry Store
Fourtané Jewelers — Ocean and Lincoln – (831) 624-4684, fourtane.com
Every piece has a story, and anyone who wears estate jewelry from this shop can write the next chapter. Sandy and John Bonifas, who purchased Fourtané Jewelers in the 1980s, have maintained the intimate, friendly and personalized atmosphere customers have appreciated since its founding in 1950.
Although it’s one of the country’s leading providers of estate jewelry and watches, more important than the pieces, said John, “are our dedicated, long-term employees and the relationships we build with our customers from all over the world. Especially in what has become such an impersonal business environment.” People buy these pieces not because they need them, he said, but because of the moments and memories they create.
Best Shopping Center
The Crossroads Carmel — Highway 1 at Rio Road – (831) 625-4106, thecrossroadscarmel.com
Where can you grab a cup of coffee before perusing the latest novels, finding décor from Africa, having a spa treatment and buying a new pair of running shoes — all without having to move your car? For more than five decades, The Crossroads Carmel has been offering a wonderfully eclectic collection of boutique stores, restaurants and services that have served Monterey Peninsula residents and visitors. Special spots like River House Books are cause for regularly visiting the outdoor center at Highway 1 at Rio Road. Nearly all of the businesses at the Crossroads are locally owned and/or operated — and many are Golden Pine Cone winners, themselves — so you can count on unique shopping and dining experiences from some of the best restaurants on the Peninsula. It’s truly the perfect place for one-stop shopping.
Best Antique Shop
Wittpenn’s Antiques — San Carlos between Seventh and Eighth – (831) 624-1336, wittpennsantiques.com
This place definitely warrants wandering, plus patience and attention to detail. At Wittpenn’s Antiques, there is so much to see and something for everyone to discover. Owned by Chip and Kathy Wittpenn, this treasure trove is a short stroll from Ocean Avenue, near Sunset Center. Even the windows of this little gem feature enough eye-catching collectibles to keep shoppers occupied for a while. Browse a wide selection of antiques and specialty items, including sterling silver, furniture, books, vintage musical instruments and more. After 20 years in Carmel, the folks at Wittpenn’s Antiques thank Carmel and the customers who make this “a fun, special place to be.”
Best Bookstore
River House Books — 208 Crossroads Blvd. – (831) 626-2665, riverhousebookscarmel.com
River House books is the go-to local bookstore for people of all ages looking for that special read. Nature lovers, chefs and hobbyists praise its selection of nonfiction, how-to and guidebooks. Teens appreciate the youth fiction selection, and there are picture books for reading aloud to children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Those who need a news fix from around the world welcome its robust stock of foreign and domestic magazines and newspapers.
River House books is a repeat Golden Pine Cone winner for good reason. It offers its customers what massive online retailers never will — the chance to browse and hold a brand-new book before purchasing it. The staff champions local authors, who frequently stop by to chat with customers and sign copies of latest releases. A family-owned, independent bookseller, River House offers a comprehensive selection of works, from the classics to architecture, memoir to gardening. Books are selected for the store by highly knowledgeable, experienced staff, who are also friendly and happy to help.
Best Bike Shop
Mad Dogs & Englishmen — Ocean and Mission, and the Monterey Plaza Hotel, Monterey – (831) 709-0007, maddogsandenglishmen.com
Mad Dogs & Englishmen is once again our readers’ favorite bike shop. And why not? The place doesn’t just sell bicycles and e-bikes for all sorts of riders and terrains, it carries all the parts and accessories you could want, including a sidecar for your best four-legged pal to cruise with you as you enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery around.
In addition, you can find service and repairs to put things back together after an ill-advised run down a steep, rocky hill, and those who want to try before they buy, or just see the community from a different perspective, can rent bicycles by the day or hour. Mad Dogs even offers guided tours. And it’s not all about the tourists. Said the staff there, “We are grateful for the support from our local community.”
Best Car Dealer
Lexus Monterey Peninsula — 1721 Del Monte Blvd., Seaside – (831) 275-3071, lexusmontereypeninsula.com
The nice folks at Lexus Monterey Peninsula are aware their clients have a lot of dealers from which to purchase vehicles, and they don’t try to hide that. Instead, the family-owned Lexus Monterey Peninsula — which is this year’s winner of Best Car Dealer — informs potential customers why they should buy a vehicle from them. “Here, it’s all about the community,” the Seaside car dealer says. “We’ve built a dealership that’s welcoming, easygoing, and always looking to give back. Whether you’re from Monterey Bay, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Santa Cruz, or Watsonville, we’re here to make you feel right at home.” They also capitalize on their “friendly, reliable service,” and “top-notch cars.” The manufacturer is known to make exceedingly reliable and comfortable vehicles. “We’ve got an awesome lineup of new Lexus cars, a personalized financing process that’s super helpful, and a state-of-the-art service facility with factory-trained techs ready to handle all your maintenance and repairs,” the dealership says. Perks of buying from Lexus Monterey Peninsula include a 90-day warranty on every used car (and each of them gets a 182-point inspection), extended store and services hours, direct access to managers and a strong relationship with hundreds of lenders for the best rates.
Best Gas Station
Best Auto Repair Shop
Lemos 76 — 544 Carmel Rancho Blvd. – (831) 624-2925, lemos76service.com
Lemos 76 has been a Golden Pine Cone winner numerous times, which is a testament to the hospitable service it offers its customers. Started in 1961, the gas station is no spring chicken, which is yet more evidence it’s doing something right. More than merely a refueling place, Lemos offers full-service auto maintenance and repair, from a simple oil change to changing belts. “We do work on every make, year, and model with the same integrity we’ve held since opening our doors on day one.” That kind of service and flexibility led Lemos 76 to also garner a second Golden Pine Cone this year for Best Auto Repair Shop. The service station has a gas pump open 24 hours and a snack shop with fresh sandwiches and donuts. So, next road trip, stop by to get your tune up, fill up, and snack fix — and “Come find out why we’re the best gas station in the county.”
Best Car Wash
Swift Car Wash — 26265 Carmel Rancho Blvd. – (831) 622-7060, swiftcw.com
A relative newcomer to the Peninsula auto cleanup scene, Swift Car Wash has quickly become a local favorite. With a mission of providing its customers with the “best car washing experience possible,” it’s no wonder why it won a Golden Pine Cone this year. “We believe that a clean car is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity,” Swift says. It’s invested in the latest technology and state-of-the-art equipment to ensure its customers’ vehicles get the best wash. “Our team of friendly and professional staff is committed to providing you with exceptional services every time you visit us,” the business says. “From the moment you drive in, you’ll be impressed with our attention to detail, efficiency and dedication to making your car look its best.”
Best Place for Brides to Shop
Epiphany Bridal Boutique — Mission Street between Fifth and Sixth – (831) 626-7700, epiphany-boutique.com
A repeat Golden Pine Cone winner, Epiphany Bridal Boutique in Carmel describes itself as a place “where coastal charm meets effortless beauty and unforgettable bridal artistry.” The good people at Epiphany love what they do, which is helping people. “As we enter our 17th year in business, our goal is and always has been, to make the bride, our bridesmaids, moms, prom girls, and all the lovely ladies who enter our doors have the most wonderful shopping experience,” they say.
A dress isn’t merely a dress. It’s an expression of who one is and how they present themselves to the world, Epiphany notes. “Never underestimate how wearing the right dress will make you feel — beautiful, empowered and confident.” Some of the words employees of the Carmel boutique hear when customers enter its doors include adjectives such as “cozy” and “comfortable.”
