Often compared to East Hampton, but with a local 2nd home market that's even pricier than its East Coast competition, Carmel is home to a collection of one-off inns and boutique hotels like Cypress Inn located walking distance to the main village.

Oozing in storybook charm but also pet-friendly like much of Carmel itself including its famous white sand beach. Cypress Inn is tucked behind a regal white facade with interior courtyards lined in Mexican Saltillo tiles and Hollywood-inspired drinking lounge covered in vintage Doris Day movie posters. The posters aren't a coincidence; the inn is owned and operated by Doris Day and Dennis LeVett who have made it a 4-star refuge for travelers with felines and Fido's in tow.  

A quirky landmark that won't have you rethinking Day as a designer of any type, the hotel attracts a mature crowd of dressy guests that converge on the weekend live music jams in the main bar, called Terry's, that also doubles as the in-house restaurant serving an impressive tapas and affordable dinner menu of $25 steamed lobster tails, $20 grilled sand dabs and $26 fillet mignon with brandy-peppercorn sauce. 

The Room:

A cozy collection of rooms was recently updated with iron canopy beds and animal friendly amenities like private streetfront entrances and large verandas ideal for those with 120-lbs four-legged friends. Entry-level guest rooms tend on the small side with old-world décor and recently updated bathrooms with pedestal sinks and occasional soaking tub. Top-of-the-line suites located at the top of the hotel have large outdoor spaces, working fireplaces and balcony views of the Pacific.