Cannery Row Antique Mall
471 Wave St., Monterey 655-0264, www.canneryrowantiquemall.com Cannery Row Antique Mall is a vintage wonderland. Its two-story shopping center assaults eyes with hip relics dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. The challenge? Finding ...
Vanity Salon & Blow Dry Bar
481 Tyler St., Monterey 324-0092, bit.ly/vanity-salon Nicole Eldridge, owner of Vanity Salon & Blow Dry Bar, says she opened her salon intent on bringing a “new, fresh and trendsetting salon to Monterey with a welcoming ...
REI
145 General Stilwell Drive, Marina 883-8048, www.REI.com/Marina When the outdoor adventurer has an itch, REI is ready to scratch it. Need to always know your position in the world? REI has GPS doohickies that’ll get ...
Mum’s Place
246 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove 372-6250, www.mumsfurniture.com Mum’s Place ain’t your mum’s place. What appears to be a tiny furniture store on the west side of Forest Avenue is actually a magnificent 10,000-square-foot showroom of ...
Gasper’s
447 Alvarado St., Monterey 375-5332, www.gaspersjewelers.com An institution for more than 20 years, Gasper’s often commemorates locals’ special occasions with custom designs, certified diamonds and, oh, exotic black opalescent Tahitian pearls. These guys live to ...
Eco Carmel
San Carlos Street between Seventh and Eighth, Carmel 624-1222, www.ecocarmel.com Eco-conscious consumerism need not be an oxymoron. With the diverse offerings at Eco Carmel—part gift shop, part showroom—owner Kristi Reimers gives shoppers some peace of ...
Sly McFly’s
700 Cannery Row, Monterey 649-8050 The vibe of Sly McFly’s starts even before you enter. With the salt-sting aroma of the ocean as an escort and the lively Cannery Row locale, Sly’s is the place ...
Vapor Cleaners
1193 10th St., Monterey 375-5221, www.vaporcleaners.net This marks the third-generation family-owned business’ seventh consecutive win. Vapor’s claim to fame, aside from being one of the longest surviving dry cleaning businesses in Monterey, is their eco ...
Jeannette Witten
Parravano Witten 198 Bonifacio Place, Monterey 373-0486, www.parravanowitten.com What’s better than a smart, experienced attorney? A smart, experienced attorney with a conscience. Jeannette Witten fights the good fight on behalf of businesses large and small, ...
Hanif Wondir
Thursdays at Mundaka, Seventh and San Carlos, Carmel Weekends at Cannery Row Brewing Company, 95 Prescott Ave., Monterey 320-8745, www.hanifwondir.com This Wondir of the World’s evolutionary spirit animal is the orange-furred flying bulldog. The greater ...
Passionfish
701 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove 655-3311 www.passionfish.net Awards come to Passionfish like tides: consistently, predictably and for its connection with Earth. The ever-changing menu of seasonal and sustainable delights means your next trip to Passionfish ...
Restaurant 1833
500 Hartnell St., Monterey 643-1833 www.restaurant1833.com Here the mood, munchies and alchemic elixirs are so top-of-the-food-chain even Hattie can’t stop hanging out here, more than 150-or-so years after she kicked the pewter bucket. (The other ...
Mike Kolpaczyk
Sardine Factory 701 Wave St., Monterey 373-3775 www.sardinefactory.com Big 800-pound grizzly bears have been evolving for a long time—millions of years more than us cherubic humans. Big Mike, who enjoys about the same 6-and-a-half-foot height ...
El Estero Carwash
590 Fremont St., Monterey 373-1801, www.elesterocarwash.com El Estero has scrubbed its way to 20 straight Best Ofs. Two decades on top takes some serious attention to detailing, so to speak; here that includes a range ...
McShane’s Nursery & Landscape Supply
115 Monterey-Salinas Highway, Salinas 455-1876, www.mcshanesnursery.com Steve McShane enjoys something of a reputation as a hard-charger—in his work as a Salinas City Councilman, the volunteer leader of events like Salinas Valley Food & Wine, and ...
Plato’s Closet
402 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey 641-9919, www.platosclosetmonterey.com Plato’s Closet ranks first on secondhand shopping. Brands like Fossil, Old Navy, Forever 21, LeSport and Kiplinger hang in a rainbow of colors around the store. Visiting fashonistas swoop ...