“You’ll always remember what you wore. You’ll always remember how you felt. Let us create those memories with you,” Epiphany says. It offers a selection of wedding gowns in its shop and hundreds more are available through its designer collections. There are also alteration services, and the shop pays special attention to plus-size brides. Every gown in its boutique is hand selected.
Best Gift Shop
Ami Carmel — Dolores 5 SE of Fifth – (831) 620-1600, amicarmel.com
Another repeat winner of a Golden Pine Cone, gift shop Ami Carmel truly seems to have something for everyone. From books, stationery, jewelry, clothing, home décor, prints, accessories, and even stuff for pets, you’d be hard-pressed not to find something for that special someone — or for yourself — at the shop.
“Ami is one of those boutiques you wander into just to look and end up leaving with treasures,” a customer named Shannon said. “The shop is full of beautiful pieces, from thoughtful gifts to curated items by local artisans.” She went on to say that “the whole space feels intentional and welcoming. And if you’re lucky, there’s coffee and a chocolate chip cookie waiting for you. Don’t skip the little garden out back—it’s a quiet gem.” Another visitor, Meghan, called it one of the most charming and hidden gem boutiques in Carmel. “I ended up coming back a few times for amazing gifts for family and friends! A great place to find amazing statement gifts with personalization. I am obsessed with everything there and the staff was amazing! I will be there in a couple weeks, right in time for Christmas gifts! Highly recommend!”
Best Candy Shop
Best New Business
Sea Shack Candy Co. — San Carlos between Ocean and Seventh – (831) 620-2408, seashackcandyco.com
Sea Shack Candy Co. owner Tiffany Bufkin explains that the origins of the shop she founded began in 2001 when she first moved to Carmel-by-the-Sea. “I was living in a tiny cottage — charming, weathered, and full of potential — and I lovingly named it The Sea Shack.” The name stuck, and as her family grew, they relocated to another home in Carmel. However, the moniker followed them. “The Sea Shack came with us, always representing comfort, whimsy and a sense of place,” she said.
With two of their children in college and another in high school, the family wanted to start a new chapter to allow them to stay connected to the community that had given them so much. “We wanted to create something joyful, meaningful, and lasting — a little sweet spot that reflects the love we’ve poured into our home and family over the years,” Bufkin said. The shop, which opened this year, was designed to be a “playful escape” for locals and visitors. Gourmet chocolates, Swedish sweets and other treats are offered. “Here, you’re invited to build your own mix — flavors that bring back childhood memories or create brand-new ones. Whether it’s a tangy sour, a chewy classic or a surprise, your candy bag is your story — joyful, personal, and made with freedom in every scoop.”
“This isn’t just a candy store,” Bufkin went on to say. “It’s a space filled with heart, built on memories and meant to spark connection.”
Best Carpet and Flooring Store
Carpets and Floors, Inc. — 471 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey – (831) 372-2300, carpetsandfloorsmonterey.com
Carpets and Floors in Monterey has done it again — it’s the recipient of another Golden Pine Cone. The shop carries an extensive collection of some of the finest flooring made. “We are dedicated to helping you find a solution to your flooring needs,” the shop says. “Our collection is based on what we believe are some of the most important things to consider when dressing floors — quality, durability and sustainability.” Carpets and Floors notes that it has the largest selection of wool broadloom carpet and area rugs on the Monterey Peninsula. It’s a member of the International Design Guild, a marketing alliance of about 100 upscale, influential flooring showrooms that focus on and care about quality, durability and sustainability.
“Through The International Design Guild, we’re able to bring you the Dabierri Collection, which includes some of the finest luxury flooring products available today,” Carpets and Floors says. Owner Dan Jones grew up in Georgia, the carpet capital of the United States, and started off installing flooring to make ends meet. He followed that path and became a certified flooring inspector before going into sales and eventually realizing his dream of owning his own company on the Monterey Peninsula.
“Dan has established long-term relationships within the design and flooring community,” the business says. “With his creative mind and keen eye for color and design, Dan proudly curated the Carpets and Floors collection for many years,” it went on to say. “Some of Dan’s most memorable projects have been for the Pebble Beach Company, Big Sur’s Esalen, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula and designing custom rugs for The Pope’s visit to The Carmel Mission” in 1987.
SERVICES & HEALTHCARE
Best Place to Work
Sotheby’s International Realty — Brokerages in Carmel, Carmel Rancho, Carmel Valley and Pacific Grove – (831) 624-9700 for Ocean Avenue brokerage, sothebysrealestate.com
Pine Cone readers have awarded Sotheby’s International Realty a Golden Pine Cone for Best Place to Work. With numerous locations on the Monterey Peninsula, the more than 100 Sotheby’s realtors work in what many consider to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
Said Tony Pena, senior marketing coordinator, “At Sotheby’s International Realty, we work in a culture built on collaboration, integrity, and support. We show up for each other, celebrate each other, and truly enjoy the work we get to do every day.” That really does sound great!
Best Place to Volunteer
My Favorite Nonprofit
SPCA Monterey County — 1002 Monterey Salinas Hwy., Salinas – (831) 373-2631, spcamc.org
If you’re an animal lover and have a little bit of time to spare, helping cats, dogs and other animals at SPCA Monterey County is a dream. The Pine Cone’s readers thought the same thing this year when they voted the animal welfare organizatioBest Place to Volunteer.
A repeat Golden Pine Cone winner, SPCA Monterey County provides services for more than 12,000 animals a year, including lost and found services, pet adoption, help for injured and sick wildlife, humane education programs, low-cost spay/neuter and humane investigations.
The organization has a staff of around 80 people supported by an astounding 350 volunteers who provide care and service year-round. It’s apparent the group values those who step up to help.
“Volunteers provide essential support to our programs and services that help all animals in need,” the SPCA says on its website. “We truly couldn’t do it without our incredible volunteer team. Our hundreds of volunteers donate thousands of hours every year. The goal of the volunteer program is to support the mission of SPCA Monterey County through dedicated individuals giving their time and enhancing their skills to serve our community.”
It’s no wonder SPCA Monterey County this year garnered another Golden Pine Cone in the My Favorite Nonprofit category. Since 1905, the organization has been helping animals and people.
It offers dog training classes taught by certified, experienced behavior specialists, a variety of veterinary services, and runs the SPCA Wildlife Center, which rescues and rehabilitates wild animals.
It also has a list of animal welfare agencies and groups to contact if one finds a wild animal in distress and doesn’t know who to call.
Best Place to Get Married
Carmel Mission Basilica — 3080 Rio Road – (831) 624-1271, carmelmission.org
The Carmel Mission sets the stage for those considering tying the knot at the historic venue founded more than 250 years ago by Father Junipero Serra: “Imagine saying ‘I do’ in a sacred location steeped in history and blessed with beauty.” A regular Golden Pine Cone winner, the Carmel Mission Basilica has a lot going for it as wedding venues go. That history dates to 1771, and the old trees, stone walls, fountains and sanctuary that blends Spanish and native influences provide wonderful backdrops for photos. The acoustics are excellent, too.
By celebrating their wedding at Carmel Mission, couples are “exchanging vows in a setting that holds profound spiritual meaning for countless” others, it says. “You become part of Carmel Mission’s rich history and tradition. We understand how significant your special day is, and we are dedicated to supporting you every step of the way.” The mission has an experienced and dedicated team on hand to guide couples through the process and to offer “spiritual, emotional and practical assistance to ensure the ceremony is a joyous and meaningful sacrament.” However, not everyone can get married at the basilica. The bride and groom need approval from their local priest to marry there and at least one partner must be baptized Catholic.
