Carmel-by-the-Sea

For decades, the stunning natural beauty of Carmel-by-the-Sea has inspired artists, sparked romances, and attracted world travelers. Rated a top 10 destination in the United States year after year, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a unique, European-style village nestled above a beautiful white-sand beach where everything is walking distance. From performing arts to hundreds of shops, art galleries, and restaurants, you can do everything or nothing at all.

Welcome to Carmel-by-the-Sea

Over the decades, several pocket towns that comprise the Monterey Peninsula have developed into some of the most sought-after neighborhoods in California, defining upscale living and the luxurious seaside lifestyle that accompanies Californian affluence. The pristine beaches, natural beauty, and artistic charm of Carmel-by-the Sea, and Pebble Beach—three of the most prestigious residential areas in the Monterey Peninsula—are accessible from Highway-1 via I-101, 156, and 68 interchanges as well as by Amtrak and Greyhound.

Carmel-by-the-Sea Real Estate Market

    At the heart of the peninsula, Carmel-by-the-Sea has an idyllic lifestyle that blends history, culture, art and music, global cuisine, and world-famous wine tasting rooms together into an unbeatable community—treasured by residents and visitors alike. Carmel-by-the-Sea is sparse and suburban, a gem of the Central Coast nestled amongst quaint and quiet streets featuring stunning custom-built homes and European-inspired cottages built by legendary architects. The area’s village-like charm is further accentuated by an array of heartwarming cafés, delightful restaurants, and a wonderful downtown shopping area. Carmel By The Sea real estate showcases beach homes & more. Contact the realtors and real estate agents at The Oldham Group to find beach houses, property, luxury estates & Carmel By The Sea homes for sale.

    Neighboring Carmel-by-the-Sea along the famous Seventeen Mile Drive, Pebble Beach is one of the most impressive and prestigious luxury real estate buys most golf enthusiasts can only dream of. It’s hugged by the Del Monte Forest, which provides a peaceful, private, and secluded atmosphere for residents—and its location along the tip of the Monterey Peninsula offers property owners miles of the most premier, panoramic coastline views in the region. The area’s reputation as an unparalleled world destination for golf precedes itself, and the seven courses available are among the many luxuries Pebble Beach community residents enjoy—including critically acclaimed restaurants, a world-class spa, and an equestrian center of its own. A variety of architectural styles and custom-built homes can be found in Pebble Beach, and most if not all properties come with tranquil oceanfront and golf course views.

    What to Love

    • Unparalleled access to outdoor coastal, forest, and valley activities  
    • Quaint, prestigious neighborhoods with quiet streets 
    • World-class golfing, equestrian, and viticulture communities
    • Architectural variety with picturesque views and landscapes

    People & Lifestyle

    The residents of Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pebble Beach are close-knit, family-oriented communities—and families with children comprise a large portion of residents in each area. The lifestyle of each community celebrates diversity, the arts, and the splendor of the outdoors in their own unique way, and all three are warm and welcoming—many world-class events held throughout the year in each community bring a number of visitors to the region.

    Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

    Mission Ranch Restaurant is one of the most idyllic spots to dine in the Monterey Peninsula. Beautifully restored by Clint Eastwood himself—you read that right—this farmhouse restaurant serves classic American comfort food and is part of the historic Mission Ranch—22 acres of meadow and pasture, with stunning views of Point Lobos, Carmel River Beach, and the Pacific Ocean. Guests can dine inside or outdoors on a heated patio. 

    Decadent French-Italian European country cuisine is crafted with fresh, local ingredients and Old World artistry and served within a cozy and unpretentious bistro atmosphere at La Bicyclette Restaurant. Their creative menu rotates weekly, offering guests an imaginative selection of flavorful dishes that rarely repeats itself. Working in collaboration with the Carmel Middle School habitat, La Bicyclette teaches local children about sustainable living and eating—with some menu items featuring produce grown in the school’s gardens.

    Cafe Rustica is one of Carmel Valley’s best-kept secrets. Warm, inviting, and set inside a rustic house with a charming patio, Cafe Rustica serves delicious and comforting California cuisine —prepared in an open kitchen that revolves around a stone pizza oven. The service is as top-notch as the cuisine, with flavorful dishes elevated by touches of Alsacian-French and Tuscan-Italian flavor profiles.

    Corkscrew Cafe is located at the entrance of Carmel Valley Village, offering an elegant selection of Californian cuisine inspired by seasonal ingredients and herbs grown on-site—featuring wood-fired pizzas, freshly-baked bread, and gourmet desserts. The venue is rustic and charmingly quaint, with Mission-style décor, delicate garden patios, and a quirky museum.

    Located in the heart of downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Plaza offers residents a relaxed dining and sophisticated shopping experience—with over 35 premier stores and boutiques and an array of fine restaurants. The plaza is home to three notable wine tasting rooms to discover the greatness of California vino—Blair Estate, Hahn Family Wines, and Wrath. Three levels surround a delightful, open-air courtyard with cozy seating nooks, outdoor firepits, and lush gardens that provide an ideal backdrop for Carmel Plaza’s Summer Live Music Series.

    Built in 1976, The Barnyard Shopping Village is a Monterey Peninsula landmark featuring over 50 merchants and small businesses, ranging from couture fashion and art galleries to jewelry designers and decadent restaurants. The cascading shopping levels are quaint, enhanced by an open-air atmosphere with mosaic paths and gorgeously-landscaped courtyards—Barnyard’s terraced garden setting has an art space, banquet areas, and a 4-hole golf practice course.

    Things to Do

    The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is one of the most exciting professional golf tournaments on the PGA Tour. Originally founded in 1937, the Pro-Am has evolved over the decades and spans generations of golf legends who have graced the tournament’s greens. The tournament is held annually, typically during the month of February, and the starting field consists of 156 pro-golfers, who are each paired with one of an all-star lineup of celebrity amateur players. 

    Begun in 1950, the Concours d’Elegance is an automotive charitable event held each year on the Pebble Beach Golf Links and is the flagship of Pebble Beach Automotive Week. Considered to be the world’s most prestigious event of its kind, the Concours d’Elegance draws approximately 15,000 spectators each year. This premier automobile celebration—and a can’t-miss for car enthusiasts—is also a competitive event open to both prewar and postwar-era collector cars, which are judged for authenticity, function, history, and style. Proceeds from the event support local and national charity organizations, with more than $23 million dollars raised through the years.

    Started in 1958, the Monterey Jazz Festival is the longest continuously-running annual jazz event in the world. Founded by San Francisco jazz radio broadcaster Jimmy Lyons, this two-day and three-night celebration of over 500 artists across eight stages sees over 38,000 jazz, blues, folk, and American song music fans each year. The festival is held along Monterey County Fair and Event Center’s 20-acres and has seen legends such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, and Diana Krall grace its stages, among others.

    Held annually on Carmel Beach, The Great Sandcastle Contest is an exciting collaboration event between the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea and the Monterey Bay chapter of the American Institute of Architects. This fun contest has challenged and inspired beachgoers of all ages for decades with a new theme for the competition each year, and anyone who would like to build a sandcastle can enter regardless of skill level. Judges bestow awards for multiple categories— from the coveted Golden Shovel to the tongue-in-cheek Sour Grapes Award

    Schools

    • Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pebble Beach are zoned within the Carmel Unified School District. Highlights include:
    • Carmel River Elementary School, Public, K-5
    • Turlacitos Elementary School, Public, K-5
    • Stevenson School (Carmel Campus), Private, K-8
    • California State University, Monterey Bay, Public, Bachelor’s - Master’s
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