Carmel Laser Aesthetics and Spa
3602 The Barnyard, Suite A-11, Carmel 626-6228, www.carmellaser.com Carmel Laser Aesthetics and Spa brings out the big guns with a staff consisting of a physician, a registered nurse and a medical aesthetician. They’re ready to ...
Pharmaca
570 Munras Ave., # 10, Monterey 333-0751, www.pharmaca.com No need to stress it at Pharmaca, where customers can fill prescriptions at the traditional pharmacy and tend to their well care with holistic over-the-counter products. The ...
‘P.G. Ace’ Hardware
229 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove, 646-9144 1136 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove, 372-3284 www.acehardware.com A study from the Wharton School plotted quality of life on a graph and used number of hardware stores as an index. ...
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
400 Cannery Row, Monterey 646-1700, www.montereyplazahotel.com After checking in, there’s really no reason to leave the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. Their largest room is a 2,100-square-foot Presidential Suite, while even the most modest rooms—whether ...
Nu Art Theatre
2116 Fremont St., Monterey 372-9410 Nu Art Theatre is where to stop if you’re on your way to your weekly orgy and need an extra toy or two, or if you’re in need of condoms ...
Del Monte Shopping Center
1410 Del Monte Center, Monterey 373-2705, www.shopdelmonte.com The big names can be found everywhere here—Forever 21! Victoria’s Secret! GAP! Macy’s! H&M! Pottery Barn! William-Sonoma! Banana Republic! Men’s Wearhouse!—along with key day-to-day stops like CVS and ...
Federico’s
542 Abrego St., Monterey 649-3322 When your favorite pair of shoes is scuffed, if a heel snaps off or a clasp breaks, Federico’s is just the place to take them. The drop-off and pick-up window ...
On the Beach Surf Shop
693 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey 646-9283, www.onthebeachsurfshop.com We’ve got this friend who keeps saying every year that he is gonna learn how to surf. Let’s call this guy Dan. Well, if Dan ever really does dedicate ...
Paris Bakery
271 Bonafacio Place, Monterey, 646-1620 1234 Broadway Ave., Seaside, 394-7798 www.parisbakery.us Pastries weren’t always so evolved as they are at this piece of Paris, which likes lavishing on popular Napoleons, fresh fruit tarts and a ...
Hahn SLH Estate
37700 Foothill Road, Soledad 925-7994 www.hahnwinery.com Perched on the sloping flanks of the Santa Lucia Highlands with expansive views of the Salinas Valley, Hahn is known far and wide for its flavorful Pinot Noir and ...
Star Market
1275 S. Main St., Salinas 422-3961, www.starmkt.com Star earns another Best Of because its vino team understands it’s about more than good grape juice. It’s about relationships, with growers big and small, local and regional, ...
Refuge
27300 Rancho San Carlos Road, Carmel 620-7360, www.refuge.com We’ve heard of visitors driving down from San Francisco and up from L.A. to spend three hours moving from eucalyptus steam room to cold waterfall pool to ...
Happy Feet Express
Dolores Street between Seventh and Eighth, Carmel, 622-9168 426 Calle Principal, Suite 101, Monterey, 333-9888 364 Main St., Salinas, 758-3878 www.happyfeetmonterey.com It’s no accident that feet are an important diagnostic tool in traditional Chinese medicine. ...
Britannia Arms
444 Alvarado St., Monterey 656-9543, www.britanniaarmsofmonterey.com In the heart of Alvarado Street, Britannia Arms lets its guests live the dream of winning American Idol three nights a week—Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can catch middle-aged ...
Sullivan’s Tire Pros
1730 The Mall, Seaside 394-6561, www.sullivanstire.com What was once a trip to the grocery store to pick up some beer for the game, now that you see your tire, is suddenly a flat-out nightmare. But ...
Lallapalooza
474 Alvarado St., Monterey 645-9036, www.lalla-palooza.com Just walking into this seductively lit restaurant and bar feels like a flirtation. There’s a touch of sleek urban flair that, when combined with a martini (or two or ...
Victory Toyota
5 Heitzinger Plaza, Seaside (877) 204-0178, www.victorytoyota.com The abundance of premiere Toyota vehicles is just one aspect of this stand-out dealership—the other is a team of experienced professionals ready to provide the 411 on every ...
