Guidebook for Newport Beach
Food Scene
Haute Cakes Caffe
1807 Westcliff DrCool ambiance & great food.
good coffee & breakfast burrito, & cool vibe. They have Wi-Fi (for 1 hr at a time, I believe).
10 residents recomanen
KIT Coffee
1617 Westcliff Drgood coffee & breakfast burrito, & cool vibe. They have Wi-Fi (for 1 hr at a time, I believe).
Los Primos Cantina
488 E 17th StAwesome Mexican. Especially burritos.
Plums Cafe + Catering
369 E 17th StSpeakeasy atmosphere. Old school steakhouse that has the feel of an underground '50s/60s spot. Great live music, depending on the night.
15 residents recomanen
La Cave
1695 Irvine AveSpeakeasy atmosphere. Old school steakhouse that has the feel of an underground '50s/60s spot. Great live music, depending on the night.
Wedge Burger
310 E 17th StLocal burger spot...psuedo local In-N-Out
SOCIAL Costa Mesa
512 W 19th StLido Bottle Works
3408 Via OportoSooo good. Recommend Poke Burrito. Can't go wrong here. Great local spot.
78 residents recomanen
Bear Flag Fish Company
3421 Via LidoSooo good. Recommend Poke Burrito. Can't go wrong here. Great local spot.
Nobu Newport Beach
3450 Via OportoIf you're feeling fancy.
Awesome burger. They often have a local brew & burger deal.
15 residents recomanen
Crow Burger Kitchen
3107 Newport BlvdAwesome burger. They often have a local brew & burger deal.
Cafe, coffee shot & little market. Cool ambiance. Stop here if you're on your way to a beach day in CDM.
56 residents recomanen
Zinc Cafe & Market
3222 East Coast HwyCafe, coffee shot & little market. Cool ambiance. Stop here if you're on your way to a beach day in CDM.
Great burritos, tacos & salads (even I like the salad here...not a salad guy).
40 residents recomanen
La Sirena Grill
347 Mermaid StGreat burritos, tacos & salads (even I like the salad here...not a salad guy).
Caliente Southwest Grill
22017 E 17th Stgood burrito & salads, & they have good sauces.
SOL Mexican Cocina | Newport Beach
251 Pacific Coast HwyA Rick Bayless Mexican cuisine spot w/ a lighter Californian influence.
15 residents recomanen
RED O "Taste of Mexico"
143 Newport Center DrA Rick Bayless Mexican cuisine spot w/ a lighter Californian influence.
High end Mexican w/ an extensive tequila selection & margarita options. A place to valet your Bentley. Great people watching, for sure.
73 residents recomanen
Javier's Restaurant - Newport Beach
7832 Pacific Coast HwyHigh end Mexican w/ an extensive tequila selection & margarita options. A place to valet your Bentley. Great people watching, for sure.
A Market
3400 West Coast HwyGreat food, & right across PCH from the marina.
Great view of the harbor, happy hour deals at the bar or upscale dinner.
82 residents recomanen
Cannery Seafood of the Pacific
3010 Lafayette AveGreat view of the harbor, happy hour deals at the bar or upscale dinner.
You'll feel like you're in the middle of no-where, and that's how you know you found it. An Australian couple started this breakfast/brunch spot & is a local favorite. Great for the morning coffee and delicious breakfasts (all day) & lunches. Chill, casual setting. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
14 residents recomanen
Outpost Kitchen
1792 Monrovia AveYou'll feel like you're in the middle of no-where, and that's how you know you found it. An Australian couple started this breakfast/brunch spot & is a local favorite. Great for the morning coffee and delicious breakfasts (all day) & lunches. Chill, casual setting. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
Budget but delicious fish tacos, rice bowls with fresh ingredients. Beer and wine. The place to get a quick & great $5 delicious meal.
It's now a franchise, but this is the original location...circa 1989 (?).
57 residents recomanen
Wahoo's Fish Taco
1862 Placentia AveBudget but delicious fish tacos, rice bowls with fresh ingredients. Beer and wine. The place to get a quick & great $5 delicious meal.
It's now a franchise, but this is the original location...circa 1989 (?).
Best Italian around...and I know, I lived in Hoboken, NJ. It's legit.
68 residents recomanen
The Original Mama D's Italian Kitchen
3012 Newport BlvdBest Italian around...and I know, I lived in Hoboken, NJ. It's legit.
Alta Coffee
506 31st StGreat coffee shop, atmosphere & breakfast. Good food, small menu.
Sessions West Coast Deli
2823 Newport Blvdsandwiches
Local hot spot.
This place is apparently a bit of a mecca for doughnut lovers. Good stuff. Maple bacon, huckleberry, Madagascar vanilla, lemon poppyseed....and monthly rotating flavors as well. It's a thing.
They also have their own blend/roast of coffee since they're pretty particular about the pairings. They partnered with Stumptown Coffee (Portland, OR) to create their exclusive blends.
