Best Of ’25 Monterey County® ’25 The winners of the readers’ poll have passed Go. Now it’s your turn.
THE HEART OF MONTEREY 1410 DEL MONTE CENTER MONTEREY, CA 93940 831.373.2705 DELMONTECENTER.COM WHERE EVERY VISIT FEELS LIKE A PERFECT GETAWAY. THANK YOU For Voting Us Best Shopping District/Center and Best Hangout for Teens Best Restaurant in a Shopping Center - Kona Steak & Seafood Best Mediterranean - Dametra Best Salads - Lalla Grill Best Movie Theater - Cinemark Century 13 ’25
Explore More at JRROUSEPROPERTIES.COM J.R. Rouse DRE: 0129964 Jan Pratt DRE: 0144221 Matt Velasquez DRE: 01968946 JRROUSEPROPERTIES.COM 831-318-3808 Scan me for a Home Valuation Thank you, Monterey County Weekly readers, for voting J.R. Rouse Properties as Best Real Estate Broker. Your trust and support mean the world to us. Serving this incredible community is both an honor and a joy, and we are humbled to be recognized by you—our neighbors, clients, and friends. Here’s to making dreams come true, together. Thank you! ’25
BEST DENTAL PRACTICE for 9 years! Experience the difference of Monterey’s best dentist at an affordable price— just $75 for an exam and x-rays. It’s never been so easy to get established as a patient at Monterey Peninsula Dental Group, voted the best dentist in Monterey County by readers of Monterey County Weekly every year since 2016! We’re offering new patient exams and x-rays* at just $75, a $330 value. Just fill out the form or call our office and mention the special to get started. *Offer only applies to new patient comprehensive exam and full mouth X-ray series. Not usable for emergency dental visits or associated X-rays. SERVING MONTEREY COUNTY FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS The Monterey Peninsula Dental Group is here to serve all off of your family’s dental needs under one roof. We’re proud to provide a comprehensive blend of services including: Cosmetic Dentistry - Including 1 Day Smile Makeovers, Dental Implants, Orthodontics, Laser Periodontal Treatment, TMJ Therapy, Sedation Dentistry and all General Dental Treatments. Experience the difference that a dental practice committed to optimal health can make! 333 El Dorado Street, Monterey | 831.373.3068 | www.mpdg.com ’25 Dr. Emma Bhaskar Dr. Ryan Lehr Dr. Christina Blanco Dr. Ryan May Dr. Mic Falkel Dr. James Stoddard Dr. Michael Ha Dr. Glenn Takenaga New Patient Special
THANK YOU Thank you to the voters of Monterey County Weekly for making us a three-time winner 400 Cannery Row, Monterey montereyplazahotel.com BEST Hotel BEST Outdoor Dining BEST Drink with a View WINNER montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 5
6 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof Montage Health is proud to be your trusted choice. montagehealth.org Thank you Your votes are important to us, and the results are in: QBest family practice—Montage Medical Group QBest place to work—Montage Health
Strong Foundations Personal Connections montereycountybank.com Meet the person behind your financial security. Clarissa Rowe, VP & Community Relations O cer at Monterey County Bank, has been named Monterey County’s Best Banker for the fourth year in a row. At Monterey County Bank, great banking starts with strong relationships. Reach out to Clarissa today and experience banking that’s truly personal. Clarissa Rowe VP, Community Relations O cer 831-233-7008 montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 7
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10 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof ’25 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® ’25 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® CONTRIBUTORS PROJECT EDITOR Dave Faries WRITERS Marielle Argueza Sloan Campi Erik Chalhoub Tajha Chappellet-Lanier Erik Cushman Caitlin Fillmore Paul Fried Celia Jiménez Linda Maceira Pam Marino Agata Popęda Keely Richter Katie Rodriguez Sara Rubin David Schmalz Jacqueline Weixel COPY EDITOR Laurie Gibson PHOTOGRAPHER Daniel Dreifuss
montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 11 Copyright © 2025 by Milestone Communications Inc. 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, California 93955 (telephone 831-394-5656). All rights reserved. Monterey County Weekly, the Best of Monterey County and the Best of Monterey Bay are registered trademarks. No person, without prior permission from the publisher, may take more than one copy of each issue. Additional copies and back issues may be purchased for $1, plus postage. Mailed subscriptions: $300 yearly, pre-paid. The Weekly is an adjudicated newspaper of Monterey County, court decree M21137. The Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Visit our website at http://www. montereycountynow.com. Audited by CVC. FOUNDER & CEO Bradley Zeve bradley@montereycountynow.com (x103) PUBLISHER Erik Cushman erik@montereycountynow.com (x125) EDITORIAL EDITOR Sara Rubin sara@montereycountynow.com (x120) ASSOCIATE EDITOR Erik Chalhoub ec@montereycountynow.com (x135) FEATURES EDITOR Dave Faries dfaries@montereycountynow.com (x110) STAFF WRITER Celia Jiménez celia@montereycountynow.com (x145) STAFF WRITER Pam Marino pam@montereycountynow.com (x106) STAFF WRITER Agata Pope¸da (x138) aga@montereycountynow.com STAFF WRITER Katie Rodriguez (California Local News Fellow) katie@montereycountynow.com (x102) STAFF WRITER David Schmalz david@montereycountynow.com (x104) STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Daniel Dreifuss daniel@montereycountynow.com (x140) DIGITAL PRODUCER Sloan Campi sloan@montereycountynow.com (x105) PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER Karen Loutzenheiser karen@montereycountynow.com (x108) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kevin Jewell kevinj@montereycountynow.com (x114) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Annie Cobb annie@montereycountynow.com (x114) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lani Headley lani@montereycountynow.com (x114) SALES SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Diane Glim diane@montereycountynow.com (x124) SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE George Kassal george@montereycountynow.com (x122) SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Keith Bruecker keith@montereycountynow.com (x118) CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Keely Richter keely@montereycountynow.com (x123) DIGITAL DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA Kevin Smith kevin@montereycountynow.com (x119) DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION AT Arts