Coming from Monterey?
Your Barber Is 8 Minutes Down Highway 1
Carmel's Barber sits one block off Ocean Ave in Carmel-by-the-Sea — about 4.5 miles from downtown Monterey. Here's how to find the shop, where to park, and why the short drive is worth it.
Worth the Drive, Every Time
There's no shortage of places to get a haircut on the Monterey Peninsula. There's exactly one chair where Jerry Solomon cuts your hair.
Jerry brings over 23 years of barbering experience — Atlanta, Hilton Head, New York City, Sarasota — to a classic one-chair shop in the Morgan Court courtyard. No memberships, no rotation of stylists, no rushing. A Signature Haircut is $60, a beard trim is $40, and his clients have given him a 5.0-star rating across 257 Google reviews. Many of them make the drive from Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Seaside every few weeks; plenty first found the shop while visiting Cannery Row or the Aquarium and now time their trips around a haircut.
Drive Times to the Chair
All times are approximate, without traffic. The shop is on Lincoln St between Ocean Ave & 7th, in Morgan Court, Suite 6.
Downtown Monterey
About 8 minutes — Highway 1 south to the Ocean Ave exit, then downhill into the village.
Cannery Row & the Aquarium
About 12 minutes — through town to Highway 1 south, or the scenic route through Pacific Grove.
Pacific Grove
About 15 minutes — via Highway 68 to Highway 1, or through the Pebble Beach gates on 17-Mile Drive.
Pebble Beach
About 10 minutes — exit the Carmel gate and you're three blocks from the shop.
Seaside & Sand City
About 15 minutes — straight down Highway 1 south, past Monterey, to the Ocean Ave exit.
Carmel Valley
About 15 minutes — Carmel Valley Rd to Highway 1 north, then right on Ocean Ave.
Directions from Monterey
- Take Highway 1 south from Monterey — about 4 miles.
- Exit at Ocean Ave and head west, downhill toward the beach.
- After about half a mile, turn left on Lincoln St.
- The Morgan Court courtyard is on your left, between Ocean Ave and 7th — look for the barber pole. Like all of Carmel-by-the-Sea, there's no street number.
Parking in Carmel
Street parking in downtown Carmel is free but time-limited on most blocks — Lincoln St and the streets around Ocean Ave usually have spaces in the morning. If you're making a day of it, there are larger lots a few blocks from the shop (check posted signs). Morning appointments are the easiest: you'll park within a block and be in the chair by the time Monterey traffic wakes up.
Quick Answers
How far is Carmel's Barber from Monterey?
About 8 minutes by car — roughly 4.5 miles from downtown Monterey via Highway 1 south to the Ocean Ave exit.
Do you take clients from Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Seaside?
Yes — a large share of Jerry's regulars drive over from Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Seaside, and Carmel Valley. Walk-ins are welcome when the chair is open, and calling 831-375-8571 guarantees your spot before you make the drive.
When's the best time to come from Monterey?
Weekday mornings — the shop opens at 8:30am Tuesday through Saturday, before the Ocean Ave crowds arrive and while parking is easy. Call ahead and Jerry will have the chair ready when you arrive.
Eight Minutes to a Proper Haircut
Call ahead and the chair's yours when you walk in.