Best Place to Get Married (non-church)
Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant — 26270 Dolores St. – (800) 538-8221, missionranchcarmel.com
Just down the road from the Carmel Mission is Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant, which this year received a Golden Pine Cone for the best place — other than a church — to get hitched. In fact, it’s the fifth year in a row Mission Ranch has snagged the title. A property rich in history, many wedding couples have chosen the serene ranch as a place for their special day.
With historic barns, outdoor patio and lawn areas, a built-in stage and dance floor, and views of grazing sheep, Mission Ranch is an ideal wedding location. “Weddings are memorable,” its website says.
“At the Ranch, there will only be one wedding each day, to ensure that your special day will be perfect! You could not ask for a better ceremony site with Point Lobos, Carmel River Beach and the ocean as a backdrop to all your photos.”
The ranch was originally 160 acres and was owned by Juan Romero, a Native American who is believed to have lived in the village next to the Carmel Mission. In 1852, Romero deeded the property to William Curtis, a Monterey storekeeper, for $300. In the 1850s, the property became one of the first of the early California dairies.
The creamery, which supplied the county with cheese and butter, now houses the restaurant. The barns were used for hay and milking. During that time, the Martin family, who owned the ranch for 60 years, also farmed potatoes for Sierra gold miners. Clint Eastwood purchased the property in 1986, saving it from a planned condominium development.
Best Retirement Community
Del Mesa Carmel — 500 Del Mesa Drive, Carmel Valley – (831) 624-1853, delmesacarmel.org
The much-loved Del Mesa Carmel is a consistent Golden Pine Cone winner for Best Retirement Community. Perched on a plateau in Carmel Valley about a mile east of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Del Mesa Carmel has 289 residences for active adults. The community’s website describes life at the popular retirement enclave, where the tree-lined entry road has a 24-hour, on-duty security guard.
“Life at Del Mesa is anything but ordinary,” it says. “Whether you’re indulging in a delicious meal at Woody’s, our onsite restaurant, staying active in our fitness center, or unwinding on scenic walking trails, there’s always something to inspire and delight. Engage in a rich calendar of social events, cultural programs, and outdoor adventures, all while surrounded by the stunning landscapes of the Monterey Peninsula.”
Speaking of Woody’s, the fortunate residents of Del Mesa can eat at the popular restaurant without leaving the property. Woody’s at the Airport, owned by Tim Wood, its chef, opened its sister eatery at Del Mesa in 2023. “Here, neighbors become lifelong friends, and every moment is an opportunity to embrace the best that retirement has to offer,” Del Mesa goes on to say. “Experience the charm, elegance, and energy of Del Mesa Carmel — where your next chapter is waiting to unfold.”
Best Electrician
Cate Electrical Co. — Seventh and Dolores – (831) 624-5631, cateelectrical.com
If you recall seeing Cate Electrical in this category of The Golden Pine Cones before, don’t worry. You’re not caught in a time loop — the Carmel electrician is just that reputable. The company has offered its services to locals for decades, and Pine Cone readers consistently crown it Best Electrician.
“Cate Electrical Co., Inc., has been a trusted name in electrical contracting since 1960,” the company says. “As a family-owned and operated business, we take pride in delivering exceptional service to our community.” Whether it’s cleaning or replacing an aging electrical box that’s been infested with mice (Cate has the photos to prove it) or wiring high-end lighting fixtures for a new build in Pebble Beach, the company provides all the services one will likely need.
One customer, Barbara, summarized the type of service Cate is known for. She called on Dec. 23 with the expectation that nobody would be able to help until after Christmas. “To my surprise, the electrician called the next morning to say he could come right over,” she said. “He came, he checked the overhead fixture that had died, determined which part was working and which needed to be replaced. He set it up so one side worked, and we agreed that I should find a new fixture and then call them to install it. No bill yet.”
Best Plumber
After Hour Plumbing & Drain — 5 Harris Court, Bldg. N6, Monterey – (831) 661-9543, afterhourplumbingmontereyca.com
Led by owner and head technician Cedric Johnson, After Hour Plumbing & Drain realizes that when people have plumbing problems, they need help immediately. “In many cases, the faster you can have the issue addressed, the better off you’ll be,” the Monterey-based company says. “Waiting can often cause problems to get even worse, so don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional for assistance with urgent plumbing and drain issues.” The business believes in honesty, character and the value of a job well done.
“We pride ourselves on our integrity, ensuring that every task we undertake is completed with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail,” After Hour Plumbing & Drain says. “We’re not just a team; we’re a family committed to providing you with the best plumbing and drain services using state-of-the-art tools and techniques.” And no matter how complex the job, After Hour says it’s on call to help. “We’re available 24/7 to take your call because we know that sometimes you need help outside normal business hours,” it explains. “We even offer same-day service when available to address your needs promptly.” After Hour Plumbing & Drain is a repeat Golden Pine Cone winner.
Best Architect
Samuel Pitnick — P.O. Box 22412, Carmel – (831) 241-1895, samuelpitnick.com
For 15 years, Monterey Peninsula native Samuel Pitnick has been an architect. And for the third year in a row, Pine Cone readers have named him Best Architect. A native of the Monterey Peninsula, Pitnick started his company in 2017. He’s designed dozens of homes, including in Carmel and Pebble Beach. “As an advocate for sustainable and environmentally responsible architecture, Samuel’s designs strive for a harmonious balance between nature and building,” his website says. “He believes each new project is an opportunity to create a home that balances the client’s needs and lifestyle with the surrounding natural site.”
With a full-service architectural firm, Pitnick guides clients from their initial concept design through the complexities of the often challenging permitting process, eventually pairing them with a builder who suits their needs and will ensure their dream home becomes a reality. He’s designed single and multifamily residences, and retail, commercial, educational, recreational and healthcare buildings. “These projects spread from California, to Hawaii, New York, Europe and Asia,” his website goes on to say. “His award-winning competition designs have been published online and exhibited in New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, Los Angeles, and Istanbul.” Pitnick graduated with honors from the University of Southern California.
Best Engineer
Monterey Peninsula Engineering — 192 Healy Ave., Marina – (831) 384-4081, mpe2000.info
If you’ve lived in Monterey County for a minute, it’s no doubt you’ve seen Monterey Peninsula Engineering’s vehicles around town. They’ve been involved in thousands of large, heavy-duty projects in the past 45 years, including for federal, state and local governments, special districts, private developers and homeowners.
This year, the company is the inaugural winner of Best Engineer, a new category in the Golden Pine Cones. Founded in 1980, Monterey Peninsula Engineering is a family-owned general engineering contractor headquartered in Marina. It specializes in grading, paving, excavation, site work, and the installation of underground utilities such as water, storm, and sewer infrastructure. “In any business, success can be directly related to one’s reputation,” company founder Bart Bruno opines. “Understanding this fact, we view every project as an opportunity to reaffirm and advance our name.”
Monterey Peninsula Engineering has grown one project at a time, “not by huge leaps and bounds,” Bruno said. Its projects include improvements to Salinas’ Main Street, improvements at the Seaside High School sports field, at a roundabout at CSUMB, and many others. “With the third generation of family firmly in place, new energy and spirit have been infused into our company,” Bruno said.
One of them is son Paul Bruno, the company’s chief financial officer, who also serves on numerous board and committees, including the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy, Seaside Groundwater Basin Watermaster, Monterey Peninsula Taxpayers Association, Monterey Bay Action Committee PAC and the MPWMD Ord 152 Citizens’ Oversight Committee.
