ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BEST SINGLES BAR Barmel San Carlos and 7th, Carmel (831) 626-3400, barmel.com As the name suggests, Solitaire is played by one. But there is no true winner in Solitaire. At Barmel, two can play, and both win—whether that be in a game that lasts for years or just for the night. Instead of stacking cards, you’re stacking conversations at the seatless bar, its layout nudging patrons to mingle to the backdrop of ambient music. So if you want to flirt, find a suit(or), deal a few drinks and appear available—Barmel is the place to play. BEST TASTING ROOM Scheid Vineyards San Carlos and 7th, Carmel. (831) 626-9463 1972 Hobson Ave., Greenfield. (831) 386-0316 scheidvineyards.com Some of us remember playgrounds of the past. They were set in parks, surrounded by nature—tended nature, sure, but green and nice. However, there were no safety measures, and kids could easily get hurt. We mention this because Scheid Vineyards’ Carmel tasting room is like a modern playground. It is clean, bright and well-appointed, with cushioned seating and polished tables. It’s urban fun. Go to Greenfield for the more rustic setting: Dog-friendly and surrounded by nature. There are two ways to play. BEST WINERY TO VISIT Folktale Winery 8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel (831) 293-7500, folktalewinery.com With so many wineries in Monterey County, choosing one can be a tasty gamble. If you’re looking for a sure bet, Weekly readers recommend Folktale Winery. What makes Folktale the Best Winery to Visit? It’s the welcoming wine garden that offers an idyllic setting day or night, or the grand barrel room setting for an intimate concert. Or perhaps it’s their award-winning wines? Folktale Winery offers red, white, sparkling and dessert wines paired with ever-evolving menus of seasonal California favorites. BEST ARCADE Oscar’s Playground 685 Cannery Row, third floor, Monterey (831) 241-6616, oscarsplayground.com This year’s Best Of Monterey County Readers’ Poll is themed to games, so it’s been an exercise to connect the winners with a game that best describes them. Here’s a winner that is literally all about games, so there’s no extra effort needed on our part. Oscar’s Playground has the latest and greatest arcade games (Minecraft Dungeons, Crusi’n Blast), with plenty of the classics (Pac-Man, pinball) that no arcade should ever be without. It’s not all about screens, either: It also has escape rooms, so you can also test out your strategy skills—without a joystick. BEST PLACE FOR KARAOKE Sovino Wine Bar & Merchant 241 Alvarado St., Monterey (831) 641-9463, sovinowinebar.com Claire Sutton, owner of Sovino Wine Bar & Merchant, says her favorite game is Fishbowl—a combination of charades and Catch Phrase. Similar rules can apply for karaoke. Belting out your favorite tunes demands hitting those notes and remembering lyrics while working the crowd—at least that’s what most of the regular participants do on karaoke nights. Sutton OPEN Mon-Thurs 3pm-10pm • Fri & Sat 3pm-12am Sun 3pm-9pm. 511 Tyler Street, Monterey (across from the Transit Center) 831.333.0825 • www.montereybilliards.com · Happy Hour Daily from 3-5pm with table rate of $14/hour · Happy Hour All Day Sunday & Monday with table rate of $14/hour · 10 craft beers on tap · Full bar, wine, soft drinks · Premium cigars · Outdoor smoking patio · Dart & Billiard Leagues weekly · Monday night 9-ball tournament ‘17- ‘25 Thank you Best Place to Play Pool for choosing Easy Street as the Enjoy Monterey’s Premier Night Spot for Recreation and Serious Play. montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 33
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