Perfect Date Night Ideas at The Crossroads Carmel
No matter how long you and your significant other have been together, a good date night is a great way to mix things up!
While new couples tend to go out on regular dates, long-term couples may find themselves spending more time at home and less time “going out”.
Either way, it can be tough to come up with new ideas for places to go and things to do while enjoying each other’s company. In this article, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite date night settings for you couples on the Monterey Peninsula.
The Crossroads Carmel has just about everything you could ever want out of a date night location. From local shops to top-notch restaurants and a full calendar of seasonal events, there’s never a shortage of things to do with your partner.
Going Out for Fine Dining
What’s more romantic than a lovely night out at a delectable restaurant? The Crossroads Carmel is home to a unique lineup of diverse restaurants that’ll suit whatever mood you’re in.
If you want to go all out on a fancy dinner and some wine, Rio Grill is an award-winning Southwestern American restaurant. (Don’t miss their famous Rio Rita!) For something a bit more laid back, grab a few tacos, burritos, or fajitas from Island Taco.
There are also delicious burgers from R.G. Burgers and the freshest catches from Sea Harvest Fish Market & Restaurants. As the name states, you can also pick up a few pieces of fish and bring them home to cook on your own.
If you’ve already fallen in love with Breadsong/Steakcraft’s delicious breakfast and lunch options stay tuned for their SteakCraft dinner menu coming soon!
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Relaxing at the Spa
Eating out is great, but if you really want to relax, book a couples night at one of The Crossroads Carmel’s two spas – Remedy Spa and Monterey Bay Bodyworks. Remedy Spa is a full-service wellness and medical spa; offering float spas, facials, and light therapy.
On the other hand, Monterey Bay Bodyworks is all about working out the kinks. Located in a peaceful massage studio, the incredible therapist that owns Monterey Bay Bodyworks specializes in everything from Deep Tissue to Swedish and LaStone methods. You’ll walk out of there feeling like a brand new couple.
Grabbing a Cup of Coffee
After your massage, you can head over to Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Company for a nice latte, Americano, or cappuccino. With hot beverages, sweets, and their coffee lounge (or garden patio), you can easily spend a couple of hours talking and enjoying each other’s company here.
Wine Tasting
California is well-renowned for all of our wineries and tasting tours, and at The Crossroads Carmel, we’ve brought tasting tours to you! McIntyre Vineyards, Taste Morgan, and Vin Wine Bar + Bottle Boutique offer some of the area’s best boutique wines within a short walk from one another.
McIntyre Vineyards is a local tasting room featuring wines from their main location, which is tucked above the Salinas River in the Santa Lucia Highlands. They grow some of the best grapes in the region, which must be why the wine is so memorable.
Open for indoor and outdoor patio tastings, Taste Morgan offers organically farmed wines from family-owned Morgan Winery in the Santa Lucia Highlands. They offer a flight of four locally grown and produced wines from a curated tasting menu.
If you want a spread of California wines, then Vin Wine Bar + Bottle Boutique has you covered. This hip wine bar offers numerous local wines, as well as vintages from around the world. It’s a great choice for an evening of great wines and tasty bites.
Hitting the Trails
Did you know that there are loads of scenic trails surrounding The Crossroads Carmel? No date night in Carmel is complete unless you enjoy the scenery, so plan a walk or bike ride around the area.
If you’re in need of a bike, Pedego Electric Bikes has you covered. These are the best electric bikes on earth and there are over 20 different models to choose from.
Riding the trails near the Carmel River and the oceanside is one of our favorite ways to experience Carmel. It’s a date you won’t soon forget!
A Live Music Experience
The Crossroads Carmel isn’t just a nice shopping center with restaurants and spas, it’s also a hub for local art and music. If you’re looking for a bit of entertainment for your date night, then check out our event schedule.
Rio Grill has a live music lineup you don’t want to miss. There’s nothing more romantic than being serenaded by one of these local entertainers, so arrive early to get yourself and your date a front-row seat.
Couples Workout
Working out isn’t every couple’s idea of a date night, but if you’re into fitness, there are some invigorating personal trainer and pilates studios at The Crossroads Carmel.
There are numerous benefits to working out with your significant other. Let the trainers at F.I.T., Ghost Tree, or Carmel Pilates and Personal Training whip you and your date into shape.
Couples who sweat together, stay together!
Taking in a Gallery
For art and culture lovers, Mopane is an ethnographic African art gallery that supports the Elephant Haven Orphanage in Botswana. If your looking to do something positive, have a look around the gallery and purchase ethically-sourced goods.
Insider Tip: On Sundays, Mopane holds a weekly fundraiser with wine and appetizers. Come by after your couple’s workout or in between lunch and dinner to support a great cause with your date.
Boutique Shopping
A trip to The Crossroads Carmel for a date night would not be complete without hitting up some of our boutiques and shops! Take your date out shopping at some of the shoe and clothing boutiques, or pick up a few new books from River House Books.
If you’re feeling extra romantic, you can start looking for your date’s next birthday gift at one of the two jewelry shops at The Crossroads Carmel. Weber Goldsmith Gallery creates one-of-a-kind custom pieces, while European Jewelers has pieces from designers around the world.
No Shortage of Date Night Ideas
As you can see, there is no shortage of creative date night ideas at The Crossroads Carmel. Whether you enjoy dining out, shopping, being active, or just exploring, there’s something for everyone! All you really need to do is pick a date and stop by. Before you come, don’t forget to check out our events page for upcoming events. New events are added frequently.
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