1/5

Villa Mara Carmel

Carmel-By-The-Sea • Carmel • OVER THE TOP

avg. $796 / night

Includes $42 / night in cash back

Cash back is redeemable via Virtual Visa, Venmo, or bank transfer starting 24-48 hours after check-out

LHW Leaders Club property

Exclusive PressBeyond Benefits

Get to where you see yourself

Ultra-clean, global, hand-picked hotel curation & imagery designed to help you visualize enticing environments and the elevated social experiences they create

Cash back

5% cash back on all completed stays (redeemable via Virtual Visa, Venmo, or bank transfer starting 24-48 hours after check-out)

Credit card points

Credit and debit card charges are processed directly by the hotel (i.e. not PressBeyond), meaning that any travel-specific credit card points or incentives that you normally get as a cardholder for direct hotel bookings are preserved

Hotel loyalty points

Points accrual and status eligibility with major hotel loyalty programs: Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, and others

Free breakfast

Breakfast-included rate options available

Room upgrades

Complimentary room upgrades (subject to property availability)

Extend your stay

Early check-in and late check-out (subject to property availability)

Part of Leading Hotels of the World

Location

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PB hotel design editorial

White stucco walls, steel-framed casement windows, and a porthole detail punched into the upper facade give Villa Mara Carmel the quiet authority of a Monterey Colonial residence that has always known exactly what it is. Set within Carmel-by-the-Sea's famously design-conscious village grid, where building codes have long preserved a domestic scale that most coastal California towns surrendered decades ago, the property works within those constraints rather than against them — the low-slung rooflines, flagstone forecourt, and cast-iron fire bowl visible from the garden all suggesting a private home that happens to have been opened to guests. Inside, the interiors sustain that fiction with considerable skill. The common sitting room retains its original dark-stained scissor-truss ceiling, which anchors a composition of wide-plank white oak floors, a herringbone-tiled fireplace surround beneath a chunky raw timber mantel, and loose groupings of cane-back chairs alongside a tufted sofa in blue floral fabric. Guest rooms shift the palette toward warmer sand tones — biscuit-coloured walls, blush-printed upholstered headboards, rift-cut oak cabinetry with brass hardware, and paired club chairs in ivory bouclé positioned to catch the coastal light through French doors. The cumulative effect is closer to a well-inherited California beach house than to a curated boutique hotel, which is precisely the point.

Travel notes

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About

We invite you to discover our extensive renovation that captures the essence of Carmel-by-the-Sea’s rich artistic culture, and experience the elegance of life in a small yet worldly village. Tucked away in the highly coveted Carmel Point neighborhood just steps from the white sandy beach, the location is ideal for one to relax and embrace the ever-calming sounds of the ocean.

Amenities

Free Parking

Internet

Free Internet

Free Wifi

Breakfast Included

Non-smoking rooms

Non-smoking hotel

Safe

Private balcony

Breakfast Available

Villa Mara Carmel Reviews

147 reviews

"I have never left a hotel review before, but Villa Mara absolutely deserves it! George and Jonathan (and the entire team) made our stay so incredible. The service, cleanliness, food and atmosphere are absolutely unbeatable. The attention to detail is perfect - from the complimentary cake and welcome drinks to the le labo toiletries. We have stayed in countless $2k+ per night resorts around the world and Villa Mara absolutely rivals them for the level of service and comfort. We will be returning soon and highly recommend you visit!"

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Mar 17, 2026

"Hotel is in a great location just a block from the beach. Shops are about a mile away. They are easily walkable on a nice day. Loved the feel of staying in a villa verses a hotel. Staff is amazing. Olivia is a jewel of a person. We had, had a long day of flight trouble and were tired upon arrival. She got us wine, brought us snacks and recommend a close by low key restaurant for a late dinner. Just welcomed us with open arms. Robert and Jonathan were very attentive and kind as well. The staff makes this place fabulous. We had a wonderful anniversary trip. Thank you so much!"

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Mar 08, 2026

"Very attentive staff that were kind and welcoming. Room was not huge but spacious with great attention to detail. Amazing neighborhood / location. Will return for a longer stay ❤️"

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Mar 06, 2026

"From the first touch point upon arrival to the last minute while leaving, the staff at Villa Mara were absolutely wonderful. They were warm, generous with their time and efforts and were the type of staff that remembered you by name as well as all of your preferences. They were particularly adept at navigating that delicate liminal space between warmth and professionalism, and their sincerity made us truly feel at home. The property itself is exquisitely detailed. It contains all the refinements a spoiled New Yorker expects with a dash of coastal ease and character. Every corner is thoughtfully curated, as is the experience from beginning to end. The location itself is tucked away enough to feel secluded but just blocks from beach access and a ten minutes drive from downtown. Can't say enough good things about George and Jonathan in particular, who made our stay spectacular. We'll be back."

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Feb 24, 2026

"The staff were so attentive and professional. They made sure we had everything we needed from check in to check out. every detail was perfect!"

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Feb 19, 2026

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Villa Mara Carmel | Best Design-Driven Stays in Carmel-By-The-Sea