Romantic Restaurants in Monterey, CA

Located at the Court of the Fountains in beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea, Anton & Michel Restaurant is an award-winning dining destination that has been serving highly acclaimed cuisine and fine wines in an elegant setting since 1980. Renowned for its outstanding food and fine wines, and gracious hospitality, Anton & Michel offers a superlative dining experience with a seasonal menu of contemporary New American cuisine featuring fresh seafood and fish, USDA-graded steaks and chops, organic salads and vegetables, and housemade pasta dishes. Floor-to-ceiling windows embrace breathtaking views of the Court of the Fountains, and the dining room has a fireplace which casts a warm glow and romantic ambiance. The full-service bar offers a variety of fine wines from around the world, craft and draft beers on tap and by the bottle, and classic cocktails made from top-shelf spirits. Anton & Michel Restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner.

Mission Street &, 7th Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921, Phone: 831-624-2406

Aubergine is the main restaurant at the luxurious L’Auberge Carmel and promises an unforgettable, exceptional dining experience. Renowned for its graceful architecture, style, and elegance, L’Auberge Carmel is historic hotel located in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea just blocks from the famed Carmel Beach. Built in 1929, the Hotel boasts a European grandeur with individually designed guest rooms, an award-winning restaurant, and outstanding service. The award-winning Aubergine, where Executive Chef Justin Cogley creates superb cuisine using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and regional produce, presented with passion and flair. The sublime cuisine is accompanied by a collection of acclaimed global wines and rare vintages, and classic cocktails made with top-shelf spirits. Aubergine at L’Auberge Carmel is open for dinner.

Monte Verde at Seventh, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Phone: 831-624-8578

Bistro Moulin is a charming European-style go-to for hearty French bistro fare and casual wines with an intimate dining space adorned with European art. Located on Cannery Row in the heart of Monterey, the cozy bistro is owned by French chef Didier Dutertre, who prepares and presents classic French cuisine using fresh locally sourced ingredients where possible. Signature dishes include hors d'oeuvres of escargots with garlic and hazelnut butter, cocur de laitue, and spinach gnocchi au gratin, and entrées of coq au vin, steak bordelaise, moules frites, confit de canard, cannelloni tartufi, and fresh fish of the day. A full-service bar offers a variety of fine wines from around the world, craft and draft beers on tap and by the bottle, and classic cocktails made from top-shelf spirits. Bistro Moulin is open for dinner, seven nights a week.

867 Wave St, Monterey, CA 93940, Phone: 831-333-1200

Boasting breathtaking harbor views and charming, romantic ambiance, Cafe Fina is a refined restaurant that serves traditional Italian fare and fine wines for lunch and dinner. Established in 1989, the family-owned and operated restaurant has been serving mouthwatering Italian-inspired seafood, homemade pasta dishes, wood-fired pizzas with gourmet toppings and seasonal organic home-grown salads and vegetarian dishes ever since. Quaint Italian décor and cozy tables with white tablecloths set the scene for a romantic dinner against a backdrop of beautiful harbor views and a selection of excellent wines that Napa Valley has to offer along with Italian vintages complement the cuisine. Café Fina is open for lunch and dinner daily.

47 Fishermans Wharf #1, Monterey, CA 93940, Phone: 831-372-5200

Casanova Restaurant is a charming French and Italian restaurant with a beautiful outdoor patio and lovely views. Based in a historic 1920s cottage that was owned by Charlie Chaplin’s chef, the family-owned eatery focuses on contemporary and rustic cuisine prepared using the freshest, highest quality ingredients sourced from surrounding farms and producers. Seasonal menus feature appetizers of Pâté de Campagne, Gnocchi Casanova, and Burrata, and entrées of Ravioli with summer squash, Osso Buco with gremolata, and Roasted Lamb Loin. Diners can savor a chef’s prix-fixe on Vincent Van Gogh’s very own dining table in a private dining room, and a full-service bar offers a variety of fine wines from around the world, craft and draft beers on tap and by the bottle, and classic cocktails made from top-shelf spirits. Casanova Restaurant is open for dinner, seven nights a week.

5th Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923, Phone: 831-625-0501

Cibo is an intimate Italian eatery that offers sublime cuisine, inventive cocktails, and live jazz in a casually elegant spot. The charming restaurant features expressive art such as hand-blown glass, paintings, photographs and sculptures, and serves a menu of Italian fusion cuisine blending the old with the new using fresh locally sourced ingredients and regional produce. Signature dishes range from fresh seafood and housemade pasta dishes to gourmet wood-fired pizza, and the food is accompanied by a selection of the finest Italian and California wines, and traditional and creative cocktails and hosts live jazz in the evenings. Cibo is open for dinner every evening.

301 Alvarado St, Monterey, CA 93940, Phone: 831-649-8151

Serving wild, sustainable local and Alaskan seafood for the past 35 years, Domenico's On the Wharf is a warm and welcoming restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows and spectacular harbor views. The restaurant boasts a beautiful location overlooking the bay with sunny interiors and an engaging family style of hospitality. Guests can dine on seasonal menus of fresh locally caught fish, shellfish and seafood, along with succulent steaks, housemade pasta dishes, and fresh salads and signature dishes like Red King Crab legs from Alaska, Dungeness crab, and Clam Chowder. The cuisine is accompanied by a selection of award-winning wines from the surrounding Monterey County vineyards, as well as France and Italy and the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

50 Fishermans Wharf #1, Monterey, CA 93940, Phone: 831-372-3655

Located in the historic Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa, Esteban Restaurant is a family-owned and operated eatery that specializes in authentic Spanish cuisine. Owned and operated by the Munras family, the restaurant features chic interiors, a charming outdoor patio with firepits for alfresco dining, and a stylish, laid-back ambiance. Seasonal menus feature Mediterranean tapas, traditional Spanish-inspired entrées, and Californian sharing plates of dishes created by Chef Thomas Snyder using fresh seafood, naturally-fed meats and chicken, and organic salads and vegetables. The cuisine can be paired with casual wines from around the world, craft and draft beers by the bottle, and creative craft cocktails made with top-shelf spirits. Estéban Restaurant is open for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, seven days a week.

700 Munras Ave, Monterey, CA 93940, Phone: 831-375-0176

Located in a charming, beautifully converted house in Pacific Grove, Fandango Restaurant is an upscale Mediterranean restaurant that serves a European-inspired menu with Basque influences and casual global wines. Using only the freshest locally sourced ingredients and regional produce, seasonal menu feature dishes of fresh seafood, a range of housemade pasta dishes, and exotic Mediterranean entrées of paella, North African couscous, rack of roasted lamb, lobster, abalone, and catch-of-the-day fish. Guests can also enjoy daily specialties, and a full-service bar offers a variety of fine wines from around the world, craft and draft beers on tap and by the bottle, and classic cocktails made from top-shelf spirits. Fandango is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

223 17th St, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, Phone: 831-372-3456

Il Vecchio is a delightful Roman-style Italian restaurant on Central Avenue that serves a menu of traditional Italian fare and an impressive wine list showcasing many Italian and California vintages. The rustic-chic eatery boasts comfortable décor, a crackling fireplace, and a warm and welcoming ambiance and serves a menu to match which features house-made pasta and creamy sauces, wood-fired pizza with a variety of toppings, platters of grilled meats and sausage, antipasto and fresh salads, and mouthwatering desserts. Boasting the vibrant and lively atmosphere of a bustling trattoria, divine aromas, and slick, unmatched service, Il Vecchio features a massive Carmel stone fireplace built in 1950 and can seat up to 80 diners for lunch during the week and dinner every night.

110 Central Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, Phone: 831-324-4282