NEWPORT BEACH TRAVEL GUIDE - GOLD COAST GIRL

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to escape the Chicago cold for California. Our first stop was Newport Beach and today I wanted to share all the details on where we ate, where we stayed, and what we did while on our trip.

We’ve been to Orange County a few times and always love the weather and lifestyle. If you haven’t been then it’s a must and now I’ll explain why.

Let’s first start with where to eat. Newport Beach has amazing food and so many great options. You really can’t go wrong when choosing a restaurant, but since we’ve been to the area a few times before, there are certain places that we ALWAYS like to hit. Here are a few of our favorites below…

WHERE TO EAT: SUSHI ROKU

If you’re into sushi, then this place is a must. It’s located in the Fashion Island Mall and has an amazing vibe. There’s always a great happy hour menu going on outside on their outdoor patio and you have to make sure you get their popcorn shrimp tempura because it’s amazing. They actually have a sister restaurant in Chicago called Katana that we frequently like to go to as well.

WHERE TO EAT: LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN

I know this is a chain, but we love going here for breakfast whenever we are in Newport Beach. It’s extremely toddler friendly and they even have a great kids menu with amazing mini pancakes {Elle’s favorite!}. The food is delicious and it’s also located in the Fashion Island Mall which was right across the street from where we stayed. Lastly, I’m really a fan of their organic ingredients so that’s an extra plus.

WHERE TO EAT: DRIFTWOOD KITCHEN

If you’re visiting Newport Beach then you must take a drive down to Laguna Beach. Driftwood Kitchen as well as The Deck are two of our favorite restaurants in that area. They not only have amazing food, but also pretty views and great outdoor eating areas.

WHERE TO EAT: BAJA SHARKEEZ

Sharkey’s is located off the boardwalk of Balboa Pier and has the best tacos! It has kind of a dive bar scene, but the staff is extremely friendly and they have a huge menu. They also serve free chips + salsa and my favorite thing to order are their shrimp tacos.

WHERE TO EAT: OAK GRILL

The Oak Grill is a great restaurant located in the Fashion Island Hotel. They have amazing food and the prettiest outdoor deck. They also serve a fun happy hour menu outside next to the pool area with a fire pit and live music at night. Elle LOVED the live music and had such a fun time.

WHERE TO EAT: IN-N-OUT BURGER

I mean this is a no brainer. If you’re traveling to California then this place is a must. They have delicious burgers and Elle loved their fries, but honestly she’s never met a fry that she hasn’t liked. The service is quick and they have a bunch of them all over the area.

WHERE TO STAY: FASHION ISLAND HOTEL

We’ve actually have stayed here quite a bit over the years and love it for many reasons. A huge one being the location. It’s right across the street from the Fashion Island Mall which has a bunch of restaurants {see some of our favorites above}, as well as tons of stores, and even a Whole Foods.

They’re extremely family friendly and have great corner suites with balconies, as well as cribs, diaper pails, and highchairs. They also made Elle feel extra special by greeting her with a stuffed dolphin and spelling out her name in letters on the bathroom mirror.

Lastly, the amenities are perfect. They have an amazing pool, a delicious restaurant called Oak Grill, and a super fun happy hour with live music.

WHAT TO DO: FASHION ISLAND MALL

I cannot say enough great things about this beautiful outdoor mall. They have a zillion different restaurants and the best shopping around. It’s a fun place to walk around and especially great if you have kids because there’s so much to do.

WHAT TO DO: BALBOA PIER

This is another fun place to visit while in Newport Beach. There are lots of cute restaurants including one of our faves: Baja Sharkeez, as well as adorable little shops and of course the beautiful beach. It’s a great place to walk around and has such pretty views.

WHAT TO DO: DOWNTOWN LAGUNA BEACH

You must visit downtown Laguna if you’re staying in the area. It’s a quick drive from Newport and has the cutest vibe. There are lots of fun restaurants, shops, and a beautiful beach. You can walk around, get ice cream, have lunch and there is even a great playground for kids. Elle had a blast on the swing.

HOW TO GET AROUND

I highly recommend renting a SUV while you’re there. We ended up with a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander GT and it worked out perfectly. It had amazing trunk space for all of our luggage and baby equipment. It also had a great navigation system to help us get around town easily.

WHAT TO WEAR

I tried to pack styles that I could easily mix and match, as well as feel comfortable in. Since we were doing a lot of walking, I wore mostly flats, but also brought some booties for dinner. The vibe is more casual and since you’re by the water, it’s a bit cooler {especially at night}.

You can see a more detailed list of what I packed in this post as well as shop all my styles {as well as Elle’s} below:

WHAT I WORE