Co. atartsco@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION CONTROL Harry Neal BUSINESS/FRONT OFFICE OFFICE MANAGER Linda Maceira linda@montereycountynow.com (x101) BOOKKEEPING Rochelle Trawick 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955 831-394-5656, (FAX) 831-394-2909 www.montereycountynow.com WELCOME Who, what or which is the best? It’s exceedingly useful to have answers to these questions. When the Check Engine light comes on, when you need a dentist, when you’re looking for a good taqueria or have a tree that needs trimming, you want a recommendation. We turn to the Weekly’s readers for answers. This year, the readers made nominations in 272 categories and then voted on the finalists. It’s a little game we play every year, presenting the winners in this volume. As you will see in the following pages, the theme of the writeups this year is “games”— board games, card or dice games, video games, party games, even games we played in the backyard. One of the reasons we write with a theme in mind is to add some fun to the process, both of writing and reading about the Best of Monterey County. It’s also a fitting theme. In any group of people, there will be disagreements on the best game to play. In any list of the best people, places, shops or restaurants, there will also be some debate—it’s likely each of us will differ on a few of the winners presented in this magazine. But we’re playing dealer’s choice here, and the readers hold the cards. However, we have one little ace up our sleeves. In the final section—Editors’ Picks— we present just a few of the worthy choices that were perhaps overlooked. That said, we hope you enjoy the Best of Monterey County readers’ poll for 2025. -Dave Faries CONTENTS 12 Around Town 28 Arts & Entertainment 42 Agriculture 48 Shopping & Services 82 Restaurants 104 Specialty Foods 118 Editors’ Picks ’25 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® ’25
XX BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof AROUND TOWN AROUND TOWN ’25 Best Of Monterey County®
montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 13 AROUND TOWN BEST VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula 700 Jewell Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 375-4454, mowmp.org They say not to play games with your food, but if delivering meals brings you joy, are you breaking that old rule? Maybe, but for a great cause. Last year, 300-plus volunteer drivers covered more than 199,000 miles bringing food—and something even more valuable, a visit from a caring person—to seniors and people with limited mobility. This nonprofit helps keep homebound clients healthy and fed, and also connected. Volunteers might check in, listen to a story, tell a joke, deliver pet food. Hundreds more volunteers help prepare the food and work in the kitchen and serve meals onsite for seniors able to venture out for a community lunch. In this endeavor, both the volunteers and the clients are winners. BEST LOCAL DO-GOODER Elsa Rivera You can find Elsa Rivera on the stage emceeing a variety of events, connecting the audience to musicians or burlesque performers or runway models in the annual Big Sur Fashion Show. But even more often, she is working behind the scenes, providing the administrative glue that holds together so many local charitable events. She’s on the board of the Big Sur Food and Wine Festival, which last year raised and donated $202,000 to 17 local Big Sur organizations. She’s active in the nonprofit All-In Monterey County, providing a free store with food, clothing and essentials to people in need. She helped launch the Big Share in Big Sur, offering a similar type of food distribution. She is a volunteer instructor for surf therapy through GI Josie. All of this volunteerism comes on top of her full-time job. She recalls when she first moved to the area, settling in Palo Colorado, knowing nobody. “I feel like the community helped raise me and my children. It’s a continual paying it forward,” Rivera says. “I feel like it is my life’s purpose to be of service.” BEST LOCAL NONPROFIT BEST PLACE TO TAKE VISITORS Monterey Bay Aquarium 886 Cannery Row, Monterey (831) 648-4800, montereybayaquarium. org In the game of Candy Land, all roads lead to the same place: King Kandy’s Castle. It’s a bright palace covered in candy, a child’s fantasy oasis. In Monterey County, we have our very own version of King Kandy Castle— you guessed it, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a star destination of our very own Candy Land. Swap out the jellybean windows for glass, with an inside look into the deep sea, the sugar paths for the sandy shores where birds burrow or search for bugs. That makes it the best place to visit, and it also has a mission that’s no fantasy: To inspire ocean conservation. BEST RADIO STATION KCDU 101.7 The Beach 80 Garden Court, #102, Monterey (831) 658-5200, 1017thebeach.com How often do you find yourself playing radio roulette? You spin through the presets until you find a song you haven’t heard 80 times already today. There’s a reason this station is called The Beach: because you can spend all day on it and never get bored. Today’s most popular hits interspersed with everyone’s favorites from the past are the perfect soundtrack to your volleyball game, frisbee fest or just lounging on the beach towel. BEST RADIO DJ The Morning Madhouse KDON 102.5 1550 Moffett St., Unit C, Salinas (831) 755-8181, kdon.iheart.com Sometimes your head is just not in the game when driving to work in the morning. You’d rather be in bed but your team is counting on you. That’s where Sam Diggedy and Showbiz come in. Think of them as your pregame pep squad wiping the crust out of your eyes and getting you pumped for your day. With a good mix of equal parts upbeat jams, daily news and gossip along with occasional comedic shenanigans they’ll change you from road-rager rethinking your life choices to the smiley driver laughing at the red light over something you’ve just heard them riff on. BEST LOCAL PODCAST KRML & Alvarado Street Brewery Pub Talk 5-6pm Thursdays 94.7FM, krml.com This station is always in the vanguard of our local airwaves, and this is not your usual talk show, with a recipe of local movers, shakers and arts and music makers along with Best Local Podcast | KRML & Alvarado Street Brewery Pub Talk
