The Barrel Room Gives Carmel Valley a ‘Cheers’ Style Pub

There’s comforting clarity to the inspiration behind Carmel Valley’s newest bar.

The small rural community didn’t have a real sports bar. Now it does. 

Its owner-operator knows and loves hospitality as much as the Niners, Giants and Sharks. Now he has a great way to channel both.

Meanwhile, his family has the spirit of hosting—and the stewardship of quality adult beverages—in its DNA. Now that can be amplified too.

The Barrel Room sports pub opened its doors at 5 Del Fino Place late last month, once the two huge slabs of live-edge redwood that compose its bar were ready after seven rounds of scuffing, sanding and refinishing. 

Owner-operator Dylan Saunders’ formula is simple, in an everything-you-need-nothing-you-don’t type of way: flatscreens for sports, craft beer on tap, wines from his family’s Boete brand, BYO food from neighboring restaurants welcome.

“We didn’t have anything here in the valley like a cool little sports bar, ‘Cheers’ style, and there were plenty of us locals who wanted something like that,” he says. “I saw the opportunity for something great.”

He describes himself as “a big beer guy”—The Barrel Room flows seven drafts like Mai Tai PA, Discretion Shimmer and Cali Squeeze Blood Orange to start, with nine bottled and canned beers too—and, just as importantly, a true hospitality head. 

An extended run as a do-it-all concierge for Forbes four-star Canyon Suites at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona, gave Saunders an understanding of the nuance involved in standout service.

“It’s about being presentable and professional, but also very personable,” he says. “Not talking at people, but talking with people. I want [clients] to feel like they had a friendly person there to take care of them.” 

On my visit the welcoming atmosphere honored that aim, with what felt like the entire room interacting while Sunday NFL games transpired overhead on 65-inch flat screens.

A humble scattering of chips and salsa occupied one table. Saunders plans on adding a popcorn machine, a hot dog roller and featured cheeses from Carmel Valley Creamery, where his brother Justin Saunders is a partner.

“We’re also pushing support for all the great restaurants in the surrounding area,” he says. “It’s OK if you’re planning on dining in next door—come have a beer or glass of wine with me before or after.”

My first introduction to the Saunders family came through the wine, which ranks as some of the better big red in the region, and in talking with Dillon’s dad John, mom Jana and brother Jesse.

The stories that flowed hit on John’s bartending duties at CV’s Stirrup Cup (now The Running Iron) in the 1970s, bootleg winemaking with Gary Pisoni and sparring with George Foreman—and settled ultimately in a shared desire to cultivate good times. 

“Hospitality is definitely in the family blood,” Dillon says. “I know I just really enjoy serving people and talking about life and sports, trying to enjoy every day.”

When I stopped by The Barrel Room, Jana was the first to greet me and remembered me from a story I wrote way back when Barack Obama’s hair had zero gray.

I called her later to ask how this latest piece of a family tradition fits in the wider interplay between people and place.

She described how Dillon enjoyed helping out with family-run festivals from as early as middle school, and felt compelled to fill a need.

“Carmel Valley has some great venues, but they’re a little different concept,” she says. “The valley doesn’t really offer what he’s doing—and he’s got a personality that’s very warm and open, a perfect fit for a place where people can feel comfortable and welcome, as a group or by themselves.”

It all translates to the type of hangout where, a year from now, it will be hard to imagine Carmel Valley without it—not unlike the Saunders family itself.

The Barrel Room is open noon-9pm daily, until 9:30pm Sunday, at 5 Del Fino Place in Carmel Valley.