Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

About Carmel-by-the-Sea

Set in the western part of California, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a small town counting 3,124 people who proudly call it home.

Officially, Carmel-by-the-Sea is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 1.06 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 2,947 residents per square mile.

📰 Carmel-by-the-Sea News Today

• The Giant Dinner Party in One of America’s Most Charming Towns Fodors Travel Guide · Aug 18
• Five new restaurants open in Carmel Valley and Carmel-by-the-Sea, with 4 more coming KSBW · Aug 14
• In a California beach town where businesses last decades, a wave of new restaurants is coming San Francisco Chronicle · Aug 14
• Gentry Psychiatric Responds to Growing Demand for Deeper, Long-Term Mental Health Care in Carmel-by-the-Sea EIN News · Aug 18
• Where to Stay, Dine and Unwind During Monterey Car Week observer.com · Aug 10

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Carmel-by-the-Sea Unique

• The only place in America named Carmel-by-the-Sea — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
• Positioned in western California, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
• Part of the fabric of California — one of 1,618 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• Small-town pace of life: less traffic, more community, and neighbors who wave.
• Housing dollars stretch further here than in the nearest metro.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 5 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Carmel-by-the-Sea

• Basil Seasonal Dining
• Cafe Carmel — coffee shop (café)
• Cantinetta Luca — italian
• Carmel Belle
• Carmel Valley Coffee — coffee shop (café)
• Dametra Cafe — mediterranean
• Enzo — italian
• Flying Fish Grill
• From Scratch Restaurant
• La Bicyclette

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Center for Photographic Art · Museum
• Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Museum · Museum
• Walker House · Attraction
• Amsterdam · Art gallery
• Carmel Art Association · Art gallery
• Creason · Art gallery
• Kevin Milligan · Art gallery
• Richard Macdonald · Art gallery
• The Sir Harry Downie Museum · Museum
• Weston · Art gallery

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Carmel-by-the-Sea

• Carmel Bay State Marine Conservation Area · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Carmel River State Beach · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Curtis · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Garrapata State Park · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Glen Deven Ranch · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Ishxenta State Park · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Mitteldorf Preserve · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Palo Corona Regional Park · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Point Lobos State Natural Reserve · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Rancho Cañada · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Carmel Beach City Park reviews ★
• Carmel River Bird Sanctuary · Nature reserve reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Carmel-by-the-Sea

• Carmel High
• Carmel Middle
• Carmel River Elementary

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Carmel-by-the-Sea

🏘️ Nearby Communities