Le Petit Pali at 8th Ave

All of the Palisociety hotels share a certain unpretentious, vintage-inspired warmth, and for all their stylishness, tend more toward a cozy residential vibe than an intimidatingly high-fashion one. And this is all the more true of Le Petit Pali at 8th Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea, a 24-room inn that’s perhaps closer in its scale and its concept to a seaside bed-and-breakfast than an urban boutique hotel.

It occupies a charming and thoroughly Californian Craftsman-style building, which is aesthetically a perfect match for Palisociety’s eclectic interiors. The rooms display a contemporary color sense and a certain sense of visual composure, while in their details they’re full of vintage and antique-style furniture and artwork, as well as up-to-date boutique-hotel comforts and, in some cases, gas fireplaces — more welcome than you might expect, if it’s your first time ont he California coast.

A daily Continental breakfast features pastries from one of the better local bakeries as well as Champagne among the beverage options; in the afternoon, drinks and hors d’oeuvres are available for guests as well. Beyond that, you’re at the mercy of Carmel’s restaurateurs; not a difficult spot for a traveler to be in, to be fair.