A Montereyan’s Guide to a Perfect Tuesday
- June Park
- Nov 7
- 3 min read
With a crisp breeze, autumn sweeps over the Monterey Bay. Autumn in Monterey is a beautiful thing, with the weather just right for a cozy sweater and a warm beverage. Surprisingly, Stevenson students are often oblivious about where to go locally. It is always a cycle between Del Monte, Carmel, and Target, and they never get to see anything else. So many gems go unnoticed!
I highly recommend visiting Alvarado Street — anybody who knows me knows that it is my favorite spot of all time in Monterey. I’ve never met a fanatic of Alvarado Street quite like me. I’m looking forward to the day I meet this person!
The perfect day to visit Alvarado Street is a Tuesday, when the street truly comes to life. Stands of fragrant fruits, lush vegetables, handmade trinkets and candles, baked goods, fried goods, fresh juices, perfumed bouquets, and so much more arise — the wonderful Farmer’s Market. Supporting dozens of local farmers and merchants, the Farmer’s Market is the perfectly quaint yet bustling hallmark of Monterey that every local must experience. There may be people who’ve never gone before, but there is no such thing as someone who’s only been once. It’s just that awesome.
Right before roaming down to the Market, Alta Bakery greets passersby with the inviting aroma of a warm oven. Set in the historic Cooper-Molera Adobe, Alta is a delightful bakery and cafe with a beautiful courtyard — charming enough to be a wedding venue, which it often is. The popularity of this bakery is affirmed daily; a long line strings from the entrance every morning. Their pastries are baked to perfection, and the courtyard is a lovely place to sip a latte and people-watch before the late afternoon market begins.
If staying by for dinner, Kuma Sushi is my top recommendation. The first time I went there was for my birthday with a friend, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. The rolls are moderately priced for such great quality, and there is a fun ambiance to the place — there is a disco ball hung in the center!
For dessert, Revival Ice Cream is the perfect spot. Their ice cream is made in-house, and their flavors are simply top-tier. Fans of creamy, sweet flavors must try the Bee’s Knees, while fruit-enjoyers should definitely go for the POG or Flavor King (my personal favorite — it tastes exactly like pluots, a plum-apricot hybrid). Some of their flavors are relatively eccentric, like Eucalyptus Mint or Olive Oil, so if you are looking for a flavor adventure, this is the perfect creamery to visit.
But if you are too thirsty to have ice cream and craving a drink instead, right across the street is one of the few boba places in Monterey: TZone. They offer a wide selection of milk teas and toppings, and as a self-proclaimed boba expert, I’d rate them a solid 7.7/10. It is definitely worth a stop.
Not only is Alvarado Street a beautiful and lively place to be, but it’s also a cornerstone of Monterey’s history. Once the heart of the old downtown, it was home to some of California’s earliest political and cultural events. Many of the buildings lining the street date back to the 1800s, and if you look closely, you can still spot adobe walls and vintage signs that whisper stories from centuries past. Alvarado has evolved over time — from a quiet trading hub to the vibrant, eclectic destination it is today — but it’s always kept its soul. There is something special about walking down the same street where so much of Monterey’s history unfolded, latte in hand, watching the lights of the Farmers’ Market flicker on.
Comments