Il Fornaio, meaning ‘the Baker’ in Italian, sits right in downtown Carmel By The Sea and serves authentic Italian food in a space where you and your dog can actually eat together. The restaurant has won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, which matters if you care about what’s in your glass—the wine list is genuinely well-chosen and pairs thoughtfully with the food.

The kitchen focuses on traditional Italian cooking, which means handcrafted pasta and proper risottos rather than shortcuts. You’ll find the classics done right, plus desserts that taste like someone actually made them rather than thawed them. The outdoor seating area is where you’ll sit with your dog, which works well because Carmel’s weather is generally cooperative. On a clear afternoon, you get actual California sun while eating, which isn’t something to take for granted around here.

The atmosphere is relaxed without trying too hard to be charming. People are there to eat good food and drink good wine, and the staff treats dogs as a normal part of that equation rather than making a big deal about it. That said, it’s worth a quick call before you go to confirm they’re still welcoming dogs on the patio, since policies can shift.

The location puts you within walking distance of the main downtown shops and galleries, and if your dog needs a proper walk afterward, the residential streets around Carmel are quiet and tree-lined. Ocean Avenue is the main drag just blocks away, and the dog-friendly beaches are accessible from there too. The restaurant itself doesn’t feel touristy even though plenty of tourists eat there, probably because the food and wine are serious enough that people focus on their plates. If you’re planning an afternoon or evening in Carmel with your dog, this is the kind of place where you’ll actually want to sit for a while.