Ocean Ave. & Torres Street, Carmel, California, United States | (251) 219-4428
Walking distance to Carmel’s shops, restaurants, bars, and art galleries
Pretty garden grounds with an outdoor patio
Contemporary guest rooms have local touches, like Dutch doors
In-room flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and microwaves
Free coffee and hot breakfast
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Free on-site self-parking
Guest rooms are cramped
Limited facilities
The two-pearl, Comfort Inn Carmel By The Sea, is a misleading name, in that it isn't all that close to the beachfront. It is, however, near the heart of historic downtown Carmel, right off of Ocean Avenue near countless restaurants, bars, shops, and art galleries. The quaint motel-style building is surrounding by a pretty garden and there's an outdoor patio, plus free breakfast and Wi-Fi throughout. Most of its 18 guest rooms have a cramped layout, but also Dutch doors that add local flavor and fresh air. It's worth comparing rates at the nearby Best Western Plus Carmel Bay View Inn, but travelers looking to save and who don't mind a drive should check out the Carmel Mission Inn, which has a pool, but it's outside the downtown area.
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Scene
Basic motel surrounded by a lovely grounds with a garden patio for leisure travelers
The Comfort Inn Carmel By The Sea is a relatively basic motel with a breakfast room and little else, but it distinguishes itself with its lovely landscaping and garden grounds around red-brick footpaths. Flower beds surround a small outdoor patio with a pair of tables under canvas shade umbrellas. The two-story building is painted in neutral grays and browns, with its exterior walkways covered in colorful flower boxes. The main office sits sheltered beneath an overhanging balcony. Inside, the only common space is a combination lobby and breakfast room, with tables around a fireplace and a small reception desk in the corner by the front door. Most guests are couples, but there are also some families and groups of friends who have come to the area to golf.
Location
Off Ocean Avenue, close to art galleries, restaurants, and shopping
The Comfort Inn Carmel By The Sea is centrally located in historic downtown Carmel. Around the corner, Ocean Avenue is a minutes' walk away, and lined with numerous restaurants, bars, cute shopping boutiques, and fine art galleries. It’s a 10-minute drive to Pebble Beach, famous for its Pebble Beach Golf Course and 17-Mile Drive, a scenic road that overlooks the Pacific coastline. Historic Cannery Row, the namesake for John Steinbeck’s novel, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, are about 20 minutes away by car. Mineta San Jose International Airport is more than a 90-minute drive, but it’s only an 11-minute drive to the regional Monterey Peninsula Airport.
Rooms
Cramped but well-equipped, with mini-fridges and microwaves, plus Dutch doors
All 18 guest rooms have courtyard views and exterior entries off of shared open walkways. Some open to larger sections of the walkways with overhanging balconies that have chairs and tables, but they're not private. Units are carpeted and have familiar chain decor, with neutral walls and dark wood furnishings. Dutch doors add a classic regional touch, and they can be opened just at the top to let in fresh air. Standard rooms have queen or king beds, but cramped layouts mean that there's little space to walk between the beds and the dressers. Double Queen rooms have seating areas with tables and chairs, while single King and Queen rooms have work desks with roller chairs, and single armchairs. Standard amenities include 37-inch flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, microwaves, safes, and free Wi-Fi. The bathrooms have dated granite vanities and average shower/tub combos. There's also a suite with vaulted ceilings and a living area with a gas fireplace and sofa bed.
Features
Outdoor patio, free breakfast and on-site parking, plus free Wi-Fi
Amenities are limited at this budget property, but the inn has a pretty, small garden patio with seating at a pair of umbrella-covered tables. Free breakfast is served at a counter in the lobby dining room and includes items such as yogurt, fruit, cereal, and hot options like eggs, sausage, and two kinds of waffles. Free parking is available on-site, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.
