Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in Monterey

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchSpanish

Regions

Monterey / Carmel

Areas

CarmelCarmel ValleyMarinaMontereyPacific Grove

Top Rated

CharmingDog-friendlyFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasions

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeaway only

Seating Options

BarStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Gender-neutral restroomWheelchair access

23 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Rosine's Restaurant restaurant

1. Rosine's Restaurant

4.6

Exceptional(610)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• American • Monterey

Booked 54 times today

Rosine's Restaurant turns traditional American comfort food into an art form. This local family-owned and operated casual dining restaurant has been open for 43+ years. The Culcasi family, owners of Rosine's, have received a bit of national fame as it has appeared on Guy Fieri's show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives". Rosine's offers indoor and outdoor (pet friendly) dining serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, beer wine and signature craft cocktails. Breakfast offers include Eggs Benedicts, Omelets and a variety of other breakfast specialities. As for lunch and dinner, there is a mix of American and Italian dishes. Some of the most popular dishes on the menu include their Beef Minestrone soup, Chicken Parmesan and Lasagna. Scrumptious sandwiches, fresh salads and burgers are also elevated. They are known world wide for their award-winning house made desserts. A consistent winner with the locals for Best Comfort Food, Best Family Restaurant, Best Desserts + more.

A photo of Domenico's on the Wharf restaurant

2. Domenico's on the Wharf

4.5

Awesome(1661)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Seafood • Monterey

Booked 27 times today

That friendly salutation is an invitation to dine with us and enjoy exceptional bayside ambiance, gracious service and delicious food. Our entire staff here at Domenico's On the Wharf has extended a warm welcome to locals and visitors for more than 35 years, and we proudly present the best seafood in Monterey for your dining pleasure.Our award-winning list of wine features the best from surrounding Monterey County vineyards, and we offer extensive selections from Sonoma, Napa, Italy, and France. The freshest, sustainable, local and Alaskan seafood take center stage in our culinary creations, and we also grill up extraordinary steaks and lovingly prepare in-house pastas and locally grown organic vegetables.Our family style of hospitality continues to win a special place in the hearts of our guests. Let us show you to your table overlooking the beautiful bay waters with a sunny window view of sea lions and pelicans at play.

3. Jacks Monterey

4.1

Excellent(287)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Californian • Monterey

Booked 8 times today

Jacks Monterey is poised to provide a refreshing culinary experience in downtown Monterey, inside the Portola Hotel & Spa. Emphasizing local ingredients, high-quality seafood, and an award-winning wine and cocktail program, Jacks philosophy derives from globally-inspired traditions of California Cultural Cuisine highlighting flavor profiles unique to cultures from around the world. With design details throughout the indoor and outdoor dining venue to echo the beautiful surrounding landscape, the atmosphere at Jacks promises to be sophisticated—never pretentious. Jacks offers a variety of seating with a bar, fireplace lounge, and pet-friendly, outdoor space features living walls, bistro lighting, and fire pits. Open for Breakfast & Dinner. For more information visit www.portolahotel.com/dining/jacks-monterey

A photo of Abalonetti Bar and Grill restaurant

4. Abalonetti Bar and Grill

4.4

Awesome(543)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Seafood • Monterey

Booked 13 times today

Abalonetti Bar and Grill is one of the original restaurants on Monterey's Historic Fisherman's Wharf. Famous for Monterey calamari, we now feature more than 20 different preparations from local squid processed in-house. With ample ocean views, the Wharf's largest waterfront pet-friendly patio, a full bar, cocktail menu and local wine list, Abalonetti has been a favorite of locals for decades, providing a fun and casual waterfront dining experience.

A photo of Basil Seasonal Dining restaurant

5. Basil Seasonal Dining

4.5

Awesome(924)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Carmel

Booked 6 times today

Creative and modern Californian/Mediterranean dining located in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Our seasonal menu is inspired by the freshest sustainable seafood the Monterey Bay has to offer and the finest organic produce from our local farmers. Compliment your experience with fun and contemporary cocktails as well as an excellent selection of California"s most sophisticated wines. Our menu includes a generous selection of vegetarian dishes as well as gluten free options. We offer outdoor seating that is dog friendly.

A photo of Schooners Monterey restaurant

6. Schooners Monterey

4.6

Exceptional(3044)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Californian • Monterey

Booked 53 times today

Schooners, suspended over the waters of Monterey Bay, is a stunning restaurant featuring sustainable seafood and approachable, contemporary American cuisine. The ideal location for celebrating the Central Coast and the spectacular coastal region, the Schooners team commitment to fresh, sustainable seafood is reflected in the creative menu which features a variety of seafood options, both raw and cooked, as well as appetizers, soups, salads and main courses. A creative cocktail menu is served alongside an impressive wine list highlighting Monterey County vintners.

