Skip town for the weekend in one of Orange County’s most beloved—and luxurious—coastal destinations. Welcome to Newport Beach.
Take a refreshing dip in the 85-foot-long swimming pool at VEA Newport Beach, A Marriott Resort and Spa; PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT NEWPORT BEACH
The only waterfront resort in Newport Beach, this Forbes four-star, AAA Four Diamond property occupies 15 harborside acres. Visit the guest-exclusive spa to enjoy massages and facials, or take to the water with a kayak, stand-up paddleboard or 12-seat Duffy. Enjoy a casual dinner by the water at A + O Restaurant | Bar (snag a seat by a fire pit for the most coveted spot on the patio), and don’t miss the resort’s weekly Sunday Seafood Brunch in the Lighthouse Room.
Located adjacent to Lido Marina Village, Lido House is a nautical-themed Autograph Collection property with 130 guest rooms, including five three-story cottages. Enjoy seafood-focused cuisine at Mayor’s Table Pacific Pub & Kitchen or zip up the elevator to indulge in Lido House’s exclusive Piper-Heidsieck Champagne at Newport Beach’s only rooftop bar, Topside.
Pendry Newport Beach debuted in late 2023, offering guests stunning rooms and suites with ocean, harbor and bay views. Dine at the on-site SET Steak & Sushi, grab a drink at the buzzy Bar Pendry or relax in a cabana by the pool after a treatment at Spa Pendry.
The patio of SET Steak & Sushi at Pendry Newport Beach; PHOTO COURTESY OF PENDRY NEWPORT BEACH
Sprawled across 504 acres in Newport Coast, this Forbes five-star, AAA Five Diamond property boasts one of the world’s largest circular pools, a 23,000-square-foot spa and the 36-hole, Tom Fazio-designed Pelican Hill Golf Club. When hunger strikes, dine poolside at the Coliseum Pool & Grill or overlooking the fairway at Pelican Grill at Pelican Hill Golf Club.
VEA NEWPORT BEACH, A MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA
The former Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa has found new life as VEA Newport Beach, a sprawling luxury resort located just a stone’s throw from Fashion Island. Break a sweat in the 5,000-square-foot fitness center, where you’ll find Pelotons and weightlifting equipment, or relax in the 14,000-square-foot Spa VEA. On-site dining and imbibing spots include the ocean-facing Edge Bar, the brand-new Reveal lounge and VIEW Restaurant & Bar.
Restaurateur Ron Salisbury has made this modern American steakhouse one of O.C.’s hottest waterfront restaurants. On warm nights, sit at table 12 for a prime waterfront view. When temps dip, cozy up by the fireplace at table 43. Happy hour is offered daily—and from 4 p.m. to close on Wednesdays—while Sunday brunch features Rat Pack-style music.
Dine with stunning waterfront views at Louie’s By The Bay; PHOTO BY ANNE WATSON
It’s a family affair at this Michelin Guide-recognized restaurant on Via Lido, where husband-and-wife owners Darren and Jean Coyle celebrate their Irish roots. Don’t miss the Guinness brown bread with European butter, clover honey and Jacobsen sea salt to start, and request to sit in the restaurant’s snug, an enclosed booth that pays homage to pre-1960s Irish pubs.
The margaritas flow at this swanky Mexican restaurant in Crystal Cove, which houses one of the West Coast’s largest collections of high-end tequila. Recently renovated, this hot spot is always packed thanks to sizzling fajitas, crispy tacos and a see-and-be-seen atmosphere.
Nestled along the shores of Newport Coast, this upscale French restaurant—helmed by husband-and-wife chef-owners Florent and Amelia Marneau— offers an award-winning dining experience where the dishes are as beautiful as they are tasty.
THE BEACHCOMBER AT CRYSTAL COVE
It’s hard to get closer to the water than at The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove, where dining occurs just steps from the sand. Open for daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the kitchen is rocking and rolling from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., offering plenty of chances to enjoy tacos, burgers, lobster rolls and sweet beignets. Pair your dinner offerings with wine varietals sourced from the Santa Ynez Valley.
Anchored by Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, Fashion Island is Newport Beach’s largest indoor-outdoor shopping center, home to more than 70 O.C.-exclusive stores of its nearly 200 total. Newcomers to Fashion Island include Orange County’s first Veronica Beard, Good American and Arhaus stores, while an 80,000-square-foot, four-story RH store will arrive by the end of 2024.
Shop seaside at Lido Marina Village; PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT NEWPORT BEACH
Newport Beach’s other outdoor shopping center is Lido Marina Village, a waterfront collection of upscale boutiques for shoppers of all ages. Popular shops include The Great., Jenni Kayne, Marrow Fine, Minnow, Bad Birdie, Le Labo and Stoney Clover Lane.
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