Originally published August 6, 2019. Substantially updated October 11, 2026.
By Mark Bruno · Monterey Peninsula Home Team, Keller Williams Coastal Estates
When HBO’s Big Little Lies premiered in 2017, the Monterey Peninsula became more than the backdrop for a television drama. Its windswept coastline, the Bixby Bridge, waterfront cafés and extraordinary homes became part of the story. For viewers around the world, Monterey suddenly looked like a place where every school drop-off came with an ocean view—and possibly a secret.
Those coastal views are real. Much of the everyday life portrayed on screen is decidedly more Hollywood.
We originally published this article in August 2019 about a proposed documentary series called Monterey Moms, conceived as a real-life response to Big Little Lies. Now, with a third season in development and a new book from author Liane Moriarty, it is a good time to revisit that story, show you where the series was filmed and explain what living on the Monterey Peninsula is actually like.
The original story: Could there be a real-life Big Little Lies?
In 2019, television producer and director Philippe Denham was developing Monterey Moms, a documentary concept intended to present a more authentic picture of motherhood on the Peninsula. Denham had worked in unscripted television and wanted to focus on real women, their families and the challenges and triumphs that do not fit neatly into an HBO drama.
His idea was to feature mothers from communities stretching from Marina to Carmel Valley, reflecting a range of backgrounds and circumstances rather than just the extraordinary wealth and intrigue depicted in Big Little Lies. The project was being cast and prepared for a network pitch at the time of our original article. We have not verified a subsequent network pickup or broadcast, so it would be inaccurate to describe Monterey Moms as a series that aired.
The concept was interesting for a simple reason: Monterey is both a remarkable place to live and a real community. There are spectacular estates, but there are also teachers, small-business owners, healthcare workers, hospitality employees, artists, retirees, students and households balancing the same everyday responsibilities found elsewhere.
Big Little Lies Season 3: What do we know in October 2026?
The prospect of returning to the fictional world of the “Monterey Five” has become much more substantial than a rumor, but it is important to distinguish development from a confirmed premiere.
In June 2026, Reese Witherspoon said a third season was “in process.” Writer Francesca Sloane, known for Mr. & Mrs. Smith, has been attached to the project. Liane Moriarty’s sequel novel, Big Little Truths, was published on August 25, 2026, and is expected to provide the foundation for the next television chapter.
The new book revisits Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata and Bonnie about a decade later, as their children enter the teenage years. One distinction is easy to miss: Moriarty’s novels are set in a fictional Australian community, while the HBO adaptation relocated the story to Monterey, California.
As of October 11, 2026, a third season is in development, but HBO has not publicly confirmed a premiere date or filming schedule, and the series has not been formally ordered according to the latest reporting we reviewed. That means it is too early to say which Monterey locations might appear in new episodes.
Where was Big Little Lies filmed around Monterey?
Unlike the fictional drama, many of its coastal settings are places you can actually visit. Some scenes were shot on the Peninsula and in Big Sur; others were created on soundstages or at locations in the Los Angeles area.
Old Fisherman’s Wharf and the Blue Blues café
One of the show's most recognizable gathering spots was Blue Blues, the fictional waterfront café where the characters met to talk, argue and share secrets. The café was inspired by Paluca Trattoria at Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey. The production recreated the café on a Los Angeles soundstage, using Monterey harbor imagery to complete the illusion. You can visit the real wharf, but you should not expect to find the television café exactly as it appeared on screen.
The wharf is part of a very real downtown Monterey experience, with restaurants, working harbor activity and nearby historic streets. See our Monterey real estate and neighborhood guide for an introduction to the surrounding communities.
Lovers Point in Pacific Grove
The sheltered beach, rocky shoreline and waterfront park at Lovers Point appeared in memorable scenes from the series. Pacific Grove’s coastal setting is recognizable, but its everyday personality is quieter than the drama suggests: historic homes, residential streets, a walkable downtown and a coastline residents return to year-round.
Explore our Pacific Grove homes and neighborhood guide to learn more about the community behind those views.
Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row and Del Monte Beach
The Monterey Bay Aquarium appeared in the series, and Del Monte Beach provided a backdrop for beach-running scenes. Cannery Row, the Coastal Recreation Trail and nearby waterfront neighborhoods give visitors a sense of the real Monterey, where former industrial waterfront areas, conservation, recreation and tourism share the same coastline.
