First Awakenings

Monterey


Sweet and savory, all-American breakfasts and lunches and bottomless pitchers of coffee merrily weigh down outdoor tables at this cafe uphill from the aquarium. Try the unusual ‘bluegerm’ pancakes or a spicy Sonoran frittata.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Monterey attractions

1. Monterey Bay Aquarium

0.11 MILES

Monterey is practically synonymous with its world-class aquarium overlooking Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which protects dense kelp forests and…

2. Cannery Workers Shacks

0.15 MILES

The trio of tiny original one-room cabins where cannery workers shacked up provides a sobering reminder of the hard lives led by Filipino, Japanese,…

3. Cannery Row

0.26 MILES

John Steinbeck’s novel Cannery Row immortalized the sardine-canning business that was Monterey’s lifeblood for the first half of the 20th century. A…

4. Steinbeck Plaza

0.32 MILES

Along Cannery Row, stop at Steinbeck Plaza to soak up bay views and snap a photo of yourself with a bronze bust of the famous writer.

5. Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

0.78 MILES

With a gray-whale sculpture out front, this small kid-oriented museum has old-fashioned exhibits about sea otters, coastal bird life, butterflies, the Big…

6. Presidio of Monterey Museum

0.92 MILES

On the grounds of the original Spanish fort, this specialized museum (of interest only to history buffs) looks at Monterey’s history from a military…

7. Old Whaling Station

1.13 MILES

Open to the public, this fine adobe structure was originally built in 1847 by Scottish settler, David Wight.

8. California's First Theater

1.16 MILES

Originally built as a lodging house and tavern in 1847, and used as a theater from 1850, this building is currently closed for renovation.