Vagabond's House Inn
Bed and Breakfast

Historic and romantic Vagabond's House Inn Bed and Breakfast in Carmel is a great place to stay with free wine and cheese and generous breakfast.

The Vagabond's House Inn

The Vagabond's House Inn in Carmel
All Photos (c) Donna Dailey

We've spent so long on the road over the years that a place called the Vagabond's House Inn Bed and Breakfast obviously appealed to us. And even though we only spent one night there, it did feel just like home before we left.

We'd spent a long day in Monterey, doing a walk around the Old Town, seeing Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf (great clam chowder at Abalonetti), and taking hours to see all round the wonderful aquarium, so we checked in a little late and tired. The first thing was that it was easy to find, and the second thing that parking was easy and free too, right on the street outside the Inn (though they also have a small private car park as well). That isn't always the case in compact little Carmel.

Best Guide to Carmel and Monterey

The Office!

Welcome to the Vagabond's House Inn!

The third thing was even better. We knew we were too late for the daily early evening free wine, cheeses, and other appetizers that the inn serves up, but the receptionist had kindly put some away for us.

No sooner had we checked in than we were relaxing with a very welcome glass of chilled Californian chardonnay, tucking into some tasty tit-bits, and enjoying a nice chat with the friendly lady behind the desk.

Rooms off a Stone Courtyard

The Vagabond's House Inn was completely delightful. Most of its 13 rooms are off a central stone courtyard that's filled with plants, ferns, flowers, waterfalls, and a big oak tree. Many have their own private entrance, like little cottages.

The Courtyard at the Vagabond's House Inn

The décor is old-fashioned rustic, and all the rooms have fireplaces and private bathrooms. They also have all the modern stuff like TVs with cable, DVDs, phones, and a big kitchen.

There's also a welcoming schooner of sherry in the room, and there was a danger that, once we were in, we might never get out again. However, we decided to save the sherry for a nightcap as we of course wanted to have a drink in Clint Eastwood's Hog's Breath Inn, which is just a short walk away.

Our room at The Vagabond's House Inn in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

In Our Room

There's no dining room at the Vagabond's Inn so next morning the breakfast was delivered to our room, though we could have eaten outside in the courtyard if we'd wanted.

Our Room at The Vagabond's House Inn

Vagabond's House Inn History

There's plenty to see in the reception area at the Vagabond's House. It's owned by Denny LeVett, who co-owns the Cypress Inn with Doris Day, but here he's added to the casual and very personal atmosphere by putting on display some of his own personal collections. There are books, toys and part of LeVett's collection of Colt-Patterson guns which is the largest in the world.

Our Room

The Inn was built in the late 1920s and very quickly became popular with artists and writers. One such was Don Blanding, a poet and prose writer who would come to the Inn for months at a time, as he found it such an inspirational place.

He wrote a famous poem called “Carmel-by-the-Sea”, and another long poem called the “Vagabond's House” – and the owners later named the place after his poem, a nice touch.

A night at the Vagabond's House Inn really refreshed and relaxed us, and we were very sorry when we had to hit the road the next morning and leave. It's the kind of Inn where one night is not enough, and it's definitely high on our list of Pacific Coast Highway places we want to stay at again.

The Pacific Coast Highway Travel team enjoying The Vagabond's House Inn in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Mike and Donna enjoying the Vagabond's House Inn Bed and Breakfast

More Information
Vagabond’s House Inn
4th & Dolores, Carmel-by-the-Sea
Tel: 1-800-262-1262

Unique Inns

The hotel is a member of Unique Inns. For more details and for online booking information for all the Unique Inns in California, Oregon and Washington, as well as their inns in Idaho, and British Columbia in Canada, visit the Unique Inns website.

