Last July, Cooper and I hopped into the car and took a fantastic trip to dog-friendly Monterey, California. Monterey met all of our requirements – dog-friendly hotels and restaurants, beaches, and fun activities including a whale watching tour. Read on for our recommendations on how to plan your fantastic trip!
Our Choice for a Dog-Friendly Hotel in Monterey
While there are many dog-friendly hotels in Monterey, Cooper and I chose Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa in the Heritage District of Old Town Monterey. By Monterey standards, their pricing was somewhat reasonable at under $300 per night, and they offered rooms with fireplaces, had a pool and a restaurant on site. The boutique hotel was within walking distance to many of the area’s attractions.
Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa offers a Pet Friendly Package which includes the following:
- Pet Friendly Accommodations for Two Pets
- One BarkBox – Cooper Loved his Box!
- 20% Voucher at Esteban with Tail-Waggin Pup Menu on the Patio
- Complimentary Pet Bowls, Beds, Crates, Bags and Leashes
- Complimentary Wi-Fi and Fitness
- Pet Cleaning Fee of $50
Click here for more information on the Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa
Dining in Dog-Friendly Monterey
There is an abundance of dog-friendly restaurants in Monterey and the surrounding area. Below were some of our favorites.
Breakfast
The Wild Plum Café
731 Munras Avenue, Suite B, Monterey, CA – (831)646-3109
Directly across from the hotel is The Wild Plum Café specializing in fresh, organic, and sustainable American bistro faire. They have dog-friendly outdoor seating, but I sneaked out on Cooper a couple of mornings and got breakfast to go. Their Steamers are incredible with the fluffiest eggs. I chose the Pacific Steamer with steamed eggs, house smoked fish, mascarpone, scallions, capers and topped with tomato caponata. They freshly bake their breads and offer both savory and sweet breakfast choices plus lunch. Definitely worth a visit or two.
https://www.thewildplumcafe.com/
The Wagon Wheel Coffee Shop
7156 Carmel Road, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA – (831)624-8878
On the way to Carmel-by-the-Sea, you will find The Wagon Wheel Coffee Shop, a rustic old-school diner type of restaurant with dog-friendly patio seating. I love corned beef hash and eggs, and theirs did not disappoint. The portion was large and yummy. I treated myself to hot chocolate, and it came with a huge dollop of whipped cream and colored sprinkles. Cooper scored himself a slice or two of bacon, which he gave two paws up. You will find all the basics, eggs, omelets, pancakes, waffles, plus a full lunch menu. It was a great start to our day.
https://www.facebook.com/Wagon-Wheel-Restaurant-340069520536/
Lunch and Dinner
All of the restaurants below are open for lunch and dinner and have dog-friendly patios.
Café Fina
47 Fisherman’s Wharf #1, Monterey, CA – (831)372-5200
Café Fina on Fisherman’s Wharf is known for their Italian seafood from Monterey Bay and Alaska, house made pasta and ravioli, and vegetables grown in their own garden in the Central Valley. Coop and I had a late lunch there, and I started with their refreshing Pomegranate Prosecco Spritzer followed by the Roasted Gilroy Garlic and Fresh Mediterranean Black Mussels. I loved it all.
Grotto Fish Market
42 Old Fishman’s Wharf, Monterey, CA – (831)372-3769
There are a bunch of little restaurants dotting the wharf, all offering fresh seafood. We were drawn to the Grotto Fish Market, a blend of island style and fresh seafood. Their oyster bar caught my attention. I picked the 1/2 Dungeness Crab which came butter poached with Gilroy garlic and a dash of Old Bay seasoning. Being an oyster lover, I did three of the Fanny Bay and three of the Blue Points oysters. They were delivered ice cold with tangy cocktail sauce. I ended my meal with the garlic butter oysters, so garlicy and good. This was probably my favorite meal of the trip. They are open for lunch and dinner and are known for their award winning clam chowder.
https://www.grottofishmarket.com/
Tarpy’s Roadhouse
2999 Monterey Salinas Hwy, Monterey, CA – (831)647-1444
If you are ready for a break from seafood, Tarpy’s Roadhouse is just a short drive away from the hotel. While you will find fish on the menu, they offer a great selection of steaks including prime select filet mignon and ribeye, plus a grilled New York with truffle butter. First course was the iceberg wedge followed by the prime select filet mignon, served with garlic mashed potatoes, butter poached asparagus and mushroom and lobster mornay. My drink of choice was the Berry Bliss, a blend of peach vodka, bubbles, strawberry, lemon and simple syrup. They also offer a variety of beer, wine and even have fun non-alcoholic drinks. Cooper enjoyed a side of chicken from the menu. We both left quite satisfied. Tarpy’s Roadhouse is open for lunch and dinner.