Alain Pinel Realtors
Junipero Street between Fifth and Sixth, Carmel 622-1040, www.apr.com Alain Pinel Realtors’ mission statement is simple but bold: “Where we live, integrity isn’t just one thing—it’s the only thing.” The company, with offices throughout the ...
Cardinale Monterey Harley Davidson
333 N. Main St., Salinas 731-5066, www.montereyharleydavidson.com Highway 1 calls. Harley-Davidson is a classic American brand that screams rebellion, freedom and old-guys-wanting-to-regain-their-youth. Cardinale Monterey Harley Davidson hears that scream, and has the models—Dyna, Touring, Sportster, ...
Stahl Motors
2330 Del Monte Ave., Monterey 648-9500, www.stahlmotorcars.com For two years now, readers of the Weekly have shown they believe Stahl Motors is doing something right when selling used cars. “We just try to keep the ...
Golden State Theatre
417 Alvarado St., Monterey 324-4571, www.goldenstatetheatre.com It was a travesty a few years back when the landmark Golden State Theatre was leased out to a church and its annual parade of big-name performers ceased. But ...
Book Buyers
600 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey 375-4208, www.bookbuyers.com When Book Buyers owner Rammurti Reed was shelving 2013 calendars for display, a few 20-somethings walked by and poked their heads in. “You’ve got to see this. It’s an ...
Mission Ranch
26270 Dolores St., Carmel 624-6436, www.missionranchcarmel.com The well-worn cliche “the older you get, the wiser you become” gets used so much because it rings true. But really, it should be “the smarter you get, the ...
Carmel Art Association
Dolores between Fifth and Sixth, Carmel 624-6176, www.carmelart.org Established in 1927 (making it the second-oldest continuous artist cooperative in the country), the member artists of CAA must prove themselves worthy of joining this society of ...
River House Books
208 The Crossroads, Carmel 626-2665, www.riverhousebookscarmel.com River House Books’ selection is hand-picked by its owners, much the way a discerning chef chooses the best ingredients for a meal. The store is stocked with a well-rounded ...
Beverly’s Fabric and Craft Store
2090 North Fremont St., Monterey, 646-5141 344 Main St., Salinas 422-1508, www.beverlys.com This place is filled to the brim with everything your crafty heart desires, from fabrics and sewing supplies to paints, brushes and canvases; ...
Sunset Center
San Carlos Street at Ninth Ave., Carmel 620-2048, www.sunsetcenter.org Carmel’s immaculate, 700-plus-seat performing arts center delivered another stellar year of entertainment—and if you dig live music, the Sunset Center’s acoustics are killer. The son of ...
Gianni’s
725 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey 649-1500, www.giannismonterey.net Informal traffic studies indicate that if Gianni’s aimed its vent in another direction besides Lighthouse there would be far fewer drivers citing “Cheese, glorious cheese!,” “Pepperoni, officer” and “Good ...
Apple
240 Del Monte Center, Monterey 647-4480, www.apple.com/retail/delmonte The stunning white mecca of iThis and iThat in the Del Monte Center is always hopping. From Beats by Dre headphones to shiny new iPad minis, the Apple ...
Bay Bikes
3600 The Barnyard, Carmel 486 Washington St., Monterey 585 Cannery Row, Monterey 655-BIKE, www.baybikes.com It’s a rare bike store that can become a favorite with locals and tourists, but locally owned Bay Bikes has rolled ...
Dr. Craig Geiler
900 Cass St., Monterey 242-0110, www.mpexecutivehealth.com Eating an apple a day won’t keep locals away from this year’s favorite doctor. Trust and understanding are essential to Dr. Geiler, and he’s acquired both during his 11-year ...
Carmel Valley Athletic Club
27300 Rancho San Carlos Road, Carmel 624-2737, www.cvaconline.com When the gray, gloomy days of summer hit the Peninsula, head inland to a warm, sunny slice of paradise—with a pool, tennis courts, hot tubs and a ...
Baan Thai
1760 Fremont Blvd. #F1, Seaside 394-2996, www.baanthaiseaside.com Let’s just pick one reason this laid-back, tucked-away place is treasured by those who know it: the fresh curries. Red, green, yellow, pineapple, panang, pumpkin, massamun, jungle. Vegetarian ...
Tillie Gort’s Cafe
111 Central Ave., PacificGrove 373-0335 www.tilliegortscafe.com Though Monterey County might be the salad bowl of the nation, woe to the vegetarians among us, who are routinely caged in with only a dish or two to ...
