Luke Young - guest blogger, My Local Thrive

With the days starting to feel more and more like spring, dining outside feels like a luxury at times. Not all patios are created equally, however, and we wanted to list a few of our favorites. We took into consideration the shelter from the wind, available heat lamps, views, and that little something extra that helps create those lasting memories.

1) Alvarado Street Brewery and Bistro, Carmel By-the-Sea

Alvarado Street Brewery and Bistro, Formerly Yeast of Eden, has an enormous patio, with a tent big enough to house a circus. Situated within the Plaza in Carmel By-The Sea, you’ll be able to find something for everyone in your group after lunch and a few beers at this world-renowned brewpub. If you’re new to their beers, we recommend getting started with Mai Tai PA, with multiple awards won at Great American Beer Festival.

2) Anton and Michel, Carmel By-the-Sea

Anton and Michel is an iconic local restaurant situated in downtown Carmel By-the-Sea. Their patio wraps around a large fountain which looks more like a gorgeous swimming pool (no diving, it’s only a foot deep), allowing for ample room for social distancing. This has been one of the warmer patios we’ve visited, with ample protection from the wind and abundant heat lamps. All of this sets the stage for a meal crafted by their head chef, Mark Simpson, and their award winning wine list. This place is a wonderful escape from the ordinary, and is a must try while you’re in the area.

3) Lucia restaurant at Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley

Bernardus is famous for more than just their wines. Recently awarded three Forbes four star awards (one of only eight California establishments to do so), this place is a jewel in the middle of our valley. With the often warmer weather of the Carmel Valley, this is the spot to head on those cooler days at the coast. For those who want to earn their meal, Garland Ranch Regional Park is a few minutes away, featuring wonderful hiking with views of the Vineyard.

4) Nepenthe, Big Sur

Nepenthe Restaurant is unbelievable. Nearly every Big Sur trip we take ends up with a post hike Ambrosia burger on the top of a cliff at the edge of the world. We recommend mid-week trips as this place can get busy, however worse things have happened than having to wait for an hour in a redwood forest overlooking the sea. We definitely recommend bringing a jacket as no heat lamp can combat the wind and fog that has been known to roll in off of the ocean, but on a beautiful day its hard to top this place.

5) Julia’s Vegetarian, Pacific Grove

Photo credit @juliasvegetarianrestaurant

The newly outfitted patio at Julia’s is a perfectly charming match to their menu. Good to recharge with world class vegetarian food and some house made kombucha in their garden yard. I love their mushroom sampler, featuring medicinal edible mushrooms collected by local foragers. If you’re looking to step out of the restaurant experience and try your hand at some adventure, they have recently started offering foraging classes where you hunt your own edible mushrooms.

6) Hotel 1110, Monterey

Hotel 1110 is a hidden gem! With their recently renovated rooftop bar they feature delicious cocktails in a succulent garden overlooking the bay. You’ve probably driven by it 100 times and may have not even know it. We love coming here during the summer to see the sun set over the ocean. On weekends it is best to arrive early to claim one of their heat lamps, otherwise jackets are recommended cargo.

So there we have it, six places with exceptional ambiance and atmosphere, serving world class food in front of spectacular views. This pandemic hasn’t been anybody’s favorite, but at least here in California we can soak up the good times in spectacular fashion while we wait for the world to be normal again.

See you out there!

Six Outdoor Patios to checkout in Monterey Co.

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