Old Monterey District Blog

Good news! On Tuesday, September 22, 2020, it was announced by the California Department of Public Health that all nail salons across the state are permitted to reopen for indoor services.

You're invited to call to your favorite Monterey nail salon and make an appointment for a manicure or pedicure, but please be patient. This was an unexpected announcement, and it may take our nail artists a few days to prepare their businesses to reopen.

To learn more about the State of California's Blueprint for a Safer Economy, and to learn what's permitted in Monterey County at this moment according to the Blueprint, please click here.

Do you knit or crochet? Slowfiber carries Hooked brand yarn! Hooked yarn is made from textile waste - recycled cotton and industry off-cuts are their specialty - and most is produced at their own facility in Portugal. This yarn is great for making baby items, cowls, bags, stuffed toys, and soft goods. It's super soft, cost effective, and machine washable.

Hooked yarn is available in-store at Slowfiber in a wide variety of colors. To find out which types of yarn and colors are here, please visit us at 517B Hartnell Street in Downtown Old Monterey or phone us at 831-901-3168. Unlike much of our stock, these yarns are not available for purchase on our website.

Montrio Bistro is launching Locals' Night every Tuesday and Wednesday, September 22 - October 31, 2020. Join us on our 40-seat outdoor patio and enjoy discounts on food and cocktails! Those nights, just show a Monterey County ID and receive 25% off the entire menu. Craft cocktails by award-winning spiritsmith Anthony Vitacca are only $11 each.

Montrio Bistro, located at 414 Calle Principal, is open for outdoor dining Monday - Thursday, 4:30pm-9pm, and Friday - Saturday, 4:30pm-10pm. For reservations, call 831-648-8880. Curbside pick-up and delivery is available daily, 4:30pm-9pm.

Now that football is back, Cult Taco at 481 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey is offering a Sunday Takeaway Menu! Order your favorite dishes ahead of time and pick up at Cult Taco at 12pm on Sunday to enjoy during the game.

The Sunday Football Takeaway menu includes margaritas, bean dip, chips and salsa, taco kits, enchilada casserole, burritos, and nachos. Place your order in advance here.

Comanche Cellars Wine Room is pleased to announce our new tasting menu! Visit us and try the 2019 Comanche Cellars Chardonnay, 2019 Dog & Pony Rose of Pinot Noir, 2017 Comanche Cellars Pinot Noir, 2017 Dog & Pony Il Rinnegato, and the 2017 Comanche Cellars Cabernet Franc. Our five-flight tasting is $20 per person - if you make a two bottle purchase, we'll waive one tasting fee.

We're located at 412 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey, and now open for outdoor wine tasting and retail wine sales. Curbside pickup of wine bottle purchases is available. Hours are: Wed-Thurs, 4pm-8pm; Fri, 3pm-9pm; Sat, 2pm-8pm; Sun, 1pm-6pm.

At Montrio Bistro we're proud to offer tasty, zero-alcohol drink options, also known as mocktails. Pictured here is the Gordon Gecko, made with passion fruit, coconut, lime, and ginger. Delicious! Montrio is now open for take-out, delivery, and patio dining at 414 Calle Principal in Downtown Old Monterey.

Casual Island, home of women's fashion, fun gifts, and novelty items, is now selling a selection of houseplants in 4"-6" pots. Cheer up your home or workplace with these sweet little plants. Family owned and operated, Casual Island is located at 261 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey and open daily, 10am-8pm.

Jazz lovers are invited to join Esteban Restaurant, September 25-27, 5pm-7pm, to view the Monterey Jazz Festival virtually and enjoy a 3-course, jazz-inspired prix fixe meal curated by Executive Chef Gus Trejo each evening on the patio. Reservations are required - please phone 831-324-6773. Esteban Restaurant is located at Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa, 700 Munras Avenue in Monterey.

Tim Jackson, the Monterey Jazz Festival's Artistic Director, will be onsite nightly to deliver an exceptional evening of storytelling and behind-the-scenes moments. View and listen to an incredible lineup featuring exclusive new performances and interviews and previously unreleased archival performances from the Monterey Jazz Festival.

