PEARL HOUR

Pearl Hour is a neighborhood cocktail bar in Monterey, California, carrying on a tradition of nightlife at 214 Lighthouse Avenue that stretches back to at least the 1940s. Over the decades, the bar has lived many lives—from Johnny’s Do Drop In to the legendary After Dark, which became an important home for Monterey’s LGBTQ+ community from the 1970s through the 1990s, followed by Ocean Thunder and Carbone’s. Pearl Hour opened its doors in 2019, adding a new chapter to the building’s long history while honoring the spirit of those who gathered here before us.

Named for John Steinbeck’s description of the “hour of pearl”—the interval between day and night—Pearl Hour is a place to linger over drinks, live music, and conversation. Our drinks are inspired by the seasons and the landscape of the Central Coast, with fresh herbs, botanicals, and house-made ingredients at their heart.

Since 2019, we’ve curated a monthly calendar of events featuring local artists and performers, including drag, burlesque, pole, cabaret, DJs, and live jazz.

More than anything, Pearl Hour is a place for community—a continuation of nearly a century of people coming through these doors to relax and stay awhile.

ZACH WESTFALL QUARTET PLAYS EVERY SUNDAY AT 8PM