Published October 24, 2023
Best Places in Laguna Beach to catch a meal in Laguna Beach
A little secret about Laguna Beach? Not only is it a great beach town with more seclude beaches than anywhere in SoCal, it also has one of the best food scenes in Orange County. Hardly a chain in the city limits, Laguna Beach offers up delicious food from fast casual to fine dining. Here are a few of our favorite places.
Reunion Kitchen + Drink
Tucked in the Pavilions complex on the north side of Laguna, Reunion has a mouth watering menu that is sure to please everyone. The menu is packed with comfort food with a Southern flair. We love their chicken & biscuits, warm butter cake, and their vanilla old fashion.
Bodega Laguna
Bodega Laguna Cocina & Cantina is a new Mexican cuisine eatery in the downtown area of Laguna Beach. They have made quite a stellar first impression with great food and drinks in an amazing location.
AhbA
Popular restaurant in South Laguna, AhbA serves up a menu that is a cross between California-style dishes and comfort food. A packed place for the weekend lunch crowd, enjoy the popular burger and a cocktail on the patio.
Driftwood Kitchen
Looking for a place with the best view? Driftwood is your place. “Any closer and you would have to swim.” Sitting on top of Sleepy Hollow Beach just south of Main Beach, is aplace to go to catch an amazing sunset while enjoying a nice meal.
Oak Laguna Beach
One of the best burgers in town, this trendy spot also has good vegetarian options and really good cocktails.
Selanne Steak Tavern
Need a place to go for a nice steak dinner? Selanne’s is my favorite for a fancy night out in all of Orange County. You can not beat the Mac & Cheese topped with a parmesan foam that melts into it. Nor can you miss the filet mignon topped with truffle butter. We’ve never been disappointed with any of the chef’s seasonal dishes or with anything that has “foam” in the description.
Roux Creole Cuisine
This top rated restaurant is a local favorite. Recommended across Nextdoor, Yelp, and Trip Advisor, this place has won over the hearts and stomachs. Featuring comfort food from New Orleans, the best part about this place is the service. That and the award-winning buttermilk pie.
La Sirena Grill
There are two location in Laguna Beach. We prefer the one across from the Montage in the southern part of Laguna. It has more seating and generally not as crowed. Features beer on draft, yummy margaritas, and good value for the money tacos.
Zinc Cafe Laguna Beach
A true California cafe, this is a favorite spot for breakfast goers. Outdoor seating, fresh ingredients, and seasonal dishes, they feature a mainly vegetarian menu.
Coyote Grill
There may be other things on the menu, but frankly we’ve never gotten past the Calamari Tacos. Paired with their homemade margaritas and you have a very delicious and fun night ahead of you.
Harvest at The Ranch
Lovely place for brunch, do not pass on trying the cinnamon rolls. I don’t even like cinnamon rolls that much but still devour it here. They also have great brunch cocktails and a nice outdoor patio to enjoy a summer’s eve in this tucked away resort.
Best Places in Laguna Beach to enjoy a cocktail or Happy Hour
Some of our favorite places for a drink with friends are also our favorite dining places: Oak, Driftwood (or The Deck), Reunion. To add to the list here are a few more place to check out.
Finney’s at the White House Craft House
Perfect place to hangout with friends with great food and fun cocktails. Their menu is large with lots of shareable appetizers, large draft beer selection, and craft cocktails.
Laguna Beach Beer Company
Located in the canyon next to Sawdust, this places offers a relaxing place to enjoy a beer with a large patio full of picnic tables. This tasting room plus kitchen offers a nice beer selection, yummy pizzas, and live music at night.
Stateroom Bar
Small and cozy with great cocktails and ocean views.
Wine Gallery Laguna Beach
Amazing wine selection with over 20 wines by the glass, this place also has great food coming from their wood fired oven.
Best Places to Stay while visiting Laguna Beach
From cozy beach inns to five start resorts, the hotels in Laguna Beach offer plenty of variety. The City of Laguna Beach has a short-term lodging ordinance, meaning your choice of stay is limited to official hotel operations.
Montage Laguna Beach
Starting off with the 5-star hotel, the Montage is the luxury place for your splurge vacation. The Montage sits on a bluff above Treasure Island beach, Goff Cove, and Christmas beach. In the summer, this is the place for the rich and famous (we’ve seen Mark Cuban wondering the grounds a few times). The pool is spectacular and the poolside service is top notch. It is a place for the high-end events, so expect to see a wedding or two if you stay at the Montage.
The Ranch
Tucked away in a canyon, The Ranch is a mid-century style resort with a nine-hole golf course, pool, trail to Aliso Beach, and yummy restaurant. Being surrounded by hills, it offers a quiet, peaceful respite.
Hotel Laguna
This historic hotel is in the heart of Laguna. Once a favorite spot of Old Hollywood icons, this laid-back hotel built in 1930 retains its Mission-style arches and decorative bell tower, and is a minute’s walk from Main Beach Park’s oceanfront boardwalk.
Surf & Sand Resort
If you were any closer to the ocean, you’d be on a boat. So close in fact, they offer ear plugs so the sounds of the crashing waves don’t keep you up. In the summer, this is a place to be seen and offers a great location close to many of the best restaurants in town.
Pacific Edge Hotel
Aptly name, this hotel is on the edge of the pacific. Amenities include 2 outdoor pools and direct access to the beach. Bungalows along the beach are available for events and day rentals.
One Response