There aren’t many places in America (or the world) where you can relax on an otherworldly beach in the morning and have your fill of culture in the afternoon.
Monterey is one of those unique places that offer a complete vacation, with plenty of interesting activities, tasty restaurants, and luxurious hotels.
As you’re definitely going here (how can you not?!), we’ve been hard at work rounding up all you’d possible need to know to help you decide where to stay when you visit. Let us be your guide!
The 3 Best Places to Stay in Monterey
Monterey Bay is slightly wider than the city of Monterey, but it’s still relatively small and compact. There’s no reason why you should only stick to the downtown of the city and the legendary Cannery Row and not cross just one more mile to visit the stunning Pacific Grove.
The only thing you should know is that most of the museums and cultural institutions are located either Downtown or on Cannery Row, but if you’re looking for sublime nature, viewpoints, and hiking trails, Pacific Grove is for you.
Our favorite areas include:
- Downtown: Definitely the most attractive part of Monterey, it boasts beautiful 19th-century buildings, sandy beaches, plenty of seafood restaurants, and the unique Old Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Cannery Row: A fascinating waterfront area and a former working-class neighborhood, today, it’s one of the fanciest parts of Monterey, with plenty of history and style, as well as the unforgettable Monterey Bay Aquarium.
- Pacific Grove: Located around a mile to the north of Monterey and packed with beaches, golf clubs, viewpoints, and hiking trails, Pacific Grove also boasts the short but sweet 17-Mile Scenic Drive.
Where to Stay in Monterey: Best Areas & Hotels
Monterey is definitely one of the biggest tourist magnets in both California and the West Coast, and it doesn’t come as a surprise that it’s practically packed with accommodations of all kinds and sizes.
Plainly speaking, whatever area you choose in or near Monterey, there are plenty of accommodations to choose from. If you’re looking for an all-around offer, stick to the downtown of the city or the nearby Pacific Grove.
Both of them offer plenty of hotels of all kinds and sizes — a lot of three-star budget options and some great and luxurious five- and four-star hotels.
The charming and coastal Cannery Row may be a bit problematic, especially for visitors who are looking for something cheaper. The problem is both in amount and in variety.
Cannery Row has a comparatively smaller number of accommodation options, and they are usually either expensive mid-range options or luxurious five-star hotels.
1. Downtown
Monterey, California – 30 July 2008: Old Fisherman’s Wharf is a popular tourist destination in the harbor area/Lowe Llaguno/Shutterstock
The first thing that comes into mind when you mention Monterey is the fantastic coastal downtown.
The absolute heart of the city, always buzzing and moving, it’s mostly famous for 19th-century buildings, beautiful and old historic wharfs, plenty of restaurants, shops, accommodation, and a bunch of great interesting museums.
Simply put, Monterey’s Downtown is the obvious choice for the first-time visitor to the city. We think that the best thing you should do as soon as you step into the center of the city is to take a walk to the historic Old Fisherman’s Wharf.
There’s no end to the things you can see and do here.
First of all, the wharf is beautiful in itself, with plenty of spots to take memorable pictures. Second, it has the highest concentration of the best seafood restaurants, not only in Monterey but in the wider area as well.
Finally, there are plenty of unique shops to do some shopping, a lot of tours to join, and — most important of all — it’s the prime place for whale watching.
History lovers are also going to have a blast. You should definitely see the San Carlos Cathedral, which is a Catholic church from the 18th century built by the Spaniards.
Then, there’s the Monterey State Historic Park, where you’ll truly experience Monterey’s history in one fell swoop. For more of that, there are a number of museums as well.
In terms of restaurants and accommodations, plainly speaking, you’ve come to the right place. The concentration of restaurants in Monterey’s downtown — especially seafood restaurants on the coast or the wharf — is simply unbelievable.
There are many hotels as well, mostly in the form of cheaper or pricier three-star hotels and motels, but also fantastic and upscale four-star hotels.
Downtown Budget Hotels
- The Stevenson Monterey is a three-star motel located in the absolute center, boasting an outdoor swimming pool. Offering a lot at a quite low price, the accommodation has free parking and free Wi-Fi, non-smoking family rooms with tea and coffee makers, and facilities for disabled guests.
- Stage Coach Lodge is a relatively cheap but decent three-star hotel, also located in the utmost center of Monterey. It offers an outdoor swimming pool, family and guest rooms with 40-inch TVs, microwaves, refrigerators, and spacious bathrooms. The hotel also has a nice garden, free Wi-Fi, and free parking.
