Carmel Magazine

Nothing But Drinks and a Friendly Face E very town, real or fictional, has its legendary watering hole: the place where "everybody knows your name" and the barkeep knows your favorite poison. New York has the White Horse Tavern. In San Francisco it's The Buena Vista Café. Homer Simpson hangs at Moe's Tavern, Boston has "Cheers" and Ilsa Lund walked into Rick's Café Américain, the famous gin joint in "Casablanca." In Monterey? It's Alfredo's Cantina. Alfredo's iconic Carmel stone building at 266 Pearl St. was constructed in 1922, at the same time as the original Monterey County Herald building across the street, now East Village Coffee Lounge. Ironically, Alfredo's now occupies the site of a former Christian Science Reading Room. "Over the years, this place has housed many different businesses," says owner Doug Garnero, "including a couple of different retail stores and, for a while in the 1930s, the California State Department of Motor Vehicles and employment offices." In 1960, the structure was reconfigured as a bar, pretty much exactly as it stands today. No frills, no pretensions, nothing fancy, just a delightfully 701973 by Garnero's parents, Al (Alfredo) and Margaret. "This place is an institution," Garnero says. Some would make the same statement about the current owner himself. He's worked here for 34 years and knows the name, family history and drink preference of every regular who pushes through his door. Garnero can be found at his favorite place—behind the bar—every Tuesday evening. And when he's else- where, he's still in demand. "I get calls all the time: 'Hey, Doug, so-and-so is in town and stopped in to see you,'" he laughs. More often than not, he'll head over to say hi to an old chum. As generations of Peninsulans know, you're only a stranger once at Alfredo's. Drinking establishments have come and gone over the more than five decades of Alfredo's existence. "But this is still the best dive bar in town," Garnero states confidently. For more information, visit the Facebook page for Alfredo's Cantina, or call 831/375-0655. —Michael Chatfield SHORTCUTS AT LARGE Bartender Bob Brown and owner Doug Garnero welcome guests into the no-frills Alfredo's Cantina in Monterey. The popular, cash-only, low- key bar draws regulars who enjoy the dim lighting and well-poured drinks. The stone building was built in 1922. 68 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 Photo: Kelli Udlall 046-76 Shortcuts_SU05 Carmel Magazine 1/24/14 9:05 AM Page 12

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