60 residents recomanen
Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee
270 E 17th StLocal hot spot.
This place is apparently a bit of a mecca for doughnut lovers. Good stuff. Maple bacon, huckleberry, Madagascar vanilla, lemon poppyseed....and monthly rotating flavors as well. It's a thing.
They also have their own blend/roast of coffee since they're pretty particular about the pairings. They partnered with Stumptown Coffee (Portland, OR) to create their exclusive blends.
A fixture of Newport Peninsula since 1912, with live music of local as well as traveling acts. Burgers & steaks & great weekly specials (e.g. Monday 1/2 off NY Steak, Tues: 2for1 Burgers, etc.). A unique charm, especially compared to other spots in the area.
3rd story patio is a great place to catch the sunset & have a sundowner.
24 residents recomanen
Blue Beet, The
107 21st PlA fixture of Newport Peninsula since 1912, with live music of local as well as traveling acts. Burgers & steaks & great weekly specials (e.g. Monday 1/2 off NY Steak, Tues: 2for1 Burgers, etc.). A unique charm, especially compared to other spots in the area.
3rd story patio is a great place to catch the sunset & have a sundowner.
Great restaurant right on the water. Cool views, and the perfect spot to go after a duffy ride out in the bay.
23 residents recomanen
Rusty Pelican
2735 West Coast HwyGreat restaurant right on the water. Cool views, and the perfect spot to go after a duffy ride out in the bay.
My favorite brunch in Costa Mesa. Sunday's are 'Yacht Rock Brunch' day. Incredible chicken & waffles, and shimp & grits, and the burger is solid.
Whenever friends come into town, this is one of my top go to places I want to take them to experience.
17 residents recomanen
Memphis Soul Cafe & Bar
2920 Bristol StMy favorite brunch in Costa Mesa. Sunday's are 'Yacht Rock Brunch' day. Incredible chicken & waffles, and shimp & grits, and the burger is solid.
Whenever friends come into town, this is one of my top go to places I want to take them to experience.
SOCO & The OC Mix
1731 Hyland Avea mix of shopping & restaurants.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great beer selection & awesome bar menu. Perfect place to watch the game. Excellent brunch too, for those early NCAA Saturday or NFL Sunday football games.
34 residents recomanen
Wild Goose Tavern
436 E 17th StGreat beer selection & awesome bar menu. Perfect place to watch the game. Excellent brunch too, for those early NCAA Saturday or NFL Sunday football games.
A dive bar w/ a huge beer selection. Billiards & foosball in the back room.
29 residents recomanen
Goat Hill Tavern
1830 Newport BlvdA dive bar w/ a huge beer selection. Billiards & foosball in the back room.
Cool bar, same Bungalow as the one in Santa Monica.
53 residents recomanen
The Bungalow Huntington Beach
21058 CA-1Cool bar, same Bungalow as the one in Santa Monica.
THE best place for wine tasting and getting wines and liquors. An institution in Costa Mesa. A huge cellar.
12 residents recomanen
Hi-Time Wine Cellars
250 Ogle StTHE best place for wine tasting and getting wines and liquors. An institution in Costa Mesa. A huge cellar.
The Bungalow
101 Wilshire BlvdParks & Nature
Castaways North
Castaways NorthGreat views & only a short walk away.
China Cove Beach
Huntington Beach Pier
103 Huntington Beach PierSanta Catalina Island
Cim del Món
West RidgeBeautiful.
Shopping
SoCo Collection
3303 Hyland AveA large collection of shopping, and restaurants.
Newport Center/Fashion Island
401 Newport Center DrCVS, Bank of America, The Counter Burger, Ralphs, Chronic Taco, Ace Hardware, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Pandor Bakery, Orange Theory, etc.
Westcliff Plaza
1000 - 1150 Irvine AveCVS, Bank of America, The Counter Burger, Ralphs, Chronic Taco, Ace Hardware, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Pandor Bakery, Orange Theory, etc.
Pacific City
21010 Pacific Coast HwyShopping & restaurants
Almond Surfboards & Designs
1720 Santa Ana AveLocal surfboard, clothing & everyday products.
I've heard it called a "hipster" outdoor mall. Not wrong. Great restaurants, & I'm a big fan of SEED Market for great outdoor gear (e.g. Poler, Patagonia, Fjallraven, Pendleton, etc.)
63 residents recomanen
The Camp
2937 Bristol StI've heard it called a "hipster" outdoor mall. Not wrong. Great restaurants, & I'm a big fan of SEED Market for great outdoor gear (e.g. Poler, Patagonia, Fjallraven, Pendleton, etc.)
Heritage Mercantile Co.
small, well curated home goods store.
Arts & Culture
Laguna Art Museum
307 Cliff Dr
El Getty
1200 Getty Center DrEntertainment & Activities
Newport Aquatic Center
1 Whitecliffs DrStarlight Triangle Square Cinemas
1870 Harbor BlvdEstadi Rose Bowl
1001 Rose Bowl DrEssentials
Sprouts Farmers Market
9861 Adams AveTrader Joe's
3329 S Bristol StTJs....perfect for most grocery needs.
Growers Direct
26541 Aliso Creek RdFresh produce, good prices.