5 Romantic Restaurants in Monterey
It’s not just our region’s famous bridges that grab headlines across the country and the world. Restaurants in Carmel, Monterey, and on the Monterey Peninsula continue to wow diners with their terrific, local ingredients and internationally-renowned chefs.
If romantic fine dining is on your travel to-do list, continue reading to learn all about the most romantic restaurants in Monterey.
Crepes of Brittany
Start your day with a touch of French romance with a swoon-worthy breakfast at Crepes of Brittany. With authentic ingredients imported from the owners Daniel and Thierry’s French hometown, these sweet or savory pockets of goodness make for a delicious and romantic start to your day.
Crepes of Brittany (the first stop on many of our Monterey Bay Food Tours!) is conveniently located in downtown Monterey, just off of the bustling and historic Custom House Plaza. Start here with breakfast at an intimate cafe table inside or on the expansive outdoor patio.
After your crepes, easily catch the nearby Path of History, hop on a whale watching tour, or hang out at a local brewery.
Foray
The name of this restaurant alludes to its purpose: to reveal the natural wonders nearby through foraging for ingredients. This Carmel-by-the-Sea restaurant offers fine dining that celebrates the Peninsula’s bounty, with difficult-to-source local goodies like abalone and Perigord truffles.
Enjoy a romantic fine dining experience at Foray, surrounded by the warmth of foraged Monterey cypress trees in the intimate dining room. Be sure to check out their extensive bar menu for thoughtfully-crafted alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Chez Noir
Another buzzy fine dining restaurant in Carmel is Chez Noir. The restaurant uses words like “pristine ingredients” and “everyday luxury” to describe its offerings, which include “micro-seasonal” ingredients sourced locally.
This award-winning bistro offers a seafood-heavy, prix fixe dinner menu inspired by the cuisines of France and Northern Spain. Get adventurous for this upscale offering: the menu changes every day.
Maligne
Even the casual neighborhood of Seaside, located next door to Monterey, offers hidden gems for a romantic dinner. Maligne presents high-end ingredients in familiar ways, like cheeseburgers and chicken parmesan. This restaurant notably offers several hearty vegetarian entrees on its dinner menu.
Maligne boasts a fine dining menu but strives for an ambiance that feels like a family restaurant. This wide-open restaurant allows you to peek into the lively, approachable kitchen. If you’re looking for upscale ingredients with a welcoming feel, try Malgine.
Big Sur River Inn
It’s not a trip to the Monterey Bay without spending some time in breathtaking Big Sur. Plan for a little road trip for a majestic and romantic lunch among the redwoods at Big Sur River Inn. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but we suggest the expansive lunch menu.
This casual restaurant (the first ever in Big Sur!) is tucked in the forest and next to the babbling river. Stop by on a lucky day and you’ll be able to enjoy the view from a set of Adirondack chairs nestled right in the water itself.
There is no shortage of romantic places to eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the Monterey Bay. What romantic restaurants are your favorite?