S&T Travel Guide: Newport Beach
We might be a little bias, but we think Newport Beach is the best city in the county! There is something to do for everyone; the health nuts, partiers, surfers and everyone else in between. You can spend your days biking along the beach, day drinking at a local bar or renting a Duffy Boat with friends, just to name a few.
Jo has lived in OC for 8 years now and Jacqs had lived here for 7 years before moving to Nashville, so we’ve been around the block and know the best local spots.
We put together this guide so you can use it regardless of how long your stay is - whether you’re visiting for just a weekend or staying for a few weeks, this will help you plan your visit. It’s challenging to condense everything Newport has to offer into one blog post, but these are our absolute must do’s. We’ve categorized all of our recommendations under accommodations, workouts/studios, things to do, food (AM/PM) and some other tips we have.
As always, let us know if you have any questions.
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Where to Stay:
Lido House Hotel - we haven’t personally stayed here before but have heard great things!
Pelican Hill - Very expensive but one of the best hotels we’ve ever been to. The pool is incredible! They also have an amazing spa and golf.
Balboa Bay Club - great location right along PCH on the water
Hotel Joaquin - technically just south of Newport in Laguna Beach but an adorable place to stay. Boutique hotel.
Airbnb - If you’re going to rent an Airbnb we recommend the Newport Peninsula or Newport Coast.
Coffee Shops (#COTD):
KIT Coffee - Cute coffee spot. Best breakfast burrito in Newport!
A Market - We love going to this coffee shop. They have good to go items too.
C’est Si Bon - French bakery spot with coffee and pastries
Blue Bottle - located in Lido. This is a favorite in Newport!
Alta Coffee - Quaint spot on the Peninsula loved by locals! They have lots of food too.
AM Food:
Haute Cakes - our favorite breakfast spot in Newport. We love their almond milk lattes, scrambles and pancakes. Get there early because the line gets long on the weekends! See photo of our favorite breakfast spread there.
Zinc Cafe (CDM) - this is Jo’s local fav spot. Get their avocado toast!
Beachcomber Cafe - Cute coffee spot and to go items
Malibu Farm - located in Lido Marina Village right on the water. This is a popular spot at any hour but we personally love their breakfast the best!
Lighthouse Cafe - located on the Newport Peninsula right on the water. Great location and delicious food. Good place to take family.
PM Food:
Rodger’s Garden - beautiful, romantic spot. All the seating is outdoors and you’re surrounded by a lush garden.
Zinque - Great spot in Lido Marina Village. Get the Le Bowl.
SOL Mexican Cocina - upscale, lively Mexican spot. Great for groups and celebrations.
Buddha’s Favorite - sushi spot on the water in Newport Peninsula.
Mama D’s (Newport Peninsula location) - casual, traditional Italian restaurant that’s everyones favorite. We could drink the pink sauce .
The Cannery - oh, this place is a must for happy hour! Only go during HH or else it’s overpriced.
Tommy Bahama - one of our favorite places to go. They have the absolute best happy hour! We recommend the fish tacos, coconut shrimp and goat cheese.
Bear Flag - casual spot but the best fish. We both CRAVE bear flag poke (get the ahi poke plate or burrito).
Going Out:
Malarky’s - a true Newport staple. Have you ever gone out in Newport if you haven’t stumbled home from Malarky’s?
STAG Bar - fun place to go out, play pool and dance.
Wild Goose Tavern - technically in Costa Mesa, but they just redid the inside and it’s been so fun on the weekends.
Mutt Lynch’s - fun during the day, especially to watch sports. It’s always packed with people drinking scooners.
Billy’s at the Beach - fun during the day, their Mai Tai’s are the best.
Workout:
We obviously have so many recommendations for local studios that we love but if you’re only visiting for a few days, these are the ones we’d suggest!
The ones we listed are a mix of different workout types, styles and techniques.
Trim Fitness - Reformer pilates studio. Full review linked here
Caz Training - HIIT/Strength Training. Full review linked here
BoxHaus - Boxing and HIIT workout. Full review linked here
GritCycle - Spin studio. Full review linked here
Crystal Cove Hike - Beautiful Hike in Newport. There is a hike through the mountains as well as a paved path to the beach depending on difficulty level.
Newport Beach Peninsula Boardwalk - Run, walk, bike the board walk for a workout!
Things to Do:
The Beach - there are so many beaches to go to! We recommend the Peninsula, it’s just a massive long beach and swimming conditions are good.
Lido Marina Village - great restaurants and shops! Super fun to walk around any time of the day.
Rent a Duffy boat - this is one of the best things to do in Newport. You can rent a Duffy to cruise around the bay for a couple hours! Pack all the drinks and snacks, and enjoy your time on the water. See photo below.
Newport Beach Peninsula Boardwalk - Walk the boardwalk. There are always a ton of people out and it’s fun to get outside! A ton of restaurants close by too.
Fashion Island - great outdoor shopping mall! So beautiful.
Balboa Island + Ferry - walk around, ride bikes, grab a bite.
Rent Bikes - our favorite way to get around Newport is riding bikes. There are a ton of shops that rent beach cruisers and/or electric bikes.. We recommend booking in advance, as bike rentals book up over the weekend.
Tips:
Things get super busy so make sure to make reservations, we just use OpenTable to book for restaurants. Duffy boats get rented weeks in advance so plan ahead.
There are a lot of beach cities close to Newport so we definitely recommend exploring south as well. Laguna Beach and Dana Point are beautiful!
Traffic and parking near the beach gets extremely packed during the summer so plan ahead. Either get their early to snag a spot and or Uber so you don’t have to stress or pay a crazy amount.
