Guidebook for Newport Beach

Brandon
Guidebook for Newport Beach

Food Scene

Cool ambiance & great food.
30 locals recommend
Haute Cakes Caffe
1807 Westcliff Dr
30 locals recommend
Cool ambiance & great food.
good coffee & breakfast burrito, & cool vibe. They have Wi-Fi (for 1 hr at a time, I believe).
10 locals recommend
KIT Coffee
1617 Westcliff Dr
10 locals recommend
good coffee & breakfast burrito, & cool vibe. They have Wi-Fi (for 1 hr at a time, I believe).
Awesome Mexican. Especially burritos.
Los Primos Cantina
488 E 17th St
Awesome Mexican. Especially burritos.
30 locals recommend
Plums Cafe + Catering
369 E 17th St
30 locals recommend
Speakeasy atmosphere. Old school steakhouse that has the feel of an underground '50s/60s spot. Great live music, depending on the night.
15 locals recommend
La Cave
1695 Irvine Ave
15 locals recommend
Speakeasy atmosphere. Old school steakhouse that has the feel of an underground '50s/60s spot. Great live music, depending on the night.
Local burger spot...psuedo local In-N-Out
Wedge Burger
310 E 17th St
Local burger spot...psuedo local In-N-Out
39 locals recommend
SOCIAL Costa Mesa
512 W 19th St
39 locals recommend
7 locals recommend
Lido Bottle Works
3408 Via Oporto
7 locals recommend
Sooo good. Recommend Poke Burrito. Can't go wrong here. Great local spot.
78 locals recommend
Bear Flag Fish Company
3421 Via Lido
78 locals recommend
Sooo good. Recommend Poke Burrito. Can't go wrong here. Great local spot.
If you're feeling fancy.
31 locals recommend
Nobu Newport Beach
3450 Via Oporto
31 locals recommend
If you're feeling fancy.
Awesome burger. They often have a local brew & burger deal.
15 locals recommend
Crow Burger Kitchen
3107 Newport Blvd
15 locals recommend
Awesome 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 locals recommend
Zinc Cafe & Market
3222 East Coast Hwy
56 locals recommend
Cafe, 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 locals recommend
La Sirena Grill
347 Mermaid St
40 locals recommend
Great burritos, tacos & salads (even I like the salad here...not a salad guy).
good burrito & salads, & they have good sauces.
9 locals recommend
Caliente Southwest Grill
22017 E 17th St
9 locals recommend
good burrito & salads, & they have good sauces.
18 locals recommend
SOL Mexican Cocina | Newport Beach
251 Pacific Coast Hwy
18 locals recommend
A Rick Bayless Mexican cuisine spot w/ a lighter Californian influence.
15 locals recommend
RED O "Taste of Mexico"
143 Newport Center Dr
15 locals recommend
A 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 locals recommend
Javier's Restaurant - Newport Beach
7832 Pacific Coast Hwy
73 locals recommend
High end Mexican w/ an extensive tequila selection & margarita options. A place to valet your Bentley. Great people watching, for sure.
Great food, & right across PCH from the marina.
19 locals recommend
A Market
3400 West Coast Hwy
19 locals recommend
Great food, & right across PCH from the marina.
Great view of the harbor, happy hour deals at the bar or upscale dinner.
82 locals recommend
Cannery Seafood of the Pacific
3010 Lafayette Ave
82 locals recommend
Great 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 locals recommend
Outpost Kitchen
1792 Monrovia Ave
14 locals recommend
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.
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 locals recommend
Wahoo's Fish Taco
1862 Placentia Ave
57 locals recommend
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 (?).
Best Italian around...and I know, I lived in Hoboken, NJ. It's legit.
68 locals recommend
The Original Mama D's Italian Kitchen
3012 Newport Blvd
68 locals recommend
Best Italian around...and I know, I lived in Hoboken, NJ. It's legit.
Great coffee shop, atmosphere & breakfast. Good food, small menu.
79 locals recommend
Alta Coffee
506 31st St
79 locals recommend
Great coffee shop, atmosphere & breakfast. Good food, small menu.
sandwiches
15 locals recommend
Sessions West Coast Deli
2823 Newport Blvd
15 locals recommend
sandwiches
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 locals recommend
Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee
270 E 17th St
60 locals recommend
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.
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 locals recommend
Blue Beet, The
107 21st Pl
24 locals recommend
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.
Great restaurant right on the water. Cool views, and the perfect spot to go after a duffy ride out in the bay.
23 locals recommend
Rusty Pelican
2735 West Coast Hwy
23 locals recommend
Great 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 locals recommend
Memphis Soul Cafe & Bar
2920 Bristol St
17 locals recommend
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.
a mix of shopping & restaurants.
34 locals recommend
SOCO & The OC Mix
1731 Hyland Ave
34 locals recommend
a 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 locals recommend
Wild Goose Tavern
436 E 17th St
34 locals recommend
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.
A dive bar w/ a huge beer selection. Billiards & foosball in the back room.
29 locals recommend
Goat Hill Tavern
1830 Newport Blvd
29 locals recommend
A dive bar w/ a huge beer selection. Billiards & foosball in the back room.
Cool bar, same Bungalow as the one in Santa Monica.
53 locals recommend
The Bungalow Huntington Beach
21058 CA-1
53 locals recommend
Cool 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 locals recommend
Hi-Time Wine Cellars
250 Ogle St
12 locals recommend
THE best place for wine tasting and getting wines and liquors. An institution in Costa Mesa. A huge cellar.
525 locals recommend
The Bungalow
101 Wilshire Blvd
525 locals recommend