Best Interior Design Business
Best Staging Company
Sea Blush Studios — Eighth & San Carlos – (831) 238-7598, seablushstudios.com, or on Instagram @SeaBlushStudios
Carmel-based Sea Blush Studios believes timeless design is the most personal, so its interior design experts collaborate with clients to create an “approachable and relaxing home that speaks to you,” the firm says. Offering residential and commercial interior design services for all budgets, the business garnered its fourth consecutive Golden Pine Cone for Best Interior Design Business.
Sea Blush Studios also landed a Golden Pine Cone for Best Staging Company, a new category this year. It’s clear from Sea Blush’s website that it offers exceptionally personalized consultation services. Whether you’re trying to stage a place for sale in this competitive luxury real estate market or just make the place you’re living into the home of your dreams, our readers say that Sea Blush is the place to call.
Best Home Technology
House Wires — (831) 659-8324, housewires.com
Worried that your house is smarter than you are? For more than 20 years, House Wires has been a go-to business for locals with technological needs in areas such as cable installation, home audio systems, home automation, home theater design, smart homes, smart lighting, installation of surround sound, TVs and total system designs.
Of course, this isn’t House Wires’ first Golden Pine Cone, perhaps because the company proudly operates on a philosophy that states, “Simpler: It’s what we all want from technology,” along with the company motto, “Integrity is core to everything we do”
Its service area includes Carmel, Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach, Big Sur, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Seaside, Sand City, Marina, Castroville and Salinas.
Best Roofing Company
Scudder Roofing — 3342 Paul Davis Drive, Marina – (831) 373-7212, scudderroofing.com
Quality workmanship and superb customer service are hallmarks that have kept this company at the top of the Central Coast roofing industry for 44 years.
“Truly satisfied customers are the backbone of this company,” said Pete Scudder, founder and board chair of the family-owned firm, now under the direction of president and CEO Jennifer Scudder, his daughter.
Scudder Roofing handles all types of roofing applications — including slate, custom and specialty metal, shingles, and shake roofs, as well as waterproofing, custom gutters, and more — and says it has the highest-quality manufacturers and technical certifications in the industry, as well as the best guarantees on the market.
Best General Contractor
Kasavan Construction — Lincoln near Ninth – (831) 795-2633, kasavanconstruction.com
Third-generation Monterey County native David Kasavan “learned how to swing a hammer about the same time I learned to swing a bat” as the son of Peter Kasavan, a second-generation architect.
The owner and president of Kasavan Construction launched his company after seven observant years in the industry, bringing along his love for client satisfaction and deep pride in world-class craftmanship.
The company works with all types of remodels, custom decks and pergolas, and new-home construction.
Best Painting Company
Cypress Painting & Decorating — 224 Reindollar Ave., No.128, Marina – (831) 624-9018, cpdpros.com
Isn’t it amazing how a fresh coat of paint — inside or out — can make everything feel brand new? A Monterey Peninsula fixture since 1983, Cypress Painting & Decorating is celebrated for its expertise, care and craftsmanship for painting projects and restorations both exterior and interior, residential or commercial.
This fully licensed, bonded and insured company is locally famous for applying tender-loving care, with five-star customer service, to jobs large and small. Visit the website for a free quote.
Best Landscaper-Gardening Service
Town & Country Gardening and Landscaping — 26485 Carmel Rancho Blvd. – (831) 625-3105, facebook.com/tncgardening/mentions
Landscaping is tricky business around here, where water costs bring a whole new meaning to “liquidity,” and a passerby who spies a nonnative plant in your front yard might bend your ear about your questionable choices. But have no fear, you can phone this Monterey County fixture established in the 1950s, and Town & Country Gardening and Landscaping has been run by Robert Luster since 1985.
Specialties include lawn care maintenance and mowing, installation of brick and stone patios, walkways, steps, yards, gardens, water fountains, waterfalls, tree planting, irrigation, and lawn and yard waste cleanup, among other services.
Best Tree Service
Tope’s Tree Service — 26700 Rancho San Carlos Road, (831) 373-7765, topestreeserviceca.com
Celebrating its 46th year in business, Tope’s Tree Service lives by maxim, “You call, we come runnin’!”
Owner Andrew Tope, born fourth in a family of 10 kids, reminisced that he started his business in 1979 with a pickup truck, a chainsaw, and “lots of dreams,” and not only expertly trims and prunes trees, but specializes nowadays in services that include tree healthcare, removing trees and stumps, emergency services, land clearing and fire abatement, horizontal grinding, and mulch production.
Tope’s does residential and commercial work, including golf courses, parks, vineyards and agricultural land, corporations, municipalities and government services.
If you’d like a free estimate, visit the website or give them a call.
Best Pest Inspection
Monterey Bay Pest Control — (831) 394 7378, montereybaypestcontrol.com
Someone once remarked, “Whoever said ‘out of sight, out of mind,’ never lost track of a spider in the bedroom.” Or a mouse, or a gopher in that well-manicured garden, popping up like it’s taunting Bill Murray. This locally owned business serves Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, specializing in insect, rodent and gopher control, tree and garden spraying, live bee removal and other services, using environmentally safe methods with pet-friendly options.
Available programs include monthly service for ongoing, integrated pest management, bimonthly service to maintain low pest populations, one-time visits to knock down common household pests, quarterly service to prevent ongoing problems, and semiannual services for oak and pine pest problems.
Best Real Estate Company
Carmel Realty — Dolores between Seventh & Eighth – (831) 622-1000, carmelrealtycompany.com
Founded here 1913 by the Mitchell family, Carmel Realty predates the incorporation of Carmel and has built a towering reputation, locally and beyond, for integrity, hard work, communication, and exemplary customer service.
Dan and Shelly Mitchell Lynch bought the company in 2005, keeping it in the family and continuing the practice of establishing trusted relationships with homeowners, visitors, buyers, sellers and tenants.
“We leverage our experience and network to make connections between buyers and sellers that no other company on the Peninsula can match,” they wrote on the company website. “We look forward to demonstrating our exceptional abilities and our commitment to quality for decades to come.”
Carmel Realty, a multiple-time Golden Pine Cone celebrant, has also been previously honored as Best Real Estate Brokerage in the Peninsula, Best Property Management Company and Best Company to Work For.
Best Real Estate Rental Company
San Carlos Agency — 26358 Carmel Rancho Lane – (831) 624-3846, sancarlosagency.com
There are any number of reasons to rent a home — a vacation, a trial run in a prospective new community, or simply not wanting the responsibilities and commitment that come with home ownership.
This fourth-generation family business founded in 1954 is known for its comprehensive real estate solutions in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, Pacific Grove and Monterey, including long-term unfurnished and furnished rentals.
San Carlos Agency manages an extensive inventory of properties, including vacation and beach homes in the Peninsula’s most scenic venues.
The company also manages more than 300 long-term rental properties, a selection providing options for every budget and client need.
Best Real Estate Lender
Chad Hawker at Synergy One Lending — Dolores near Seventh, Unit D – (831) 521-9378, s1l.com/loanofficer/chadhawker
Providing a five-star customer experience leads the mission statement of Synergy One Lending and area manager Chad Hawker, a lifelong Carmel resident with a legendary work ethic.
Hawker was an undefeated tennis player at Carmel High School (Class of ’92) before becoming world-ranked as an Ironman triathlete, and he brings that same diligence and tenacity to the business world as a senior loan officer at the Carmel branch of Synergy One.
Hawker and his friendly, accommodating expert staff help clients navigate seamlessly through the process of securing a loan to purchase or refinance a home, utilizing the company’s trademarked “Modern Mortgage Experience.”
