The Top Eateries in the Lighthouse District in Monterey
No visit to Monterey would be complete without a stroll (or a drive) down Lighthouse Avenue. Parallel to Cannery Row but up a few blocks, Lighthouse is a main street for shops, convenience stores, and our favorite thing — food. Like any street in Monterey, it can feel a bit overwhelming when trying to decide on a spot to settle, so here’s some of our favorites to help you choose.
Hula’s Island Grill
We know we love the whiskey drinks from Hula’s Island Grill, but we’re not the only ones who love this Hawaiian-themed restaurant. A few weeks ago, TripAdvisor named it the 14th “Best Every Day Dining” restaurant in the entire country! We can’t say we blame them — we’d still do anything for the Bacon Cheeseburger Deluxe with sweet potato fries and extra sauce. Apart from that, they have a great selection of hearty soul food across the menu, and their tiki drinks are unrivaled by any other location. We’re so honored to have them right down the street from us!
Also, Tuesday is Happy Hour from 2-close, so we’ll see you there!
International Market & Deli
The International Market & Deli is the mecca of international foods here on the bay. The deli section focuses mostly on Greek and Armenian treats, but a walk through their market will land you in any regional food of your choice. If you’re on the hunt for Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern, Turkish, Russian, or anything in between, there’s something here that will satisfy your needs. Even if you aren’t looking for anything “exotic” per se, this is a great one-stop-shop for your groceries either way — we always recommend supporting local!
Compagno’s Market & Deli
Compagno’s Market & Deli is easily among the best hidden-in-plain-sight locations on the entire bay. If you aren’t aware of its exact location (right by the Taylor Gate entrance to the Defense Language Institute,) chances are you’d drive right by it. This military-themed sandwich shop, market, and deli has everything you need to be full…for a week. Seriously, if you’ve never been here, we recommend starting out with a half portion of one of their sandwiches, because you’ll probably still have to save some! While you’re here (and especially if there’s a big line and you have some time to wait), take a look at the pictures on the wall. If you look hard enough, you’ll see more than one famous face hiding up there, like Jessica Alba and Kim Kardashian with Kanye West.
Il Vecchio
Although we love all types of food, there’s a special soft spot we have for Italian, and Il Vecchio hits the spot for us in that department! Many people aren’t aware of the rich Italian influence in Monterey and its history, but the authentic Italian food it gives us in the present day is good enough for us. Keep in mind this is a lunch-and-dinner-only restaurant during the week, but on Saturdays and Sundays they open early for breakfast. After a great meal here, make sure you pick up some of their Ragazzi Gelato creations to take home with you.
Gianni’s Pizza
Any experience on Lighthouse Avenue wouldn’t be complete without a good and proper whiff of Gianni’s Pizza permeating the entire street and alluring everyone who walks or drives through the cloud of scent. Gianni’s arguably has the best pizza in the area, and we couldn’t make a list about Lighthouse eateries without including them! There’s more than just pizza, of course, like sandwiches and calzones and pasta dishes, but we promise nothing here will disappoint you either way. Plus, unlike any other eatery on this list, this one comes with a delivery service just in case you can’t drive down there — or if there’s much too long of a wait to get a table!
Zab Zab Thai Cuisine
Fans of spicy food should definitely put Zab Zab Thai Cuisine at the top of their list. Since “zab” is actually Thai for “delicious, spicy, and hot,” it only makes sense for that to be the motto here, too. If you’re like our fearless blog writer and are not the biggest spicy fan on the planet, there’s good news for you! You’ll be asked how spicy you like your food, and the options range anywhere for mild to very hot. With an extensive menu that also has combo options if you’re overwhelmed with choices, we highly recommend this as your next lunch (or dinner) spot when you’re in the mood for some authentic Thai. And, since we love our dog-friendly locations, we should also mention your fur baby can sit next to you and watch you sweat out the spices on their outdoor patio.
Bistro Moulin
If Italian isn’t your exact European flavor of choice, Bistro Moulin is also a great option for those looking for French-inspired food. In our opinion, we could live off the Gnocchi Aux Epinards, which is spinach gnocchi gratin and a parmesan cream sauce. Finish that off with an authentic crème brûlée, and we’re definitely more than satisfied. Of course, a trip out to a nice French restaurant wouldn’t be complete without an extensive wine list, either, and Bistro Moulin serves up quite the selection between French and domestic wines. Next time you’re in the mood to treat yourself, we’d place this restaurant high on your must-try list.
