Carmel, California: The Most Dog-Friendly Town?
Carmel-by-the-Sea is known as the #1 Dog Friendly Town in America, and for good reason! From dog-friendly beaches, to restaurants and hotels, Carmel has it all. Plus it’s also just so scenic and charming!
Last April we did a 2-week California coast road trip (more details on this full itinerary soon), and Mitch and I both agreed that Carmel was such a highlight. From the charming fairytale feeling of the town, to the laid back beach vibe, it is truly the perfect place to relax and enjoy a unique dog-friendly vacation.
Things to do
Explore Carmel Village - downtown Carmel feels like a fairytale, and is know for its boutique shops, art galleries, and storybook architecture. One of the best activities is to just walk through town and pop in to the shops or restaurants. Be sure to snag your dog a souvenir from one of the local pet stores: Diggity Dog, Carmel Dog Shop, or Brad’s Barkery.
Mad Dogs & Englishmen Bike Rental (with a sidecar for your dog!) - by far the highlight of our visit to Carmel was renting e-bikes, along with doggy sidecars for Zoey & Otto. They have the perfect setup to help you strap in your pup to ensure they are safe and secure, along with fun optional accessories like dog helmets and goggles. With e-bikes you can spend the perfect day exploring: ride along Carmel Scenic drive, pit stop at a dog-friendly beach, or even cruise along the iconic 17 Mile Drive (more details on this below).
Carmel Beach - not only is this one of the most scenic beaches, but it is also extremely dog-friendly. Dogs can run and play off leash all day, as long as they are under voice control. Waste bags are also provided at beach entry points and stairways.
Carmel River State Beach - this beautiful mile long beach is a state beach, and as such requires that dogs be on leash at all times. This would be a great spot for a beach picnic!
17 Mile Drive - this iconic drive runs through Pebble Beach on the Monterey Peninsula, and has to be one of the most stunning stretches of the California coastline. Be sure to allow plenty of time to stop at all of the scenic pull offs, including several gorgeous beaches (many that are also dog-friendly, be sure to adhere to any posted signs). Note that there is a $12 toll per vehicle.
Experience the Pebble Beach bagpiper - for a perfect dog-friendly sunset experience, head to the Inn at Spanish Bay. They have seats around fire pits, as well as tables on the lawn. You can enjoy the ocean view along with a menu of drinks and appetizers. In a tradition that started in 1987, every evening there is a bagpiper that plays, and the performance concludes at the Spanish Bay fire pits. The performance times vary seasonally, so be sure to check out the Pebble Beach website for current times and details.
Wine Tasting - just 15 minutes from downtown Carmel is Carmel Valley, which is home to about twenty wineries. We really enjoyed Folktale Winery & Vineyards, the setting is beyond charming and the wine and food options are delicious. There is also plenty of outdoor dog-friendly seating.
Dog-friendly Whale Watching - believe it or not, well-behaved dogs are welcome to join you on a whale watching boat trip with Monterey Bay Whale Watch. Just be sure to plan ahead if you are prone to seasickness!
Day trip to Big Sur - the 45 minute drive from Carmel to Big Sur is one of the most spectacular stretches of the California Coastline. Be sure to pitstop for a photo op at the iconic Bixby Bridge, and visit Pfeiffer Beach while you’re there!
Walking / Hiking
Carmel Meadows - great for a short hike with beautiful views of the coastline. The loop is just over half a mile, and you can also connect from the trailhead to the beach.
Garland Ranch Regional Park - a popular spot for leisure and dog-friendly hiking in Carmel Valley, with off leash trails.
Monterey Bay Coastal Trail - this popular walking trail is part of the 1,200-mile Coastal Trail that is planned to run the length of California. I would recommend beginning your walk at Pacific Grove’s Lovers Point. After taking in the beautiful cliffside views, you can then continue on toward Monterey.
Places to eat and drink
The great thing about a place as dog-friendly as Carmel is that most restaurants have patios, and most places with patios do allow dogs. Of course always ask to be sure, but there are truly so many great options. Below are some that we would recommend.
Eateries:
Stationæry - a great local spot that is known for their brunch, serving in-season items that are primarily sourced from Monterey & Santa Cruz County farms and ranches. You can also visit their take-away window for quick bites, coffee and wine. They also serve dinner from Thursday-Saturday, and even have a special menu for pups.
The Pocket - a newer spot with a great dog-friendly patio that serves delicious seasonal items, paired with delicious cocktails and wine.
Toro Sushi - the spot to go if you’re craving sushi or other Japanese dishes. Not only is the patio dog friendly, but they even have a dog menu!
Portabella - an Italian spot with old-world charm and a super cute dog-friendly patio.
Terry’s Lounge - located at the Cypress Inn, a great spot for dog-friendly courtyard dining. Your dog can also join you in the bar/lounge for a cocktail, and they also have live music most evenings.
Flaherty's Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar - a no frills classic seafood spot, with a small dog-friendly patio. We enjoyed the oysters, fish and chips and clam chowder. They even offered to make a plain burger patty for the dogs (I said yes, of course).
Breweries / Bars:
Wine tasting rooms - if you don’t want to head all the way to Carmel Valley for wine tasting, downtown Carmel also has several dog-friendly tasting rooms. A few to check out are: Talbott Vineyards, Dawn's Dream Winery, De Tierra Vineyards.
Beer Gardens - for some great breweries and beer gardens head to Monterey. We really enjoyed both Dust Bowl Brewing Co. and Fieldwork Brewing Company.
Bonus:
Mad Dogs & Englishmen bike shop now also has a specialty coffee shop. Be sure to pit stop here for coffee and a pup cup!
Nielsen Brothers Market is located right in town for a convenient spot to pick up snacks and/or sandwiches for a picnic
Where to Stay?
For how dog-friendly Carmel is, I was surprised how hard it was to find hotels that allow larger dogs. If you are traveling with a larger dog, check out these options below. For smaller pups, you will likely have many more options! The two Le Petit Pali properties look super cute, but sadly my golden retriever cannot pass for 35 lbs!
Vagabond’s House Inn - arguably the most charming dog-friendly hotel we have stayed at to date! The building is original, but the rooms have been recently renovated. The bathroom was stunning, and the fireplace was extra cozy. Your stay includes a continental breakfast delivered to the room, as well as an evening wine hour. They also provided blankets for the dogs that we could use on the furniture, which I appreciated.
Stillwell Hotel - this one recently opened and is on my wishlist for a future visit. It looks beautiful and has a much more modern/luxurious feel, along with an on-site restaurant.
Hotel Carmel - their website lists a 40 lb weight limit for dogs, but if you call the hotel the manager may be able to make an exception for well-behaved larger pups. They also have specific rooms that are pet-friendly (Classic Double Queen with Balcony), so be sure to look into this when booking.
Cypress Inn - super dog-friendly, even allowing up to three dogs per room, and also can be a more budget-friendly option depending on your travel dates.
Carmel Valley Ranch - while not located in the heart of Carmel, this hotel in Carmel Valley is truly a destination of its own, and would be perfect to tack on to a visit to Carmel. It is a fantastic and high-end property set on 500 acres, with pools, a spa and golf course. Also note, as part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, this hotel can be a great redemption of Hyatt/Chase points!
Do you have any favorite spots that I missed? Let me know in the comments!
Disclaimer: The information provided above and dog-friendly policies were understood to be accurate as of the time of this post. For the most up-to-date information and policies, be sure to confirm with the businesses directly.