Old Fisherman's Wharf
Old Fisherman's Wharf
4
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
About
Gift shops and stores fill this part of town.
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- Jaskel08California355 contributionsFun place to exploreWe loved this place more than Cannery Row. Great place to walk around. Lots of shops. Lots of food options. Plenty of parking. The historic Custom House and Pacific House Museum is located at its entrance. Felt very safe. Very clean, not worn down. Great place to walk around. The Monterey Coastal Bike Path bisect it – can go for a stroll along the waterfront as well. One big downside is it’s size….. it not very big/expansive. It’s touristy, but fun.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 19 February 2024
- BigMisterJones130 contributionsPieces of AteThe pier is the focal point of all things tourist in Monterey. Boat tours and eateries make up the majority of what's here and so there's a bit of a buzz about the place. It's quite a nice place to be. Will be the first place I come back to in Monterey if only to have a wander up and back down.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 24 February 2024
- roy vTraralgon, Australia6,027 contributionsA busy exciting place to visitIt was exciting to visit the wharf just before Independence Day as it was really well decorated for the occasion. It really is a bustling tourist destination with soo many shops and restaurants of all kinds, great place for gifts and souvenirs and a place to eat and drink. It has a long history, built in 1870 and untill the 1960s it was still a working wharf, it sure could tell some historical tales.Visited June 2024Travelled with familyWritten 5 July 2024
- cohomanSammamish, Washington2,391 contributionsA Delightful Sunday AfternoonMy family visited the wharf on a Sunday afternoon, and it was bustling with activity. As we entered the wharf area, we were greeted by the sight of several sea lions barking and basking on the rocks right in front of the candy store. It felt like a free Sea World show! The wharf had a variety of nice restaurants and the usual shops selling sweatshirts, souvenirs, candy, and ice cream. My family enjoyed exploring the different shops. Conveniently, there's a parking lot adjacent to the wharf where you can park at an affordable rate. I paid just $3.89 for 2 hours using the ParkMobile app.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 21 July 2024
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4.0
2,793 reviews
Excellent
972
Very good
1,067
Average
606
Poor
109
Terrible
39
melwashere81
Cleveland, TX3,441 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
We stumbled upon this place by accident and unfortunately didn't have long to visit. Its too bad considering how many shops there are. I could have easily spent hours browsing but we snapped some pictures and visited one gift shop and the candy shop. There is a fee to park that is based on how long you stay so you pay before returning to your vehicle. I think we ended up paying $2 since we didn't stay long. I would definitely recommend spending a few hours here and I would love to come back and visit again in the future.
Written 14 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
traveler
Concord, CA209 contributions
June 2023
Last visited about 10 years ago and a lot of changes -- none for the better. Traffic was horrific, parking difficult to find and charged by the hour so; you over pay, or run back to your car, or get a ticket (NOT cheap). Handicapped parking is VERY limited considering the massive number of parking spaces. The wharf is/was crowded and everything very pricey. at one place a bag of caramel corn was $18 (about 12 oz).
Written 21 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingSwan
Concord, CA58 contributions
Aug 2020
Great place to walk around and get something to eat. The one kind of annoying thing is that the restaurants seem to all sell the same exact food but the prices vary depending on if you want to eat in a fine dining environment vs. something for kids and casual dining. Shops aren’t too bad, definitely a tourist spot. But food is available from the famous deadliest catch crew.
Written 13 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheExplorerFamily
Somerset, NJ7,156 contributions
June 2022
The Wharf was built in 1846 by a Shipping Company to bring in shipments of Lumber and all kinds of Fish – large and small – to this area. Today, the commercial area serves as a unique tourist attraction full of Seafood Restaurants and kitschy Souvenir Stores with a Pirate Theme. There is a Beach on the other side and a Pier that was safe to walk around in. Luckily, as tourists, we were able to come on a weekday, so the place was not that crowded.
We had a delicious lunch at the Rockfish Harbor Grill, and had Dessert at the Monterey Bay Creamery.
The area is chock full of docked Boats of all types and sizes, and you can even book Glass Bottomed Boats, Whale Watching Excursions and Bay Cruises right here.
Would love to come again on our next visit to the Bay Area.
We had a delicious lunch at the Rockfish Harbor Grill, and had Dessert at the Monterey Bay Creamery.
The area is chock full of docked Boats of all types and sizes, and you can even book Glass Bottomed Boats, Whale Watching Excursions and Bay Cruises right here.
Would love to come again on our next visit to the Bay Area.
