Nepenthe
American restaurant · Monterey County ·
California fare with breathtaking ocean views and a historic cliffside setting
California fare with breathtaking ocean views and a historic cliffside setting
"A clifftop Big Sur restaurant known for its colorful, relaxed California-cool vibe, panoramic ocean views, and approachable menu favorites like a fresh beet salad and hearty hamburgers, with an emphasis on local wines." - Cu Fleshman Cu Fleshman Cu is a freelance writer and editor with more than five years of experience. She has written for a variety of publications, including Afar, Matador Network, and Editoire. No matter where she is in the world, you can find her hunting for local eats and hiking trails. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A more casual, long-running Big Sur eatery serving sandwiches and salads in a rustic lodge dating back to the 1940s, prized for its fantastic ocean views." - Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz is a writer and editor based in Rome. She has been contributing to Travel + Leisure since 2014, when she started as a fact checker before becoming a contributing digital editor in 2015. She has also held positions as a contributing editor at The Points Guy and the NYC cities editor at DuJour Magazine. In addition to Travel + Leisure, her writing has appeared in Architectural Digest, Surface Magazine, Brooklyn Magazine, T Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, GQ, Departures, Afar, Fodor's, Town & Country, Condé Nast Traveler, Robb Report, Hemispheres, and others. When she's not jetsetting around Italy and beyond, she can be found in Rome, enjoying some cacio e pepe or relaxing at home with her husband and two dogs. Originally from the Boston area, Laura moved to New York City in 2011 to pursue a master's degree in creative writing and translation at Columbia University. She also holds a bachelor's degree in French from Smith College. * 10+ years of experience writing and editing * Co-wrote "New York: Hidden Bars & Restaurants," an award-winning guide to New York City's speakeasy scene published by Jonglez Editions in 2015 * Contributed to "Fodor's Brooklyn," published by Penguin Random House in 2015, which won silver in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition * Contributed an essay to "Epic Hikes of Europe," published by Lonely Planet in 2021 * Updated the 2022 edition of "Fodor's Essential Italy" Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Nepenthe is always busy, but with one of the best wine lists in Big Sur, ample seating on their terrace, and stunning ocean views, it’s worth getting all dressed up and coming here after you’ve spent the day hiking or beach bumming. Nepenthe’s menu is short and sweet: choose between one of three steak options, the Jidori half-chicken, the Alaskan halibut, or the diver scallops, and know that you can’t go wrong with any of the dishes. Even for Big Sur, prices are on the high end (think $40-60 for mains), but there’s no better place for a romantic candlelit dinner to follow up the sunset." - team infatuation, allison green
"I grab apps and beer at craft brewery Nepenthe as a casual spot for bites and brews." - Jess Mayhugh
"Nepenthe is always busy, but with one of the best wine lists in Big Sur, ample seating on their terrace, and stunning ocean views, it’s worth getting all dressed up and coming here after you’ve spent the day hiking or beach bumming. Nepenthe’s menu is short and sweet: choose between one of three steak options, the Jidori half-chicken, the Alaskan halibut, or the diver scallops, and know that you can’t go wrong with any of the dishes. Even for Big Sur, prices are on the high end (think $40-60 for mains), but there’s no better place for a romantic candlelit dinner to follow up the sunset." - Allison Green
