Dining at the Van Gogh Table in Carmel-by-the-Sea Along Highway 1 🌊🎨

This weekend, I set off to explore more of California—this time driving south along Highway 1 and stopping in the charming town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. It’s a truly refined little town, filled with high-end vintage shops, art galleries, designer home goods, and handmade crafts. It almost feels too elegant to be in California! Turns out, after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, many European artists and writers moved here, aiming to create a town that valued art and nature over commerce. That’s why there are strict anti-commercial rules here: no big billboards, no chain stores, buildings can’t be too tall, and every shop must keep a hand-painted sign and garden. Strolling through Carmel feels peaceful and genuinely special. For dinner, we visited Casanova in Carmel-by-the-Sea—known as the most romantic restaurant in town. If you want to experience a touch of Southern France in the U.S., this is the place. Reservations are recommended! The restaurant has a legendary “Van Gogh Table.” It’s said to have been brought from the Auberge Ravoux inn in France, where Van Gogh spent his final days painting and dining. Now, it sits in the restaurant’s “Van Gogh Room” (see the third photo!). The menu features Italian-French fusion cuisine—great for the atmosphere. We randomly picked two appetizers, and both were delicious. For the main course, I’d recommend the Risotto but skip the duck leg. I heard the beef dish is excellent, though we didn’t try it—maybe next time! After dinner, drive just 5 minutes to Carmel Sunset Beach for a stunning, quiet sunset. Don’t forget your flip-flops! 🌅👣 Feeling recharged and ready for a new week 💫. 💬 What’s the most artistic or story-rich restaurant you’ve visited? Share your experience below! 🗣️ 💬 Explored any hidden-gem towns along Highway 1? Tell us your favorite! 🚗💨 #NoRushTravelDiary #ShareYourJourney #ArtGalleryRestaurant #HiddenGemEatery #CarmelByTheSea #Highway1 #Highway1Guide #FallOutdoorWander #BayAreaLife #OffTheBeatenPath #VanGoghTable #EuropeanVibes #CoastalTown #RomanticDining #CaliforniaRoadTrip