Downtown Mid-Range Hotels
- The Monterey Hotel is a slightly more expensive (but still relatively affordable) three-star hotel that deserves its higher status not by being located in the center of Monterey but by its early 20th-century enclosure. Aside from the historic, old-school charm, it has all the amenities, free Wi-Fi, and facilities for disabled guests.
- Best Western Plus Monterey Inn is a great and affordable three-star hotel, part of the famous and reliable Best Western chain of hotels. Located just two blocks from the center of the city (but still part of downtown), it also has free Wi-Fi and free parking, family rooms with private bathrooms, and all the amenities, as well as facilities for disabled guests.
Downtown Luxury Hotels
- Portola Hotel & Spa is a gorgeous four-star hotel located just five minutes from the Fisherman’s Wharf — practically, right on the coast of the ocean. It offers everything you can think of for a hotel of this stature, including an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a spa and wellness center, a restaurant, a bar, free Wi-Fi in all areas, and — last but not least — private parking.
- Hotel Pacific is another expensive and luxurious four-star hotel located in Monterey’s downtown, just a few steps away from the Monterey Conference Center. It doesn’t have a swimming pool on its premises, but the interior and the facade of the hotel are very beautiful. More importantly, the rooms feature every possible amenity that you’ll need. Affluent aesthetes, rejoice!
2. Cannery Row
Editorial March 24, 2019 – Cannery Row in Monterey, California is a popular tourist destination located near Pacific Highway 1. There are a lot of shops and restaurants as well as the aquarium/Manuela Durson/Shutterstock
In 1945, Cannery Row was so working class that John Steinbeck (Mice and Men, Grapes of Wrath), the Nobel Prize writer and supporter of the oppressed, wrote a novel about it with the same name.
Namely, in the middle of the 20th century, the waterfront strip was lined with fish factories, and Cannery Row was called the “sardine capital of the world.”
Today, that same strip is lined with fancy restaurants, interesting shops, and great pubs — and Cannery Row is a famous, sought-after, major tourist hub.
You can start your adventure in this dynamic and interesting neighborhood by strolling around its streets and the waterfront strip. As we mentioned Steinbeck’s novel, there are plenty of things connected to the famous writer, as the district has a deep respect for him.
Constructed in his honor, you’ll find the John Steinbeck Statue, a beautiful monument to his likeness, and the Steinbeck Wax Museum, an old-fashioned animatronic museum, especially great for kids.
The most important attraction in the area, however, is also located on the waterfront — whatever you do, don’t miss the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Located on the rocky coastline, it offers plenty of activities and exhibits, like otter habitats and touch pools. Cannery Row is a major hub for foodies and a great place for a fun night out.
As we mentioned, while the whole coast was formerly full of factories, today, it’s packed with either seafood restaurants or fancy cafes.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., for example, is a perfect family-friendly place, and The Salty Seal Brewpub and Sports Bar is a very nice pub. Cannery Row is not the cheapest in terms of accommodation.
There are plenty of three-star, four-star, and five-star hotels, but almost no budget options. Since the district is located just one mile to the north of downtown, you had better stick to the center if you’re looking for something cheaper.
Cannery Row Budget Hotels
- Cannery Row Inn is literally the only two-star accommodation in this part of Monterey. It boasts a really good location, almost precisely in the middle between the downtown and Cannery Row. It offers free parking (one vehicle per room), free Wi-Fi throughout the premises, rooms with flat-screen TVs, and facilities for disabled guests.
- Victorian Inn is a great three-star hotel that comes at a decent price and, because of the general prices of accommodations in this neighborhood, can be considered as a budget option. Everything is within walking distance of the hotel, and it offers furnished rooms with fireplaces and flat-screen TVs.
Cannery Row Mid-Range Hotels
- The Jabberwock Bed & Breakfast is a beautiful bed and breakfast consisting of no more than seven rooms. It’s a perfect choice for visitors who don’t like crowds and who prefer a more personal service. The rooms are beautifully furnished, have huge Victorian beds, and some of the rooms even boast fireplaces and two-person hot tubs.
- Holiday Inn Express Monterey – Cannery Row is a great and not very expensive three-star hotel, part of the famous Holiday Inn chain of hotels. Close to Monterey’s downtown but located in Cannery Row, it offers free Wi-Fi, free parking, and rooms with cable TV and small refrigerators.
Cannery Row Luxury Hotels
- Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa is a super luxurious four-star hotel and probably one of the best accommodation options in the whole of Monterey. The hotel has practically everything: a great location and view, a private beach, an outdoor swimming pool, a spa and wellness center, a fitness center, a bar, and a restaurant on the premises.