Written 24 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GitchSup
Duluth, MN1,403 contributions
May 2022
The Old Fisherman's wharf is a fun place to go for a walk, window shop, grab a bite to eat on the go, or find a nice restaurant to sit and have a meal. It's like a mini summer shore boardwalk with all the fun and a lot less noise. Our whale watching tour left from the end of the wharf so we had a chance to see the whole thing. If you have kids definitely stop here for a look around, all ages will like seeing taffy pulled in the windows, the seafood being sold on the walkway, and all the fun signs out in front of the shops. The only downside, if you can call it that, is the restaurants trying to do anything to get you to eat at their place, they will stop you and ask if you want to come in and eat and offer free things like appetizers or dessert.
Written 1 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
933cindyf
Wyandotte91 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
Hand in hand we strolled through the stores and wharf.
We saw barking sea lions, sea otters, and pelicans.
A nice area to people watch even with masks. Which are a must or a $100 fine.
We bought souvenirs and munched on candy.
We parked in the $15.00 for the day, which is closer. We got there a little later in the day, and we only had to pay $7.00 for parking. A bonus.
We would stop there again when in town.
We saw barking sea lions, sea otters, and pelicans.
A nice area to people watch even with masks. Which are a must or a $100 fine.
We bought souvenirs and munched on candy.
We parked in the $15.00 for the day, which is closer. We got there a little later in the day, and we only had to pay $7.00 for parking. A bonus.
We would stop there again when in town.
Written 6 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SimbaTheExplorer
California239 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
The wharf itself is okay but what made it special and why I rated it a 5 were all the sea lions. I have seen many sea lions in my life. I have been to Pier 39 and watched the sea lions on the dock. But this location is sea lion adrenaline! The sea lions come onto the beach and sit right in front of the rocks on the other side of the metal fence. You can make eye contact with the sea lions, that’s how close they are. I am really surprised that the city allows people to get so close to them. I would say you are within 5 feet of them. It is also fun just to watch them play in the bay and “fight” with each other.
Written 13 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
petricek2017
Berkeley, United States4 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
The short pier filled with competing chowder, candy and whale watching trips is a step back in nostalgia, full of the treasures of childhood, though expensive. Such a treat to see and hear the seals sunbathing and frolicking (not for the smell sensitive). For me, cannery row and the Monterey Aquarium are worth seeing at least once if you don’t live close by, frequently as a child living nearby.
Written 16 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ItchyFeet
Camarillo, CA11,639 contributions
June 2022 • Couples
Lots of sea lions here this year . Please give them their distance, they are wild animals! Wharf has great restaurants, tourist shops, several whale watching trips. We like Old Fishermen’s Grotto restaurant and Monterey Whale Watching
Written 20 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cohoman
Sammamish, WA2,391 contributions
July 2024 • Family
My family visited the wharf on a Sunday afternoon, and it was bustling with activity. As we entered the wharf area, we were greeted by the sight of several sea lions barking and basking on the rocks right in front of the candy store. It felt like a free Sea World show!
The wharf had a variety of nice restaurants and the usual shops selling sweatshirts, souvenirs, candy, and ice cream. My family enjoyed exploring the different shops. Conveniently, there's a parking lot adjacent to the wharf where you can park at an affordable rate. I paid just $3.89 for 2 hours using the ParkMobile app.
The wharf had a variety of nice restaurants and the usual shops selling sweatshirts, souvenirs, candy, and ice cream. My family enjoyed exploring the different shops. Conveniently, there's a parking lot adjacent to the wharf where you can park at an affordable rate. I paid just $3.89 for 2 hours using the ParkMobile app.
Written 22 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Will there be any kind of special celebration for the 4th of July?
Written 16 June 2019
1. Visit Monterey Aquarium. 2 Old Cannery. 3 Atos. 4. Carmel. The winery to many to name. Check Big Sur
Camping. But it might be full. And crowded with people.
So plan on staying the night there to rest. And relax a little. Remember have fun and be safe!!!!😎😤
Written 16 June 2019
Is there somewhere to watch the fishermen bring their catch in and if so, at what sort of time of day & where? Thanks
Written 27 June 2017
There are two different places the main pier and then there's a pier little bit farther north they fish off of both of them and because it's pier fishing almost anytime
Written 30 June 2017
I recently became wheel-chair bound. Will I be able to get around the area, and into most restaurants and shops? Is the wharf boards or concrete? Thanks !
Written 29 June 2016
This is a dense area. In high season (roughly May through October) it's over-run with tourists and can be difficult to navigate on foot. I imagine a wheelchair adds an extra layer of difficulty with that.
The boardwalk is mostly concrete. There are some areas with plank sidewalks. Most of the shops have fairly wide open doorways.
Most restaurants will certainly have first floor access.
I think you'll be fine. Just pack some patience! This is true whether in a wheelchair or walking! As a local, I avoid this area during high season! Enjoy!
Written 30 June 2016
Josie G
Madera, California
What time does most of the shops and restaurants open?
Written 25 March 2015
They open around 9 or ten, but not really sure our first stop was the aquarium, that morning, breakfast shops open early, but once open lots to see and buy.
Written 4 April 2015
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