ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT it the best coffee shop around. If the ever-present, lengthy line out the door wasn’t enough to show you it’s the best, their incredible offerings should. Be sure to try their unique specialty latte of the month and their incredibly popular Obligatory Avocado Toast. BEST LOCAL THEATER COMPANY Pacific Repertory Theatre (PacRep) Monte Verde Street between 8th and 9th, Carmel (831) 622-0100, pacrep.org This little nonprofit theater company has big dreams, delivering everything from family-friendly musicals (Annie, The Little Mermaid) to Shakespeare, while also managing the city’s historic Forest Theater, producing plays and hosting innumerable theater-goers. It all means a lot of stages and a lot of variety and a lot of skill, putting your Charades game to shame. Check out grand productions on the big Founders Theatre stage in the newly remodeled Golden Bough Playhouse, with improved sight lines, state-of-the-art lighting and an elegant lobby bar, classic works downstairs in the Circle Theatre, or a different vibe outdoors (wear a coat) at the Forest Theater. It’s a lot to take in, but somebody has to play the very important role of audience member. BEST MOVIE THEATER Cinemark 13 Monterey 1700 Del Monte Center, Monterey (831) 373-8051, cinemark.com Poker was popular among stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood and continues to be popular to this day—the 2017 film Molly’s Game details the real-life underground poker games that began in Los Angeles, attracting movie stars, sports figures and others with money to spend. No high-pressure games or taking a gamble at Cinemark Century Monterey 13. It’s an easygoing spot to watch the most recent Hollywood releases. It comes with a full snack bar with mobile ordering, tables and chairs in the lobby to enjoy a snack before or after a film and a video game room, along with comfy seating in 13 different screening rooms. So ante up for a ticket—the theater is a safe bet on great entertainment. BEST LOCAL THEATER PRODUCTION OF 2025 Waitress Pacific Repertory Theatre Golden Bough Playhouse, Monte Verde Street between 8th and 9th, Carmel (831) 622-0100, pacrep.org PacRep has had a strong year on the heels of a massive construction project. Upon reopening the legendary Golden Bough Playhouse, they took advantage of the improved Founders Theater stage, and produced Waitress in June and July. Based on a motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly, Waitress features original music and lyrics by six-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles. PacRep’s staging of the play wowed audiences, delighted to be back in this impressive venue and by a feel-good story of finding one’s inner courage. BEST MUSEUM Monterey Museum of Art 559 Pacific St., Monterey (831) 372-5477, montereyart.org One of Monterey County’s biggest museums was established in 1959 to collect, preserve and exhibit California art from the mid-19th century to the present, focusing on the heritage of Northern and Central California and early California images from the Carmel Art Colony. The collection features painting, sculpture and the West Coast school of photography—with strengths in early California art and post-1945 art. With four large exhibits each season, a lot of variety also visits these walls. With countless workshops and meetings that bring together artists and curators, MMA remains the mecca to those who want to explore the history of art—and the current treasures—of this region. In building a town in Sim City, an art museum was proof of success. The same is true in real life. BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE Sunset Cultural Center San Carlos and 9th, Carmel (831) 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org Featuring performances running the gamut from break-out standup comedians to internationally renowned classical musicians, the Sunset Center in Carmel is a first-in-class performing arts center. The main auditorium can seat 718, which would make for an incredibly large game of charades, if a group desired. A smaller black-box theater on the lower level is an intimate setting for discussions, theater or comedy. An evening at the Sunset Center also allows guests to walk through the gallery space in the hallways, where rotating exhibits feature the work of local artists from children to professionals. 38 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof Best Bloody Mary | Sandbar & Grill
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