Monterey County offers a variety of restaurants with private event spaces ideal for meetings of any size or special gatherings. Across the county, you'll find remarkable dining venues with engaging atmospheres that will impress attendees.
Alejandro's (Monterey)
Experience Mexico's Riviera Maya in downtown Monterey. This restaurant has a private dining room that can accommodate 16-18 guests. Your guests will appreciate the unique ambiance, house-made chips and salsa and delicious Mexican-inspired food.
Alvarado on Main (Salinas)
Located in the heart of Oldtown Salinas, this restaurant is designed to evoke the elegance of the 1930s. The Mezzanine is a lounge that can be rented out for private events and is equipped with a few couches, lounge chairs and small stools. The maximum number of guests is 40, provided they do not mind standing. Food is served buffet style along with a limited bar and select cocktails.
Cultura (Carmel-by-the-Sea)
Embrace the warm atmosphere and Oaxaca-inspired dishes at Cultura! This restaurant has space to accommodate up to 100 guests. Choose between the Mezcal Room, which offers a warm, intimate space, and the Main Dining Room, which seats up to 60 guests, or the Outdoor Patio, which provides a fun, casual setting where guests can mingle around the fire pits. Explore the ancestral flavors of Oaxaca with one of the custom-built menus that cater to your group's needs.
Estéban Restaurant (Monterey)
Host an intimate meeting of up to 15 people at Estéban Restaurant, located at Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa. This private dining experience features modern Spanish cuisine along with a curated wine selection, leaving room for a brainstorming session and celebration all in one.
Fandango Restaurant (Pacific Grove)
In charming Pacific Grove, Fandango Restaurant has long been a go-to for special occasions, and it’s just as well-suited for private meetings and events as it is for romantic dinners. Six private rooms, accommodating 10 to 60 guests, offer a warm, polished setting, complete with fireplaces and a Mediterranean ambiance. Known for classic French and Mediterranean cuisine, curated wine pairings and attentive service, Fandango delivers an elevated yet welcoming experience.
Grasing's Restaurant (Carmel-by-the-Sea)
Enjoy the renovated outdoor patio or the Main Dining Room and West Wing, which also have had a slight makeover. The Rooftop Garden is also the perfect space for an intimate group meeting for up to 40 guests. Buyouts for the restaurant are also available for up to 130 guests.
Lalla Grill (Monterey)
Lalla Grill is locally owned and ready to serve fresh organic ingredients. Choose from one of its two locations to host your event. Enjoy the heated outdoor seating on the patio at Lalla Grill Del Monte. This restaurant can host up to 80 guests on the patio and 110 for the entire restaurant. There is also the option of a curated menu that includes a salad, an entree, and a dessert. Looking to have an event with a view? Lalla Grill Oceanside can host a minimum of 50 guests to a maximum of 110 for a restaurant buyout, or up to 45 guests for a private event downstairs. There is a curated menu or an option for a buffet-style menu.
Montrio (Monterey)
Montrio combines European and American cuisines to create one of the greenest menus in Monterey. Located in a historic Monterey firehouse, there is plenty of room to host your private event. Offering three spaces that can accommodate groups between 20 to 150 guests, you and your group will be sure to find the right fit here. Floral arrangements, A/V equipment, unique cocktails or a diverse menu are available upon request.
Rio Grill (Monterey)
Serving food with a southwestern flair on their wood-burning grill and smoker, Rio Grill is a great option to host your private event. There is the Barrel Room, which features a wine-barrel-themed ceiling and vintage oak wine cases that seat up to 28 guests, and the Santa Fe Room, which offers its own Cantina-style bar and can seat up to 45 guests. When booking an event, their team will work together to create a perfectly paired menu with wines, cocktails and the right ambiance.
Rockfish Harbor & Grill (Monterey)
Located on the Old Fisherman's Wharf, Rockfish Harbor & Grill offers private and semi-private dining areas accommodating groups of 8 to 50 guests. Its group dining option includes a choice of three menus: salad, appetizer, entrée, and dessert. Your guests will be sure to enjoy the ambiance, waterfront views and exciting menu items.
Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette (Marina)
Host your event with views of the California coastline's natural beauty. Using locally sourced seafood and produce, Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette's culinary team will create a custom menu that works for everyone. Your meeting can take place inside or outside, in either of the two featured rooms or on three adjoining decks. Also offered is team building, where your group can take part in a cooking demonstration or learn Mixology 101 with one of their mixologists. Audiovisual support is available as well.
Tarpy's Roadhouse (Monterey)
This steakhouse offers a variety of intimate room options, both indoors and outdoors. Tarpy's Roadhouse has patios, private dining rooms and courtyards available for your group. Whether it's a group of 12 or 100 guests, you can enjoy custom menus, creative cocktails, and wine pairings in a great ambiance.
The C Restaurant + Bar (Monterey)
The C Restaurant + Bar is located at the InterContinental the Clement Monterey. Enjoy the ocean view and an intimate private dining experience at The Library room. Made for groups of up to 24 guests, this space provides a unique setting and first-edition John Steinbeck novels as decor. Your group has the option to choose from a fresh menu of sustainable seafood and upscale coastal cuisine and cocktails, or a customized selection is available upon request.
The Grill at Point Pinos (Pacific Grove)
The Grill at Point Pinos is located at the Pacific Grove Golf Links. Host your next private event or meeting at this award-winning restaurant with the perfect amount of golf and ocean views. The recently renovated private banquet room can accommodate up to 40 people and is audio-visual ready. Full restaurant buy-outs are also available for up to 75 guests (all inside), or the ocean-view Lighthouse Patio may be included for a strolling dinner.
The Sardine Factory (Monterey)
The Sardine Factory offers multiple dining rooms to host your private event. Rooms that accommodate 11 to 100 guests, your group will appreciate the history of each room, such as The Captain's Room, which pays tribute to California's maritime history, or the Steinbeck Room, which displays memorabilia from Cannery Row's rich history. Enjoy fresh, sustainable seafood prepared by award-winning chefs, along with a wine program featuring more than 2,000 labels and 20,000 bottles.
Whichever venue you choose for your private meeting or event, there are endless places to refuel and reconnect, with dining options to suit every vibe.
