The gorgeous Central Coast city of Monterey, California, has all the time held a particular place in my coronary heart. It’s the place I spent my early childhood. But it surely was solely as an grownup that I might actually study to understand it, particularly the place ingesting was involved. Although Monterey is a longtime AVA with a noteworthy wine scene, I have a tendency to go to for the tropical libations, craft cocktails, and whiskey. Contemplating how a lot there may be to do there—from sightseeing to Laguna Seca automobile occasions to wine tasting—it’s good to have choices to swimsuit each temper and craving. Listed here are my favourite locations to imbibe in Monterey.
The Crown & Anchor
After I’m within the temper for an off-the-cuff night time with a Black and Tan, a shot of whiskey, and a few fish and chips, I head to this underground British pub, situated in historic Downtown Monterey. It opened in 1998 and has been voted the most effective pub in Monterey County Weekly for 19 years. (They first gained in 2003, successful yearly till 2014, then gained once more in 2015 and held the crown ever since.) There’s lots on provide: about 20 beers on faucet, together with English ales and Irish stouts, plus a listing of Irish whiskey and scotch. On dreary nights when the fog rolls in, there’s one thing comforting about sitting on the bar and digging right into a bowl of chowder between sips of ale.
Cella Restaurant & Bar
Like Stokes Adobe, which is simply up the road on Polk, this restaurant options wonderful cocktails and meals and can be located in an exquisite historic constructing. However whereas Stokes feels a bit extra like an important day spot, Cella, which sits within the Nationwide Belief Historic Web site Cooper Molera Gardens, has a neighborhood restaurant vibe. For meals, you possibly can keep low-key with burger or go for scallops or duck breast. And beverage supervisor Joshua Perry’s inventive, culinary-inspired cocktail menu is compelling sufficient to seize a drink earlier than dinner and even simply as a jumping-off level for the night time. Discover his unique cocktails, such because the Golden Elote with butter-washed mezcal, Amaro Montenegro, corn distillate, piloncillo, and lemon juice.
Hula’s Island Grill
Wherever I journey, I all the time lookup the tropical bar scene; it simply doesn’t really feel like a getaway and not using a Piña Colada. Fortuitously, Monterey has Hula’s, with a second location up the coast in Santa Cruz. It might not be on the stage of Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco or False Idol in San Diego, but it surely’s nonetheless a welcome respite. I normally prefer to cease right here throughout a scenic stroll alongside the coast from Fisherman’s Wharf to Pacific Grove. I’ll park myself and my canine on the patio out again and order pupus of coconut shrimp rolls and seared ahi wontons or a slow-roasted pulled pork sandwich. The drink menu options unique cocktails as a effectively as requirements, such because the Mai Tai, Zombie, and Tropical Itch, however my go-to is the Painkiller or the virgin Piña Colada if I nonetheless have sightseeing to do.
Pearl Hour
Pearl Hour is a should for a nightcap of inventive cocktails and reside jazz. The bar by Katie Blandin, proprietor of cocktail catering firm Bar Cart Cocktail Co., is situated up the road from Hula’s on Lighthouse Avenue. On Wednesday and Sunday nights, a reside band packs the bar. Fortuitously, the big patio out again, which is illuminated by candles, a firepit, and hanging lights, presents loads of seating away from the crowds. Peruse the intensive cocktail menu of classics, signatures, seasonal drinks, pictures, spritzes, spirit-free choices, and even a month-to-month zodiac-inspired drink. Simply take into account that on nights when there’s reside music, to maintain service fast, the menu isn’t accessible.
Stokes Adobe
For ghost tales and well-crafted cocktails, cease by this historic two-story adobe townhouse, which was inbuilt 1833. Initially constructed to be a personal residence, it has housed a number of completely different eating places over time, together with Gallatin’s and Restaurant 1833. However after a four-year emptiness, it’s now a Michelin-recommended trendy delicacies restaurant with the ghost tales intact. Simply order Hattie’s Outdated Usual (Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, apricot, fragrant bitters, and citrus essence), named for Hattie Gragg, a socialite who was the final particular person to have lived within the adobe earlier than passing away in 1948. Although the menu by beverage supervisor Matty Eggleston is consistently being up to date, this Outdated Usual will stick round. Like Hattie, apparently.
The Whisky Membership
This whisky den on downtown’s Alvarado Road welcomes each type of whisk(e)y drinker, from straight-sipping aficionados to informal cocktail imbibers. A severe scotch collector himself, proprietor Michael Sawhney wished to share his intensive assortment, data, and keenness for the spirit with the world. After a few years constructing the bar, with delays courtesy of the pandemic, he and his spouse LisAnne lastly opened the doorways in 2022. The bar, which features a bottle store within the again, presents flights categorized by value and area. Take a $100 Glenrothes tour or a $27 one that includes California whiskeys by Redwood Empire Distillery in Russian River Valley. Or cease by for a Sazerac or Manhattan. In addition they welcome canines, even retaining a inventory of canine biscuits behind the bar.
