As a Monterey Bay local, I look forward to Pebble Beach Food and Wine every year. Where else can one dine on delicious small bites from world-class chefs from across the country, sip fine wine from around the world, and sample craft cocktails and spirits without leaving the Monterey Peninsula?
If you’re not familiar with Pebble Beach Food and Wine, it’s a 4 day festival featuring over 40 culinary, wine, and spirits-focused events held in Pebble Beach, California. This year, the event takes place from Thursday, April 9th to Sunday, April 12th, 2026.
Pebble Beach Food and Wine is billed as “…the premier food and wine festival” on the official website, and I have to agree! With a festival of this prestige, and events including walk-around tastings, sit-down dinners, and educational seminars held across multiple venues over four days, what does one wear to Pebble Beach Food and Wine?
(Please note that I received complimentary tickets to attend Pebble Beach Food and Wine events as a media guest and trade member, but all views expressed in this post are my own.)
Is There a Dress Code for Pebble Beach Food and Wine?
While there isn’t an official dress code for Pebble Beach Food and Wine, with an exception for the golf events where attendees must follow the Pebble Beach Golf dress code, the official website does note that:
“Pebble Beach Food & Wine is an elegant affair, and we recommend dressing smart-casual or in line with the sophisticated atmosphere of the specific events. We encourage you to wear comfortable shoes when attending walk-around tastings.” –Pebble Beach Food and Wine FAQ
What People Are Wearing During Pebble Beach Food and Wine
I’ve attended Pebble Beach Food & Wine events in both 2024 and 2025, including the Tasting Pavilion, Opening Night reception, and educational seminars. If I were to pick an unofficial dress code, it would range from dressy casual to semi-formal, with business casual mixed in.
Keep in mind, these are my personal observations, and I’m not judging what people were wearing. I’m just reporting what I noticed. Over the course of four days’ worth of events, I saw outfits ranging from jeans, sundresses, and casual blouses to afternoon and cocktail dresses, tailored matching separates, and business suits.
I felt people were generally dressed more casually during the daytime walk-around tastings than the evening walk-around tastings. During the educational tasting seminars, I noticed people were dressed for business or smart casual, which is also because the seminars I attended started at 10 am. For the evening seated dining experiences, I noticed that people were more dressed up, think men wearing blazers or suit jackets, women in cocktail dresses or tailored trousers with blouses.
While I haven’t been to every event, I felt attendees were more dressed up for the Opening Night than for the other events I attended. I noticed more women in cocktail dresses and heels at this event (which was indoors at the Inn at Spanish Bay) than I did at the other events throughout the week.
That said, I didn’t see anyone wearing a full tux or formal evening wear, but since there are 40+ events, I could be wrong.
Helpful Tips from a Local on How to Dress for Pebble Beach
As a local in Monterey, I live close enough to Pebble Beach to be very familiar with the weather and how people usually dress in Carmel, Pebble Beach, and Monterey. My honest opinion is that Pebble Beach Food and Wine is a fun chance to dress up, but being on the California Coast, you also wouldn’t look out of place in more casual clothes.
However, if you’re not familiar with the weather on the Monterey Peninsula, you run the risk of being unprepared.
So that said, here are a few helpful tips for picking out what to wear:
Keep the Coastal Weather in Mind
First time out-of-town attendees don’t always realize that Pebble Beach borders Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Pacific Grove, so the weather is very similar. Think chilly foggy mornings, with warmer afternoons that can be either sunny or overcast. However, the winds tend to pick up around 3 pm, and it gets chilly by nightfall. So what I would call “California Coastal.”
According to weather.com, the average temperature for April in Pebble Beach is a high of 63°F and a low of 46°F, which is typical for spring on the Monterey Peninsula.Typically, mornings start cool and overcast. You’ll want to bring a sweater or a light jacket for your morning coffee run or for exploring Pebble Beach, Carmel, or Monterey before the day’s events begin.