Best Personal Bank
Wells Fargo — San Carlos and Ocean Avenue – (831) 624-5302, wellsfargo.com
The bank with more locations than any other on the Peninsula — five between Carmel Valley and Del Rey Oaks, not including ATMs — and the longest operating history in California is the locals’ natural choice for personal banking. In downtown Carmel, the branch at San Carlos and Ocean is a convenient and familiar stalwart in the era of online banking, with services including checking and savings, credit cards, home and auto loans, as well as investment and wealth management. An honorable mention is owed to the P.G. Wells Fargo, since despite the tiny parking lot, the convenience of the drive-through location off Forest Avenue is tough to beat.
Best Business Bank
Monterey County Bank — 3785 Vía Nona Marie, Suite 100 – (831) 625-4300, montereycountybank.com
The hallmark of Monterey County Bank is “48 Years of Local Commitment and Care.” The testament is multiple Golden Pine Cones, because our discerning readers see the importance of keeping their business banking close to home. Understanding the idiosyncrasies of doing small and big business on the Peninsula is a daily task, but Monterey County Bank knows that modern banking is changing by the minute, lately through its introduction of digital transfer services between MCB accounts and other U.S. banks and brokerage accounts.
“We focus on driving smart, sustainable expansion; embracing digital transformation to better serve our clients; and delivering tailored business banking solutions designed for today’s entrepreneurs and small businesses. Equally important is our dedication to the community we serve,” says its website.
A full suite of business banking services is a given. Commercial loans extend lines of credit for everyday ops and seasonal shifts, as well as real estate and equipment financing, while Small Business Association loans are the choice of many of Carmel’s entrepreneurs.
Best Investment Advisor
Melanie Pitnick — Merrill Lynch, 3775 Vía Nona Marie, Suite 101 – (831) 264-9172
“It’s helpful being a local. I grew up in Carmel Valley, going to Carmel schools, and I work in Carmel. While we work under the Merrill Lynch umbrella, we run our own little family practice,” said Melanie Pitnick, a certified financial planner and retirement planning specialist.
As VP of the Ganji, Gregory, Pitnick Group of wealth management advisors — she’s also VP of Carmel Community Girls Softball, and a coach — Pitnick’s approach goes beyond the bracket and into the intricate and often emotional work of growing and maintaining hard-earned assets. Affluent clients trust her investment guidance and management services, and her insight into tax minimizing strategies, allocations, retirement and estate planning.
After 10 years with the group, which has earned top recognition from Forbes and Financial Times, Pitnick’s commitment is also being acknowledged by Pine Cone readers.
“She is passionate about educating people and providing personalized advice and guidance to help ensure one is financially prepared before, during and after life’s transitions,” reads her bio.
Best Accountant
Finn & Cohen CPAs — 425 Pacific St., Suite 302, Monterey – (831) 375-5166, fc-cpa.com
The poet Robert Frost recognized a surprising kindred spirit when he said, “A good accountant is a good poet. He appreciates the true value of things.”
A Golden Pine Cone winner three years running, Finn & Cohen’s output is prolific, between the firm’s two partners and 12 CPAs who help Peninsula people and businesses to understand their own value and how to appreciate it.
For more than 30 years, Finn & Cohen has offered full-service accounting and tax assistance with a mission to “help clients maintain financial viability in the present while taking a proactive approach to achieve future goals.”
That includes tax management, accounting and advisory services, trust planning, tax preparation and the tools you need to get things done at home — including the time- and travel-saving convenience of uploading paperwork and forms via the company’s secure website.
Best Veterinarian
Heart Dominguez — Animal Hospital at Mid Valley, 312 Mid Valley Center – (831) 624-8509
For exceptional vet care, Pine Cone readers have chosen Heart Dominguez for the second year in a row. The first alum of Cal State Monterey Bay to graduate from the prestigious UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Dominguez said he works primarily on cats and dogs and takes particular interest in brachycephalic (“short-headed”) breeds, such as bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs. At home he cares for one of each. He’s also a frequent contributor to Pine Cone columns about pet care and is known for his excellent communication skills.
Online reviews enthusiastically commend Dominguez for his efficiency and clear knowledge, with one pet parent writing, “Dr. Dominguez answered all my questions about our dog, and gave me tips on what to watch for and when to be concerned. Prompt, helpful and kind.”
Previously with SPCA Monterey County, Toro Park Animal Hospital and Romie Lane Pet Hospital in Salinas, Dominguez’s expertise covers “high-touch, comprehensive” veterinary medicine as well as orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.
Best Pet Boarding
All-Starr Pup Camp — Robinson Canyon Road, Carmel Valley – (831) 402-4633, allstarrpetservices.com
Dog heaven is a place in Carmel Valley, where Michelle Starr and her team understand exactly what Peninsula pups expect from “sleepaway” camp. What’s that you say? A kennel? No, they don’t use that term anymore.
“Your dog(s) will be treated and catered to like one of the family in our home,” says Starr and her team. During recreation hours, campers may choose to run their ya-yas out in the Zoomie Zone, enjoy a leisurely “Sniffari” outdoors, primp in the Groom Room, or nap in the sunny backyard. All-Starr’s packages include overnight stays and the option of half- or full-day care, with day camp running Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Starr has earned her stripes as a handler and groomer — she also offers pick-up and drop-off service for her grooming clients — and is trained in pet first aid and CPR. She ensures her team is up-to-date on pet safety and nutrition. They will happily administer medications and provide solo walks or anxiety-reducing snuggles to all campers. Pine Cone readers don’t trust their friends to just anybody!
Best Pet Care
Suds N Scissors — 223 Crossroads Blvd. – (831) 624-4697, sudsnscissorsinc.com
Curly hair can be notoriously difficult to cut just right. But since the poodles and doodles are happy, it’s safe to say all creatures are in expert hands at Suds N Scissors. (You, too, felines.)
A professional all-breed dog show handler since he was 16, owner Todd Harris ran several other pet businesses before taking over this Carmel institution with a history that dates back 65 years. He’s attracted a calm and skillful team of stylists and technicians who will ensure Carmel’s cutest residents emerge feeling rejuvenated and ready for whatever comes next. Suds N Scissors has the signature look of long and short-haired breeds down pat, but even tough customers leave satisfied, according to our readers.
Book an appointment online to save time — confirmation comes via email, and first-timers get 15 percent off — but remember that this place is a multiple-time Golden Pine Cone winner. It’s savvy to book in advance of the holidays. Bath: check. Hair: check. Nails: quadruple-check.
Best Auto Body Shop
Gene’s Import Auto Body — 531 Shasta St., Sand City – (831) 899-0343, genesimportautobody.com
It’s tough to be a car shop in a community so fanatical that you can buy your beloved auto its own condominium, but Gene’s must being doing something right. Celebrating its 46th year as a locally owned and run business, the company proudly labels itself as “the Peninsula’s most trusted name in auto body,” a reputation built on expertly servicing vehicles both foreign and domestic.
More than 85 percent of Gene’s business is due to word of mouth from loyal customers, according to the website, which promises the highest level of professional service and quality repairs at a reasonable price, always upholding factory standards.
Gene’s is highly experienced in Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, BMW, Toyota, Porsche, Lexus, Bentley, Ferrari, Audi and most other imports.
Best Dry Cleaners
Vapor Sudden Service Cleaners — 1193 10th St., Monterey – (831) 375-5221, vaporcleanersmonterey.com
Founded in 1921, the family-owned business declares itself “dedicated to making a difference for California and the environment,” utilizing its unique GreenEarth Cleaning process — safer because it uses no hazardous chemicals. “Our eco-friendly technology is one of the many ways we try to be a green dry cleaner,” the company states on its website.
