Sierra Mar

"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

Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary

"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

The Best Restaurants Along California’s Central Coast, According to Eater Editors | Eater LA

"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

Where to Eat in Monterey

"Seemingly in the clouds, 1,200 feet high at the edge of a cliff, your view of the sunset (and ocean, if it's not foggy) from this glass-sided restaurant in the luxury Post Ranch Inn is unforgettable. The menu is dotted with Asian influences, from mushrooms and cashews two ways (roasted maitake mushrooms in XO-mushroom sauce, plus crumbled cashews in cashew cream), halibut in a green curry sauce (that uses mint, basil, cilantro, and jalapeño instead of the usual Thai ingredients) to yellowfin tuna with togarashi mayo, ponzu, and avocado. The 136-page wine list is France- and California-focused." - Sharon McDonnell

9 Great Restaurants With a View in the United States - AFAR

"The menu at Sierra Mar features influences from all over the world, but the view from the Post Ranch Inn’s award-winning restaurant is purely Pacific. And we mean that in a literal sense: The restaurant’s clifftop setting, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and comfortable open-air balcony, offers sweeping, uninterrupted views of the ocean." - Alina Polishuk