There was once a time when the Hog’s Breath Inn was just an old-time village pub located along a walk-down staircase and brick courtyard that attracted Carmel’s drinker set for bottle of Irish stout and English ale. But post-Eastwood mayoral stint and restaurant expansion, Hog’s Breath is a big time tourist draw divided between a rather touristy dining room lined in hogs’ heads and cozier bar with fireplace terrace with ivy-covered awning that still maintains that English pub charm.<br /><br />A cross-section of jovial alcoholic locals and singles looking for any bar in the village descend on a one of the few drinking establishments you’ll ever find that closes at 10pm �" but such is Carmel nightlife. Visitors order rounds of house-bottled wine or better wine by the bottle in addition to rounds of American beer on tap. A hearty menu of gut-busting bar food includes crab cakes with red pepper tartare sauce, baby back ribs, Dirty Harry sliders and calamari big enough to share with new acquaintances.
Tips
The dinner menu is essentially the bar menu on steroids with additional standouts like the crab dip with crostini, prime rib and chicken marsala.
Last Word
Albeit a bit touristy, Hog’s Breath Inn is still one of Carmel’s best and most famous bars even if Dirty Harry is rarely around anymore.