AROUND TOWN timely new product beer drops from Alvarado Street Brewery and an eye toward eclectic music and community voices. A recent installment offered Monterey’s official designation as a Blue Zone to an art opening at Sojourn, a fundraising promo for local vocalist Tammi Brown to covering an amazing summer algebra program for school-age kids by Graniterock. Wideranging, insightful and leaves the others behind, like getting skunked in ping pong. BEST SCHOOL Monterey Peninsula College 980 Fremont St, Monterey (831) 646-4000, mpc.edu Catan is a card game where the first player to score 10 points wins. It’s a popular game across players from different skill levels, because the strategy is accessible not just for seasoned gamers but also newcomers—it’s easy to grasp the gameplay mechanisms. Likewise, as an educational institution open to everyone eager to learn, Monterey Peninsula College is a gateway to the future. As students earn credits, they take steps toward something bigger. The best thing is at MPC, there is more than one way to play. Students can earn certificates in a particular skill, take part in enrichment programs or transfer to a four-year university, among other opportunities. It is truly a community asset. BEST K-12 TEACHER Malia Rivard La Mesa Elementary School 1 La Mesa Way, Monterey (831) 649-1872, mpusd.net Some games are just hard. Take chess, for example. It’s difficult for a beginner to master the moves. What they need to become successful is a solid foundation. And that’s what students in Malia Rivard’s transitional kindergarten (TK) class receive. They learn new concepts through play and handson exercises. In her class, students build confidence, develop social skills and gain experience in a classroom setting—all of which will serve them well as they continue on in education, life and games of skill. It sounds simple, but it’s the foundation for their long-term academic success. BEST COLLEGE TEAM CSUMB Women’s Soccer 100 Campus Center, Seaside (831) 582-3015, otterathletics.com You may have played foosball—table soccer—with a partner, one person controlling the defense, the other the offense. Take that level of coordination, anticipation and timing, then multiply it many-fold on a real pitch with moving players and you may wonder what the person who invented foosball was thinking. Soccer is challenging. But against tough NCAA Division II foes, the Otters advanced to the second round of the CCAA tournament last year—a complete turnaround from their 4-8-5 2023 campaign. The 2025 season started off well, with a 5-0 win. BEST PROFESSOR Renee Penalver, CSUMB 100 Campus Center, Seaside (831) 582-300, csumb.edu In the Go to the Head of the Class game, players win by answering the most questions correctly. In the case of CSU Monterey Bay students and alumni, they had a clear answer to the question of who is the best professor in all of Monterey County: psychology professor Renee Penalver. It’s possibly 14 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof ’25
Full Pg / no bleed 9.38 x 10.06 Full Pg. w/ bleed 10.375” x 11.25” (+.25” bleed) montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 15 WITH OVER 50 SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, SERVICES AND WINE TASTING CONGRATULATIONS Winners! HWY 1 @ RIO RD, CARMEL, CA 93923 831.625.4106 THECROSSROADSCARMEL.COM TO OUR BLINK OPTOMETRY Best Eye Doctor MYO Best Ice Cream / Frozen Yogurt SEA HARVEST FISH MARKET + RESTAURANT Best Seafood Market SUDS + SCISSORS Best Dog Groomer BLINK OPTOMETRY Best Eye Doctor CROSSROADS BBQ Best BBQ MYO YOGURT Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt SEA HARVEST Best Seafood Market SUDS & SCISSORS Best Dog Groomer SWEET REBA’S Best Cookie WITH OVER 50 SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, SERVICES AND WINE TASTING CONGRATULATIONS Winners! HWY 1 @ RIO RD, CARMEL, CA 93923 831.625.4106 THECROSSROADSCARMEL.COM TO OUR BLINK OPTOMETRY Best Eye Doctor MYO Best Ice Cream / Frozen Yogurt SEA HARVEST FISH MARKET + RESTAURANT Best Seafood Market SUDS + SCISSORS Best Dog Groomer
AROUND TOWN because Penalver says she bases her approach to teaching on how she was treated while a first-generation college undergraduate and graduate student in the California State University system. “I relied on professors who took me under their wing,” she says. Her students are mostly first-generation college students themselves. “I see myself in them and I think they see themselves in me.” She gets to know her students, creates a community atmosphere in class and offers flexibility when life sometimes gets in the way of studies. She credits the students themselves for how they collaborate in the classroom atmosphere: “I’ve worked at a couple of different colleges in my career and these students are a shining light, for sure,” she says. BEST REAL ESTATE OFFICE Carmel Realty Company Dolores between 7th and 8th, Carmel (831) 622-1000, carmelrealtycompany. com In poker, or even Yahtzee, securing a full house is one of the most valuable moves possible. Carmel Realty Company continues to build a winning hand for Monterey County, filling some of the most high-end properties around. This firm’s portfolio showcases the area;s most in-demand Carmel and Pebble Beach homes and luxury vacation rentals. As the Best Real Estate Office for several years in a row, Carmel Realty Company continues to go all-in for their real estate clients. BEST REALTOR JR Rouse 574 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 318-3808, jrrouseproperties.com “Do you have any three bedrooms, two baths?” Trying to find the perfect home today can feel like solving the Rubik’s Cube before the solution was widely known. In searching for the right house, it’s difficult to get everything to line up. But Monterey County readers feel like Rubik’s champions when they consult JR Rouse. Clients say they were lured in by Rouse’s organized and friendly home-buying and -selling experience, from moral support on the big questions to technical help on the deal-making. This group’s listings throughout the area help locals live the coastal California dream. Puzzle solved. BEST PLACE TO WORK Montage Health 23625 Holman Highway, Monterey (831) 624-5311, montagehealth.org In pursuit of trivia, here’s a bit about Montage Health, this year’s readers’ pick for Best Place to Work: Which workplace was voted best every year since 2012? If you said Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, you’d be right, but you’d also be right if you thought Montage, the parent nonprofit company of CHOMP. Montage encompasses not just the hospital, but Montage Medical Group, MoGo Urgent Care, Carol Hatton Breast Care Center, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Ohana Center for Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health, Wellness Centers and more. Bonus question for extra points: What was the name of the