By mid-morning, the weather tends to clear up and warm up, and it can get sunny and warmer by midday. If you’re in an area that’s protected from the wind or off the coast, it can certainly feel warmer. Some days it stays overcast all day, and on these days it will feel cooler. Don’t let the afternoon sun fool you; the winds tend to pick up around 3 pm, and by evening, it gets cold fast.
I know it’s a cliche, but I recommend dressing in layers.
Wear Comfortable Shoes For Walk-Around Tastings
If you’re attending one of the walk-around tastings, you might want to leave your heels at home—Especially if you are attending the Tasting Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday.
The Tasting Pavilion is huge. You will cover a lot of ground as you sip and savor small bites and libations over 3 hours. And there is so much to do, you’re going to want to stay the whole time.
Seating is also very limited outside the VIP areas, so you will most likely be standing for the entire event and occasionally leaning on cocktail tables. VIP guests have access to a VIP lounge with seating, but the non-reserved seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
With all of this in mind, I implore you to choose comfortable shoes that you can actively walk around in for 3+ hours. Over the last two years at walk-around tasting events, I’ve seen many stylish women wearing colorful sneakers, white leather sneakers, ankle boots with low heels, or flats.
Choose a Hands-Free Bag
A helpful suggestion: if you are attending any of the walk-around tasting events, choose a hands-free bag, such as a cross-body. Trust me on this one. Your hands will be full juggling your wine glass, a small plate of delicious food, and probably your phone, since you’ll want to take pictures of all the amazing food. You’re not going to want to wrangle a clutch or a large shoulder bag. (Also, do note there is a bag policy for all events.)
Plan your Outfit Around Your Event Schedule
With 50+ events at multiple locations throughout Pebble Beach, you might not be able to change outfits between events. You could have a seminar in the morning, a lunch event, an afternoon tasting, and then a dinner event. If you’re staying off-site somewhere else on the Monterey Peninsula, you may not be able to head back to your room and change.
What I’m Wearing to Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2026
I love going to food and wine events, and I’ve been to enough that I have developed an event outfit formula that I feel makes me look put together but still comfortable.
My outfit formula is this: dress + small cross-body bag + cute but comfortable shoes that still give me height.
I find that this formula works almost every time. Depending on the event, I will switch out the specific items to dress up or dress down.
I’m barely 5’2, and my personal preference is for shoes that make me taller. I have a few pairs of shoes that are comfortable enough to stand in but still look nice. My current go-tos are a pair of espadrille wedges and a pair of platform leather sandals.
For one of the Pebble Beach Food and Wine evening events, such as the Opening Night reception, which is dressier, I will wear a tailored dress, strappy block heels, and carry a leather-structured crossbody bag. For a daytime event such as the Tasting Pavilion, I’ll choose a more casual dress, wedge espadrilles or strappy sandals with a slight platform, and a crossbody purse.
Personally, I don’t usually bring a jacket or a sweater to any of the events at Pebble Beach Food and Wine, even if they are outdoors. I’m local, I know what the weather is like, and I have chosen to be cold on purpose. Also, I find it a hassle to carry a sweater or long wrap if I don’t need it the whole time, but that’s just me.
At the End of the Day, Wear What Makes You Feel Good
I think you should wear both what you like and what makes you feel good. If you want to prioritize comfortable footwear, go for it! And if you want to wear your highest statement heels, I love that energy.
Quick Outfit Guide for Pebble Beach Food & Wine
Daytime Walk-Around Tastings:
- Comfortable but cute shoes: think espadrilles, leather sandals, flats, and on-trend sneakers
- Hands-free bag, such as a crossbody
- A stylish dress or a smart casual outfit
- Layers such as a wrap, sweater, or jacket to keep warm in the morning and evening
Evening Events
- Low heels, elegant flats, or dressy sandals
- Cocktail dress or tailored trousers
- Clutch, structured handbag, or cross-body
- A tailored jacket or warm but elegant wrap
Want to read more about Pebble Beach Food and Wine 2026? Check out my guide to the Tasting Pavilion.
