In the Words of our Monterey Guests

Last night we arrived at the Casa Munras only to discover that I'd made a mistake in booking another hotel by accident. Matthew at the front desk was so helpful and friendly arranging for us to stay in a suite at a better rate. Both Matthew and Andrew at the front desk were extremely helpful. I can't thank them enough! I've been staying at this hotel for many years and watched it grow and can't say enough good things about it. Thank you Casa Munras you're the best! You should note if you're staying here they have a variety of different accommodations so it's best to book through the front desk of the hotel to find out exactly what you're getting. They do charge $16 for parking which is extra but it's well worth it in my book. We will continue to stay at the Casa Munras!

From the time we checked in, Alex, already set the bar high by sending us to our upgraded room with a bottle of sparkling cider (because we don’t drink alcohol) and champagne flutes when he found out that we were staying for our honeymoon. He also made great suggestions for different places to see. Then the next day we decided to extend our stay and Matthew processed the extension as seamless as possible. On our final night, my husband and I decided to dine at the restaurant. Matthew greeted us as we walked in to the restaurant and remembered our names!!! Alexander was our server who was fantastic, made great recommendations for appetizers and main entree for this dining experience. What was surprising was that the chef, Gus, came to our table and asked if everything was okay, if we had questions about the menu and then continued to explain that all the ingredients are locally and organically grown. We had the flat bread and empanadas which were delicious. For the main entree I had the black paella which was scrumptious! If only I could eat the whole thing in one sitting but single serving size was enough to share between two people. My husband ordered the pork chop and cleaned his plate. From the veggies to the meat, everything was done/cooked perfectly. I had a bite of his entree and wanted to grab his plate from him. For first timers, we felt bad that we didn’t eat there every night during our stay. I used to work for a 5-star, 5-diamond hotel in San Francisco but I think the service here at the hotel, restaurant and spa was a 5-star experience. We’re already planning for our next trip with the rest of the family!

Sitting at Esteban's in Monterey having a great Happy Hour! Great drinks (love the New Fashioned) by a great bartender, CJ. Great Tapas (OMG the Cataplana seafood stew and the bisque are fabulous). Chef Gus came by to tell us about his creations, he is very enthusiastic! We had fun and we'll be back!

Stayed here last weekend with family (including pup) and went whale watching. Booked directly with the hotel and received some excellent recommendations. Very comfy accommodations (we had a pet friendly room). Awesome margaritas at the bar. Walking distance to the Wharf. Great location! We'll be back for sure!

We were trying our first weekend away with our puppies and read about Esteban. Our meal was wonderful. We tried about five dishes but the paella was the star - enough that we will have leftovers tonight! The staff was great - got us two patio heaters (puppies were still a tad damp from baths after beach day), blankets for us and their dog menu is super cute. We got the bone marrow for the puppies and they were happily occupied for over 2 hours. The waiter's recommendation on wine and dishes was spot on. Will defintiely be back.

Casa Munras has done a wonderful job of updating the property and keeping things modern and in line with the Spanish colonial styles in the region. The rooms were neat and clean and well maintained. I selected a king sized bed in a room with a fireplace and discounted breakfast via the on-line reservation system. We ended up in a lovely 2nd floor, corner room that was spacious and comfortable and romantic. The bed was a little soft for me, but after a day of walking around the aquarium and though all the stores at Cannery Row, I slept just fine. The fireplace puts out some heat and we were toasty in no time. We had dinner both evenings at the restaurant on site, Esteban. Breakfast you can order and pick up and take back to your room or eat at the restaurant. You pay for parking but its a very reasonable rate. There are a couple of "house cats" on the property so if you are sitting in front of the firepit just off the restaurant and see a lovely tuxedo cat, they are just making sure you are having a good time. Didn't get to try the Spa out this time....but we will be next time (already booked our weekend trip for next year).

We stumbled upon Casa Munras thanks to TripAdviser and are very glad we did. The hotel is a throwback to an earlier era when hotels had “grounds” and outbuildings and character. Casa Munras has all of that. Kudos to staff for being very responsive to our requests and questions. Kudos also for putting us (with 2 dogs) away from other guests (hotel was about 2/3 full and we had open rooms above and next to us for most of the stay). As for its location, not only is it close to the wharf area, it’s also directly in line with the Fremont entrance/exit of Highway 1. Within minutes of leaving the hotel, we were on the highway for our day’s adventure. We would definitely stay here again and will recommend it to any of our friends traveling to Monterey.

Had an excellent dinner dining al fresco at Esteban, as the weather was perfect to eat outside & the food matched the ambiance. We did our own tasting menu, of sorts, by ordering many dishes to share. We loved the grilled peaches, cheese plate, piquillo peppers, calamari, & tuna tacos. Drink-wise, the Strawberry Bourbon Smash was delicious! They also have a daily Happy Hour with drink & food specials; we were told 4.30p - 6p with food starting at $4 & drinks at $6 - hard to beat, especially in California! I will definitely return!

The restaurant Esteban is now under the leadership of a great chef. Gus was previously a chef at CVR and now is the chef de cuisine at Esteban. Six of us had a spectacular dinner last night with Gus preparing an array of delicious dishes, each one spectacular. Ranging from Patatas Bravas (yum) to shrimp with avocado and citrus, to their classic Paella with squid ink, it was a fabulous dinner. We will return many times, and recommend Esteban to anyone seeking exceptional dining with a unique flair. Bravo, Gus!

Super cute and quaint hotel! Staff was friendly and helpful, hotel is super close to the downtown area. Very comfortable bed and great quick nights sleep. Very close to some great restaurants within just a short walk.