7. Fish Hopper

4.5

Awesome(3786)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Seafood • Monterey

Booked 89 times today

Experience the beauty of the Pacific Ocean combined with world-class dining on historic Cannery Row, just a short walk from the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The newly renovated Fish Hopper, housed in an original sardine cannery building, offers spectacular views of the stunning Monterey Bay from every table, including our heated outdoor patio. The Fish Hopper specializes in fresh, sustainable seafood, certified Angus beef, pastas, and live shellfish. Our seafood is either locally caught or shipped in fresh daily, and our produce is locally grown in the Salinas Valley. Some favorites include fresh Monterey Bay abalone, macadamia-crusted halibut, our famous “Tomahawk Chop” bone-in rib eye, and fresh Dungeness crab. Start your meal with our award-winning clam chowder, and indulge in one of our many exotic cocktail creations or a selection from our extensive wine collection. While enjoying your delicious meal, you can watch sea otters at play and even catch a glimpse of the occasional whale.

8. Grasing's

4.7

Exceptional(3096)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Californian • Carmel

Booked 27 times today

DINING UPDATE: Please call restaurant if desired reservation is not available online.Grasing's is open for indoor dining and limited outdoor dining (weather permitting). Please note if stairs are an issue for any guest. Please continue to visit our website a https://grasings.com for menu updates, holiday offerings and special events. Grasing’s, located in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, lies along the Pacific Coast in Central California in Monterey County. Celebrity chef partners, Kurt Grasing and Narsai David, truly created a gem. From friendly and professional service, an award winning wine list and seasonally inspired cocktails to the fresh and sustainable local ingredients.Please contact the restaurant to request dog friendly patio seating.

A photo of Beach House Restaurant at Lovers Point restaurant

9. Beach House Restaurant at Lovers Point

4.7

Exceptional(4349)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Californian • Pacific Grove

Booked 42 times today

Casual California dining overlooking scenic and historic Lovers Point Beach.

A photo of Casanova Restaurant Carmel restaurant

10. Casanova Restaurant Carmel

4.6

Exceptional(2410)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Italian • Carmel

Booked 29 times today

Our current hours are as follows.Monday - Thursday, Dinner 4:30pm to 9:00pmFriday- Saturday, Dinner 4:30pm to 9:30pmPolicies: We do require a credit card for reservations. We reserve the right to charge guests who do not show up for their reservations or cancel within a 24 hour notice. The charge for NO SHOW is $35 per guest. We will hold your table for 15min max, and will automatically allot 2hrs for your dining pleasure.Parties of 5 or more will need to make special accommodations with the hostess.Thank you for your continuous support!

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

P
Patrick
San Francisco Bay Area •1 review
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Food was excellent. Wait to be seated 30 mins after reservation and then when seated needed to get attention of waitstaff for food and drink.
More info
Basil Seasonal DiningPrice: Expensive• Italian• Carmel
•
4.5
E
Eric
California Central Coast •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Always great food at Jacks. My go to place when I’m at the Portola Hotel
More info
Jacks MontereyPrice: Expensive• Californian• Monterey
•
4.1
S
Sonia
Las Vegas •1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Great service so attentive and food delicious would come back
More info
Abalonetti Bar and GrillPrice: Moderate• Seafood• Monterey
•
4.4
S
Steve
San Francisco Bay Area •12 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Visiting a restaurant on a pier at a world famous destination as Monterey, one could think it would be too touristy for delicious cuisine. We were pleasantly surprised to receive attentive, friendly and comfortable service. Appetizers from octopus to roasted garlic was prepared to delight our taste buds The wedge salad topped off by in house dressing, crispy bacon, crisp and fresh, and large to share for two. Both entrees, stuffed salmon and pan prepped snapper, surrounded by fresh sauces and veggies were enjoyed that night and the next day, generous portions. Menu pricing, in today’s world was also unexpectedly competitive. We look forward to our next visit.
More info
Domenico's on the WharfPrice: Moderate• Seafood• Monterey
•
4.5
S
Sarah
California Central Coast •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Our waitress was wonderful and brought the kids meal out first to give it a minute to cool before our baby dug in! The food was amazing and the service was phenomenal!
More info
Rosine's RestaurantPrice: Moderate• American• Monterey
•
4.6

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