20 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2026 montereycountynow.com/bestof Around Town performances of feats of strength. At Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa you’ll find no high-flying acts or amusing clowns, just a luxurious hotel with excellent service and stellar views of Monterey Bay and its wildlife. It includes an outstanding restaurant, Coastal Kitchen, led by Executive Chef Michael Rotondo, as well as the more casual Schooners Monterey, which all help to explain why readers said Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa is the best. There is no entertainment center necessary. BEST PLACE TO DRINK NEXT TO A CELEBRITY Mission Ranch 26270 Dolores St., Carmel (831) 625-9040, missionranchcarmel.com Here’s a recipe for a fun night out: An energetic piano bar, an inviting indoor/outdoor setting with iconically pastoral views on 22 acres (with grazing sheep, not parading elephants), an origin story involving movie star (and former mayor) Clint Eastwood and recent special events featuring musicians who played with the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Monkees and Alicia Keys (that was just a Wednesday night). Given those credentials, it should be no surprise to see a circus star (or any star) sidling up to the bar, or up to the piano to belt out a tune— listen for the people who can sing too well even after they’ve had a couple of drinks. BEST PLACE TO SEE AND BE SEEN Old Monterey Farmers Market Alvarado Street, Monterey (831) 655-2607, oldmonterey.org As the wise Britney Spears famously said, “All eyes on me in the center of the ring, just like a circus,” and for many, that circus is the Old Monterey Farmers Market. The wide variety of local vendors has a special way of bringing the people out into the “ring” Tuesdays 4-8pm in season. Whether you are stocking up on groceries, buying locally made handicrafts, eating freshly made bites, or simply strolling, you will surely see and be seen. BEST PLACE TO GET MARRIED Lovers Point Ocean View Boulevard and 17th Street, Pacific Grove (831) 648-3100, cityofpacificgrove.org Marriage is like a trapeze act: each person relies on the other to make it work. The opening act of the performance—marriage or trapeze—is just as important as the middle and end, so why not start it off right? Lovers Point is one of the most popular spots for couples to tie the knot in Monterey County, and for good reason. The ocean views, iconic outcrops and plenty of amenities make it an all-in-one location. BEST PLACE FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY MY Museum 425 Washington St., Monterey (831) 649-6444, mymuseum.org Any parent will admit wrangling as few as three young kids can quickly become, well, a circus. MY Museum can specifically wrangle and entertain up to 50 (kids and adults), while also throwing a birthday party. The staff is well prepared for kids ages 2-10, blocking off private play hours, preparing goodie bags, setting up furniture, and more. For the second consecutive year, local parents have voted that it’s best to leave it to MY. BEST PLACE TO EAVESDROP Alvarado Street Brewery 426 Alvarado St., Monterey. (831) 655-2337 Carmel Plaza, 526 Ocean Ave., Carmel. (831) 293-8621 301 Main St., Salinas. (831) 356-0219 asb.beer The only thing that really silences an audience go silent is the drum roll before daredevil act. That’s because, people are having fun, sharing stories and people watching—all of which (minus the drum roll and daredevil) is Alvarado Street Brewery, making it the perfect place to eavesdrop. It’s a gathering spot and a happy place, with great beer (of course), food and even cocktails. So there is a lot going on. BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE Pacific Grove Golf Links 77 Asilomar Blvd., Pacific Grove (831) 648-5775, playpacificgrove.com They call Pacific Grove Golf Links the “poor person’s Pebble Beach Golf Links.” But that’s like comparing Cirque du Soleil to Cirque Medrano. Both are bucket lists when it comes to coastal scenery, it’s just that it becomes quite a bit easier on the credit line to play Pacific Grove on a regular basis rather than Pebble Beach. And with dunes and beach grasses, Pacific Grove is much more comparable to a true Scottish links—particularly on the back nine. The par 72 layout can be more punishing on the front nine, with clusters of cypress trees coming into play. So it’s not a favorite because Best Place to Drink Next to a Celebrity | Mission Ranch
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