hospital that is now Montage’s Hartnell Professional Center in downtown Monterey? Answer: Eskaton Monterey Hospital BEST LOCAL POLITICIAN U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta District office: 1200 Aguajito Road, Suite 3, Monterey (831) 424-2229, panetta.house.gov Politics is a game not many have the stomach to play. But U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, has been in it for nearly a decade since getting elected to his seat in 2016 (and re-elected ever since) and witnessing firsthand the drama and turmoil that has gripped Washington, DC for most of that time. Panetta is one of those rare politicians who doesn’t believe in winners and losers, but instead looks for what is best for America, and his constituents, as a whole. BEST LOCAL BLOG BEST LOCAL WEBSITE Monterey County Now 668 Williams Ave., Seaside (831) 394-5656, montereycountynow.com Monterey County Weekly is printed each Thursday and available on newsstands in every corner of our county. What happens between Thursdays? Well, it’s like playing Musical Chairs. The music stops on Monday, there are stories. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday— there are more stories. Even on some Best Local Nonprofit, Best Place to Take Visitors | Monterey Bay Aquarium 16 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof
montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 17 1-2h 9.38” x 4.94” Thank you for voting us the best bank in Monterey County! Serving the Community for over 57 years montereycu.com | 831.647.1000 Monterey • Salinas • Hollister • Carmel #MontereyCreditUnion @montereycreditunion ’25 Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Your adventure activities guide for all ages FALL 2025/WINTER 2026 mprpd.org Watch your mailbox! ’25 Thank You For Voting Garland Ranch... BEST Hiking Trail Preserving and Protecting Parks and Open Space since 1972 www.mprpd.org VOTED #1 BEST PLACE TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY 2023 425 Washington Street, Monterey, CA 93940 MY Museum 831.649.6444 mymuseum.org A BIRTHDAY PARTY 2025
AROUND TOWN weekends. Heaps of stories are evolving around the clock, seven days a week. Things are happening now, you might say. Weekly readers have voted for the here and now. BEST CLERGY Father Peter Crivello St. Angela Merici Catholic Church 157 9th St., Pacific Grove (831) 655-4160, stangelamericipacificgrove.org Father Peter Crivello came to St. Angela Merici parish in mid-2019, shortly before the pandemic closure forced faith communities to adjust drastically. Crivello adapted right away, says Jordan Lewis, St. Angela’s director of faith formation and liturgy, with special attention to members he knew lived alone, checking in by phone or video call to mitigate the feeling of isolation. That is the empathetic philosophy that Crivello applies everywhere, looking to help people who are vulnerable. “He’s kind,” explains parish secretary Lorie Ford. “He’s one of these people who thinks of other people—when people need him he tries to be there for them.” As Lewis puts it, “The church does not live in a building or on a city block, it lives in the hearts and minds of the people.” BEST BUSINESS SIGN Other Brother Beer Co. 877 Broadway Ave., Seaside (831) 747-1106, otherbrotherbeer.com What is the ineffable quality that makes a sign truly great? A sign announces something, sure—the name of a business, street or in the case of Carmel, a home—but a great sign is much more than that. A great sign looks like it belongs where it is, like it may have even grown there itself. A great sign is art. That’s why readers love the sign at Other Brother Beer Co. in Seaside’s downtown, which is painted across the top of the airy, two-story building in beautiful block letters with a small drop shadow—it tells everyone who sees it what type of place it is: Unpretentious, cool and a great place to hang, the type of place that keeps a countertop stacked with board games to borrow. The type of place that’s playing to win. BEST NEON SIGN Dust Bowl Brewing Co. 290 Figueroa St., Monterey (831) 641-7002, dustbowlbrewing.com Set back off the street in a former train depot on Monterey’s waterfront, Dust Bowl Brewing Co. announces itself with understated elegance: A neon sign, not too big, laid across the depot’s shingle roof. Day or night, it’s right there, an illuminated hint of possibility. Dust Bowl is a waterfront gathering place, often splashed in sunshine, and the picnic tables in the patio out back allow for all manner of parlor games to enjoy with a beer— dice, cards, Jenga, you name it. And being just a stone’s throw from the Rec Trail, Dust Bowl is also a great place to invent a people-watching game. The possibilities are endless. BEST HOTEL Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa 400 Cannery Row, Monterey (831) 920-6710, montereyplazahotel.com You passed Go, avoided jail, now it’s time to don your top hat and head straight to the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa on Cannery Row. It’s been top ranked in multiple travel polls, thanks to its hospitable staff, elegant rooms, stunning views of Monterey Bay and outstanding dining options beloved by guests and locals. Choose from the relaxed dining atmosphere of Schooners Monterey or the groundbreaking culinary offerings of Coastal Kitchen, led by Executive Chef Michael Rotondo. There’s no Boardwalk on Cannery Row, but Weekly readers say it loud and clear: The Monterey Plaza Hotel is the best hotel real estate on the board. BEST PLACE TO DRINK NEXT TO A CELEBRITY Mission Ranch 26270 Dolores St., Carmel (831) 624-6436, missionranchcarmel.com Is the person drinking a sangria next to you a former Carmel mayor? Have they ever starred in the acclaimed modern Western film The Good, The Bad and The Ugly? Is your drinking mate Clint Eastwood? No need to break out the Guess Who set-up. If you’re drinking or dining at Mission Ranch, that eerily familiar face proba18 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof Thank you to the readers of the Monterey County Weekly! ’25 I am honored to again be voted the Best Local Politician by the readers of the Weekly. I also am very humbled to be chosen by people who are so thoughtful, caring, and committed to Monterey County. I thank you and the Weekly, and, as your United States Representative, look forward to living up to this title and your expectations by continuing my service to you and this place that we call home. With deep appreciation,
