Mission Ranch
26270 Dolores St., Carmel (831) 624-6436, missionranchcarmel.com
It’s no wonder owner Clint Eastwood’s beachside spot marks its fifth year in a row as the best location to rub elbows with the rich and famous. Sipping local wine over idyllic mountain and ocean views with live piano in the background provides a welcome retreat for those hoping to get away, and who needs a vacation more than a celebrity? From Doris Day to Marilyn Manson to Ray Romano, this is the place to hang with the stars, and watch them come out after a breathtaking sunset, too.