Big Sur, Carmel & Monterey
Nepenthe
High above the Pacific since 1949
A Big Sur institution on the cliffs above the Pacific, open since April 1949.
Photo Credit
In the area: McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Image courtesy of © King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Nepenthe
Nepenthe sits high above the Pacific in Big Sur, watched over by the Santa Lucia Mountains, and has served guests since it opened on 24 April 1949. Lunch on the terrace, with a glass of wine, an Ambrosia Burger or a homemade dessert, is a classic Highway 1 stop. The restaurant opens daily, 11.30am–10pm (lunch to 4.30pm, dinner from 5pm); Café Kevah, weather permitting, serves breakfast and lunch, and The Phoenix Shop sells artists’ work and gifts.
Our take
- Terrace above the ocean
- Ambrosia Burger
- Open daily
- Address
- 48510 Highway One, Big Sur, CA 93920
Big Sur, California - Phone
- 831.667.2345
- Website
- nepenthe.com
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Nepenthe before you go.
Last checked: October 2026 How we choose
Location
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