Quick Details
Unique and Specially-Selected Food Tastings – Our guided Gourmet Food Tour visits six to seven food tasting locations within the quaint village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. The food samplings on this tour are sure to stimulate your salivary glands and satisfy your appetite for a satisfying lunch that is chock-full of variety. Each tasting is served from locally-owned and operated specialty food stores and ethnic or locavore-style eateries.
Stops may include farm-to-table restaurants, chocolates that have been made with the same recipes for more than 100 years, and small-batch, award-winning wines that are grown and fermented exclusively within Monterey County. Your Carmel tour will last about three hours and provides delicious tastings that are an adequate lunch for most. All food and tastings are included in the ticket price of $119 ($129 for a refundable seat).
Cultural, Historic and Architectural Experiences – Between the great tastings, you’ll stroll as locals do: through hidden passageways, exploring less-crowded side streets and discovering where to enjoy the freshest food and best wine. Recommendations for meals and lodging, architectural jewels, gorgeous displays of local flora and fauna, and places whose history make Carmel what it is are all shared with you by our enthusiastic, local guides.
Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro
Mixed fermentation brewery with leveled-up pub fare
Anton & Michel
Modern European with Signature Tableside Service
Cafe Carmel
Mouthwatering baked goods, all prepared on-site
Caraccioli Cellars
Elegant, local, specializing in sparkling wines
Carmel Honey Company
Raw, unfiltered honey from a company started by a 5th grader
Dutch Door Donuts
Homer Simpson would trample a crowd for these freshies
Edwin’s
California fresh, Filipino-inspired, imaginative and delicious dishes
La Balena
Seasonal, uncomplicated, organic food served in the Tuscan tradition
La Playa Hotel | Bud’s
Iconic hotel with beautiful views and traditional bar lounge – with unique nuances
Lula’s Chocolates
Locally-made confections, family-owned for more than 100 years
Nielsen’s Market
One of Carmel’s oldest businesses, with everything from the finest wines to fresh-grilled, all-beef hot dogs at lunch
Pescadero Carmel
Baja-inspired Mexican dishes that spawned a gourmet grocery box
Promesa Carmel
Tapas kitchen with a passionate, creative Chef and eclectic Spanish wines
Social Hour Carmel
Social Hour is a unique retail store that puts a twist on the cocktail experience
The Nut Hut
Organic and locally-prepared nuts (and fruits) in ALL the best varieties and flavors
We’ll meet in the courtyard of Carmel’s Sunset Cultural Center, located at 9th Ave & San Carlos St in Carmel. Carmel-by-the-Sea doesn’t have addresses, so navigate to this intersection and park nearby. There is free street parking all day (south of 8th Ave – watch the signs!), and a free parking lot on the north end of the Cultural Center. The courtyard is located EXACTLY at the 9th & San Carlos intersection, down a set of steps. The Gothic architecture makes it look like a church, but it’s not. You’ll get the whole story on that during the tour. Your guide will arrive approximately 10-15 minutes prior to the tour and will be looking for you!