The trappy Central Tailspin town of Monterey, California, has unchangingly held a special place in my heart. It’s where I spent my early childhood. But it was only as an sultana that I could truly learn to fathom it, expressly where drinking was concerned. Plane though Monterey is an established AVA with a noteworthy wine scene, I tend to visit for the tropical libations, craft cocktails, and whiskey. Considering how much there is to do there—from sightseeing to Laguna Seca car events to wine tasting—it’s good to have options to suit every mood and craving. Here are my favorite places to imbibe in Monterey.
The Crown & Anchor
When I’m in the mood for a unstudied night with a Black and Tan, a shot of whiskey, and some fish and chips, I throne to this underground British pub, located in historic Downtown Monterey. It opened in 1998 and has been voted the weightier pub in Monterey County Weekly for 19 years. (They first won in 2003, winning every year until 2014, then won then in 2015 and held the crown overly since.) There’s plenty on offer: well-nigh 20 beers on tap, including English ales and Irish stouts, plus a list of Irish whiskey and scotch. On dreary nights when the fog rolls in, there’s something comforting well-nigh sitting at the bar and digging into a trencher of chowder between sips of ale.
Cella Restaurant & Bar
Like Stokes Adobe, which is just up the street on Polk, this restaurant features spanking-new cocktails and supplies and is moreover situated in a trappy historic building. But while Stokes feels a bit increasingly like a special occasion spot, Cella, which sits in the National Trust Historic Site Cooper Molera Gardens, has a neighborhood restaurant vibe. For food, you can stay low-key with burger or opt for scallops or duck breast. And instillation manager Joshua Perry’s creative, culinary-inspired cocktail menu is compelling unbearable to grab a drink surpassing dinner or plane just as a jumping-off point for the night. Explore his original cocktails, such as the Golden Elote with butter-washed mezcal, Amaro Montenegro, corn distillate, piloncillo, and lemon juice.
Hula’s Island Grill
Wherever I travel, I unchangingly squint up the tropical bar scene; it just doesn’t finger like a getaway without a Piña Colada. Fortunately, Monterey has Hula’s, with a second location up the tailspin in Santa Cruz. It may not be at the level of Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco or False Idol in San Diego, but it’s still a welcome respite. I usually like to stop here during a scenic walk withal the tailspin from Fisherman’s Wharf to Pacific Grove. I’ll park myself and my dog on the patio out when and order pupus of coconut shrimp rolls and seared ahi wontons or a slow-roasted pulled pork sandwich. The drink menu features original cocktails as a well as standards, such as the Mai Tai, Zombie, and Tropical Itch, but my go-to is the Painkiller or the virgin Piña Colada if I still have sightseeing to do.
Pearl Hour
Pearl Hour is a must for a stirrup of creative cocktails and live jazz. The bar by Katie Blandin, owner of cocktail catering visitor Bar Cart Cocktail Co., is located up the street from Hula’s on Lighthouse Avenue. On Wednesday and Sunday nights, a live wreath packs the bar. Fortunately, the large patio out back, which is illuminated by candles, a firepit, and hanging lights, presents plenty of seating yonder from the crowds. Peruse the wide-stretching cocktail menu of classics, signatures, seasonal drinks, shots, spritzes, spirit-free options, and plane a monthly zodiac-inspired drink. Just alimony in mind that on nights when there’s live music, to alimony service quick, the menu isn’t available.
Stokes Adobe
For ghost stories and well-crafted cocktails, stop by this historic two-story wacke townhouse, which was built in 1833. Originally synthetic to be a private residence, it has housed several variegated restaurants over the years, including Gallatin’s and Restaurant 1833. But without a four-year vacancy, it’s now a Michelin-recommended modern cuisine restaurant with the ghost stories intact. Just order Hattie’s Old Fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, apricot, whiffy bitters, and citrus essence), named for Hattie Gragg, a socialite who was the last person to have lived in the wacke surpassing passing yonder in 1948. Plane though the menu by instillation manager Matty Eggleston is constantly stuff updated, this Old Fashioned will stick around. Like Hattie, apparently.
The Whisky Club
This whisky den on downtown’s Alvarado Street welcomes every kind of whisk(e)y drinker, from straight-sipping aficionados to unstudied cocktail imbibers. A serious scotch collector himself, owner Michael Sawhney wanted to share his wide-stretching collection, knowledge, and passion for the spirit with the world. Without a couple of years towers the bar, with delays courtesy of the pandemic, he and his wife LisAnne finally opened the doors in 2022. The bar, which includes a snifter shop in the back, offers flights categorized by price and region. Take a $100 Glenrothes tour or a $27 one featuring California whiskeys by Redwood Empire Distillery in Russian River Valley. Or stop by for a Sazerac or Manhattan. They moreover welcome dogs, plane keeping a stock of dog biscuits overdue the bar.
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