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Photos and text on bars, nightlife and travel information in Monterey and Carmel.

Welcome to Monterey Bay!
Bars, Restaurants and Beauty in Monterey and Carmel

The bay in Monterey is inviting to visitors.

This is one of the most beautiful places in California. It's right along the coast with crashing waves, deep-blue water and enough scenic spots to keep the senses buzzing for hours. Pebble Beach, with its famous golf courses, is located here as is legendary Laguna Seca Raceway with its annual car and motorcycle events and historic races featuring expensive classics.

The scenery is unstoppable. Just pause anywhere along the Highway 1 coast and admire the view – water lapping up against the rocks, fishing boats in Monterey Harbor, sea otters within few yards of shore and rolling hills just minutes from the sea. And loud, barking California sea lions.

Franed by branches on the beach leading to a plaza on Cannery Row.

Learn all about the aquatic region at the spectacular Monterey Bay Aquarium. Then take the 17-mile drive, about the most scenic 17 miles one can drive anywhere in the world. Continue past the guard gate to the golf club at Pebble Beach, where Tom Watson chipped in on 17 to win the '82 U.S. Open, Tiger Woods dominated in '00 and Bill Murray creates havoc and laughs at the annual PGA Pro-Am.

In Monterey the best bar action is downtown on Alvarado Street.There's a half-dozen places within a two-block area. At the end, away from Monterey Bay, is PubClub's favorite, Lallapalooza. It's a restaurant/bar (common in this area) but the real attraction is the active semi-circle bar with lively bartenders and the most mingle-happy patrons one is likely to encounter anywhere. It could be happening for Happy Hour or as a first, second or even last stop in the night. If it's not happening at the moment, it might be in a later moment, for fun seems to find its way tnto this place.

It's easy to bounce two blocks toward the bay to what ic currently the town's most happening location, If there's one place that can be sauna hot on cool Monterey nights, it's Cibo. It's another restaurant/bar but it's the jazz band that sets this place apart from the others. The music is only the excuse to come in here, as it's simply a sideshow to the adjacent bar that's the real attraction.

The real live music is at Monterey Live. The location has been a downtown watering hole for nearly 50 years; today it's features punk rock in the back, plus blue brass, rock, folk, classical jazz, R&B, sould and big band sounds.

There are enough English pubs in town to think one imagine they are in, say, Brighton. After all, it can quite cool at night, even in July or August. But make no mistake, this is Monterey. The Crown & Anchor is not only British-appropriate in its name, it is in its execution – loyal crowd, popular patio and authentic English. It's on Franklin Street, off Alvarado near the Marriott. Not much fancy about the basic Britannia Arms, a cozy British pub with a live band. And while it's off the beaten path, The London Bridge at Fisherman's Wharf is where to find skippers and "crew" from all those sailboats. For food with the beer, go for the fish and chips.

The Mucky Duck. used to be PubClub's favorite Monterey bar, a rush-to-beat-the-crowd place. It has a cool front bar, many beers on tap, surprisingly good food and an oudoor patio that was once the town's top playbround for the 20s crowd. But now, the unfortunate music has brought in a non-PubClub bling-bling crowd that's too heavy on non-mingling males.

There are not any large clubs in Monterey, but Doc's, around the corner form Cibo, is a busy dance bar that stays open until 3.

Down on "the Row" – that's Cannery Row – check out Bullwhacker's, a spacious pub with its large outdoor patio and live bands. Sly McFly's is has been there seemingly forever and has live music, making it always worth a look. Planet Gemini packs has Latin music locals looking to dance. It also features comedy nights. , Jose's Mexican Bar and Grill is a semi-upscale Mexican restaurant but be sure and go down the side steps to find the lively bar downstairs.

.The bar at Cibo Ristorante Italiano features live jazz for it's largely upscale patrons. Britannia Arms is a cozy British pub with a live band. Around the corner is Doc's, a busy dance club that stays open until 3. On "the Row," .Down by the bay, between Fisherman's Wharf and the pier,

When it's time to eat, there's a mind-numbing number of outstanding choices. Tarpy's Roadhouse is a bit inland on Highway 68 (halfway to Laguna Seca) and is perfect for lunch. Afterward, take the tour of the small winery next door. The area's best restaurant has long been the Sardine Factory. It's really enjoyable on an expense account. The Row is lined with seafood restaurants and Fisherman's Wharf is all about fresh seafood.

Adjacent Carmel is so exclusive it has art galleries on every block that the residents actually shop in and houses that don't require a mailing address. Any restaurant here is likely to be excellent.The Green Grocery has a classy patio outside and a rustic bar with a fireplace downstairs that keeps diners cozy. Roy's in Spanish Bay is upscale food in an upscale atmosphere; there's a couple of equally elegant bars on the property for those after-dinner drinks.

Local resident Clint Eastwood used to own the Hog's Breath, which also has a fireplace in a brick-floor restaurant/bar. For fun, check out Jack London's Bar, a dive in the middle of elegance (we just love the contrast). Away from downtown in Carmel Valley is another casual spot with killer margaritas, Baja Cantina. It's obvious the owner is a huge race car fan.

It does gets chilly in Monterey and Carmel at night, so always take a jacket or sweatshirt.

Can you tell we like this place!?

Famous Laguna Seca is not far from Monterey's beautiful bay.

Next on the Party Bus: Single in the City!

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