’21 ’22 ’23 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 Estate Winery & Tasting Room 1972 Hobson Ave., Greenfield 831.386.0316 Pouring from 11 AM Daily Carmel-by-the-Sea San Carlos & 7th 831.626.WINE (9463) Pouring from 12 PM Daily montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 19 ’24 BEST TASTING ROOMS ELEVEN YEARS RUNNING! ’25
20 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof AROUND TOWN bly is that famous movie, film or political star. Mission Ranch has long been the local celebrity hot spot, and like everyone else, they’re probably there for a solid happy hour and bar menu. But don’t expect to walk away with a selfie; Mission Ranch doesn’t allow cellphones—for a very good reason. BEST LOCAL EVENT/FESTIVAL Monterey Jazz Festival Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey (831) 373-3366, montereyjazz.org Big names have graced the Monterey Jazz Festival’s stage over its six-decade-plus history: Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Sonic the Hedgehog—just checking to see if you are paying attention. The list goes on, of course. What’s even more special about the festival is its focus on giving the next generation of musicians the tools they need to succeed. It offers various educational programs for young musicians, giving many of them a chance to perform on stages throughout Monterey County, including at the festival itself. Attend a Monterey Jazz Festival, and you can say you were one of the first to witness a future big name. BEST FOOD EVENT Pebble Beach Food & Wine pebblebeachfoodandwine.com Andrew Zimmern. That would be the answer to “Which celebrity chef hosts Bizarre Foods?” And if you were playing Trivial Pursuit, you would get a piece of pie…Hey—Zimmern, he was at Pebble Beach Food & Wine. So was Alice Waters and Maneet Chauhan. PBF&W is an annual gathering of the finest chefs, dishes, wine and spirits in the U.S. and around the world. It features dinners, seminars, tastings and more over four days. And while the setting (and the celebrities) suggest that it’s all upscale, some events focus on barbecue or burgers. And pie? You bet. BEST PLACE TO SEE AND BE SEEN Old Monterey Farmers Market 4-7pm Tuesdays Alvarado Street, Monterey (831) 655-2607, oldmonterey.org My neighbor, with a zucchini, near the acoustic musician. No, this isn’t a new version of Clue—it’s the delightful reality of the bustling Old Monterey Farmers Market. If you swing by downtown Monterey on any Tuesday afternoon, you may see a professor or a colonel, but you’ll definitely be among friends. While past years’ winners of this category were typically breweries, Weekly readers have chosen Old Monterey Farmers Market as the Best Place to See and Be Seen for the third consecutive year. But please, leave your candlestick at home. BEST PLACE TO PICK UP THE WEEKLY The Library There are mainly two things people do at the library—read, or pick up something to read. That being the case, it makes sense the library is where most people prefer to pick up the Weekly— it’s something to read, with some beautiful images too. And it’s not just anything to read, it’s about the local community, its people and stories, and you never know what you’ll find in its pages from one week to the next. Who knows? You might even find a board game. It wouldn’t be the first time. And here’s a fun fact: the Monterey County Free Libraries branch in Prunedale keeps the Weekly’s back issues until they run out, so if you missed a recent week or two, you might still find a copy. BEST PLACE TO GET MARRIED Lovers Point Park & Beach Ocean View and 17th, Pacific Grove (831) 648-3100, cityofpacificgrove.gov Marriage is part of The Game of Life. So are Millionaire Acres and the Poor Farm, but no need to face the Day of Reckoning board space yet. You just got married. And if Milton Bradley had known about Lovers Point, the Get Married space on the popular board game would have featured the park. It’s pretty. There’s a beach. And it’s a city park, so it will not ruin your credit (important, if you want to win The Game of Life). You feed your guests with the scenery—the ocean waves hitting the rocky coast, the greenery of the park and the splendor of the sky. BEST PLACE FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY MY Museum 425 Washington St., Monterey (831) 649-6444, mymuseum.org It’s all fun and games until…no, actually, it’s always fun and games at MY Museum, Monterey County’s best place for a birthday party. Birthday boys and girls get exclusive access to this children’s museum during these high-energy private parties, with interactive exhibits catered to youth under 8. Party guests can explore Best Hotel | Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’25 ’23 ’22 ’21 Thank You So Much for Voting Us BEST VETERINARIAN Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE • REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE Five years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 21 ’24
AROUND TOWN farming, medicine or construction; craft a recycled materials masterpiece or stage a theater show. No need to roll the dice, birthday parties at MY Museum are always a winner. BEST PLACE TO EAVESDROP Alvarado Street Brewery 426 Alvarado St., Monterey (831) 655-2337, asb.beer Simon says “raise your left arm.” Simon says “put the glass to your lips.” “Take a drink.” Did you drink? Gotcha! You weren’t listening. And while you go to Alvarado Street—as well as its Carmel and Salinas locations—for the amazing beer, the conversations going on all around you are great sources of amusement, information, rumor and perhaps even some astonishment. After all, there are people from all walks of life and the beer is flowing. “Tune it all out.” Hah! Gotcha again. That’s impossible. BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE Pacific Grove Golf Links 77 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 648-5775, playpacificgrove.com Golf plays games with you. You win, you lose. You make smart decisions or ones that don’t quite work out. You take a risk, find yourself in trouble and you end up feeling sorry for yourself. In other words, there can be a lot of aggravation. But not at Pacific Grove Golf Links. How can you be down when waves are crashing against the rocks, a breeze is blowing through the trees, the Pacific Ocean is spread out before you and—best of all—you didn’t have to shell out a week’s pay to play? The course is so awe-inspiring that golf seems like a trivial pursuit. Yes, Pacific Grove Golf Links is numero uno. BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE SUNSET BEST SURF SPOT Asilomar State Beach Along Sunset Drive, Pacific Grove (831) 646-6440, parks.ca.gov/asilomar Bring your spike