Nightlife - Tender is the Night
Where to go when the sun goes down
Photo by ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
Schedules are subject to change. Please call to confirm.
A LITTLE ROMANCE
Roy’s
The Inn at Spanish Bay
Pebble Beach, California
(831) 647-7500
The haunting music of a bagpiper strolling the links at Spanish Bay every evening at sunset is one of many enjoyable features of Roy’s. Adding to the ambiance is a large outdoor terrace with open-pit fireplaces, spectacular ocean views, delicious appetizers, and a full bar with tropical drinks.
COMEDY CLUBS
Planet Gemini
625 Cannery Row
Monterey, California
(831) 373-1449
The nightclub features national headlining comedians. George Lopez has been known to show up unannounced and do a few minutes. Celebrities visiting the area slip in and out knowing that the kind of crowd that hangs here wouldn’t think of bothering them. Planet Gemini doubles as a dance club, offering salsa music on Sunday nights and old-school hip-hop and R&B Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
JAZZ CLUBS
Cibo Ristorante Italiano
301 Alvarado St.
Monterey, California
(831) 649-8151
The carefully arranged live music menu brings you an exciting, danceable mix of jazz, R&B, funk, reggae, and Latin beats, six nights a week. Dinner and full bar.
The Jazz and Blues Company
San Carlos Street near Fifth Avenue
Carmel, California
(831) 624-6431
KRML Radio (1410 AM) presents live jazz performances on most weekends in its studio in the Eastwood Building. This is a small but intimate venue if you like jazz and/or want to know more about radio, media, and recording. And yes, Clint has been known to take in a performance here from time to time.
Lobby Lounge
The Inn at Spanish Bay
Pebble Beach, California
(831) 647-7423
Get your Jobim on with Brazilian jazz Thursday through Sunday and jazz piano Tuesday and Wednesday. A warm, comfortable lobby lounge with a large fireplace and breathtaking views of The Links at Spanish Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It doesn’t get any better than this.
Terrace Lounge
The Lodge at Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach, California
(831) 625-8548
Enjoy Jan Deneau jazz Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; Dino Vera and David Kempton jazz/R&B Monday through Wednesday in this beautifully remodeled lounge overlooking the 18th green of Pebble Beach Golf Links and Carmel Bay.
LATE-NIGHT COFFEEHOUSES
The Works
667 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove
(831) 372-2242
A variety of live music on Saturday nights at this coffeehouse/bookstore.
Juice ’n’ Java
599 Lighthouse Ave.
Pacific Grove, California
(831) 373-8652
Gourmet coffee, espressos, and smoothies with open mike on Fridays.
LIVE MUSIC
Baja Cantina
7166 Carmel Valley Rd.
Carmel, California
(831) 625-2252
This lively place features automobile memorabilia covering every inch of the walls. Enjoy gourmet Mexican cuisine and, during the summer months, dine on the huge outdoor patio. Stay to hear live classic rock on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings in the summer. A local hangout for years.
Embassy Suites’ Cypress Lounge
1441 Canyon Del Ray Blvd.
Monterey, California
(831) 393-1115
After enjoying a buffet in the Pacifica Café restaurant, listen to great jazz or R&B. Friday, features Grammy-nominated Dennis Murphy, and Saturday features Neal Banks.
The Hippodrome
321 Alvarado St.
Monterey, California
(831) 646-9244
The Hippodrome is the premier upscale dance club in the Monterey Bay. Four rooms, four bars, DJs, and live music. Multilevel dance floors, outdoor patio, views of the bay, 13 bar stations, video projectors, and 30 TVs. Burlesque on Mondays. V.I.P. packages available. Party on.
Monterey Live
414 Alvarado St.
Monterey, California
(831) 373-5483
Monterey Live is a café, pub, and performance venue in the heart of Monterey, bringing an eclectic and electric quality of performances usually found in bigger cities with gourmet comfort food and creative libations, including organic beer and wine, served in an intimate and comfortable setting by owners Gary Smith and Susan Miller and their friendly staff.
Jack London’s Bar & Grill
West side of Dolores Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues
Carmel, Californai
(831) 624-2336
Enter Su Vecino Court and pay homage to this Carmel institution where, on Fridays from 5-7 p.m., you can enjoy live “soulful blues” music. Its biggest plus is that it is the only place in Carmel serving dinner after midnight every night, making it a favorite with the locals.
PIANO BAR
Mission Ranch
26270 Dolores St.
Carmel, California
(831) 625-9040
The historical Mission Ranch, owned and restored by Clint Eastwood, is a popular meeting place for professional singles. Four fireplaces and panoramic views in a bucolic setting give it a special ambiance. The piano bar has nightly entertainment from 8-11:30 p.m. Sometimes Clint stops in after golf around 5:30 p.m.
POOL PALACES
Easy Street Billiards
511 Tyler St.
Monterey, California
(831) 333-0825
Twelve tournament-sized tables will unleash the devil pool player in you. A finely selected group of tap and imported beers. Weekly pool tournaments. Familyfriendly atmosphere.
PUBS
Mucky Duck
479 Alvarado St.
Monterey, California
(831) 655-3031
Popular club offering DJ dance music, with alternate karaoke, classic rock, and trivia nights. Offers dozens of international beers on tap and 30 bottled beers. Pub menu includes British favorites. The locals couldn’t live without this place.
Sades
Lincoln Street and Ocean Avenue
Carmel, California
(831) 624-0787
Small bar usually filled with locals. They will spot you if you’re a tourist, so expect a little razzing, but they’re harmless. This place is legendary, grungy, sometimes smoky but is always, well, Sades.
Tap Room
The Lodge at Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach, California
(831) 625-8535
Golfers, the Pebble Beach equestrian crowd, tourists, celebrities, and locals all mix here. Casual but classy, offering a generous selection of microbrewery beers and an extensive wine list. Famous for the incomparable Tap Room burgers, roasted prime rib, and other hearty fare. An excellent choice for dinner or a late-night supper.
The Maiden Publick House
next to Big Sur River Inn
Highway 1 South
Big Sur, California
(831) 667-2355
Pub grub and the most impressive American craft and European beer selection in Monterey County. Also features live music.
SPORTS BARS
Brophy’s
San Carlos Street and Fourth Avenue
Carmel, California
(831) 624-2476
Small, very clean and modern sports bar in the heart of Carmel. L-shaped bar with four flat-screen TVs. Excellent bar burgers, fries,wings, salads, and sandwiches, all prepared fresh to order. Beers on tap including some locals from the English Ales Brewery in Marina. Serving food until 11 p.m. Bar open until 12:30 a.m.
Characters Sports Bar & Grill
Monterey Marriott Hotel
350 Calle Principal
Monterey, California
(831) 649-4234, ext. 1116
TV screens abound in this classic sports bar, where the drinks are cold and the atmosphere is lively. Six beers on tap and an extensive menu will get you through that sudden-death overtime, and then some.
Knuckles Historical Sports Bar
Hyatt Regency Monterey
1 Old Golf Course Rd.
Monterey, California
(831) 657-6625
State-of-the-art satellite TV system supported by centerpiece big screen and 16 color monitors. Voted No. 1 sports bar in Monterey three years in a row. Two-fisted burgers, freshly made pizza, sandwiches, and salads. Open early during football season and special events. Pool tables and video games, and always free popcorn and peanuts. Play ball! Please call to confirm; schedules sometimes change.
