Carmel-by-the-Sea · 543 6th Ave
Wood-fired pizza.
Two bars, one on the roof.
Open nightly at four.
The Pèpe family’s neighborhood Italian, straight across from Devendorf Park.
Online orders 4 to 9 pm (9:30 pm Thursday, Friday and Sunday), closed Saturdays. Paused for the dinner rush Friday 5 to 8:45 pm and Sunday 5:45 to 7:45 pm, and on very busy nights.
Walk-ins welcome. The rooftop, the full Downstairs Bar and a few dining tables are always held for you.
Hours & Address
CallWhere, exactly
543 6th Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea
Northwest corner of 6th and Junipero, straight across 6th from Devendorf Park.
Hours
Open daily from 4:00 pm. Last dinner seating 10:00 pm. Bars close 10:00 pm Sunday to Thursday, 11:00 pm Friday and Saturday. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Super Bowl Sunday.
Happy Hour
4:00 to 6:00 pm, Sunday through Friday, at the Downstairs Bar and the rooftop Starlight Lounge only. Not in the dining room. No Happy Hour on Saturday.
Walk in or reserve
The rooftop, the full Downstairs Bar and a few dining tables are always held for walk-ins. Reserve on Tock or call us: 831.625.1766
Takeout
Pizza, pasta and the rest, packed for the drive home.
Order pickupOnline orders 4 to 9 pm (9:30 pm Thursday, Friday and Sunday), closed Saturdays. Paused for the dinner rush Friday 5 to 8:45 pm and Sunday 5:45 to 7:45 pm, and on very busy nights.
- Cards only, cash-free
- Resort casual
- No hats inside
- Rooftop: no reservations, ever
- No reservations by voicemail or email
La Cucina
One wood-fired oven. Neapolitan pizza the way the family learned it.
Big enough to share. Good enough that you won’t want to.
Signature plates · swipe
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The must-try
Truffled Gnocchi
Order it first.
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From the fire
Neapolitan Pizza
Dough stretched by hand. Wood-fired oven. Margherita to Diavola.
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Insider favorite
Artichokes, two ways
Fried Artichoke Crocchette. Grilled heirloom artichoke from Scattini Farms.
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The classics
Veal, Chicken, or Eggplant Parm
With spaghetti marinara or pappardelle alfredo. The dish regulars order without opening the menu.
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Finish
Tiramisù
Layered, cold, cocoa on top. Ask for two forks.
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For the table
Strawberry Creme Pie
Bavarian cream, strawberries, a mountain of whipped cream. Big enough to share.
Two Bars
Up the stairs, string lights and fire pits. Down the stairs, the locals. Pick your altitude.
Rooftop
The Starlight Lounge
Young, vibrant, open air. The only true rooftop bar in Carmel. Spritzes by the ledge. First come, first served.
No reservations, ever
Happy Hour 4:00 to 6:00 pm, Sunday through Friday.
Street level
The Downstairs Bar
The locals’ bar. Inventive cocktails. The McSuvio burger. Full bar seating held for walk-ins, every night.
Full bar held for walk-ins
Happy Hour 4:00 to 6:00 pm, Sunday through Friday.
From the bar
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The DropOur most popular cocktail
Lemon and raspberry, built on our own Pèpecello, Limoncello di Sorrento I.G.P., with our house raspberry shrub.
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Espresso Martini
Doc’s Vodka and an espresso liqueur, both made exclusively for us by Christian Pèpe. The vodka is corn-based and gluten-free, distilled with a delicate, demanding vapor technique. Fresh espresso. Balanced, never cloying.
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Chew On ThisZero proof
Chamoy, pineapple, passion fruit, Tajín, lime and soda. Sweet, tart, a little heat, no alcohol.
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Vesuvio Sour
Angel’s Envy Bourbon, Amaretto, passionfruit syrup, a Napa Valley Cabernet float.
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Doc Pèpe’s Lab Negroni
Barrel-aged, made by the family in Marina, CA.
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Pèpecello
Our house limoncello, I.G.P. designation. A five-dollar shot.
Happy Hour
4 to 6
Sunday through Friday, at the Downstairs Bar and the rooftop Starlight Lounge only. Not in the dining room. No Happy Hour on Saturday.
Bars close 10:00 pm Sunday to Thursday, 11:00 pm Friday and Saturday.
What People Say
The numbers, and their words, unedited.
Guest rating
4.7/5
Across more than 1,900 post-visit reviews from our own guests. On Google: 4.5 stars, 1,345 reviews.
Read them on Google-
★★★★★
“Probably the best pastas we’ve ever had, Italy included. Absolutely phenomenal. What a blessing.”
Anthony H., East Bay, September 2026
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★★★★★
“It felt like I was eating my friend’s homemade food in Italy.”
Vera B., guest review, July 2026
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★★★★★
“The rooftop is a vibe and wonderful. Service is near perfect. Go for drinks and to hang out.”
Rick D., Google, August 2026
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★★★★★
“Neighborhood bar meets Italian bistro.”
Gary G., Google, August 2026
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★★★★★
“It’s clear that this is a family restaurant and the staff want you to enjoy your visit.”
Jeannette W., guest review, August 2026
On the record
Best Pizza
Golden Pine Cones, Carmel Pine Cone readers
Best Cocktails
Golden Pine Cones
Best Bartender
Golden Pine Cones, Christian Pèpe
Best Place to Eavesdrop
Monterey County Weekly, Best Of Monterey County
Behind the bar
Two cocktails, one shaker.
Christian Pèpe runs Doc Pèpe’s Lab in Marina, Monterey County’s only distillery, where he makes spirits and liqueurs for our cocktail program. The barrel-aged Lab Negroni on the rooftop is his.
Downstairs, Jay Wallace has poured for this town for twenty years and took Best Bartender in the 2024 Golden Pine Cones.
The Room
Napoli.
Hoboken.
Carmel.
So many reasons to come: a family dinner, an easy date night, takeout on the drive home, a drink with friends on the roof.
Open since 2011. Warm wood and vintage Italian travel posters. Resort casual attire, jackets not required.
Secure your seat at the table
Plan Your Night
The corner
543 6th Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921. Northwest corner of 6th and Junipero, straight across from Devendorf Park. Our lot is a through-drive: in from Mission Street, across in front of the library, left at the side of Vesuvio, right along the back, out to Junipero. Street parking on 6th and Junipero too. Look for the Vesuvio sign on the stone wall.
Come hungry.
Book a table, or order the pizza to go.
Good to know
Do you allow dogs?
Unfortunately we are unable to allow dogs in the restaurant or on our rooftop, the Starlight Lounge.
Our sister restaurant Little Napoli has a wonderful pet-friendly courtyard that we recommend for guests who wish to bring their furry friends.
Do you have outdoor seating?
Yes. Our rooftop, the Starlight Lounge, is open air, with a variety of seating and heating options, and the full menu is served. The rooftop is first come, first served; we do not take reservations for it.
Do you save space for walk-ins?
Yes. We always hold a few tables in the dining room for walk-ins, and the rooftop Starlight Lounge is 100% dedicated to spontaneous visitors.
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Yes, we will do our best to accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions. See our menus for current offerings, and add any allergies or dietary restrictions in the notes when you book on Tock.
Any pizza can be made on a gluten-free crust. Any pasta can be made gluten-free as well.
Is there a corkage fee?
Corkage is $30 per 750ml bottle, waived if you purchase an additional bottle from our list.
What payment types do you accept?
We are a cashless restaurant. We accept all major credit and debit cards, but not cash. Thank you for understanding.