A California Central Coast Getaway
Where to Eat in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Breakfast at Aubergine, L'Auberge Carmel
Portabella Restaurant in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel Bakery & Cottage of Sweets
Monterey, California Coastal Dining
Exploring Carmel-by-the-Sea: A Fairytale Village
Carmel Beach, Storybook Cottages & Historic Carmel Mission
Carmel's Fairytale Cottages
Carmel Mission: History & Architecture
Pebble Beach & the Scenic 17-Mile Drive
The Lone Cypress: An Iconic Pebble Beach Landmark
The Lodge at Pebble Beach: Classic California Elegance
Bixby Creek Bridge & Big Sur Coastal Views
Cover
Fall in Love
London High Tea
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Fashionable Cozy Getaways
Apple Orchard Desserts
The Season’s Chicest Nails
A Canterbury Tale and Much More
Paris House Beauty
Cover
Fall in Love
London High Tea
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Fashionable Cozy Getaways
Apple Orchard Desserts
The Season’s Chicest Nails
A Canterbury Tale and Much More
Contents – What Michele Loves
6 — Editor’s Letter
11 — Contributors
12 — Map of California
13 — California
63 — England: Coming Soon
64 — Out and About
80 — Sunday Bookshelf"
88 — Portugal
149 — The Cabinet of Culinary Curiosities
160 — Curated by Paris House
177 — People We Meet Along the Way & on Etsy
189 — Feathering the Autumn Nest with Interior Design Enthusiast Linda from Stone Cottage
204 — “Fall Into Fitness: Make the Most of the Season” by Tina Baker
210 — Art & Culture: Andréa Marcellé, Owner of Maison Marcellé
224 — Perfume with Lisa Gomez
230 — The Autumn Garden
238 — Testimonials
243 — Collecting
245 — Fashion Editorial
259 — Paris House Floral Design
273 — England: Coming Soon
276 — Sponsors/Advertisers
277 — Sign Up for Our Newsletter
278 — About
Editor’s Letter
The cozy season has arrived, calling us to bundle up in wool sweaters and blankets, pile firewood high on the porch, and sip mulled cider by a crackling lakeside fire.
Joy finds us on afternoon drives along winding country roads, where wood smoke drifts through the air, apples ripen on the trees, and pumpkins scatter across golden fields. My childhood in upstate New York unfolded on farmland and in the mountains, where lakes glimmered with the dazzling colors of a Northeast autumn.
In this issue, travel with us from the lively streets of New York City and the wild coast of Maine to the legendary landscapes of England for a Canterbury Tale. Next, lose yourself in the magic of Old Montreal at a rooftop dinner overlooking the quaint cobblestone streets. Enjoy a coastal drive and linger over a sunlit lunch perched above the roaring waves of Big Sur.
Linda from Stone Cottage shares her favorite secrets for making your home feel both inviting and stylish this autumn. Our interiors writer sparks your creativity with ideas for decorating with wool blankets and quilts, plus tips on where to find the most charming ones. Tina Fit Pro guides you in savoring hearty meals and staying energized in the crisp autumn air. In our Cabinet of Culinary Curiosities, we bake cider-glazed apple dumplings with apples from our New Jersey orchard, mix up bourbon cocktails, and create our signature Brussels sprout pizzas.
For many, fall fashion is the season’s true delight: imagine cozy sweaters, wide-wale corduroy pants, suede boots, plaid wool skirts, and nail polish in deep shades of plum, candy apple, and burgundy. In her column, Lisa from Custom Parfums introduces fragrances that conjure the magic of swirling leaves and crisp, golden mornings.
Curl up with a spellbinding Alice Hoffman novel and imagine hosting a cozy beachside autumn dinner party inspired by New England’s timeless charm.
All this and countless autumn delights await you in our Fall 2026 issue.
XO
Michele Rosenthal
Editor-in-Chief
Contributors
Michele Rosenthal
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Sonia Schnee
Executive Graphic Designer
Michael Taglione
Film and Book Reviewer
Teddy Rosenthal
Proofreading
Tina Baker
Fit Pro, Health and Fitness Columnist
Lisa Gomez
CUSTOMPARFUMS, Beauty and Fragrance Columnist
Linda Harbrecht
@stonecottage2250
Home and Design Columnist
California
A Fairytale By The Sea
Carmel-By-the-Sea • Monterey • Pebble Beach • Big Sur
Sip & Savor:
Local cuisine & recipes
See:
Must-visit experiences
Stay:
Beautiful places to rest
Shop:
Favorite boutiques & finds
A Note on California
Some trips bring together everything I love: travel, beauty, food, inspiration, and even a bit of business. My visit to California’s Central Coast was just like that.
