L’Auberge Carmel is a full-service Relais & Châteaux property located in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea just blocks from the famed Carmel Beach.
Originally built in 1929, the historic hotel is known for its graceful architecture, personalized guest services, European-style and elegance. Individually designed guest rooms feature the finest fabrics and linens and enlarged bath areas with radiant floor heating.
The highlight of the hotel is its award-winning restaurant Aubergine. Executive Chef Justin Cogley, a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef, and Executive Pastry Chef Yulanda Santos prepare skillful, ingredient-driven cuisine that celebrates the bounty of the region.
The ambiance of the hotel and restaurant blends romantic old-world charm with the luxury of modern amenities. The hotel was completely restored in 2004, reconfiguring all 20 guest rooms, the entrance and landscaping.
A million dollar remodel in 2012 included extensive upgrades to all guest rooms, lobby, courtyard and Aubergine restaurant. The decor accents the quaintness of original coved plaster walls, French windows and antique doorknobs with modern updates such as Bose docking stations, flat-panel TVs and wireless internet access.
Individually designed enlarged bath areas feature antique travertine tiles with radiant floor heating, hand-hammered copper sinks and custom bath products.
Guest rooms feature original black and white photography by Helmut Horn, and offer comfortably furnished seating areas.
Luxurious designer beds are topped with romantic linens and down bedding. L’Auberge Carmel is one of the village-by-the-sea’s few full service inns offering valet parking, room service and highly personalized guest services.
The perfect Carmel escape getaway, L’Auberge Carmel is an easy stroll to the village's numerous art galleries, shops and restaurants. Guests can treat themselves to in-room spa services, the culinary artistry of our Forbes Five Star restaurant Aubergine or a sunset sail on the beautiful Monterey Bay with curated guest packages.
L’Auberge Carmel consistently receives high rankings from seasoned travelers and travel publications including Conde Nast Traveler’s Top 25 Hotels in Northern California and Travel & Leisure’s Top 500 World’s Best Hotels List.
HISTORY
Originally built in 1929, the classic inn was commissioned by Allen Knight, one of early Carmel’s most colorful figures. Knight hired well-known San Francisco architect Albert Farr for the project, whose other work includes Jack London’s first home “Glen Allyn” in Sonoma County. Carmel’s master-builder Michael J. Murphy did the construction himself. The collaboration resulted in a three-story wood frame and stucco building that captures the historic Carmel aesthetic of a small forested hamlet by the sea.
The individually designed guest rooms feature warm jewel tones that accent the French windows and the quaint charm of the architecture and the finest fabrics, linens and down bedding.
All rooms feature a separate walk-in shower, vanity, flat-screen TV, ipod music system, recessed lighting and radiant floor heating in the bathrooms.
The Premium Courtyard King located on the Top Floor is very spacious at approximately 39 square meters and has one king bed, an oversized bathroom with a large, free-standing soaking tub.
Room 20 is known for its quiet location, and the perfect amount of space for a romantic in-room couples massage. The soft glow of natural light makes this room a favorite.
The two Superior Peek Ocean View King Rooms range in size from 37 to 42 square meters and each have one king bed, one with a freestanding tub and one with an inset tub and writing desk.
Rooms 28 & 30 are two of the most spacious rooms and are both located on the top floor over looking the front of the hotel with a peek view of Carmel Bay.
The Courtyard Queen/Queen guest room is approximately 35 square meters and has two queen beds, and an inset bath tub.
The two luxurious queen beds in Room 15 are ideal for friends and family members traveling together that prefer two beds.
This Deluxe Courtyard King Room is approximately 33 square meters and has one king bed, a large, free-standing soaking tub.
The special feature of Room 19 is its spacious floor plan and the full view of the courtyard and sparkling fountain.
The five Standard Courtyard King Rooms are approximately 30 square meters in size and each room has one king bed, and a luxurious inset bath tub.
Rooms 11, 17, 21, 23 and 25 have direct access to the flower-filled Courtyard and sparkling fountain.