Specialties also include alterations and repairs, shirt laundry, and wedding gown cleaning and restoration, always while using reduce, reuse, and recycle practices. Pickup and delivery services also are available.
Best Travel Agent
Carmel Monterey Travel — 2511 Garden Road, Suite B200, Monterey – (831) 649-4292, carmelmontereytravel.com
It’s challenging to find somewhere else to vacation when you live in paradise, but this independent, family-owned company has been a full-service leisure and business travel agency in one of the most famous destinations in the world for more than 40 years, with a staff of experts with decades of national and global travel experience.
Carmel Monterey Travel clients are not only assured of personal service for worry-free travel arrangements, but also are provided with exclusive privileges and complimentary benefits to make their experience more rewarding.
“We work for our clients — not the travel supplier — so our main concern is always the client’s unique needs,” the company says in its mission statement.
Best Hair Salon
Mantra Salon Carmel — Seventh Avenue, Hampton Courtyard – (831) 626-1223, mantrasalon.com
For people seeking longer, fuller tresses, hand-tied, sewn-in extensions are a popular specialty at Mantra Salon, always performed after a thorough consultation with a certified stylist. Mantra’s expert staff also offers stylish haircuts, shampoo and blow dry, partial, mini, baby-light and full-head highlights, root touch-up, full coloring, conditioning treatments and other decidedly fancy services at this full-service salon.
Everything is done with the goal of helping clients to look their best. “I am dedicated to continuing my education throughout the year, staying updated with the latest trends and techniques,” said Monterey County native Veronica Dokie, owner of Mantra since 2008.
Best Skin Care
Shelley Bennett Skincare — 588 Houston St., Monterey – (831) 324-4611, shelleyskin.com
“My interest in skin health began as a young girl. Having to manage my own acne and pigmentation inspired me to learn about skincare, and how to keep skin healthy. Every day, I get the opportunity to make someone’s day!” said proprietor Shelley Bennett, who trained at Hotel George V in Paris, France, and refined her knowledge and skills working at luxury spas that included The Spa at Pebble Beach, The Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire, and Le Merigot Hotel and Spa in Santa Barbara.
“Through my experience, I have developed a technique and manner with a strong focus on the individual and their skin concerns,” she said. “I believe in a clinical approach within a luxurious facial that enhances, relaxes, and gives results.”
She also offers her own extensive line of Shelley Bennett Skincare products.
Best Nail Salon
Carmel Rancho Nails Spa — 26135 Carmel Rancho Blvd., Suite B5 – (831) 250-5832
Beautiful hands are important to many people. Ragged cuticles, cracked nails and chipped polish simply don’t make the first impression they’re seeking. Besides, getting a nice mani-pedi is an affordable form of pampering and a great excuse to sit and relax for a while.
Carmel Rancho Nails Spa promises a luxurious, modern-inspired salon that seamlessly balances its clients’ needs and appearance through “spectacular spatial offerings,” including its signature spa pedicure and manicure treatments and stunning nail designs, always using top-of-the-line products, and adhering to the highest industry standards in a warm, welcoming space.
Best Spa
The Spa at Pebble Beach — 1518 Cypress Drive, Pebble Beach – (800) 877-0597, pebblebeach.com/the-spa-at-pebble-beach
Relax and revitalize your mind, body and spirit in this world-class, 22,000-square-foot spa, which includes 16 massage rooms, six facial rooms, a full-service salon, a flotation wrap suite, an outdoor pool, conservatory and a sanctuary with a warming fire pit.
The Spa at Pebble Beach — rated as a five-star facility by the 2025 Forbes Travel Guide — reduces stress and enhances balance with unparalleled services that include massages, body scrubs and wraps, and water treatments, as well as nail care and hair styling.
Best Dentist
Bradford Carl — 26485 Carmel Rancho Blvd. – (831) 624-2111, bradfordcarl.com
Bradford Carl is his owBest ambassador for bright smiles and the easygoing laughter that reveals them, providing the Peninsula with “personalized, gentle care” for more than 30 years. Carl and his team of hygienists use the latest in dental technology, while advising patients on the simple, daily preventive strategies that keep their visits to the recommended minimum. No snazzy 3D imaging machine or handheld camera can replace the power of “routine cleanings, flossing, sealants and fluoride in preventing dental disease,” as they describe their primary care arsenal.
Adding on to that are some exciting newcomers to the dental space like Invisalign retainers, as well as cosmetic procedures including teeth whitening and veneers, and minimally invasive interventions for early-stage periodontal disease. (The CDC estimates nearly half of U.S. adults have some form of the condition, typically from subpar oral hygiene.) Carl’s longtime administrative staff can offer a full rundown of insurance coverage options for those treatments.
Best Dermatologist
Christina Bolante — Parasol Dermatology, 900 Cass St., Monterey – (831) 574-8425, parasoldermatology.com
Who better than someone from the rainiest town in the U.S. — Forks, Wash. — to relate to skin concerns unique to our damp and foggy climate? Golden Pine Cone winner Christina Bolante is just that doctor.
Preventing sun damage is the drumbeat of every derm, but Bolante worked at the California Skin Institute in Monterey before opening her own practice, giving her several years of experience treating a variety of Peninsula patients with age-specific needs. “We see kids for warts and acne, patients with eczema, older patients with skin cancers, grandparents with thinning skin and wounds, and those who want cosmetic improvements,” she says. “Skin changes so much. It is an evolving organ, so to be able to be there for the whole run of it is exciting to me.”
Bolante’s office is also equipped with a state-of-the-art 3D imaging machine called the Vectra M2, “helping patients visualize their current condition and simulated changes” to treat skin concerns today, and tomorrow.
Best Ophthalmologist
Philip Penrose — 880 Cass St., Suite 105 and 21 Upper Ragsdale Drive, Suite 201, Monterey – (831) 373-2275 and (831) 740-8934, eyemdmonterey.com
Previous Golden Pine Cone winner Philip Penrose is a professional do-gooder, too. Bringing his board-certified surgical skills to underserved areas around the world — he has a long history with remote communities in Guatemala — those occasions are among the only times of the year he’s not treating loyal patients at two offices, one on Cass in Monterey and the other out at Ryan Ranch.
In-depth eye exams cover the basics like glasses and contact prescriptions, though in the case of an abnormality, Penrose is also the guy to see. His patients have routinely commended his personal yet high-tech approach and his skill in diagnosing and addressing issues common to aging eyes.
“In addition to helping Monterey LASIK eye surgery and cataracts patients achieve clear vision, his clinical interests include the medical and surgical management of diabetic eye disease and glaucoma,” says the website for his clinic, Eye M.D. Monterey.
Best Optometrist
Blink Optometry — 217 Crossroads Blvd. – (831) 250-6999, blinkcarmel.com
Gum, lip balm, birthday cards, The Carmel Pine Cone — notice that although there are many items we recommend you pick up in the checkout line at your favorite drugstore, reading glasses are not among them. You know, those things you wear on your face all day — when you can remember where you put them?
Instead, consider consulting the experts at Blink Optometry, the boutique eye center located just a few minutes away in The Crossroads. The shop stocks upscale glasses from Gucci, Tom Ford, Ray-Ban and others, as well as sporty everyday options from brands like Oakley, Nike, Costa and Salt. They’ll also tell you all the reasons that prescription readers are better than over-the-counter “cheaters.”
