A Local's Guide to Laguna Beach

Scott
A Local's Guide to Laguna Beach

Our favorite restaurants in Laguna

Food! Nom nom nom
Excellent Mexican food. Also great for brunch (weekends only). Directly across the street from Main Beach, by the movie theater.
13 recommandé par les habitants
Carmelita's
217 Broadway St
13 recommandé par les habitants
Excellent Mexican food. Also great for brunch (weekends only). Directly across the street from Main Beach, by the movie theater.
Best thai food around. Great noodles, fried rice, salads and curry. You can get take-out, walk across the street to Main Beach and watch the sunset from one of the benches on the boardwalk.
8 recommandé par les habitants
Thai Brothers
238 Laguna Ave
8 recommandé par les habitants
Best thai food around. Great noodles, fried rice, salads and curry. You can get take-out, walk across the street to Main Beach and watch the sunset from one of the benches on the boardwalk.
Our favorite sushi place in town. Baked halibut roll for dessert! Nice views of the sunset. Popular place, often has a wait to get in. They also have good steaks and chicken teriyaki for people who don't like sushi.
8 recommandé par les habitants
San Shi Go Restaurant
858 S Coast Hwy
8 recommandé par les habitants
Our favorite sushi place in town. Baked halibut roll for dessert! Nice views of the sunset. Popular place, often has a wait to get in. They also have good steaks and chicken teriyaki for people who don't like sushi.
The ramen is so so good. If you get an extra side of noodles you can get two meals out of it. Also good place for beers at happy hour, nice appetizers for cheap.
Gu Ramen Taps and Tapas
907 S Coast Hwy
The ramen is so so good. If you get an extra side of noodles you can get two meals out of it. Also good place for beers at happy hour, nice appetizers for cheap.
Everything here is really good: rainbow salad, pho baguette dip, spring rolls, golden curry... a great new addition to Laguna's restaurant club
Saigon Beach - Laguna Beach
1750 South Coast Highway
Everything here is really good: rainbow salad, pho baguette dip, spring rolls, golden curry... a great new addition to Laguna's restaurant club
American. Comfort food. Zucchini planks! Great food and really friendly service, in a beautiful old historic building across from City Hall. Walking distance from our place. The owner is often working here, really nice guy.
6 recommandé par les habitants
Lumberyard
384 Forest Ave
6 recommandé par les habitants
American. Comfort food. Zucchini planks! Great food and really friendly service, in a beautiful old historic building across from City Hall. Walking distance from our place. The owner is often working here, really nice guy.
American. Comfort food. Fried chicken with mashed potatoes!! Also really good soups and salads. Plenty of parking above Pavilions market, or in the parking lot at street level.
25 recommandé par les habitants
Reunion Kitchen + Drink
5775 E Santa Ana Canyon Rd
25 recommandé par les habitants
American. Comfort food. Fried chicken with mashed potatoes!! Also really good soups and salads. Plenty of parking above Pavilions market, or in the parking lot at street level.
American. Comfort food. Popular place, we love the sea bass here. There is often a wait list. Protip: put your name on the list, tell the host you're going nextdoor to the Saloon (in beautiful Peppertree Lane) for a drink. They will come get you when your table is ready.
61 recommandé par les habitants
Nick's Laguna Beach
440 S Coast Hwy
61 recommandé par les habitants
American. Comfort food. Popular place, we love the sea bass here. There is often a wait list. Protip: put your name on the list, tell the host you're going nextdoor to the Saloon (in beautiful Peppertree Lane) for a drink. They will come get you when your table is ready.
Really good Mexican food, breakfast too.
14 recommandé par les habitants
South of Nick's Laguna Beach | Mexican Kitchen+Bar
540 S Coast Hwy
14 recommandé par les habitants
Really good Mexican food, breakfast too.
Great burgers and pomme frites. Steak tartare if you're into that. In a really cool, historic building below street level on Forest Ave. They also have a DJ playing music here at night sometimes...
15 recommandé par les habitants
Brussels Bistro
222 Forest Ave
15 recommandé par les habitants
Great burgers and pomme frites. Steak tartare if you're into that. In a really cool, historic building below street level on Forest Ave. They also have a DJ playing music here at night sometimes...