The three Premium Peek Ocean View King Rooms range in size from 28 to 39 square meters and each room has one king bed. The Peek View King Rooms are thoughtfully appointed and offer sophistication and romantic allure.
Rooms 9 and 29 are located on the courtyard level and room 12 is on the top floor. Each room has a peek view of Carmel Bay. Room 29 has freestanding tub and rooms 9 & 12 have inset tubs.
The two Deluxe Courtyard Queen Rooms are approximately 26 square meters and each has one queen bed, a walk-in shower and a Japanese soaking tub.
Rooms 16 & 18 are both located on the top floor.
The two Deluxe Peek Ocean View Queen Rooms range in size from 26 to 35 square meters and each room has one queen bed. Room 27 is located on the courtyard level, has a walk-in shower and soaking tub.
Room 14 is located on the top floor and has a dual walk-in shower with a view of Point Lobos on a clear day.
The three Standard Courtyard Queen Rooms are approximately 23 square meters and each room has one queen bed and walk-in showers.
Rooms 22, 24 & 26 are all located on the top floor.
The exceptional Aubergine is an award-winning restaurant recently rated a Five-Star restaurant by Forbes Travel Guide. With ambiance comparable to that of a fine dining room in a stately French manor, this intimate restaurant displays casual elegance.
The high back upholstered chairs embrace the guest in comfort as they watch the charming Carmel street scene outside framed by floor to ceiling windows and luxurious tapestry curtains.
Executive Chef Justin Cogley, a Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef, and Pastry Chef Yulanda Santos prepare skillful, ingredient-driven cuisine that celebrates the bounty of the region. Chef Cogley’s cuisine showcases the finest ingredients with a razor-sharp balance of deference and innovation.
The menu served nightly highlights the best ingredients of the season, enhanced by skillful technique and an eye toward varied textures and flavors. Desserts, masterfully prepared by Chef Santos, are irresistible complements to Cogley’s savory courses.
The daily changing eight course Tasting Menu is an of-the-moment celebration of seasonality and creativity.
An impressive 2,500-bottle wine cellar offers renowned and undiscovered selections from famed wine regions around the world, with a particular focus on wines from Monterey County and France.
For a supplement, course-by-course wine pairings are available to enhance your experience.
18.00h - 21.30h
The salon is intimate private event option situated adjacent to the restaurant. The space is ideal for a pre-dinner cocktail reception with its stand-alone lacquered inlay bar and stunning artwork on the walls.
Guests are warmed by the stone fireplace which adds to the inviting allure of this unique room. For a private lunch or dinner, the comfortable banquette seating against the wall of paned windows allows for relaxation and comfort while dining.
Down the stairs from Aubergine restaurant is an underground wine cellar constructed beneath the inn’s courtyard to house the restaurant’s 2,500-bottle collection.
The wine bottles are stored behind glass cabinets accented with a beautiful wood finish. The collection is comprised of numerous extraordinary wines from around the world with a particular focus on wines from Monterey County and France.
In the center of this cozy intimate ambiance is a long maple table that can be adorned with seasonal flowers or flickering candles.
This private and elegant room is perfect to create a memorable lunch, dinner or board meeting.
Justin Cogley joined Aubergine restaurant in January 2011. As Executive Chef he oversees Aubergine and all of L’Auberge Carmel’s culinary programs.
Cogley comes to Carmel by way of Chicago, Illinois, where he was instrumental in opening the Elysian Hotel’s new kitchen as Executive Sous Chef. He previously worked at Charlie Trotter’s critically acclaimed restaurant for four years, claiming the position of Chef de Cuisine for the last two. As such, he was responsible for menu creation, special events, and extensive instruction and management of the culinary staff.
With delicate interplay between creativity, tradition, and respect for his ingredients, Cogley’s food is deeply unique. His style is a sophisticated balance between innovation and unwavering deference for the finest ingredients he procures.
“If I had to describe my food,” Cogley says, “I would say each plate has a purpose.” Cogley’s goal is to inspire guests to enjoy a broad combination of flavors and textures. He may present a diner with a vegetable prepared three ways on his plate but Cogley says, “Each of the flavors will be unique and pure.”