- Wave Street Inn is a four-star hotel located in the heart of the historic Cannery Row within walking distance of numerous restaurants, shops, fancy buildings, and the ocean. It offers an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and a spa and wellness center, as well as an on-site bar and a restaurant.
3. Pacific Grove
Stephen B. Goodwin/Shutterstock
Just one mile to the north of Monterey lies the beautiful and charming city called Pacific Grove, part of the wider Monterey County.
Boasting a population of only 15,000 people, it has attracted many famous artists through the ages — like Robert Louis Stevenson and John Steinbeck — and thousands of tourists from all over America and the world.
It’s mostly famous for its natural beauty that emphasizes all the key strengths of the Californian coast and has plenty of golf courses.
It’s no surprise, then, that most of the attractions and landmarks in Pacific Grove are connected to the outdoors. The 17-Mile Drive is probably the prettiest scenic drive in this part of America.
Stretching along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, it goes by numerous natural landscapes, golf courses, mansions, and a lot of animals like pelicans and seals. Pacific Grove is generally considered as one of the best places in California for panoramic views and taking pictures.
There are plenty of places to do that, but the best and most visited ones are the following (listed from north to south):
- Kissing Rock View Point
- Beach Point
- Pacific Grove Rocky View
- Sunset Beach
- Spanish Bay
- Point Joe Vista Point
- China Rock Vista Point
- Lone Cypress
- Pescadero Point
But not everything that’s worth seeing in the area is located in the open — there are some interesting museums and institutions you have to check out.
Point Pinos Lighthouse, for example, is both a striking viewpoint and the oldest working lighthouse in America. The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History has a rich collection of birds, animals, and insects.
Lastly, the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary is self-explanatory, and, put simply, it’s an unbelievable place. In terms of accommodation options, Pacific Grove is fairly decent, with a lot of different types of hotels available.
Most of them have three stars, but some are considerably cheaper and can pass as budget options. On the other hand, you do have your fair share of luxury.
Pacific Grove Budget Hotels
- Clarion Collection Wilkie’s Inn Pacific Grove is a very cheap two-star hotel located right next to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary and around fifteen minutes from the beautiful Pebble Beach. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi in all its rooms, free parking, and tea and coffee machines.
- Butterfly Grove Inn is another two-star hotel that comes at a low price, located very near the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. It also offers an outdoor swimming pool, free Wi-Fi and parking, a refrigerator and a microwave in every room, and facilities for disabled people.
Pacific Grove Mid-Range Hotels
- The Monarch Resort is a three-star hotel that comes at a decent price, and in this case, it can be considered as a relevant budget option. It offers an outdoor swimming pool, free parking, and high-speed fiber optic internet. There are tea and coffee makers in every room, as well as facilities for disabled guests.
- Sunset Inn Pacific Grove is a great and not very expensive three-star hotel, located in close proximity to the Point Pino Lighthouse and around seven minutes from the nearby beach. Aside from the free Wi-Fi and free parking, the rooms are nicely decorated with flat screen TVs, and offer in-room coffee, refrigerators, and some even have fireplaces.
Pacific Grove Luxury Hotels
- Bernardus Lodge & Spa is a gorgeous and very luxurious five-star hotel that offers a spa and wellness center, premium dining, and an outdoor heated pool. The restaurant on the premises called Lucia Restaurant & Bar offers an extensive wine list and dishes made from local, healthy ingredients. There’s also a bar and room service on the premises.
- Seven Gables Inn on Monterey Bay is another very beautiful and expensive four-star hotel located right on the coast of the ocean boasting an unforgettable view. The hotel offers rooms furnished in a luxurious way, equipped with all the amenities, and it also offers free Wi-Fi and free parking.
So, Where Should You Stay in Monterey?
Plenty of sandy beaches, the powerful Pacific ocean on the horizon, charming 19th-century architecture, plenty of museums, numerous tasty seafood restaurants — Monterey has all of that, and much much more.
This small California town is definitely a major tourist hub and a place you simply can’t miss. Now, before we put the final dot in this guide, let’s do a quick recap of the three best areas in the city:
| 🍽️ Best Area for Restaurants | Downtown |
| 🥂Best Luxury Area | Cannery Row |
| ⛱️ Best Area for Activities | Pacific Grove |
So, with so much to see and do, and no bad area in which to stay, what are you waiting for — book a trip today and experience for yourself all that the lovely city of Monterey has to offer. Happy travels!