You may leave with something more than flattering new specs, since Carmel native Trevor Fogg and Telma Barseghian, O.D.s, also offer comprehensive vision care. The former specializes in ocular infections and allergies, chronic dry eyes, diabetic eye disease, and corneal refractive therapy, which is a non-surgical alternative for improving nearsightedness. Barseghian enjoys helping her clients fit glasses and lenses to perfection, and is likewise trained to treat eye infections, injuries and other conditions. She can also help you find a cataract or laser surgeon from among local and S.F. Bay area doctors.
Best Orthopedist
Christopher Meckel — 12 Upper Ragsdale Drive, Suite A, Monterey – (831) 648-7200, montagehealth.org/mosm
Cofounder of the successful Monterey Spine and Joint in Ryan Ranch (now Montage Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center), orthopedic surgeon Christopher Meckel performs an astounding nearly 300 hip and knee replacements annually. He received training up and down California from some of the state’s finest institutions, including UC Berkeley, Cal Poly and USC, before settling into his niche as an authority in joint replacement and reconstruction. Meckel has spent the past 20 years realizing what sounds too good to be true — minimally invasive, total replacement of hips and knees — thanks to his credentials and computer-enabled surgery background.
Carmel Pine Cone readers know the value of a pain-free stroll along the beach, the ability to walk around Spyglass for a round of golf, and all the other activities that tempt everyone who lives here, so they know a hip and knee replacement expert when they see one.
Best Pediatrician
Jill Airola — 2 Upper Ragsdale Drive, Suite B210, Monterey – (831) 333-0999, mppmg.com
Pediatrician and repeat Golden Pine Cone winner Jill Airola is warm, friendly, professional, funny (sometimes wacky) and has an extraordinary rapport with her young patients.
She may crawl on the floor of the exam office with a toddler and hand them a necklace to play with, or paint a teenage girl’s nails to soothe and comfort them.
Never one to rush an appointment, “Dr. Jill,” as she’s known, makes each young patient and their parents feel like they’re her only care in the world. As a mom herself, she just gets it.
The doctors and pediatric nurse practitioners at Monterey Peninsula Pediatric Group have a lot to offer young families. The group ensures same-day appointments for sick kids and as-needed consultations with UCSF and Stanford children’s hospitals. Immediately following that joyful and often terrifying entry into new parenthood, lactation specialists and postpartum experts are ready for Mom and baby.
Best Primary Care Physician
Jon-Peter Meckel — 2 Upper Ragsdale Dr., Building A, Monterey – (831) 333-3040, montagehealth.org
Everyone deserves to find the primary care doctor they want to spend the rest of their life with. This year, our readers’ pick is Jon-Peter Meckel, a young board-certified physician who takes special interest in preventive care and addiction medicine. The Carmel Valley native works out of Montage Health in Ryan Ranch, where his practice also provides a low-stress environment for day-of procedures. Meckel has earned five stars across the board from the over 400 patients who completed surveys. They commended their physician, who joined Montage in 2020, for his unique attention to their concerns, detailed explanations and treatment options, and said they would recommend him to family and friends.
Best Plastic Surgeon
Douglas Sunde — 856 Munras Ave., Monterey – (831) 372-0200, drsunde.com
As Douglas Sunde says, “Plastic surgery is about more than looking good. For a lot of men and women, it helps correct years of discomfort, improving their comfort and quality of life.”
Known for his reassuring bedside manner, the Monterey-based plastic surgeon is the first choice of exacting patients who can expect Sunde’s thorough attention to their needs and desires. Expert in a broad range of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, his practice offers Botox and fillers, face, neck and feature lifts, scar revision, breast lifts and reductions for both men and women.
Seventeen Golden Pine Cones to date, every year from 2008 to 2025, and Sunde makes it look natural. Ever the gracious winner, he acknowledged his dedicated staff and what the (many) accolades mean to him, in light of our selection committee. “It’s the greatest honor to be recognized by your patients,” he said.
Best Physical Therapist
James Takehara — Cypress Coast Physical Therapy, 101 Wilson Road, Unit C, Monterey – (831) 375-1885, facebook.com/pacificrehabmonterey, tinyurl.com/3vtr7rce
Few would describe the atmosphere of medical facility as “motivational.” But Cypress Coast Physical Therapy is no ordinary office. Its clinicians are among the best on the Peninsula, according to our readers. Anyone recovering from an injury or operation — the primary goals of physical therapy — deserves some encouragement, says James Takehara.
“It’s a fun atmosphere. We treat in a very open gym setting. Everyone gets to meet other people, and we cheer each other on,” he said.
For 20 years, Takehara and his support staff at Cypress Coast Physical Therapy have stretched and strengthened patients to the point of relief from chronic pain, limited mobility, and other strains on their well-being. He brings an inquiring and evidenced-based approach to sports rehab, pre- and post-pregnancy care, falling and balance issues, headache and TMJ treatment — even sprained-ankle recovery to get you back on the pickleball court.
Said Takehara, “If you see patients as just a knee problem, just a back problem, you end up giving this cookie-cutter solution. You certainly don’t get better insurance reimbursements for taking the time and care to be different and good. For me personally — and I instill this in a lot of my aides — I try to teach an innate sense of curiosity. Why is something feeling or moving in a certain way? Everyone is unique.”
Best Chiropractor
Aaron Gaily — 1299 Pacific St., Monterey – (831) 657-0191, chiropractormontereyca.com
Aaron Gaily has some spine moves for you. The repeat Golden Pine Cone winner and Carmel High Class of 1995 grad opened his practice in 2003 as a one-doctor operation with no support staff. The Back and Neck Pain Center of Monterey has since grown into one of the most sought-after chiropractic clinics on the Peninsula. When he’s not helping you get back in alignment, Gaily gives back to the community through his youth basketball club, Rogue Basketball. It helps kids grades in first through 12th grades learn the fundamentals of the game.
Whether on the court or in the office, Gaily enjoys helping people get better.
“Being a chiropractor is one of the most rewarding things,” he said. “We get to watch people reduce or eliminate their pain, and get back to healthy living, day in and day out.” Gaily studied kinesiology and exercise science at Northern Arizona University before heading graduate school at Southern California University of Health and Sciences in Whittier.
Best Divorce Lawyer
Sarah Cavassa — 50 Ragsdale Drive, Suite 201, Monterey – (831) 655-6868 cavassaoconnell.com
For seven years running, Pine Cone readers have voted Sarah Cavassa the best divorce lawyer around. Ending a marriage is never easy, but having an attorney looking out for your best interest can alleviate the stress. Cavassa has been practicing law since 2008 and founded Cavassa O’Connell with partner Justin O’Connell. Both are graduates and professors at Monterey College of Law. The firm always seeks settlement as the preferred option, but Cavassa is an experienced trial lawyer who is ready to go to court for her clients.
“Whether it is an issue over tens of millions of dollars, or an issue over childcare, we know it is an issue that is important to the client, and so it is important to us,” says the legal team. Cavassa is certified by the California State Bar as a specialist in family law, including divorce, custody and support. She also prepares and reviews pre- and postnuptial agreements. Cavassa O’Connell represents clients in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties but has been willing to work outside that area, helping clients as far away as Santa Clara and Alameda counties.
Best Estate Planning Attorney
Jeannette Witten — 26515 Carmel Rancho Blvd., Suite 200 – (831) 375-3151, hudsonmartin.com
Getting your affairs in order is an important task and Jeannett Witten, Esq., is here to help. Pine Cone readers have voted her Best Estate Planning Attorney three times in the last five years. Witten has been practicing law since 1998 and became managing partner of Hudson Martin PC in 2013. The attorney views estate planning as a “neat opportunity to get to know people” as well as a “positive area of the law.” Writing a will is crucial to making the distribution of your assets simple for your family, and without one, your estate may be subject to probate in California, a long and sometimes costly process.