Prior to his career as a chef, Cogley was a professional international figure skater performing with “Disney on Ice.” Traveling and touring with the show for four years in Asia, Australia and Europe, Cogley was exposed to new flavors and cuisines, as well as a myriad of food markets and international techniques.
These culinary experiences confirmed his passion for food, travel, and good wine, and when he returned to the United States, he enrolled at the Western Culinary Institute and began working in select restaurants in Portland, Oregon. After graduating with top honors in 2005, he launched his culinary career on the team at Charlie Trotter’s.
Cogley recently became an avid triathlete and long-distance runner and competed in numerous West Coast races. He also created a culinary event: Rediscovering Coastal Cuisine where he invites talented chefs from around the country to come together and collaborate on a twelve-course tasting menu that explores and celebrates the unique biodiversity of California’s Central Coast.
Under the direction of Chef Cogley and his team, Aubergine has enjoyed substantial acclaim. In 2015 & 2016 they were nominated for two James Beard Foundation awards including Best Chef, West and Outstanding Service. 2014 & 2015 saw Aubergine earn Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence and Forbes Travel Guide’s highest Five-Star rating recognizing excellence in restaurants.
Also in 2014 L’Auberge Carmel was named Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards as a Top 100 Hotels Overall and one of the Top Resorts in the Continental United State. In 2013, Cogley was awarded the prestigious title of Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux, joining an esteemed list of internationally celebrated chefs and Food & Wine magazine named Justin Cogley “Best New Chef”.
L’Auberge Carmel is pleased to offer in-room massage and spa services.
Take advantage of the convenience and pampering offered by the Serenity Therapist who is eager to provide you the ultimate relaxation or rejuvenation experience.
All services can be provided with unscented oils. Please specify upon scheduling.
Golf Massage meets the needs of every golfer concentrating on the back, legs and feet, but saving enough time to massage the hands and relax the golfers grip. Warming balm available.
Combines massage techniques from around the world with long connective effleurage strokes; for a truly dreamy experience.
For deep muscle tension from daily stress or sports. This therapeutic massage utilizes deep flowing techniques to unwind the muscles. Warming balm available.
Employs a variety of modalities customized to induce relaxation, enhance circulation, and melt away stress. 60 minutes of body massage, 30 minutes of shoulders, neck, face, and scalp.
Truly a retreat from shopping with focus on feet, legs and special attention to shoulders after toting shopping bags.
This couple’s package is the perfect connecting experience for two. The 60 minute massage flows seamlessly into an additional 30 minute wrap. Your private room is the perfect atmosphere for this 90 minute romance service.
MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Ideally located in the heart of Carmel, one block from Ocean Avenue on Monte Verde Street at Seventh, and a pleasant four block walk to famous Carmel Beach, L’Auberge Carmel, is perfect for retreats, incentives or executive staff and board meetings.
The hotel and use of public areas, courtyard, living room, and the restaurant, Aubergine can be exclusive to your private group when you book twenty rooms for your event or meeting. It’s like meeting at your own private Villa!
WEDDINGS
The quaint village setting will make your special day or honeymoon memorable. The hotel's twenty luxurious rooms can be reserved for wedding parties as well as the landscaped courtyard for small, private ceremonies and dinners for up to sixty guests.
For formal dinners or wedding receptions, the inn's restaurant, Aubergine, a Five Star rated restaurant by Forbes Travel Guide, offers extraordinary, contemporary California cuisine.
For rehearsal dinners, sister property, Cantinetta Luca, just a few blocks from the hotel, is a perfect choice for a casual Italian feast with family and friends.
CLIMATE
Carmel-by-the-Sea boasts a beautiful, mild climate year round, with average temperatures ranging between 60 to 75 degrees in summer and 50 to 65 degrees in winter.
EXPLORE THE MONTEREY PENINSULA
There is much to discover when traveling the beautiful and pristine California coast. Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey Bay are destinations not to be missed, sanctuaries of natural beauty like no other.