Other Carmel pages

Laguna Beach Inn and Spa
The Casa Laguna Hotel and Spa in Laguna Beach is right on the Pacific Coast Highway and has luxury rooms, a swimming pool, and real gourmet breakfasts.
Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove is a small city on the California coast, next to Monterey and close to Carmel, with attractions including its historic Victorian houses.
Napa Bed and Breakfast
The Napa Bed and Breakfast, 1801 First, is an award-winning romantic b&b near the center of Napa, with good food, and spa treatments available.
Best Things to Do in Carmel
The best things to do in Carmel include visiting Carmel Mission, enjoying the beaches, Point Lobos State Reserve, 17-Mile Drive, and Tor House.
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz on the Pacific Coast Highway in California has its famous boardwalk, beaches, wine tastings, Surfing Museum, Mission, and Marine Discovery Center.
Viceroy Santa Monica
The Viceroy Santa Monica hotel is one of Los Angeles' best, a favorite of celebrities like Dustin Hoffman, Sting, Demi Moore, and Leonardo DiCaprio,
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica in California is famous for its pier, and beaches, and is one of the best west coast vacation spots, with hotels, restaurants, surfing, museums.
Visiting Hearst Castle
This Visiting Hearst Castle page gives all the practicalities including location, types of tour, length of tours, how long to allow, and much more information.
Point Lobos State Reserve near Carmel and Monterey, with photos
A walk around the Point Lobos State Reserve near Monterey and Carmel provides lots of photo opportunities, especially of the Harbor Seal Birthing Area.
Laguna Beach
The Pacific Coast Highway goes right through Laguna Beach, a relaxed artsy beach resort whose attractions include shopping, galleries, dining, and beaches.
Monterey Inn
For a Monterey Inn just off the Pacific Coast Highway in California, the Mariposa Inn and Suites is hard to beat, providing good accommodation close to PCH.
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo in California is half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, on the Pacific Coast Highway and with lots of things to do and see.
Where to Eat in Carmel
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to where to eat in Carmel with Italian, French, Mexican and American places, from inexpensive to Michelin-star fine dining.
Dana Point Hotel
For a Dana Point hotel next to the beach and near the harbor for whale watching cruises, the Doubletree Suites by Hilton with its ocean views is hard to beat.
La Jolla Luxury Hotel
The Grande Colonial La Jolla luxury hotel is downtown, close to restaurants and shopping, with historic charm, and a highly acclaimed restaurant.
Best Beaches in California
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's list of the best beaches in California with beaches in Santa Monica, Big Sur, Malibu, Carmel, Cambria, La Jolla and Coronado.
Monterey, on the Pacific Coast Highway in California
Monterey in California is off the Pacific Coast Highway and home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Monterey State Historic Park.
San Simeon
San Simeon is a tiny town of a few hundred people close to Hearst Castle on the California coast midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Lighthouse Inn at Point Cabrillo
The Lighthouse Inn at Point Cabrillo is a romantic, historic guesthouse on the Mendocino California coast, on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Franciscan Inn Santa Barbara
The historic Franciscan Inn in Santa Barbara, California, near the Pacific Coast Highway, is in a quiet location near the beach ideal for those driving PCH.
The 17-Mile Drive between Carmel, Pacific Grove, and Monterey
Pacific Coast Highway Travel takes the 17-Mile Drive from Carmel to Pacific Grove and Monterey, stopping to see the Lone Cypress and beautiful coastline views.
Point Reyes National Seashore
The Point Reyes National Seashore is an hour’s drive northwest of San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway and is maintained by the National Park Service.
Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach
The Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel is Ventura 's only beachside hotel with ocean front swimming pool and rooms with ocean views.
Napa Wine Country Inn
The Napa Wine Country Inn and Gardens in St Helena overlooks a vineyard and has free wine tastings every evening and offers guests help with booking wine tours.
Carmel-by-the-Sea on the Pacific Coast Highway in California
Carmel on the Monterey coast is known for artists and celebrity residents, but there's also a mission, beaches, historic houses, and abundant wildlife.