If you’ve been searching the internet for “estate planning lawyers near me,” our readers think that Witten should definitely be on your list. During her 20 years of practicing law she has also served as general counsel to a Securities and Exchange Commission-registered investment advisor with more than $1.6 billion in assets under management. In her free time, she is an avid runner and has completed four Big Sur International Marathons.
Best Lawyer If You Need to Sue Somebody
Christina Goebelsmann — 26515 Carmel Rancho Blvd., Suite 200 – (831) 375-3151, hudsonmartin.com
Taking someone to court is never fun, but if you find yourself in need of a litigator, Christina Goebelsmann is ready to fight. Licensed to practice law in California since 2010, she holds the title of senior litigation attorney at Hudson Martin PC. The Loyola Law School graduate started her career in the public sector, representing the federal government in civil litigation and bankruptcy cases.
Prior to joining Hudson Martin, Goebelsmann worked in private practice, handling civil litigation and bankruptcy matters on behalf of financial institutions and lenders for a firm in Southern California. Her cases covered everything from breach of contract, to fraud and unfair competition. The attorney says she is happy to have the opportunity to bring her expertise to Monterey County.
“There is just something special about being able to practice here on the Monterey Peninsula, and it has been a complete privilege to represent the various businesses and individuals that we have here locally and throughout the Central Coast,” said Goebelsmann. When she’s not busy preparing a legal brief, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two dogs, as well as traveling and trying new restaurants.
Best Defense Attorney
Jennifer Rosenthal — 26364 Carmel Rancho Lane, Suite 201 – (831) 625-5193, jsrattorneyatlaw.com
Our readers believe that Jennifer Rosenthal’s phone number is a good one to save in your phone, even if it’s one you hope you’ll never need. This marks the third time they have voted Rosenthal Best Defense Attorney. “I find a lot of reward in the work I do and getting people back to a better place and back on their feet,” said Rosenthal. The defense attorney helps her clients navigate the complicated court and legal system and truly believes in giving a voice to those who don’t have an opportunity to use theirs.
Her online bio says she “champions justice for all and ensures quality representation with compassionate and continued personal contact through all stages of the legal system.” Rosenthal has experience as both a criminal defense attorney and a civil litigator. In addition to criminal defense, her firm specializes in real property, land use, business formation, cannabis regulatory work, landlord/tenant law and family law. When she is not working in defense of her clients, Rosenthal serves on the board of directors for Rancho Cielo and as president of the board of the Carmel Chapter of the National Charity League.
Best Public Relations Company
The Buzz PR/Marci Bracco — info@thebuzzpr.net, thebuzzpr.net
With more than 25 years of experience at what she has called “the only job I ever wanted,” Marci Bracco — and her bulldog mascots — are well known to local businesses and reporters alike. It’s rare when a day, let alone a week, goes by without an email promoting one of her clients landing in the inboxes of those who work in local media. She represents people and businesses from a wide swath of industries and is always eager to learn about how someone else makes a living. In fact, that curiosity makes her a great listener and gives her a good grasp of the details of clients’ operations.
Bracco understands how to work with media outlets for clients, with a firm grasp of deadlines and publications’ profiles. She’s also adept at connecting people with mutual interests — business or otherwise — and building relationships.
Her generosity is well known, and leading with her heart as well as her mind, Bracco has a soft spot for nonprofits, especially those that benefit animals.
Best Insurance Agent
Matt Little Jr. — 126 Clock Tower Place, Suite 102 – (831) 624-1234, carmelinsurance.com
Matt Little Jr. has won the Golden Pine Cone many times for Best Insurance Agent in town. Little’s family has a long legacy in the insurance industry, dating back three generations in Carmel. His grandfather, Robert L. Little, opened Carmel Insurance Agency, Inc., in 1948, and the company has remained family-owned and operated ever since. Matt Little Jr. began his career in 2000, and, 25 years later, he is still dedicated to assisting members of the community with all their insurance needs. Carmel Insurance Agency works with commercial, personal, health and life insurance coverage. Many clients count their time working with the firm in decades, not years, and that kind of service is hard to find.
Best Shoe Repair
Federico Shoe Repair — 542 Abrego St., Monterey – (831) 649-3322
Federico Shoe Repair has been saving soles on the Monterey Peninsula for 86 years. The shoe repair shop can resurrect old shoes and boots with a variety of services, including heel and zipper repair, resoling and restitching. The shop also keeps its customers well-heeled with dyeing and shining services. You can even task them with dyeing luggage, handbags and shoes to match the color of your garments.
Founded in 1939, the family-owned business has passed from father to son, generation to generation, before selling to longtime employee Jose Perez. Federico prides itself on offering services at reasonable prices. Customers can enjoy the convenience of a drive-up window for drop-off and pick-up, saving you from searching for a parking spot in downtown Monterey. Mail-order service is also available within the United States — the work is that good. But if you take the time to step inside the shop, it offers while-you-wait service for rush orders, and you can get those old soles spiffed up and ready to go in a jiffy.
Best School
Stevenson School — Lower and Middle Divisions, 24800 Dolores St. – (831) 574-4600 and Upper Division, 3152 Forest Lake Road, Pebble Beach – (831) 625-8300, stevensonschool.org
Stevenson Schools offers pre-K through 12th grade education at its two campuses, with younger students attending its lower and middle schools in Carmel, and high school students moving on to its Upper Division in Pebble Beach. The private school is a day and boarding community where students explore a diverse range of academic interests through a rich curriculum. Stevenson’s website says it cultivates critical thinking, communication and analytical problem-solving skills through personal guidance and engaging learning experiences. “We understand that joyful learning and academic achievement are not mutually exclusive — learning is far more powerful and enduring when driven by curiosity, wonder and the freedom to explore big ideas,” said Stevenson President Dan Griffiths. The school invites interested families to speak with its admissions department and see if Stevenson is right for them.
Best Teacher
Savannah Britton — All Saints Day School, 8060 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley – (831) 624-9171, asds.org
Kindergarten teacher Savannah Britton was honored this year as Best Teacher. Britton has been at All Saints Day School for seven years and says teaching kindergarten is a gift, with her students bringing immense joy, laughter and discovery each day. “There’s something so special about witnessing the ‘light bulb’ moment when a child grasps something new, their excitement and love of life and learning make every day so much brighter,” said Britton. Kindergarten is an important year for children, laying the foundation for lifelong learning.
Britton helps her students develop independence, confidence and a love for learning, while also gaining academic skills for first grade and beyond. She calls it a “magical year.” The educator started her career in teaching 13 years ago working with preschool children and spent her first two years at All Saints teaching pre-K before transitioning to kindergarten. “There’s no place I’d rather be and nothing else I’d rather do,” said Britton.
Best Principal
Sara Brown — All Saints Day School, 8060 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley – (831) 624-9171, asds.org
Head of All Saints Day School Sara Brown has been awarded Best Principal for the second year in a row. Brown started her career more than 30 years ago, teaching sixth grade in the San Francisco Bay area before moving to Carmel in 2004. She’s been with All Saints ever since, first as teacher, then as an administrator and now as head of school. Brown says the trans-kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school in Carmel Valley is truly special.
“Our small size allows teachers to truly know each student and their family, caring for and teaching them in a personal and meaningful way,” she said. The veteran educator sees it as her role to continue the All Saints legacy of nurturing both the mind and the heart. “Watching them grow, discover new strengths and support one another is the best reminder of why this work is so important,” said Brown.
The head of school makes sure every student is seen, known and supported in a way that honors who they are becoming.
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