Parks & Nature

Great views & only a short walk away.
Castaways North
Castaways North
Great views & only a short walk away.
China Cove Beach
372 locals recommend
Huntington Beach Pier
103 Huntington Beach Pier
372 locals recommend
188 locals recommend
Santa Catalina Island
188 locals recommend
Beautiful.
85 locals recommend
Top of the World
West Ridge
85 locals recommend
Beautiful.

Shopping

A large collection of shopping, and restaurants.
14 locals recommend
SoCo Collection
3303 Hyland Ave
14 locals recommend
A large collection of shopping, and restaurants.
719 locals recommend
Newport Center/Fashion Island
401 Newport Center Dr
719 locals recommend
CVS, 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 Ave
CVS, Bank of America, The Counter Burger, Ralphs, Chronic Taco, Ace Hardware, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Pandor Bakery, Orange Theory, etc.
Shopping & restaurants
213 locals recommend
Pacific City
21010 Pacific Coast Hwy
213 locals recommend
Shopping & restaurants
Local surfboard, clothing & everyday products.
Almond Surfboards & Designs
1720 Santa Ana Ave
Local 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 locals recommend
The Camp
2937 Bristol St
63 locals recommend
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.)
small, well curated home goods store.
Heritage Mercantile Co.
small, well curated home goods store.

Arts & Culture

43 locals recommend
Laguna Art Museum
307 Cliff Dr
43 locals recommend
2309 locals recommend
The Getty
1200 Getty Center Dr
2309 locals recommend

Entertainment & Activities

23 locals recommend
Newport Aquatic Center
1 Whitecliffs Dr
23 locals recommend
118 locals recommend
Starlight Triangle Square Cinemas
1870 Harbor Blvd
118 locals recommend
575 locals recommend
Rose Bowl Stadium
1001 Rose Bowl Dr
575 locals recommend

Essentials

80 locals recommend
Sprouts Farmers Market
9861 Adams Ave
80 locals recommend
TJs....perfect for most grocery needs.
175 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
3329 S Bristol St
175 locals recommend
TJs....perfect for most grocery needs.
Fresh produce, good prices.
14 locals recommend
Growers Direct
26541 Aliso Creek Rd
14 locals recommend
Fresh produce, good prices.