Family owned, consistently good Chinese food. A local favorite, been around forever. They do a lot of take-out, but it's nice to eat inside too. They also have good lunch specials.
Mandarin King
1223 N Pacific Coast Hwy
Family owned, consistently good Chinese food. A local favorite, been around forever. They do a lot of take-out, but it's nice to eat inside too. They also have good lunch specials.
Pizza, sandwiches, pasta and salads. The Rasta Pasta salad (half pasta, half lettuce) is a local favorite, gotta substitute field greens for the iceberg though. 🥗
7 recommandé par les habitants
Gina's Pizza & Pastaria
610 N Coast Hwy
7 recommandé par les habitants
Pizza, sandwiches, pasta and salads. The Rasta Pasta salad (half pasta, half lettuce) is a local favorite, gotta substitute field greens for the iceberg though. 🥗
To-go carryout Mexican place with tacos, burritos, salads, tortas, quesadillas... There is a small one downtown on Mermaid Street, with a few tables outside, and a bigger one in South Laguna -- with a large indoor dining room and bar -- in the same complex as Gelson's Market and Ruby's, on the east side of PCH opposite the Montage Resort.
40 recommandé par les habitants
La Sirena Grill
347 Mermaid St
40 recommandé par les habitants
To-go carryout Mexican place with tacos, burritos, salads, tortas, quesadillas... There is a small one downtown on Mermaid Street, with a few tables outside, and a bigger one in South Laguna -- with a large indoor dining room and bar -- in the same complex as Gelson's Market and Ruby's, on the east side of PCH opposite the Montage Resort.
Awesome fresh hummus and pitas. Good paninis too. A great place to get food to go, and then have a picnic across the street at Heisler Park.
Zeytoon Cafe
412 N Coast Hwy
Awesome fresh hummus and pitas. Good paninis too. A great place to get food to go, and then have a picnic across the street at Heisler Park.
Taco shop. Blackened mushroom and tofu burger. Nachos, quesadillas, tacos.... one of the few places in town that is open late. The owner Gonzalo is really cool, he goes to Burning Man every year 😋
8 recommandé par les habitants
Taco Loco
640 S Coast Hwy
8 recommandé par les habitants
Taco shop. Blackened mushroom and tofu burger. Nachos, quesadillas, tacos.... one of the few places in town that is open late. The owner Gonzalo is really cool, he goes to Burning Man every year 😋
Hummus and Guacamole and sprouts sandwich. Fresh juices, salads and soups. A hippie landmark, been around forever. Good vibes. Next to the Bike Shop on Thalia.
7 recommandé par les habitants
The Stand Natural Foods
238 Thalia St
7 recommandé par les habitants
Hummus and Guacamole and sprouts sandwich. Fresh juices, salads and soups. A hippie landmark, been around forever. Good vibes. Next to the Bike Shop on Thalia.
Beer. Wood fired pizza. Right around the corner from our place, next to the Sawdust Festival. They have a lot of TVs with most of the big sporting events on...
Laguna Beach Beer Company
859 Laguna Canyon Road
Beer. Wood fired pizza. Right around the corner from our place, next to the Sawdust Festival. They have a lot of TVs with most of the big sporting events on...
Great vietnamese food, a short walk from our place, across from the Laguna Beach Beer Company, next to the Sawdust Festival. The owners are a really nice couple and one of them is usually working. This is a very popular spot with the LCAD art college students.
Another Kind Cafe
793 Laguna Canyon Road
Great vietnamese food, a short walk from our place, across from the Laguna Beach Beer Company, next to the Sawdust Festival. The owners are a really nice couple and one of them is usually working. This is a very popular spot with the LCAD art college students.
Breakfast. Classic diner. All your breakfast favorites are done well here: pancakes, french toast, huevos rancheros. Family owned, been here forever.
Penguin Cafe
981 S Coast Hwy
Breakfast. Classic diner. All your breakfast favorites are done well here: pancakes, french toast, huevos rancheros. Family owned, been here forever.
Breakfast and coffee, really good muffins and pastries. Often sold out by 11 am. Scrambled egg and vegetable croissant is a local favorite. Also really good potato leek soup. Only open for breakfast and lunch.
10 recommandé par les habitants
Cafe Heidelberg
1100 S Coast Hwy
10 recommandé par les habitants
Breakfast and coffee, really good muffins and pastries. Often sold out by 11 am. Scrambled egg and vegetable croissant is a local favorite. Also really good potato leek soup. Only open for breakfast and lunch.
