The Best Restaurants in Newport Beach, California (From a Local)
Last Updated on October 28, 2026 by Lauren Belzer Sanford
After four years in Orange County for college and moving back as residents in 2022, we’ve tried countless restaurants across the county. Some of our very favorites are in Newport Beach, where ocean views, laid-back coastal charm, and a dining scene that punches well above its weight all meet.
Whether you’re craving fresh seafood, a great cocktail, or a beautiful Italian dinner, these are the places we keep coming back to. If you’re planning the full trip, my Newport Beach travel guide covers where to stay, what to do, and how to spend a perfect weekend on this stretch of coast.
My Newport Beach Favorites
Casual Lunch
Bear Flag Fish Co.
Lido & Crystal Cove
Date Night
Molo Osteria
Lido
Special Dinner
Bello
Newport Beach
Garden Lunch
Farmhouse
Corona del Mar
The best restaurants in Newport Beach, California, from years of eating our way through it, are Bear Flag Fish Co. for poke and fish tacos, Bello by Sandro Nardone for modern Italian, Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens for farm-to-table on a garden patio, Gulfstream for consistently excellent dinners, and Molo Osteria for a romantic Italian evening by the harbor. For lunch with a view of Fashion Island, JOEY is our standby, and Palmilla on the peninsula is the closest thing to Cabo in Orange County.
Bear Flag Fish Co. – Lido & Crystal Cove
A Newport staple, Bear Flag Fish Co. serves some of the freshest seafood in Orange County. There are two Newport locations, one across from Lido Marina Village and one in Crystal Cove, plus a Huntington Beach spot in Pacific City. It’s perfect for poke, tacos, or a glass of wine after a walk by the water.
The feel is easygoing and beachy, the seafood is prepared right behind the counter, and the portions are generous without being heavy. It’s also a fish market, so you can grab lunch and something fresh for the grill at home.
What to Order
- Ahi Poke – hands down the best poke I’ve ever had!
- New England Clam Chowder – a classic
- Bear Flag Taco – Panko-crusted white fish
- Bear Flag Burrito – Panko-crusted white fish
- La Bamba Roll – Spicy tuna, cucumber, avocado, topped with albacore, served with ponzu sauce.
Bello by Sandro Nardone – Newport Beach
For an upscale but approachable Italian dinner, Bello by Sandro Nardone is a must. Run by chef Sandro Nardone, it brings a contemporary twist to traditional Italian cooking. The room is sleek and minimal, with bold art, soft lighting, and an open kitchen, and it feels chic without trying too hard.
Every dish is rooted in classic technique but lifted by unexpected pairings: rigatoni amatriciana alongside rotating seasonal creations. It’s one of those rare places where everything, from the service to the plating, feels intentional. It’s also in the Michelin Guide.
What to Order
- Frittura di Calamari – Calamari, Shishito Peppers, Lemon
- Dolce Diavola – Tomato Sauce, Di Stefano Mozzarella, Calabrese Salame, Wildflower Honey
- Amatriciana – Rigatoni, Guanciale, Peperoncino, Pecorino, Pomodoro
Whatever’s on the dessert menu is worth ordering; it’s always inventive.
Fable & Spirit – Lido
In the heart of Newport, Fable & Spirit is a lively, Irish-inspired gastropub with creative cocktails, a thoughtful beer list, and a lovely weekend brunch, and it’s recognized in the Michelin Guide, too. Inside it’s cozy and chic, with dark accents and a warm buzz that’s perfect for date night or dinner with friends. We’ve been a few times, and the service is always friendly and attentive.
Here’s what I’d order from the dinner menu:
What to Order
- Guinness Brown Bread – European butter, clover honey, Jacobsen sea salt
- Kona Kampachi Crudo – poke tomatoes, yuzu wasabi aioli, crispy taro, Hawaiian sea salt
- Wood Fired Pizzetta – burrata, pesto, broccolini, spring garlic, pearl onions, hazelnuts, balsamic
- Brussels Sprouts – house-smoked bacon, bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup, dijon, citrus zest
- Fish & Chips – Icelandic cod, crushed peas, curry remoulade, hand-cut fries
- Cracked Pepper Bucatini – Manila clams, pancetta, parmesan, smoked cured egg yolk (think of it like a seafood Carbonara, in a sense)
- Alaskan Halibut – celeriac, chanterelle mushrooms, English peas, guanciale, citrus nage (my personal favorite item on the menu, I order it almost every time)
Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens – Corona del Mar
Inside Roger’s Gardens, Farmhouse celebrates Southern California’s farms with a true farm-to-table menu. The farmhouse-style room is charming, but the garden patio, surrounded by flowers and greenery, is where you want to sit.
Executive chef Rich Mead sources from local farmers, fishermen, and artisans and turns simple ingredients into something memorable. The cocktails are just as thoughtful: the Voodoo Child if you like rum, and, though it’s not on the menu, the best French 75 I’ve ever had.
The best French 75 I’ve ever had isn’t even on the menu.
— Lauren Belzer, on Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens
What to Order
- Today’s Pizza – a local’s favorite, the pizza of the day rotates with available ingredients (if you’re lucky enough to come on a day where they have the pear & prosciutto – order it!)
- Roast Beet Salad – arugula, goat cheese, walnuts, horseradish & dijon vinaigrette (this is one of my favorite things on the menu – I always have to have it as a starter!)
- Roast Fingerling Potatoes – olive oil and garlic, pancetta bacon
- Panko, Curry, and Coconut Crusted Icelandic Cod – orange coconut tehachapi grain project sonora grain, shiitake mushrooms, roast carrots, cipollini onions, spinach & grilled baby bok choy, pineapple relish, sweet & spicy thai sauce (one of my favorite menu items to order time and time again)
- RG Burger – autonomy farms smoked bacon, Vermont cheddar cheese, butter lettuce, red onion, tomato, brioche bun, house-made pickles & french fries
- Grilled Albacore Tuna Sandwich – arugula, pickled ginger, red onions, basil aioli, Hawaiian bun, French-fried satsumaimo sweet potatoes with papaya mustard dipping sauce (Max loves this sandwich!)