I went to Monterey for the World Perfumery Congress and met up with Lisa from Custom Parfums, who writes our fragrance column for Sunday Guides. We had spent time together in Palm Springs before. Thanks to her skill and knowledge of fragrance and chemistry, we created a beautiful scent for Paris House Beauty.
This trip gave us another chance to talk about perfume, learn more about the industry, and imagine what we could do next, like new scents, lip balms, home fragrances, body creams, body washes, and more. Business quickly turned into pleasure.
I stayed in nearby Carmel-by-the-Sea, and between the perfume congress and meetings, I explored this beautiful part ofI California: Carmel Beach, Pebble Beach, the 17-Mile Drive, Bixby Bridge, and Big Sur.
A long the way, I gathered photographs, history, tastes, and stories for Sunday Guides.
Porta Bella Restaurant, Carmel-by-the-Sea
Sip & Savor
Part of the pleasure of Carmel is that wonderful meals seem to appear around every corner.
Mornings began at L’Auberge Carmel, where breakfast was absolutely delicious. One favorite was a beautiful yogurt and açaí bowl with almond butter, fresh fruit, and all the little touches that make a leisurely hotel breakfast feel special.
Breakfast in Bed
During my stay, I enjoyed ding at Portabella restaurant in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Everything was delicious, from a wonderful shrimp vodka-sauce pasta to fresh local fish, Monterey Bay Sand Dabs Fish, prepared with lemon.
Another evening I enjoyed dinner at Aubergine, the celebrated restaurant tucked inside L’Auberge Carmel.
And then there are Carmel’s sweet little indulgences.
Carmel Bakery, with its enormous pretzel sign and window filled with pastries and treats, feels as though it belongs in an old European village.
After dinner, I took an evening stroll to Cottage of Sweets, a tiny English-style candy shop tucked inside one of Carmel’s storybook buildings.
Walking for candy in a fairytale village shows how the simplest moments can become the most memorable.
Monterey
In Monterey, I also enjoyed lunch at Lighthouse Cafe with Lisa during the World PerfumeryMontereyCongress. The hummus was particularly delicious, and it was the perfect opportunity for the two of us to sit down between events and continue our conversations about fragrance, beauty, and what might come next for Paris House Beauty.
See: Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel-By-the-Sea truly feels like a fairytale village.
No tall city buildings or busy commercial streets here. Instead, you find charming cottages, flower-filled courtyards, hidden passageways, and small shops and restaurants that invite you to wander without a plan.
Cottage Sweets, Carmel-by-the-Sea
From the storybook cottages of Carmel-by-the-Sea and the breathtaking beauty ofFPebble Beach’s 17-Mile Drive to the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge and dramatic cliffs of Big Sur, California’s Central Coast unfolds like a beautiful painting.
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
Fairytale cottages, charming boutiques, restaurants, and Carmel Beach.
PEBBLE BEACH & 17-MILEDRIVE
The Lone Cypress, magnificent coastal estates, golf courses and breathtaking ocean views.
BIXBY CREEK BRIDGE
The iconic bridge along Highway 1, just north of the heart of Big Sur.
BIG SUR
Dramatic cliffs, winding coastal roads, secluded beaches, and spectacular Pacific Ocean scenery.
Fairytale Cottages of Carmel-by-the Sea
Hansel & Gretel Cottage Carmel-by-the Sea
Carmel-by-the Sea, History & Charm. A glimpse into Carmel’s history. Storybook streets of Carmel. Local art and inspiration. Iconic coastline views.
Make time for Carmel Beach, where the village gives way to a broad stretch of sand and the Pacific.
Carmel Mission
I also visited the historic Carmel Mission, with its Spanish Colonial architecture, gardens, and wonderful sense of California history.
Pebble Beach & the 17-Mile Drive
Then set out for Pebble Beach and the 17-Mile Drive.
Pebble Beach Coastal Views
The Iconic Lone Cypress
This legendary coastal route winds past dramatic ocean overlooks, windswept cypress trees, beautiful homes, and some of the world’s most famous golf scenery.
Pebble Beach Golf Scenery
The Lodge at Pebble Beach
A stop at The Lodge at Pebble Beach adds a touch of classic California elegance to the day.