Really good breakfast. Fresh squeezed OJ. A little on the pricey side, but the food is excellent. Plus if you get bacon and eggs here, it automatically comes with a side of french toast. 🇫🇷 You can get away with getting one breakfast and splitting it with two people.
Anastasia Cafe
460 Ocean Ave
Really good breakfast. Fresh squeezed OJ. A little on the pricey side, but the food is excellent. Plus if you get bacon and eggs here, it automatically comes with a side of french toast. 🇫🇷 You can get away with getting one breakfast and splitting it with two people.
Breakfast & coffee, nice outdoor seating area. No meat served here. They make their own granola. Very popular and busy place, especially on the weekends. Across the street from the back side of the post office, on Ocean Ave.
56 recommandé par les habitants
Zinc Cafe & Market
3222 East Coast Hwy
56 recommandé par les habitants
Breakfast & coffee, nice outdoor seating area. No meat served here. They make their own granola. Very popular and busy place, especially on the weekends. Across the street from the back side of the post office, on Ocean Ave.
Bagels & coffee
15 recommandé par les habitants
Shirley's Bagels
270 E 17th St
15 recommandé par les habitants
Bagels & coffee
Good, cheap Mexican food. Been around forever. The owners are really great people. They also have a little bar when you can get a pitcher of beer while you wait for your food, and watch a Lakers game on TV with some local rumballs lol
Adolfo's Mexican Food
998 S Coast Hwy
Good, cheap Mexican food. Been around forever. The owners are really great people. They also have a little bar when you can get a pitcher of beer while you wait for your food, and watch a Lakers game on TV with some local rumballs lol
We love the happy hour food and drinks here, and the owners are super friendly and nice. Great service, family friendly place.
GG's Bistro
540 S Coast Hwy
We love the happy hour food and drinks here, and the owners are super friendly and nice. Great service, family friendly place.
Great brunch, friendly service, micheladas and bloody marys. It's on PCH in South Laguna, near Table Rock beach.
26 recommandé par les habitants
Coyote Grill
31621 Coast Hwy
26 recommandé par les habitants
Great brunch, friendly service, micheladas and bloody marys. It's on PCH in South Laguna, near Table Rock beach.
Pizza (Crystal cove, just north of Laguna). This is now a pretty big chain with restaurants in several states, but the first one was in South Laguna and the owner Sid lives here in town. We usually go to the Crystal Cove one because it's closer than the SoLag one.
25 recommandé par les habitants
zpizza
4612 2nd St
25 recommandé par les habitants
Pizza (Crystal cove, just north of Laguna). This is now a pretty big chain with restaurants in several states, but the first one was in South Laguna and the owner Sid lives here in town. We usually go to the Crystal Cove one because it's closer than the SoLag one.
Mexican (Crystal Cove, just north of Laguna). The first, original Javier's Restaurant was in downtown Laguna, on PCH. I miss it so much. This one is big and pretty impressive, though. It is usually crowded and it's not cheap. Huge selection of tequila.
73 recommandé par les habitants
Javier's Restaurant - Newport Beach
7832 Pacific Coast Hwy
73 recommandé par les habitants
Mexican (Crystal Cove, just north of Laguna). The first, original Javier's Restaurant was in downtown Laguna, on PCH. I miss it so much. This one is big and pretty impressive, though. It is usually crowded and it's not cheap. Huge selection of tequila.
Fresh fish, poke, fish tacos and burritos (Crystal Cove, just north of Laguna). There is usually a line, they do mostly take-out.
78 recommandé par les habitants
Bear Flag Fish Company
3421 Via Lido
78 recommandé par les habitants
Fresh fish, poke, fish tacos and burritos (Crystal Cove, just north of Laguna). There is usually a line, they do mostly take-out.
Deli, Italian sandwich, pastrami, steaks, burgers (to cook yourself), chicken skewers, etc. (Crystal Cove, just north of Laguna)
8 recommandé par les habitants
The Butchery Quality Meats
8058 E Pacific Coast Hwy
8 recommandé par les habitants
Deli, Italian sandwich, pastrami, steaks, burgers (to cook yourself), chicken skewers, etc. (Crystal Cove, just north of Laguna)
Our favorite market/grocery store. Cheese, wine, pasta, produce. (Crystal Cove, just north of Laguna)
175 recommandé par les habitants
Trader Joe's
3329 S Bristol St
175 recommandé par les habitants
Our favorite market/grocery store. Cheese, wine, pasta, produce. (Crystal Cove, just north of Laguna)

