30 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2026 montereycountynow.com/bestof Arts & Entertainment seating makes it a place you can linger comfortably and order another…and another. This cash-only watering hole isn’t judging. BEST PLACE TO SHOOT POOL Easy Street Billiards 511 Tyler St., Monterey (831) 333-0825, montereybilliards.com Ringmasters have a cane. Billiards players have a cue. They both serve a critical purpose: For ringmasters, the cane accentuates their over-the-top costumes, and the gaudier the outfit, the better the show. For billiards, the cue is what makes everything go. Easy Street Billiards is a classic billiards joint, where players compete in tournaments, grab a beer, watch a game and just have a good time around the bright green tables. Ever seen a ringmaster play a game of pool? Just bring the outfit—the sticks are provided. BEST VENUE FOR ROCK BEST PLACE FOR COMEDY Golden State Theatre 417 Alvarado St., Monterey (831) 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com Should the Led Zeppelin tribute band The Flying Circus visit Monterey County, there would only be one place to play: Golden State Theatre. The historic downtown Monterey venue celebrates a century of performances this year and never fails to please an audience. Musicians from around the world have stepped onto this stage to showcase their talents. But it’s not just for music. Some of the nation’s best comedians also use this platform—and not for lowbrow stunts like boutonnieres that spray water or pies to the face. This is for the standout standups. BEST VENUE FOR JAZZ Monterey County Fairgrounds 2004 Fairgrounds Road, Monterey (831) 372-5863, montereycountyfair.com In 1947 the famous French artist Henri Matisse created a colorful book of prints that was originally supposed to be named “Le Cirque” because of a continuing theme of featuring circus performers, but as he added new non-circus images, the title was changed to The Circus, from Jazz. The Monterey County Fairgrounds, which has hosted a lot of circuses during its long history, has also been the main location for the Monterey Jazz Festival for nearly 70 years, bringing in the best of the best in jazz annually to perform for audiences that hail from around the world. All the best jazz musicians have made historic appearances at the fairgrounds and continue to do so. If the best of the best are flocking to the Monterey County Fairgrounds, it makes sense it’s the readers’ choice for Best Venue for Jazz. BEST VENUE FOR BLUES Deja Blue 500 Broadway Ave., Seaside (831) 324-0044, dejabluelive.com One of the most famous clowns in circus history, Emmett Kelly, created the sad clown known as “Weary Willy.” Sad clowns gave people who were down on their luck or going through hard times a way to feel better about their situations, if only for a moment. Blues music has a similar goal, to share pain through music as a way to find comfort. In Monterey County the place to find blues throughout the year is at Deja Blue in Seaside. The club brings in blues artists for performances, as well as serving as a comedy club, soul food restaurant and bar. BEST SINGLES BAR Barmel 668 San Carlos St., Carmel (831) 626-3400, barmel.com Bars in Monterey County are usually part of something else—hotel bars, restaurant bars, wine bars. Not many of them will transform into a bit of a club after 8pm, but Barmel accepts the challenge. With its cabaret vibe and intimate space in the heart of romantic Carmel, Barmel attracts the young and curious—those passing through and locals. Clowns—yes, probably a few. But also strongmen and women doing high-flying ballet to the music. BEST SPORTS BAR Peter B’s 2 Portola Plaza, Monterey (831) 649-2699, portolahotel.com If sports bars had been around in oldtime circus days, the Flying Wallendas would be performing on one screen, Strongman Arthur Saxon would be hefting heavy things on another. After all, those guys were athletes. But if that’s not your thing these days, the brewpub Peter B’s offers football, auto racing, baseball, basketball, hockey— you name it—on 25 high-definition screens around the bar and dining Best Bar for Darts | The Otter’s Den
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