Gulfstream – Newport Beach
Gulfstream earns its place for a simple reason: it’s reliably excellent every single time. It’s part of the Hillstone family (if you know, you know; the margarita alone is worth the visit), and it has a warmth and polish that feels very Newport. The bar is lively without being loud, the room is comfortable, and the service strikes the right balance between attentive and relaxed.
Start with the honey biscuits, warm with a hint of rosemary; you’ll want a second plate. The crab cakes are the real thing, mostly crab with a light crust instead of the breadcrumb-heavy version you find too often. The coconut shrimp curry is another favorite.
What to Order
- Heavenly Biscuits — warm, rosemary-kissed, and dangerously good; start here, always
- Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes — the real thing: mostly crab, lightly topped with breadcrumbs (not the other way around)
- Coconut Shrimp Curry — flavorful, satisfying, a reliable favorite
- Gulfstream Refresher — the house cocktail and a perfect warm-weather sip
- The Margarita — a Hillstone staple for good reason; consistently one of the best around
JOEY Newport Beach – Fashion Island
At the edge of Fashion Island, JOEY Newport Beach is one of our favorite lunch spots. It works for dinner, too, but we love it most midday. We’ve been more times than we can count, and I always crave the truffle parmesan fries. Because it’s at one of Newport’s best shopping centers, it’s great people-watching (and car-watching at the valet).
What to Order
- Truffle Parmesan Fries – always a good appetizer paired with some Rosé or Sauvignon Blanc
- Yellowfin Tuna Salad – seared rare, mango, peanuts, avocado, crispy gyoza strips, cilantro ginger dressing
(my absolute favorite, I order it every time!) - Tuna & Avocado Crunch Roll – marinated ahi tuna, avocado, pickled ginger, tempura flakes, spicy emulsion (I usually order it with rice or soy paper instead of Nori – I don’t really love seaweed)
- Steak Frites – 5 oz cut, garlic butter, rocket greens, preserved cherry tomatoes, fries (you can upgrade the cut of meat for an additional charge, if you want)
- Steak & Sushi – tataki-style steak, ponzu sauce, seared salmon sushi, or tuna & avocado crunch roll
- Butter Cake – raspberry coulis, Tahitian vanilla ice cream
Palmilla Cocina y Tequila – Balboa Peninsula
Right on the Balboa Peninsula, Palmilla is as close to a Cabo escape as Orange County gets, and I mean that as a compliment. It’s breezy and festive, the kind of place where you linger well past your second drink. A warning (and an encouragement): the frozen margaritas are enormous. While you wait, they bring warm house-made flour tortillas with honey butter, a small detail that tells you the kitchen cares.
What to Order
- Braised Short Rib Taquitos
- Tacos de Filet Mignon – so tender and delicious (add the rice and beans for a complete meal)
- Potato Taquitos – a personal favorite
- Enchiladas Mariscos Suizas – good with anything, but especially shrimp
And you can never go wrong with a mojito (perfect limey flavor), or a frozen mango margarita. Again, be prepared, the frozen margs are massive.
Molo Osteria – Lido
Italian-owned and effortlessly chic, Molo Osteria brings real Italian cooking to the harbor in the former Sabatino’s space, across from Bravante Vineyards’ Lido Tasting Room. The patio has a warm, European feel that’s perfect for date night, especially as the sun goes down.
The menu keeps it simple, with pasta, seafood, and seasonal vegetables, and you can taste the difference in the sauces and the just-right al dente pasta. It feels like a little escape to Italy in the middle of the shipyard. My recommendations are simple on purpose; a restaurant that does the basics this well is worth your night.
What to Order
- Focaccina – pizza bread
- Citrus Avocado Salad – oranges, grapefruit, arugula, avocado, almonds, balsamic, goat cheese
- Spaghetti alle Vongole – manila clams, white wine sauce
- Fettuccine alla Bolognese – beef ragout
- Bombolone alla crema – with chocolate sauce (basically an Italian donut – so delicious)
Where to Stay Near the Best Restaurants
If you’re coming for the food, stay where you can walk to dinner. These are hotel stays: the buttons under each one book a room, not a restaurant reservation.
Lido House: Walk to Molo, Fable & Spirit, and Bear Flag Lido.
Bay Shores Peninsula Hotel: Walk to Palmilla and the peninsula.
Pendry Newport Beach: Walk to JOEY and Fashion Island.
More options in my guide to the best hotels in Newport Beach, or browse Newport Beach hotels on Booking.com. Between dinners, get out on the water with a Duffy boat rental or a sunset catamaran cruise.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best restaurant in Newport Beach?
For a special dinner, Bello by Sandro Nardone, a modern Italian restaurant in the Michelin Guide. For a casual meal, Bear Flag Fish Co. is a local institution for poke and fish tacos.
Where should I eat in Newport Beach for date night?
Molo Osteria’s harbor patio in Lido is our favorite for date night, followed by Fable & Spirit and Bello.
What are the best casual restaurants in Newport Beach?
Bear Flag Fish Co. for seafood, JOEY at Fashion Island for lunch, and Palmilla on the Balboa Peninsula for Mexican food and margaritas.
These are the places we return to again and again, and the list will keep growing. Newport’s dining scene rewards exploring. For more Orange County favorites, the best restaurants in Laguna Beach are just 15 minutes south, and my roundup of Italian restaurants in Orange County is there whenever pasta is the plan.