For a closer look at residential options near the sand, explore Del Monte Beach real estate , within our Monterey community guide.
Colton Hall and historic downtown Monterey
Colton Hall, one of Monterey's important historic landmarks, also appears in the show. It is a reminder that the area's identity is much older than any television series. Long before the cameras arrived, Monterey played a central role in California's early history.
Garrapata, Bixby Bridge and the Big Sur coastline
The sweeping drive across Bixby Creek Bridge and the dramatic cliffs of Garrapata State Park helped define the show's visual identity. They are magnificent locations—but they are south of Monterey, along Highway 1 toward Big Sur. A television montage can make them seem like ordinary stops on a quick school run. In real life, geography and travel time matter.
Are the oceanfront mansions in Big Little Lies real Monterey homes?
Some are, but the answer is not as straightforward as it looks on television. The production combined genuine Central Coast locations, including a Carmel Highlands residence used for Celeste's home, with properties and sets elsewhere in California. Several residential scenes were filmed in the greater Los Angeles area, and interiors were sometimes constructed separately.
The extraordinary ocean-view homes shown in the series are not imaginary, however. The Monterey Peninsula really does have a small and varied collection of waterfront estates, bluff-top residences, wooded retreats and hillside properties with broad coastal views.
What television rarely conveys is how different one location can be from another. A home in Carmel Highlands can have a dramatic setting above the open Pacific, while a home near downtown Monterey may offer a walkable historic neighborhood. A property in Pacific Grove might have a different climate, lot size and daily rhythm from one in Pebble Beach . For oceanfront and bluff-top properties, coastal exposure, access, maintenance and permitting also matter.
Hollywood versus the real Monterey Peninsula
The greatest difference is not the scenery. It's the way the communities actually fit together.
Monterey blends a historic downtown, a working harbor, visitor attractions and a surprisingly broad range of neighborhoods. Pacific Grove is known for its historic architecture, waterfront recreation and traditional residential areas. Carmel-by-the-Sea has its compact, walkable village, art galleries and distinctive cottages. Carmel Valley generally trades the immediate coastal influence for warmer inland weather, vineyards and larger properties in selected locations. Marina has its own growing coastal neighborhoods and housing options, rather than serving as an interchangeable backdrop for Monterey or Carmel.
Even the weather can surprise newcomers. Coastal fog, cool summer mornings and wind can be part of life near Monterey Bay, while a short drive inland often brings more sunshine and warmth. In our experience, these microclimates are one of the first things prospective buyers should understand.
If the show sparked your interest in the area, our Living on the Monterey Peninsula guide explains the lifestyle and real estate differences in more detail.
Frequently asked questions about Big Little Lies in Monterey
Was Big Little Lies really filmed in Monterey?
Yes. The production filmed at recognizable locations in Monterey, Pacific Grove and Big Sur, while also using Los Angeles-area locations and sets for some homes, school scenes and interiors.
Where is the Blue Blues café from Big Little Lies?
The fictional café was based on Paluca Trattoria at Monterey's Old Fisherman’s Wharf, but the café interior was recreated on a studio set in Los Angeles.
Is Bixby Bridge in Monterey?
No. Bixby Creek Bridge is on Highway 1 along the Big Sur coast, south of the City of Monterey. It is a memorable local-region landmark, not part of a routine in-town commute.
When is Big Little Lies Season 3 coming out?
There is no confirmed premiere date as of October 11, 2026. The project is in development, with Moriarty's 2026 novel Big Little Truths expected to inspire the story.
What happened to the proposed Monterey Moms reality show?
When we reported on it in 2019, Monterey Moms was a documentary proposal in the casting and pitching stages. We have not verified that it was acquired by a network or broadcast.
The real Monterey Peninsula is worth discovering
Big Little Lies captured something true about this part of California: the coast really can be that beautiful. But the Monterey Peninsula is more interesting than its television version because each town and neighborhood has a distinct history, landscape, housing market and way of life.
If you're exploring the area beyond the screen, the Monterey Peninsula Home Team can help you compare communities and find a location that fits the way you want to live. You can reach us at (831) 917-8190.