Illustration of a scenic landscape with a bridge over water, pine trees on each side, a setting sun, and a crescent moon in the sky, with the words 'GATEWAY TO BIG SUR' in bold letters at the top.

Gateway to Big Sur

If you're headed down California’s iconic Highway 1 toward Big Sur, you’ll pass through a magical stretch of coastline that locals fondly call the Gateway to Big Sur. This scenic area, stretching roughly from Monterey to Carmel. It’s a destination all its own, filled with incredible food, outdoor adventures and cozy accommodations that set the tone for your Big Sur journey.

Close-up of a gourmet seafood dish with a fried onion ring, a poached egg, and greens on top, served on a bed of vegetables and sauce.
Coastal landscape with green hills, rocky shoreline, and a bridge in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.
A two-story Italian-style building with white stucco exterior, flower pots on the balcony, and blue awnings over windows and entrance. Flags are displayed on the building. A bicycle is parked outside the entrance.
A sign reading 'Carmel River Inn' with a building behind it that has yellow railings and a tree-lined background. The foreground is filled with colorful flowering plants and bushes.

Best Lodging:

Nestled just outside Big Sur, the Carmel River Inn & Cottages offers travelers a unique blend of rustic charm and modern comfort at the very start of the famous Highway 1 coast. Located at the “entrance of the stunning Big Sur coast”, this inn sits amid a pastoral river setting that serves as an ideal “basecamp to the adventurous areas” nearby, allowing guests to fully enjoy the natural beauty of the Monterey Peninsula. Only a few minutes’ drive from Carmel-by-the-Sea, yet bordering the wild Big Sur region, Carmel River Inn provides a scenic, relaxing stop for road trippers, couples, and nature lovers gearing up to explore Big Sur.

A circle of gray Adirondack chairs arranged around a fire pit with rocks, in an outdoor garden setting with hydrangea bushes and trees.

Best Activity:

Big Sur Adventures

A sign for Big Sur Adventures, featuring a camera shutter design with a landscape of a bridge over water during sunset inside the shutter blades. A bicycle with a black saddlebag is below the sign, and a potted plant is beside the wall.

Big Sur Adventures offers one-of-a-kind tours of all of the area’s best sights! See Carmel, Monterey, and Pacific Grove on the back of one of our electric bikes – our powerful eBikes make climbing the region’s hills and inclines a breeze! Take the scenic route on the 17-Mile Drive Tour and see one of the country’s most picturesque rides. For beginner cyclists or those wanting a slower pace, our Family Friendly 17 Mile Drive Tour and Carmel-by-the-Sea Tour are made for you! With miles of ocean-front riding, you’re sure to spot tons of wildlife while you learn about our rich history. Looking for something a little more advanced? Our intimate Big Sur’s Old Coast Road Tour takes you into the back country on the old dirt wagon road. Optional hotel pickup in our open Jeep Wrangler adds to the adventure! We have public tours everyday, but if you want to have an intimate experience with your family, can readily organize a private experience of all of the above.

Two people with mountain bikes overlooking the ocean with a large bridge in the background, surrounded by green hills and vegetation.

Best Dinner:

For dinner check out Le Bicyclette in Carmel-by-the-Sea or il vecchio in Pacific Grove.

Pre‑Big Sur dinner destinations! Memorable meals that set the tone before the epic coast ahead. Kick off your trip with French‑inspired flair at Le Bicyclette in Carmel or savor hearty Italian at il vecchio in nearby Pacific Grove. Both perfect preludes (or post‑coast celebrations) around your Big Sur adventure.

Both restaurants are located just north of the Big Sur stretch, making them ideal for a special send-off meal before driving into Big Sur’s wilderness.

Whether you’re seeking rustic European charm or soul-satisfying Italian fare, Le Bicyclette and il vecchio offer culinary experiences that elevate your Big Sur trip from scenic to unforgettable.

Fried fish fillet topped with a breaded onion ring and microgreens, served on a plate with vegetables and sauce.
A colorful salad with sliced peaches, edible flower petals, greens, cheese, and possibly bacon or other toppings in a black bowl.
Plate of cooked shrimp garnished with herbs and lemon, with grilled broccoli and a glass of beer in the background.
A plate of shrimp and rice garnished with microgreens and grated cheese, with a grilled yellow pepper and a lemon wedge, and a glass of red wine in the background.

Best Lunch:

For Lunch grab Dametra Fresh Mediterranean, located in the Del Monte Shopping Center, Dametra Fresh Mediterranean is the quick-service sister of Carmel’s renowned Dametra Café. Perfect for travelers seeking flavorful Mediterranean fare without a long detour.

Also check out Toro Sushi in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Toro Sushi is a casual yet refined sushi bar known for its commitment to high-quality fish, thoughtful sake pairings and a friendly, welcoming vibe.

A bowl of poke with diced raw fish, avocado, sliced cucumber, shredded onions, shredded radish, and greens.
Vegetable kebab skewer with grilled chicken, yellow rice, and side salad with cucumber and onion, served with samosa in a takeout container.
Close-up of a burrito cut in half, revealing chicken, lettuce, cheese, and sauce inside a flour tortilla.

Best Breakfast:

Wake up to Rosines in Monterey. Rosine’s is a family‑run breakfast spot beloved for comfort food and nostalgic charm. It’s been serving hearty American‑Italian dishes for over 44 years, earning national attention after featuring on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives.

Don’t forget to go to Point Pinos Grill in Pacific Grove. Situated in the scenic Point Pinos golf course, Point Pinos Grill combines breathtaking ocean and fairway views with an award-winning breakfast and brunch menu. The Huevos Rancheros are the best on the peninsula, see the picture below.

A tall glass of Bloody Mary cocktail topped with a fried chicken tender, pickle, celery, and garnished with lemon and vegetable skewers. The glass has the logo of The Grill at Point Pinos.
A coastal scene with a rocky cliffside, a small waterfall flowing into the ocean, surrounded by sandy beach, turquoise water, and tall dry grasses in the foreground.
A plate with a waffle topped with sliced strawberries and a scoop of vanilla ice cream, with whipped cream and a fried egg in the background.
Plate of Mexican food including sliced avocado, stacked potato cubes, and beef enchiladas with sauce, cheese and toppings, with sides of sour cream, chopped tomatoes, chopped herbs, and a lime in the background.

Best Market:

Entrance sign of Nielsen Bros. Market with shelves inside showing various products and two people shopping.

Nielsen Brothers Market is one of the oldest grocery stores in the United States. Nielsen Brothers was founded in 1930 by Harold and Walter Nielsen offering fresh, locally sourced, natural and organic foods, wines and spirits. Nielsen Brothers was the first full service grocery store in Carmel By the Sea, the first grocery store to offer liquor after Prohibition was repealed and the first to offer local residents the convenience of home delivery services

Nielsen Brothers Market has been continuously family owned and operated for the last 94 years, and still locally owned and managed by an experienced husband and wife team that has renewed the store’s commitment to the founder’s vision of providing fresh, locally sourced, natural and organic foods, wines and spirits to our valued local residents and tourists.

Sign for Nigelson Bros. Market with a cartoon of a man at a counter, surrounded by a green frame. Background features a building with a red tile roof and greenery, with orange flowers in the foreground.
Display of fresh fruits and vegetables in a grocery store, including grapes, cucumbers, lemons, limes, carrots, mushrooms, and herbs.