Dinner Only
Esteban
700 Munras Avenue, Monterey, CA – (831)375-0176
Estaban is located at Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa and a 20% voucher is offered with their pet friendly hotel package. They specialize in modern Spanish cuisine including paella. I had to try the red sangria, an Esteban family favorite. Next up was their Rancho Paella, a rice dish with freshly harvested vegetables, local sausage and chicken. From the Tail-Waggin menu, Coop chose the bone marrow, a large half bone with exposed marrow. It arrived partially frozen and kept him busy throughout dinner. Dessert was their delightful Triple Chunk Chocolate Cookies. We walked back to our room with full tummies. Esteban has a Tapas Hour daily from 4:30pm to 6:00pm with food and drink specials. Reservations are recommended.
https://www.hotelcasamunras.com/dining
What to Do in Dog-Friendly Monterey
From shopping, dining, beaches or just taking a great walk, there are many dog-friendly activities in Monterey and nearby Carmel-by-the Sea.
Monterey Bay Whale Watch
84 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey, CA – (831)375-4658
This was our biggest adventure of our trip. Monterey Bay Whale Watch offers both morning and afternoon tours from 3-4 hours. Well behaved dogs are more than welcome to attend. Be prepared though, it can get pretty choppy. If you are prone to sea sickness, I suggest taking anti-nausea pills before you get on board. It was cold that morning, so both Coop and I bundled up.
We were thrilled to see quite a few humpback whales.
They do have snacks and drinks available in their store and on the vessel, but you are welcome to bring a bagged lunch or small cooler. Alcoholic beverages may not be brought on board, but were available for purchase in the galley when we went. Please click on the link below for more detailed information on the tours available.
https://gowhales.com/index.htm
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Just a short drive from Monterey, is the very dog-friendly Carmel-by-the-Sea with shopping, wine-tasting and a great beach! An interesting fact about Carmel-by-the-Sea is that there are hardly any street addresses, but not to worry, I was able to find all the locations below on my GPS.
https://www.carmelcalifornia.com/dog-friendly-carmel.htm
Carmel Beach
Ocean Avenue and Scenic Road, Carmel, CA
Carmel Beach is a gorgeous piece of land where doggies can run off leash as long as they are under voice command. There is a dirt packed road running along Carmel Beach to Carmel River Beach that is perfect for a walk and offers some of the area’s most incredible views of Carmel Point, Point Lobos State Reserve, Pebble Beach Golf Links, and Carmel’s famous Cypress trees.
Cypress Inn
Lincoln Street & 7 Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA – (831)624-3871
Located in downtown Carmel is the Cypress Inn, a historical landmark since 1929 and once owned by Doris Day, actor, singer, and more importantly for dog lovers, founder of the Doris Day Animal League and the Duffy Day Lifesaving Program. The inn is really cute and super dog-friendly. Terry’s Lounge is the onsite restaurant serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch both outside and inside. Dogs are more than welcome to come inside, and I enjoyed a cocktail in their lounge with Coop by my side.
Caraccioli Cellars
7393 Dolores Street, Carmel-by-the Sea, CA – (831)622-7722
There is great shopping in Carmel with many stores offering a cool drink of water and treats for the pups. You will also find wine tasting rooms. We made a stop at Caraccioli Cellars on a cute tree-lined street. I did a tasting of five of their award-winning wines which were superb. Reservations are highly recommended.
17-Mile Drive
The scenic 17-Mile Drive is a must do when in the area. There are several entrances which take you on 17 miles of road between The Inn at Spanish Bay and The Lodge at Pebble Beach. Red arrows on the road guide you and lookout points are clearly marked along the way. Visit Bird Rock, Seal Rock, the Lone Cypress, Ghost Trees and many more sights, all which offer breathtaking views. The admission is $11.25 per vehicle and is reimbursed with a purchase of $35 or more at one of the Pebble Beach Resort restaurants.
https://www.pebblebeach.com/17-mile-drive/
What to Know to Not Stress Before You Go
You will find several dog-friendly beaches within Monterey. Del Monte Beach allows dogs off leash, while leashed dogs are allowed on Monterey State Beach.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium in Cannery Row is worth a visit if traveling with children. It is not dog-friendly, so I had to leave Coop at the hotel.
Speaking of Cannery Row, it was a very pleasant walk from our hotel to Cannery Row and took about 30 minutes. There are a lot of shops aimed at tourists which are dog-friendly, but not too many restaurants with the exception of Bubba Gump’s.
Make sure to check the weather before you go. We went in July and found it quite chilly on many days and at night. Pack layers to ensure you are comfortable during your stay. Don’t forget a sweater for your pup.
For more dog-friendly activities while in Monterey, CA, check out the link below:
https://www.seemonterey.com/blog/post/pet-friendly-monterey/
I hope a look at Coop’s and my adventure will inspire you to plan your own fantastic trip to dog-friendly Monterey. We had a blast!
Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out my recommendations on my TLC’s Picks page: