Chez Noir
5th Avenue between Dolores and San Carlos streets, Carmel cheznoircarmel.com
July 2023, less than a year after opening, the chic Carmel restaurant won a coveted Michelin star – becoming the second restaurant in Monterey County to have one. But what makes Chez Noir the best is that it’s a true labor of love for husband‑and‑wife team Jonny and Monique Black. Every detail of the experience is curated with utmost care by this duo and the rest of their team. You’ll feel almost as though you’ve been invited into their home – which you kind of have; the Blacks live upstairs.