ball set, bring your frisbee, bring your badminton net— but no games are required to enjoy Asilomar State Beach. Just look out at the horizon where the sun daily dips beyond the ocean (OK, a lot of the time, beyond the fog line). Weekly readers regularly rate this stunning stretch—with a big, sandy beach plus trails wending through the craggy coastline—as the best place to watch the sunset. Or dare to watch the sunset from the ocean—it’s also the best surf spot, cherished for those few precious glassy days when the swell (and the scenery, always) are just right. BEST PARK Point Lobos State Natural Reserve 27830 Highway 1, Carmel (831) 624-4909, parks.ca.gov/pointlobos There are a few games that truly feel emblematic of childhood; at the top of that list is surely hide-and-seek. You’d close your eyes while friends or family scattered in every direction, maybe spinning a few times for dramatic effect, and then voilá—the game would begin. Everyone had that one park that made hide-and-seek absolutely legendary. If there were a park today that could be everyone’s favorite—the ultimate either for the hiders, or the seeker, fulfilling your childhood dreams—it might just be Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, where one can run and duck behind a tree and peek out just in time to watch the otters play. BEST BEACH Carmel Beach End of Ocean Avenue, Carmel (831) 620-2000, ci.carmel.ca.us/post/ carmel-beach Sand “gets everywhere,” as Anakin Skywalker once eloquently proclaimed, so it’s probably not the best idea to bring your pristine set of Risk to a day at Carmel Beach. You’re probably looking for something a little simpler to set up, but with just as much strategy involved. How about a fitting game of High Tide? Once you tap out, take a stroll with your pup on the dog-friendly beach’s scenic path until the actual high tide rolls in. 22 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof Thank You, Monterey County! Voted “Best Hangout for Seniors” We’re grateful to everyone who voted for The Carmel Foundation. Every day we: • Provide nutritious and affordable meals to our 55+ community • Offer over 65 enriching programs and activities weekly • Provide a welcoming place to belong • Support seniors navigating life’s challenges • Provide affordable housing in Carmel Anyone 55+ can join. Membership starts at $60/year. The Carmel Foundation Carmel-by-the-Sea 831-624-1588 carmelfoundation.org PK PHOTO ’25 Aging is not a decline, it is a stage of life filled with growth and potential! Aging is not a decline, growth and potential!
“BEST OF” BECAUSE OF YOU 2014 - 2025 Voted BEST Health Club 12 years in a row. 24/7 Library material pickup lockers at the Monterey Sports Center and Fire Station 13! Thank you readers of the Monterey County Weekly! 501 E. Franklin Street, Monterey (831) 646-3730 montereysportscenter.org PROUD SERVICES OF Monterey Sports Center COMING SOON! 2009 - 2025 Voted BEST Library 17 years in a row. 625 Pacific Street, Monterey (831) 646-3933 monterey.gov/library Monterey Public Library montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 23
AROUND TOWN BEST PLACE TO BIKE/ MOUNTAIN BIKE Fort Ord National Monument Various entrances in Seaside, Salinas and Marina (831) 582-2200, blm.gov/visit/fort-ord-national-monument Open world video games as we know them today stem from 2001’s Grand Theft Auto III, where the player can go anywhere in a virtual realm, within certain restrictions. Fort Ord National Monument is very much the real-life equivalent of an open world game, with more than 14,600 acres of land to explore. If you can see it, you can likely get there. Just follow the more than 86 miles of trails, please, for your safety—this was once an active military training facility, and remnants are still being cleaned out. It’s a mountain biker’s dream, and plays host to one of the largest annual biking events in the world: the Life Time Sea Otter Classic. BEST HIKING TRAIL Garland Ranch Regional Park 700 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley (831) 659-6065, mprpd.org/garland-ranch-regional-park Garland Ranch Regional Park isn’t a trail, of course. It’s a jewel. The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District’s flagship property, Garland Ranch boasts a dog- and horse-friendly network of trails—many of them quite steep—climbing up the south side of Carmel Valley all the way up to Snively’s Ridge, where the views in every direction bring a smile. It’s got a seasonal waterfall, redwood canyons, tiny trails lined with ferns, oak woodlands and meadows, and at the base of it all, the Carmel River, where you might see young kids playing the oldest game of all: turning over rocks. BEST LIBRARY Monterey Public Library 625 Pacific St., Monterey (831) 646-3933, monterey.gov/library Like any truly great library, the Monterey Public Library is like a quiet town square, a place where there are always people quietly reading, whether on a screen or a page, lost in their own thoughts. Or maybe they’re sitting outside on the upstairs patio, taking in some afternoon sunshine and not reading anything at all. It’s always busy but never too busy, it always seems to have the book you’re looking for, and for local history nerds, the California History Room is a gift that keeps on giving. The library is a place to expand and sharpen one’s mind, and there’s no better way than that to up your game. BEST HANGOUT FOR TEENS Del Monte Center 1410 Del Monte Center, Monterey (831) 373-2705, delmontecenter.com Truth or dare? I dare you to take silly selfies on the phones at the Apple Store. If you were gifted a shopping spree, would you spend it all at Lululemon or Free People? I dare you to eat an entire extra-large popcorn while we see a movie. If you could eat at only one Del Monte Center restaurant for the rest of your life, which one would it be? With so many great stores and restaurants, it’s no wonder teens love hanging out at the Del Monte Center. 24 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof Il Migliore! THANK YOU for voting us The Best Restaurant in Seaside Mention this ad and get 15% off dinner! ’25 ’24 ’20 ’19 Open Fri – Sun 11:30am-2:30pm & 5-9pm Tues - Thur 4-9pm 1901 Fremont Blvd, Seaside (831) 899-5825 gusto1901ca.com We are honored to be selected by the Michelin Guide in 2025. Stop in and taste why! ’18
montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 25 • Alvarado Street Brewery • Avila Construction Company • Bayonet & Blackhorse Golf Course • Bernardus Winery • Bianchi, Kasavan & Pope, LLP • Big Sur Canna+Botanicals • Blue Zones Project • California State University Monterey Bay • Cannery Row Antique Mall • Captain + Stoker • Carmel Valley Manor • Casa Munras Hotel • Dametra Cafe • Deja Blue Soul Food • Del Monte Shopping Center • Domenico’s on the Wharf • El Estero Car Wash • Everyone’s Harvest • Fandango • Fenton & Keller • Golden State Theatre • Goodwill Central Coast • Gusto • Hartnell College • InterContinental The Clement Monterey • Kona Steak & Seafood • KRML 94.7 FM • Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula • Montage Health • Montage Medical Group • Monterey Bay Aquarium • Monterey County Bank • Monterey County Fair & Event Center • Monterey County Now • Monterey Credit Union • Monterey Fish House • Monterey Jazz Festival • Monterey Museum of Art • Monterey Peninsula College • Monterey Peninsula Dental Group • Monterey Plaza Hotel • MY Museum • Old Fisherman's Grotto • Old Monterey Business Association • Oscar’s Playground • Pacific Repertory Theatre • Pebble Beach Company • P.M. Landscaping • Portola Hotel & Spa • Rancho Cielo Youth Campus • Rosine's Restaurant • Sandbar & Grill • Scheid Vineyards • Scudder Solar Energy Solutions • Scudder Roofing • SPCA Monterey County • Sullivan's Auto Service & Tire Pros • Sunset Cultural Center • Tarpy's Roadhouse • The BuzzPR • The Carmel Foundation • The City of Monterey • The Fish Hopper • The Sardine Factory • The Quail • Woody’s at the Airport • Work Horse Bicycles To all of our Members voted The BEST in Monterey County: Congratulations! Congratulations from your friends at MPCC Best Restaurant for Romantic Dining ’25 It is our greatest pleasure to serve this incredible community. Thank you for letting us be a part of your celebrations and treasured memories - Pacific’s Edge at Highlands Inn PACIFIC’S EDGE HIGHLANDS INN 120 HIGHLANDS DRIVE 831.622.5445 www.pacificsedge.com 1-4s 4.6” x 4.94”
AROUND TOWN BEST HANGOUT FOR SENIORS The Carmel Foundation 8th and Lincoln, Carmel (831) 624-1588, carmelfoundation.org There are lots of games played here—mahjong, poker, bridge, chess, cornhole, the list goes on—but this senior-serving nonprofit is very serious about fulfilling its mission. This is a lively and enriching gathering place for some 2,500 members ages 55 and up for fun and games, yes, but also classes, lectures, a lending library and caregiver support groups. There is also attention on helping meet essential needs—meal deliveries for homebound seniors, blood pressure checks, free medical equipment loans and 50 affordable apartments for low-income seniors. Affordable lunches four days a week draw a crowd, also meeting an essential need—being together is the best antidote to isolation and loneliness, and this hangout spot for seniors is a place to thrive. BEST SENIOR LIVING FACILITY Carmel Valley Manor 8545 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel (831) 624-1281, cvmanor.com In The Game of Life, players wind their way around the board earning money, buying a home and adding children. Depending on the throw of the dice and the decisions made, players end up retiring to “Millionaire’s Mansion” or “Countryside Acres.” Carmel Valley Manor isn’t the mansion or the quaint country shack in the game, but it is a nonprofit Continuing Care Retirement Community run by a board of directors who adhere to the community’s original mission of providing high-quality housing and healthcare to senior citizens. Choose from a studio, to an apartment, or up to a full-sized home—there’s an array of price points available. Residents enjoy well-prepared meals in a recently renovated dining room with a stunning view of the Santa Lucia mountains. And there are a bevy of activities, both indoor and outdoor, as well as discussion groups, field trips and more. Carmel Valley Manor residents have won the game by landing in the best senior living facility in Monterey County. 26 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof for honoring our Women’s Soccer Team as Best College Team and Dr. Renee Penalver as Best Professor! csumb.edu Thank you Monterey County readers
montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 27 We are grateful for the continued support and we remain committed to support our community. to our friends, families and clients for voting us 26515 Carmel Rancho Blvd., Suite 200 Carmel , CA 93923 831.375.3151 | hudsonmartin.com 2023 CHARITIES SUPPORTED: ADVERTISEMENT Thank you! THE BEST ATTORNEY ’12-’25 In Monterey County Jeannette K. Witten Monterey County Weekly 2025 CHARITIES SUPPORTED: We are grateful for the continued support and we remain committed to support our community. to our friends, families and clients for voting us 26515 Carmel Rancho Blvd., Suite 200 Carmel , CA 93923 831.375.3151 | hudsonmartin.com 2023 CHARITIES SUPPORTED: ADVERTISEMENT
XX BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ’25 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Best Of Monterey County®
montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 29 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BEST LATE-NIGHT HANGOUT BEST BARTENDER Pearl Hour - Katie Blandin 214 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey pearlhour.com They say nothing good happens after 10pm. But who the hell are they, anyway? Poker is best during smoky, latenight sessions. Dungeons & Dragons can drag on into the wee hours. And cocktails at Pearl Hour in Monterey— just three examples of how “they” are wrong, with the last being the most compelling. That’s because Katie Blandin and her team craft cocktails using quality spirits and ingredients they grow or make themselves. If there’s a bitter or shrub, it’s their doing. These are striking and balanced drinks. And the cocktail menu changes with the seasons. Plus, Pearl Hour draws a late crowd. So yes, something very good happens after 10pm. BEST BAR FOR BOOMERS Sardine Factory 701 Wave St., Monterey (831) 373-3775, sardinefactory.com Where are the Baby Boomers hiding? Not unlike the game of Sardines, they’re packing themselves into The Lounge inside the Sardine Factory near Cannery Row. And why not? The drinks are plentiful, the service friendly and most of all, the music hits the boomer sweet spot. David Conley sings and plays the piano Tuesday through Saturday nights, belting out classic tunes boomers love from over the decades. And even though the space can be tight in The Lounge, don’t be surprised if the entire bar becomes a dance floor. It’s a fun vibe. BEST BAR FOR GEN X Alvarado Street Brewery 426 Alvarado St., Monterey. (831) 655-2337 Mission and 7th (Carmel Plaza), Suite 112, Carmel. (831) 293-8621 301 Main St., Salinas. (831) 