Sierra Mar
Fine dining restaurant · Monterey County ·
Ocean views, Californian cuisine, tasting menus, cliffside setting
Ocean views, Californian cuisine, tasting menus, cliffside setting
"Poised on the brink of a rocky seaside bluff in Big Sur, the vantage point here gives unbeatable sweeping views of the Pacific coast, thanks to a panoply of floor-to-ceiling windows. Housed inside the exclusive Post Ranch Inn resort, the breathtaking location certainly seems to call out for romantic celebrations like honeymoons or anniversaries, while the rustic modern décor and friendly service promote comfort and calm.Stunning vistas aside, the approachable four-course dinner menu (and simpler three-course lunch) offers a bounty of California seasonality, from Monterey abalone with garden lettuce to homemade cavatelli with summer squash. Desserts, like a peanut pavé with caramel and Valrhona chocolate ganache, are both satisfying and easy on the eyes." - Michelin Inspector
"The clifftop restaurant at a Big Sur resort that offers an $85 prix fixe lunch menu and the chance to dine with a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean." - 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
"With one way in and out (Highway 1), Big Sur’s allure is for the committed. Sierra Mar resides in one of the most beautiful and proudly undeveloped Pacific gems. Located on the site of Post Ranch Inn, diners are introduced to Sierra Mar’s breathtaking floor-to-ceiling windows and impressed by chefs Reylon Agustin and Il Hoon Kang’s modern Californian menu. The duo sources from local farmers, cheesemongers, and ranchers and showcases a rotating $185 tasting menu that always has a fresh catch along with lamb or chicken from adjacent farms. The Sierra Mar Smoked Old Fashioned runs a cool $50, but it’s worth it. Reservations are required." - Mona Holmes
"Located in the Post Ranch Inn with gorgeous views over the cliffs of Big Sur, Sierra Mar is an excellent choice for fine dining with a Pacific sunset view. Be ready to spend $145 for the four-course prix-fixe menu (there’s no a la carte option), but the dishes are always interesting and well-executed. Think duck with preserved cherry and turnip, oyster and coconut zabaione, and smoked mussels with fermented vichyssoise. Time your dinner reservation here to coincide with the sunset for a special date night you’ll reminisce about for years." - team infatuation, allison green
"The onsite restaurant at Post Ranch Inn, this dining room has been serving award-winning cuisine for years." - J'nai Gaither