Bars

Always drink responsibly and take a cab/Uber or walk home 🙏
Stand up bar between Nick's and Watermarc in the beautiful Peppertree Lane off of PCH. The Saloon is the place the locals usually go to have a drink or two before heading to the Sandpiper, which usually gets busy a little later around 11 pm. Order a popo shot for a little local flavor, it's half coffee with half something else that resembles Kahlua.
8 recommandé par les habitants
The Saloon
446 S Coast Hwy
8 recommandé par les habitants
Stand up bar between Nick's and Watermarc in the beautiful Peppertree Lane off of PCH. The Saloon is the place the locals usually go to have a drink or two before heading to the Sandpiper, which usually gets busy a little later around 11 pm. Order a popo shot for a little local flavor, it's half coffee with half something else that resembles Kahlua.
A.K.A the Dirty Bird. A local institution. The only dive bar left in town. They have no windows, but they do have foosball, darts, and a Golden Tee video game (sadly, Centipede is no longer). Also, live music every night and they are open 365 days a year. Famous (or infamous?) for their strong and relatively (by Laguna standards, anyway) cheap cocktails. Order a Fernet Branca to honor Chip!
15 recommandé par les habitants
Sandpiper
1183 S Coast Hwy
15 recommandé par les habitants
A.K.A the Dirty Bird. A local institution. The only dive bar left in town. They have no windows, but they do have foosball, darts, and a Golden Tee video game (sadly, Centipede is no longer). Also, live music every night and they are open 365 days a year. Famous (or infamous?) for their strong and relatively (by Laguna standards, anyway) cheap cocktails. Order a Fernet Branca to honor Chip!
They have a record player! This is the closest we have to a Speakeasy in this town. Hidden and tucked away behind a General Store.
The Seahorse Bar at Pearl Street General
1796 S Coast Hwy
They have a record player! This is the closest we have to a Speakeasy in this town. Hidden and tucked away behind a General Store.
Sunset spot. None of these pictures look like the Deck. It's a big outdoor patio overlooking Sleepy Hollow beach. It's next to the Pacific Edge Hotel (formerly Vacation Village). The food is decent, although most people come here to get a drink and take in the views.
38 recommandé par les habitants
Deck on Laguna Beach
627 Sleepy Hollow Ln
38 recommandé par les habitants
Sunset spot. None of these pictures look like the Deck. It's a big outdoor patio overlooking Sleepy Hollow beach. It's next to the Pacific Edge Hotel (formerly Vacation Village). The food is decent, although most people come here to get a drink and take in the views.
The lapu lapu is sneaky strong. Don't try to drink more than one.
The Royal Hawaiian
331 N Coast Hwy
The lapu lapu is sneaky strong. Don't try to drink more than one.

