If you’re vacationing in the beautiful Monterey area, I recommend staying in the quaint town of Carmel by the Sea. You’ll find many options for where to stay in Carmel, from small hotels and B&Bs to family-run inns and even dog-friendly accommodations. When you’re deciding on Carmel by the Sea hotels, consider the fun, stylish, family-friendly Carmel Mission Inn.
Why the Carmel Mission Inn?
I recently stayed at the Carmel Mission Inn for two nights with my husband and two children. I recommend this hotel, especially if you’re looking for Carmel lodging for families, for the following reasons:
The location
The Carmel Mission Inn is located in the town of Carmel, just minutes from Carmel Village and the city of Monterey. Its location couldn’t be more convenient!
First, it’s right off Highway 1, making it easy to go from one place to another. Because of the number of visitors in the Monterey/Carmel area, this is a big time saver!
Second, the hotel is next to a quaint shopping village and a short walk or drive from several restaurants, a supermarket, cafes, and more.
Finally, just down the road heading to Carmel Valley is Corona Regional Park with the beautiful Inspiration Point hike.
The aesthetic
The inn recently completed a multi-million-dollar, full-scale renovation! The overall aesthetic is a contemporary look of coastal meets mid-century modern design. Throughout the property, colorful, distinctive details abound. If you’re a fan of design, you’ll love the stylish details at this hotel.
The on-site restaurant
It’s such a blessing when a hotel has a good onsite restaurant, and the Shearwater Tavern doesn’t disappoint. Another reason that this hotel is a stands out among Carmel by the Sea hotels!
Come to Shearwater Tavern for breakfast before setting out for the day, for Happy Hour to unwind after a busy day of sight-seeing, or for dinner (so much easier than going out again!).
The restaurant serves breakfast and dinner Tuesday through Saturday until 10 pm. Breakfast includes hearty offerings and unique takes on healthy California fare including an elevated avocado toast and healthy oats. Dinner features small plates like a cheese board, Spanish-style grilled octopus (so good!), and their famous rolls, as well as several large plates. In our experience, the restaurant highlights are the cocktails and appetizers.
The restaurant is family-friendly but offers bar seating for those of you who prefer more of a pub vibe.
The property amenities
The property offers a renovated fitness center (with Peloton bicycles!) and a newly refurbished heated outdoor pool and spa. The outdoor courtyard has plenty of seating for guests with fire pits and outdoor games. Such a fun place to sit in the evenings or anytime of day!
Games are available to borrow at the front desk — perfect for families!
Read more: Carmel by the Sea in photos
The rooms
The Carmel Mission Inn features 165 renovated rooms and family suites with whimsical mid-century modern design elements. Some rooms have balconies or private patios with more funky mid-century details.
We found our room comfortable, if slightly small, and very quiet. With the room overlooking the pool, I was curious if the noise would bother me, but I found the hotel peaceful at night and the room to be quieter than I expected. We had an excellent night’s sleep both nights!
Rooms feature warm earth tones, plenty of fun design elements, and amenities including a 49” LCD TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, refrigerator and in-room coffee maker, and sustainable packaging of toiletries.
And the Carmel Mission Inn is dog-friendly. If you’re bringing a pet, inquire when making a reservation since not all rooms are pet-friendly.
All in all we loved our stay at the Carmel Mission Inn and would not hesitate to stay again. Definitely at the top of our list of Carmel by the Sea hotels for families. Questions about the Carmel Mission Inn or where to stay in Carmel? Let me know!
Photos 1, 2, 4, 7, & 9 are courtesy the Carmel Mission Inn. I stayed as a guest of the Carmel Mission Inn, but all opinions in this review are based on my honest experience and are completely my own.