The 3-course prix fixe dinner includes non-alcoholic beverages and coffee/tea. Fee is $150 plus tax and gratuity per person, per night. A full no-host bar, including specialty cocktails and an extensive wine list, will be available for purchase separately. Nightly performance broadcasts are included with your meal and complimentary parking is available. Proceeds will benefit the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Guests may choose from a selection of first, second and third courses on the menu. Highlights include: Late Harvest Corn Bisque with black truffle, scallop tartare; Heirloom Beet Salad with baby lettuce, shaved fennel, apple, lemon, and olive oil; Paella Quinoa with sofrito, chickpeas, and cauliflower roast; Cataplana a Portugese stew of mussels, clams, prawns, aioli, and grilled bread; Beef Short Rib with Za’atar lentils, otto file bread, and harissa yogurt; and Death by Chocolate with molten ganache and praline ice cream.

Slowfiber is happy to carry Gingher 8-inch dressmaker shears. (Right-handed and left-handed versions available!) The blades are strong enough to cut multiple layers of fabric and they're ideal for cutting out patterns and trimming seams. The precision ground knife edge cuts flawlessly all the way to the points, while the bent handle allows for smooth, comfortable cutting across a tabletop or counter.

Even better: you can mail these shears in and get them sharpened correctly for $12. (But if you only use them on fabric, you'll probably lose them before they need sharpening.)

Slowfiber owner Jaki Canterbury purchased a pair of Gingher shears sometime in the 1980s, and hers are still going strong. Price is $50, but they're worth it. Stop by the shop at 517B Hartnell Street in Downtown Old Monterey, or place your order online for shipping or pickup.

Sovino Wine Bar and Merchant invites you to join our Wine Club! Four times a year, we release a curated collection of local wines delivered right to your door. Whether you prefer white wine, red wine, or both, Sovino’s Wine Club strives to give you a great seasonal selection, chosen with care from small case production wineries. For more information, please e-mail owner and sommelier Claire Sutton.

Sovino is located at 241 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Looking for a new brunch spot? Cafe Lumiere is now serving brunch every weekend with a rotating menu of delicious items like the one pictured here plus a delightful array of baked goods, coffee, and tea. Visit us at 356 Calle Principal in Downtown Old Monterey - we're open daily, 8am-1pm, for counter service and patio seating.

Pacific Bowls and Rolls is known for its fresh fish, but did you know it also offers vegan and chicken bowls? Vegans, you can create your own bowl with shiitake mushrooms or ginger garlic tofu and your choice of mix-ins, toppings, and sauces, or you can try our signature bowl, Magic Mushroom!

Are you an omnivore who doesn't fancy seafood? You can create your own chicken bowl or try our signature Chicken Bowl, featuring chicken with a teriyaki glaze plus white rice, carrots, avocado, and cucumber.

Pacific Bowls and Rolls, serving up sustainable, healthy food, is located at 475 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey. We are proud partners with Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch Program and now open for take-out, delivery, and outdoor dining.

With the Union Yoga studio space laying dormant until we can have in-person yoga classes, we are really excited to offer a pop-up houseplant shop by Dirty Girl Plant Co. This owner-operated small business has turned the space into a lush urban jungle! Come and check out the fantastic collection of plants both large and small and buy some to beautify your indoor space.

Dirty Girl Plant Co. is now open at 244 Pearl Street in Downtown Old Monterey, selling houseplants and offering plant wellness tips and tricks. Current hours are: Friday - Sunday, 11am-4pm; Tuesday, 3pm-7pm; and Thursday by appointment.

Melville Tavern is serving up brunch on Labor Day Weekend, September 5-7, 10am-3pm. That's right, folks: it's three days of bottomless mimosas! But there's great food, too, including chicken and waffles, eggs Benedict, croque monsieur, and huevos rancheros, all available for patio dining and take-out. Located at 484 Washington Street in Downtown Old Monterey, you can make a reservation on our website or call us at 831-643-9525.

Looking for something a little more like lunch or dinner? We're also serving our regular lunch and dinner menu, 12pm-8pm, which includes wood-fired pizzas, burgers, pastas, sandwiches, and salads. We love to keep everyone happy and well-fed.