Dining on the actual beach

Breakfast/lunch/dinner place on the beach at Crystal Cove. They have a little outdoor bar where's there's usually no wait. Sunset spot, too.
80 recommandé par les habitants
Beachcomber Cafe
15 Crystal Cove
80 recommandé par les habitants
Breakfast/lunch/dinner place on the beach at Crystal Cove. They have a little outdoor bar where's there's usually no wait. Sunset spot, too.

Parks

Beautiful sunset picnic spot, less crowded than Heisler Park
9 recommandé par les habitants
Crescent Bay Point Park
Crescent Bay Drive
9 recommandé par les habitants
Beautiful sunset picnic spot, less crowded than Heisler Park
The best beach walk around if it's high tide and you can't walk on the actual beach. Nice wide path that runs from Las Brisas restaurant & Laguna Art Museum just north of Main Beach (going north) all the way to Divers Cove. Plus, you can watch the lawnbowlers.
74 recommandé par les habitants
Heisler Park
375 Cliff Dr
74 recommandé par les habitants
The best beach walk around if it's high tide and you can't walk on the actual beach. Nice wide path that runs from Las Brisas restaurant & Laguna Art Museum just north of Main Beach (going north) all the way to Divers Cove. Plus, you can watch the lawnbowlers.
I grew up near this park so it has a special place in my heart. In the summer the City has the Concert in the Park program here on Sundays (check the LB City's website for program schedule)
7 recommandé par les habitants
Bluebird Park
772 Cress St
7 recommandé par les habitants
I grew up near this park so it has a special place in my heart. In the summer the City has the Concert in the Park program here on Sundays (check the LB City's website for program schedule)
You can walk here from Canyon Acres, just follow the fire road at the end of the street and keep going up up up. It's about 1,000 elevation gain so wear good shoes and bring plenty of water. And watch out for rattlesnakes in the Summertime!
Alta Laguna Park
3300 Alta Laguna Blvd
You can walk here from Canyon Acres, just follow the fire road at the end of the street and keep going up up up. It's about 1,000 elevation gain so wear good shoes and bring plenty of water. And watch out for rattlesnakes in the Summertime!
Nice play structure and swings for little kids
53 recommandé par les habitants
Main Beach Park
53 recommandé par les habitants
Nice play structure and swings for little kids
Plenty of room to put down a blanket and not be anywhere near other people. Best way to get here is to park at the Los Trancos parking lot on east side of PCH (which is a little ways north of Crystal Cove shopping center with Trader Joe's & Javier's restaurant) and walk through the tunnel which goes under PCH to the beach. Protip: buy a drink at the Beachcomber, get your parking validated, save $15
Crystal Cove State Park
Plenty of room to put down a blanket and not be anywhere near other people. Best way to get here is to park at the Los Trancos parking lot on east side of PCH (which is a little ways north of Crystal Cove shopping center with Trader Joe's & Javier's restaurant) and walk through the tunnel which goes under PCH to the beach. Protip: buy a drink at the Beachcomber, get your parking validated, save $15
Nice little park by the Montage hotel/resort. You can walk south to Aliso Beach, or north to Victoria Beach if the tide is low enough and the surf is small. Call the Laguna Beach Lifeguards recorded daily message at 949-494-6573 to get the most up to date ocean conditions.
7 recommandé par les habitants
Parc Treasure Island
30799 S Coast Hwy
7 recommandé par les habitants
Nice little park by the Montage hotel/resort. You can walk south to Aliso Beach, or north to Victoria Beach if the tide is low enough and the surf is small. Call the Laguna Beach Lifeguards recorded daily message at 949-494-6573 to get the most up to date ocean conditions.
30 recommandé par les habitants
Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
28373 Alicia Pkwy
30 recommandé par les habitants
Beautiful park with basketball hoops! Also lots of great hiking and mountain biking. Lots of people walking dogs, too.
7 recommandé par les habitants
Moulton Meadows Park
7 recommandé par les habitants
Beautiful park with basketball hoops! Also lots of great hiking and mountain biking. Lots of people walking dogs, too.

