The city of Carmel-by-the-Sea is remained steady at 4,000 residents.
Carmel was first incorporated as a City in 1916. It was founded by artists and writers – among them Jack London, George Sterling, Mary Austin and Robinson Jeffers.
Carmel is a charming and romantic destination renowned for its historic Spanish mission.
In a setting that feels far removed from the real world, lined with lovely Victorian little storybook cottages.
For a lover of architecture, a stroll through Carmel’s residential areas are a treat. The signature styles of early twentieth century builders like Michael Murphy and Hugh Comstock are still to be found today, and Comstock’s whimsical fairy-tale-style cottages are much photographed.
Ten MUST SEE reasons to visit Carmel:
1) Unique restaurants
Restaurants in Carmel, of which there are over 50, offer Italian, French and Mediterranean cuisines. The owners use farms in Monterey County and Monterey Bay where they buy fresh local produce.
Carmel is an amazingly dog-friendly city. Everywhere there are provisions for your canine friends, at hotels restaurants and at the beach. The great thing is that the restaurants are all close to each other and you can walk literally everywhere.
A City with the no Chain Restaurants
With no fast-food restaurants in the City of Carmel, there are only unique cafes and restaurants. This alone make its unique in America and on a global level.
No Street Addresses
To this day, there are still no addresses, no parking meters or streetlights, and no sidewalks outside of Carmel’s “downtown” commercial area. This makes for interesting delivery of post and parcels by the post office.
Permit Required to Wear High Heels.
Though often mistakenly thought of as an urban myth, the municipal code of Carmel bans wearing shoes having heels more than 2 inches in height or with a base of less than one square inch unless the wearer has obtained a permit for them. While the local police do not cite those in violation of the ordinance, this seemingly peculiar law was authored by the city attorney in 1963 to defend the city from lawsuits resulting from wearers of high-heeled shoes tripping over irregular pavement distorted by tree roots. Permits are available without charge at City Hall.
Boutique Shopping
The Carmel shopping scene is comprised of hundreds of one-of-a-kind shops clustered in the area surrounding Ocean Avenue. But don’t miss the amazing array of offerings on the many side streets and charming courtyards and warrens of downtown Carmel. The best part is that all this shopping heaven is within easy walking distance. You won’t find chain stores or mall-type stores here and all the better for it. The most famous shopping street is Ocean Avenue.
Carmel Mission Basilica Museum
From 1797 until 1833, Carmel Mission was the headquarters of all Alta California missions. It was headed by Saint Junípero Serra from 1770 until his death in 1784. It was also the seat of the second mission’s president, Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén. The Carmel mission is a restore structure of immense beauty and today stands as an institution of religious mission, as well as a testament to Carmel’s history including that of the Native Americans who lived there. It has been visited by Pope John Paul II who beatified its founder Saint Junipero Serra.
Top-Rated Art Town – Gallery
Carmel is one of the best art cities in the United States.
Nearly 100 art galleries are concentrated in the one-square-mile of downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. There are 21 artist-owned galleries, where the proprietors actually work on site. Founded in 1927, the Carmel Art Association is the oldest Carmel gallery and features the work of more than 100 professional local artists.
Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Meet The Makers citywide event is where you can meet local artists and tour their galleries while sipping Monterey County wines.
Eclectic Carmel Nightlife
Carmel is a city with no electricity in the streets at night. The evening starts with Happy Hours. Il Fornaio in the Pine Inn, home of Carmel’s longest bar, is just one venue that offers great deals on cocktails and wines. When the lights go down, the vibe fires up at Vesuvio’s hip rooftop bar. Firepits and heat lamps keep the ocean’s cool at bay, and the city’s many bars serve up some of the most innovative libations in town. .
World-Class Live Theater Sunset Center is Carmel’s artistic hub
This intimate, 718-seat theater is home to the Monterey County Symphony and the Carmel Bach Festival. Carmel-by-the-Sea has always been a mecca for creative, cultured, and artistic folks, and wherever you find artists, you will find live theater. The Forest Theater is considered to be the oldest outdoor theater in the western United States. PacRep (Pacific Repertory Theater)is run by a dedicated talented and motivated group of local actors. Performances have been limited by the pandemic of late.
Unique Carmel Beach
Carmel Beach is a dream come true for beach lovers from all over the world. Carmel Beach is also canine-friendly for dogs. To the south is a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home and at the northern end are the storied Pebble Beach Golf Links, home to the AT&T Pro-Am and the U.S. Open. Driving on Scenic Highway 1 (US 101) by car is universally acknowledged as a treat for the eyes.
Casual Wine Tasting
There are 20 wine tasting rooms here. Carmel wine producers offer something for every taste. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon are the most common.
But others include Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Zinfandel and rarer types such as Grenache, Mourvedre, Barbera and Falanghina.
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