356-0219 asb.beer Red Rover, Red Rover, send Gen X over…to Alvarado Street Brewery. It’s no surprise that the generation who grew up with a mix of digital and analog love a bar with a mix of casual and elevated. Whether you’re looking for a craft beer or a craft cocktail, bar bites or a hearty meal, Alvarado Street Brewery has you covered. They also have seating options to meet all your needs from the lengthy bar and the comfortable tables inside to the cozy, more communal-feeling beer garden out back. BEST BAR FOR MILLENNIALS BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR Other Brother Beer Co. 877 Broadway Ave., Seaside (831) 747-1106, otherbrotherbeer.com In Monopoly, the most famous of board games, there is curiously not a space for “Broadway,” one of the most common city-street names in America. But in Seaside, Broadway could be Boardwalk, the most valuable space, and Other Brother Beer Co. is its anchor. Long anticipated when it opened in fall 2019, Other Brother has become everything the community had hoped it would be. It’s a great place to meet people with its many tables and informal seating, and has a pup-friendly parklet on Broadway, where one can also catch some sunshine. It’s got great beer, killer food, free internet and, out back, live music on occasion. And in case you hadn’t heard, Other Brother is the bar for games. Aside from the two pinball machines upstairs, there are all types of board and parlor games on offer to borrow, and there’s trivia on Tuesday nights and bingo on Wednesday nights, both with the opportunity to win prizes you actually want—like an Other Brother gift card. BEST BAR FOR GEN Z Pop & Hiss 215 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove popandhiss.net What gets young adults off their phones and out of the house these days? Is it a game night? If the game is Hungry Hungry Hippos, then Michaela Kuenster will come running. She says that the marble bonanza is her favorite, even though it’s recommended for players aged 4 and up. For kids 21 and up, the best game in town is Kuenster’s music venue, vinyl shop and bar, Pop & Hiss. The place is a trove, with vinyl listening sessions, trivia nights, a photo booth and an Instagrammable bathroom (not kidding). All ages hang here, but the vibe goes for all the Gen Z marbles. BEST DRINK WITH A VIEW Schooners 400 Cannery Row, Monterey (831) 372-2628, schoonersmonterey.com In a game of dominoes, the tiles remain face down—not much to look at. Luckily for everyone who appreciates something beautiful to look at, we have Schooners. This restaurant and bar makes the most of its stunBest Local Musician | Katherine Lavin
30 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ning indoor/outdoor space perched over Monterey Bay, with strategically placed seating that offers views in all directions. The cocktail menu even references beautiful local sites—the Escape to Pfeiffer or Palo Colorado Nightcap or Sunset at Ribera all bring scenery from the area to your glass. Just don’t forget to look up from your drink and watch the sea, the kelp forest and the wildlife. BEST PLACE FOR DAY DRINKING Dust Bowl Brewing Co. 290 Figueroa St., Monterey (831) 641-7002, dustbowlbrewing.com Aside from alcohol, what are the most essential ingredients for a great day-drinking experience? Company. Sunshine. Food. And so long as the weather’s cooperative, you’ll find all three every afternoon at Dust Bowl Brewing in Monterey, where over the past decade, the old train depot has been transformed into a waterfront watering hole by the wharf, downtown and just steps from the Rec Trail, a people-watcher’s paradise. And when you combine all those things—the euphoric mixture of drinks, Vitamin D and laughter with friends—that’s how you put points on the board in the game of life (for those keeping score). BEST BAR FOR DARTS Bulldog Sports Pub 611 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey (831) 658-0686, bulldogsportspub.com A fistfull of darts can bring out the competitor in anybody. If your aim leaves something to be desired, you can hedge your bets a little by buying your competition a pint or two to throw them off their game. And everyone wins when there’s everything from quesadillas and chili cheese fries to tri-tip rice bowls and Brit dip sandwiches to celebrate the victory. BEST HAPPY HOUR BEST SPORTS BAR Peter B’s 2 Portola Plaza, Monterey (888) 222-5851, portolahotel.com As a kid, the uncontrollability of it didn’t bother you. But now, after playing Madden, returning to electric football would drive you to drink. None of the players go where they are supposed to! That’s where Peter B’s can help. Monterey’s original brewpub has two happy hours, from 4-6pm and again from 9-10pm, with $5 specials to soothe your frustration. But the beer lineup changes frequently, so there are new brews to try. But more than that, the spacious bar and restaurant has 25 televisions covering football (and all other sports). So you can just stuff the pointless electric football game back in the attic and enjoy the real thing instead. BEST PUB Crown and Anchor 150 W. Franklin St., Monterey (831) 649-6496, crownandanchor.net There’s no need to break out the Risk board to relive the ye old days of the British Empire’s global domination. Instead, locals have flocked to Crown and Anchor for years to get a properly poured pint and classic British fare, from steak and mushroom pie to a veg curry (because the British didn’t expand to India for nothing). Sure, folks can’t recount their strategies about boundary expansion, but they can partake in the British pastime of complaining about the weather over a foamy English ale. BEST DIVE BAR Alfredo’s Cantina 266 Pearl St., Monterey (831) 238-3082, alfredos-cantina.resmenu.com When you’re not looking for a mixologist, a rooftop lounge or wine pairings for a prix fixe tasting menu, enter the dive bar. For the dive bar Weekly readers name as best, look no further than downtown Monterey’s Alfredo’s Cantina. Dark and moody regardless of the weather or time of day (although not quite dark enough for a game of flashlight tag), this cash-only establishment is the best place to experience the best of what dive bars offer: Everyone is welcome, no one is impressed and the beer is always cold. BEST PLACE TO SHOOT POOL Easy Street Billiards 511 Tyler St., Monterey (831) 333-0825, montereybilliards.com Easy Street Billiards is in the heart of Monterey, next to Simoneau Plaza, which is approximately where bulland-bear fights were once put on some Best Bar for Gen Z | Pop & Hiss
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