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Ramon Serrano, General Manager of L’Auberge Carmel takes us on a three block trot, showing recommended places to visit and things to do just three blocks from the hotel!
My Luxurious Standard Courtyard King Room
Aubergine’s Signature Breakfast
Looking for the perfect getaway? L’Auberge Carmel, located in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea is the answer. It’s a leisurely stroll from numerous art galleries, shops, restaurants, and the beach. You can expect excellence & incredible service everywhere you turn as it’s a Relais & Châteaux property. Originally built in 1929, the historic hotel is known for its graceful architecture, European-style, and elegance. L’Auberge Carmel is one of the few full service inns in Camel-by-the-Sea offering complimentary continental breakfast, valet parking, room service, and highly personalized guest services.
Walking into the inn’s rustic single door entrance, there was a keyhole-like view of the lavish courtyard. A warm welcome and refreshing berry soda at check-in was delightful. All the rooms are arranged around a central courtyard filled with benches, blooming plants, and a fountain.
The luxurious Standard Courtyard King room I stayed in overlooks the quaint and quiet courtyard. The room is newly renovated and includes sleek, modern furnishings and a soothing neutral color scheme. I enjoyed the radiant heated floors in the bathroom and huge jacuzzi. The Staff brought freshly baked lemon cookies in the evening, turned down the bed sheets, and left a bucket of ice so the room would be ready once I returned from dinner. Other nice touches were the bowl of caramels and Asian trail mix to enjoy at my leisure.
I made sure not to oversleep because Aubergine’s signature breakfast awaited me. Aubergine is a Forbes Five Star restaurant located inside the hotel. The restaurant includes 12 tables and exudes the romance and intimacy of dining in a French country manor. L’Auberge does allow for breakfast to be served to guests in their rooms, but I wanted to enjoy the ambiance of Aubergine. I enjoyed a chocolate croissant, toast, fruit salad, two eggs prepared to my liking (scrambled), orange juice, and coffee or tea. It was delicious! The chocolate croissant was made by Pastry Chef, Yulanda Santos and it was out of this world good! All of the items were served in little cast iron pans that added a nice touch. Every detail at Aubergine added to the hotel’s enchanted charm.
During my next stay at L’Auberge, I will make a dinner reservation at Aubergine. Aubergine serves California coastal cuisine and offers a daily changing eight course Tasting Menu that is an of-the-moment celebration of seasonality and creativity. Aubergine offers an impressive 2,500-bottle wine cellar with renowned and undiscovered selections from famed wine regions around the world, with a particular focus on wines from Monterey County and France. Under the direction of Chef Cogley and his team, Aubergine has enjoyed substantial acclaim. In 2016 & 2015 they were nominated for James Beard Foundation awards including Best Chef, West and Outstanding Service. 2016 & 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.
Book your next getaway at L’Auberge Carmel and you will not be disappointed! 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. At L’Auberge Carmel personalized guest services, delicious cuisine, and modern yet luxurious amenities awaits you!
WOW!!!!! I absolutely LOVE Relais and Chateaux resorts. I stayed at one in Italy and will have to check out this resort in Carmel. It looks amazing!!!! Your blog post is great.
Carmel is a special town and it’s good to know where to stay when I visit.