Take a short stroll along the white sands of Carmel Beach located just four short blocks from the hotel. If you linger there among the forest pines and cypress trees, you can catch the sunset before making your way back to your luxurious room for a private massage or to prepare for the evenings culinary exploration.
For those into the art scene, you can spend hours visiting many of Carmel’s many galleries. Shoppers beware for many of the artisan boutiques that line the cobblestone streets of the Village-by-the-Sea will inspire and delight with a treasure trove of textures and unique artifacts. Engage the senses. See the sights. Relax…Explore…Discover.
Some of the most beautiful coastline views in the world are within this 89 mile stretch of Highway 1.
Founded in 1927, Carmel's oldest gallery features the work of more than 120 professional local artists, and is dedicated to presenting only the finest work for sale by artists living on the Monterey Peninsula.
It's locally renowned for good surf and excellent dog-walking conditions, as well as breathtaking sunsets. An annual sandcastle contest is testimony to the quality of the silvery sands, which are punctuated by outcroppings of rock.
The tour offers food tastings from seven unique eateries coupled with insightful presentations of Carmel's cultural, historical, and architectural highlights provided by knowledgeable and entertaining local guides.
San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission is considered the most authentically restored Franciscan mission. The Carmel Mission's courtyard and gardens are peaceful places to meditate or rest. Self-guided and docent-led tours are available.
This upscale shopping area offers fine quality and service. Special tours, tastings and events can be arranged for groups to sample.
Discover the special charms of Carmel-by-the-Sea on a 2-hour guided walking tour.
Offering a superior wine tasting experience on the self-paced, self-guided stroll to seven tasting rooms on the south side of Ocean Avenue. Visitors can amble to each participating room to sample local estate-grown still and sparkling wines.
Reminiscent of a French country estate, the courtyard located at the heart of L’Auberge Carmel exudes both luxury and charm. The perimeter is adorned with blooming vines, authentic art pieces, and colorful flower boxes overflowing from the paned windows.
Founded in 1910, this is the oldest operating outdoor theater west of the Rockies. Live plays and some films are presented through their May through August season.
Redefining Flavor is a dinner series for everyone! The team at Aubergine has crafted a wonderful two hour service that does not compromise the dining experience, rather encompasses a fresh look on flavor and fine dining.
Coastal and inland trails abound in Monterey County.
Self guided tours of historic downtown Monterey or the waterfront start at several landmarks.
Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley, and Big Sur all offer horse riding trails.
L’Auberge Carmel is perfect for retreats, incentives or executive staff and board meetings.
One of the top family attractions in the country, the aquarium provides a fascinating journey through the sea life and the conservation of it.
Located in John Steinbeck’s hometown of Salinas, a scenic 17-mile drive from Monterey. The Center offers three distinct visitor experiences in literature and history, agriculture and art, as well special events and educational programs.
Executive Pastry Chef Yulanda Santos guides each student with professional knowledge and a variety of essential techniques while giving recommendations for cooking at home.
Named greatest public golf course in America. Par 72, 6828 total yards.
This beautiful state park is only three miles south of Carmel. Take a moderate hike around the point and look for coastal sea life, including sea otters, jelly fish, seals and whales.
Considered “beyond breathtaking in beauty,” the Monterey Bay will captivate you. Monterey Bay Sailing leads you on a two hour sunset cruise including appetizers that will leave you with “intense photographic memories of colorful bay.”
The unique opportunity to work in the Aubergine Kitchen with the chef. Executive Chef Justin Cogley guides each student with professional knowledge and a variety of essential techniques while giving recommendations for cooking at home.
L’Auberge Carmel offers guests a beautiful and scenic backdrop for private wedding ceremonies, honeymoons and elopements.
There's no better place for whale watching than Monterey, it is one of the only places in the world where you can see whales year-round. The Monterey Submarine Canyon provides a perfect habitat for many whale species, allowing them to come close to shore to feed.
L AUBERGE CARMEL
Monte Verde at SeventhCarmel-by-the-SeaCalifornia 93921USA