Farmer's Market (Every Saturday)

Every Saturday morning from 7 am to 12 noon, next to City Hall
Laguna Beach Saturday Farmers Market
521 Forest Ave
Every Saturday morning from 7 am to 12 noon, next to City Hall

Our favorite beaches

17 recommandé par les habitants
Shaws Cove, Laguna Beach
17 recommandé par les habitants
18 recommandé par les habitants
Crescent Bay Beach
18 recommandé par les habitants
Bluebird Beach
1603-1613 S Coast Hwy
Cress Street Beach
Cress Street
10 recommandé par les habitants
Woods Cove-Beach
10 recommandé par les habitants
Picnic Cove
361 Cliff Dr
7 recommandé par les habitants
Divers Cove
7 recommandé par les habitants
8 recommandé par les habitants
Diver's Cove, Laguna Beach, California, USA.
8 recommandé par les habitants
9 recommandé par les habitants
Table Rock Beach
31561 Table Rock Dr
9 recommandé par les habitants
30 recommandé par les habitants
1000 Steps Beach
31972 Coast Hwy
30 recommandé par les habitants
19 recommandé par les habitants
Thousand Steps Sea Cave
North La Senda Drive
19 recommandé par les habitants
7 recommandé par les habitants
West Street Beach
7 recommandé par les habitants
Moss Cove
139 Moss St

Sightseeing

Every summer from end of June through the end of August, and every winter on the weekends only
91 recommandé par les habitants
Sawdust Art Festival
935 Laguna Canyon Rd
91 recommandé par les habitants
Every summer from end of June through the end of August, and every winter on the weekends only
Every summer from end of June through the end of August. Live music as well.
113 recommandé par les habitants
Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters
650 Laguna Canyon Rd
113 recommandé par les habitants
Every summer from end of June through the end of August. Live music as well.
53 recommandé par les habitants
Main Beach Park
53 recommandé par les habitants
Note: the Club is private and accessible to Members only. Established in 1931, it is the largest in the USA. LBLBC is situated in Heisler Park overlooking the Pacific. Bonus: you can watch the local surf spot Rockpiles from the Club's south green.
Laguna Beach House
475 N Coast Hwy
Note: the Club is private and accessible to Members only. Established in 1931, it is the largest in the USA. LBLBC is situated in Heisler Park overlooking the Pacific. Bonus: you can watch the local surf spot Rockpiles from the Club's south green.
James Dilley Greenbelt Preserve
350 Artisan Dr
Hiking
Moro Canyon Trail
Moro Canyon Trail
8 recommandé par les habitants
Crystal Cove State Park Moro Campground
8471 N Coast Hwy
8 recommandé par les habitants
Pepper Tree Lane
446 S Coast Hwy
Oak Street Lookout
155 Oak St
Woodland Drive
Woodland Drive
Fairywood Lane
Fairywood Lane
Victory Walk
Victory Walk
Dartmoor Trail Lookout, Laguna Beach, Ca
Dartmoor Street
Valido Trail
Valido Trail
Nice hiking trail in North Laguna -- bring plenty of water and good footwear because it can be a steep climb
Pinecrest Drive
Pinecrest Drive
Nice hiking trail in North Laguna -- bring plenty of water and good footwear because it can be a steep climb
Similar to Oak Street overlook, but smaller and closer to downtown. Lots of people taking selfies here.
Brown's Park
551 S Coast Hwy
Similar to Oak Street overlook, but smaller and closer to downtown. Lots of people taking selfies here.