Walking Pastry + Coffee Tour | Downtown Monterey

Whether you're visiting Monterey or you're a local looking for a fun activity with your partner or friends, I have an idea for you: A pastry + coffee walking tour in downtown Monterey.

Pastries at Alta Bakery

I created this walking tour for visiting East Coast friends. It received rave reviews, so I decided to share it with all of you. Downtown Monterey is buzzing with bakeries and cafes–with my favorites in walking distance from each other. It prompted me to ask: how could I lean into my hedonism and make a morning of this? Lol. And so, the idea arrived: a Walking Pastry + Coffee Tour. Not only will you enjoy delicious eats, but you’ll be outdoors in our perfectly mild climate, moving your body, in the walkable and cute downtown area of Monterey, with your loved ones. What’s better than that?

The route: The walk is flat, on sidewalks, and clocks in at 0.6 miles total, making it short enough for most ages and fitness levels. Here's the route on Google Maps. I've also included directions for each stop below.

Parking: If you’re driving, you can look for street parking on Adams Street next to Captain + Stoker (the first stop). Note that street parking has time limitations. Look for a two-hour spot! If you want to linger longer, you can also park in the Downtown Garage East, which is one block south of Captain + Stoker.

Pro tip: Start early morning (8 AM or earlier) if you want to avoid lines and ensure the widest selection of pastries. My friends and I started at 7 AM on a weekday summer holiday morning. It was perfect!

I recommend visiting the following shops in this order:

Stop #1: Captain + Stoker

If you’re like me, you want coffee first thing in the morning. Captain + Stoker is your place to sit down and enjoy morning beverages before you get walking. It's a buzzing place that's perfect for chatting with loved ones or simply taking in the morning scene. Plus, the morning light is beautiful inside (if the marine layer isn’t lingering).

What to order: I simply love their iced oat milk latte, but they offer fun seasonal drinks too. If your stomach is growling and you can't wait to eat, I recommend ordering their lemon poppyseed muffin (from local gluten-free bakery, Nece's). It's SO fluffy - you'd never know it was gluten-free! Whatever you do, do not leave without ordering a peanut butter energy ball to-go for a mid-day (or next day) snack. They are SO delicious!

Stop #2: Ad Astra (7-min walk from Captain + Stoker. Directions here.)

This is the newest bakery in downtown Monterey. It’s small but beautiful inside, and they have the best bread in town (with equally amazing pastries)! Order your items to-go here.

What to order: Get a loaf of olive bread and a pastry of your choice. I especially love their "Pop-Tarts” when they have them. People RAVE about their cinnamon rolls. If you need more coffee, they have a top-notch selection.

Stop #3: Parker Lusseau (4-min walk from Ad Astra. Directions here.)

One of the true French bakeries in town in a historic Monterey style house. If their pastries look familiar, it's because Captain + Stoker sources some items from here. Order your items to-go here.

What to order: One of their seasonal fruit croissants and a mini quiche. I also love their curried chicken salad croissants for lunch!

Stop #4: Alta (3-min walk from Parker Lusseau. Directions here.)

Your final stop. Alta offers a stunning, artful display of pastries in a historically significant adobe building. They have a spacious outdoor patio in the back – this is where you want to sit and savor your recently procured buffet of pastries! While you’re doing that, you can take in the expansive garden and beautiful Cooper Molera adobe buildings. It’s dreamy!

What to order: The savory sausage roll and salmon cream cheese croissants. Request them to be warmed. I also can’t resist the ginger scone. And the daily donut is often a feast for the eyes. If you need more coffee, I especially love their cold brew – it tastes chocolatey without any additives, and it is thoughtfully made with real coffee ice cubes!

Our pastry buffet from all of our stops enjoyed at our final destination - Alta's back patio!

You can complete this tour in a couple of hours, which means you could do this as a cute morning date even before work. Weekends get busy during our high tourist season, but if you go early, you shouldn’t have to wait in line!

Thanks for reading. Please reach out if you do this tour and let me know what you think, and most importantly–what your favorite pastries were!

With gratitude,

Ashley