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Logo featuring a stylized shell design and the text "Bon Vivant."
Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA
831-392-5725
Logo featuring a stylized shell design and the text "Bon Vivant."
  • A charming garden pathway with lush greenery and vibrant flowers leading through an archway.

Our Story

Carmel, California

A sunny garden pathway leads to white chairs framed by lush greenery and blooming flowers.

Cheryl , Owner
Misa, General Manager

Cheryl has owned and operated Carmel Cottage Inn since 2011. Carmel Cottage Inn is cared for by a small, hands-on team that values privacy, comfort, and the distinctive character of each cottage

A vintage photograph of a log cabin surrounded by a wooden fence and a large tree.

Where It All Started

In 1907, two pioneering female physicians, Dr. Virginia Smiley and Dr. Lucia Lane, built a log cabin on eight corner lots as their retreat.

Over the decades, the property passed through remarkable hands. Cary de Angulo, a physician herself, lived here before moving to Switzerland and becoming Carl Jung's translator. In 1940, the Lafrenz family built four more cottages and began welcoming vacation guests as "Cottages By The Sea."

A vintage interior of a cozy room featuring a table, chairs, and large windows.
A cozy vintage interior featuring a brick fireplace, a basket of firewood, a rocking chair, and shelves of books.

Carmel Cottages Featured In Victoria Magazine

Carmel Cottage Inn was honored to be featured in Victoria Magazine’s May/June 2017 issue, where the publication highlighted the inn’s storybook charm, lush gardens, and thoughtfully curated cottages

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A picturesque garden with blooming flowers, a charming cottage, and a vintage kitchen scene.