Esteban
Casa Munras Garden Hotel and Spa | 700 Munras Ave., Monterey | (831) 375-0176, hotelcasamunras.com/esteban-restaurant
Esteban lies just beyond the beaten path on Alvarado Street, and that extra stretch is worth traveling for their glowing fire pits and Spanish-leaning tapas. Don’t let the small sharable format fool you: The real challenge is to not overeat given all the harissa-roasted pears, boquerónes, huevos diablos, cheese montaditos, lamb albóndigas and mushroom tarts. The red or white sangria made with seasonally fresh fruits pairs well with all of it.