What to Do in Newport Beach: Sailing, Coastal Luxury, and Waterfront Dining

If you’re arriving at the helm of your own yacht, you’ll find access to a bevy of spots to dock in Newport Beach, which boasts one of the largest recreational harbors in the U.S. The Balboa Yacht Basin offers 172 slips for vessels up to 75 feet, while the marina at the Balboa Bay Club has 130 slips ranging from 20 to 100 feet. CRC Marinas’ four locations–Bayside, Balboa, Bayshore and Villa Cove—are secluded yet close to the breakwater. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort has 450 slips that can accommodate boats from 22 to 46 feet, plus slips with end-ties reserved for vessels up to 82 feet; amenities at their clubhouse include a pool and spa.

If you’re looking to charter a yacht once you arrive, operators including Luxury Liners, Newport Beach Sailing Charters, Sailo and Newport Yachts offer bareboat day and multi-day charters and other services, including party boat rentals and private chefs.

One of the most popular and manageable day sails is a jaunt to Catalina Island, which takes between three and four hours each way depending on wind and weather conditions. As it crosses the Santa Barbara Channel, a major shipping lane, the route is designed for experienced boaters. Ambitious sailors can time their visit to coincide with the annual Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race, a 125-nautical-mile sailing competition that’s one of the West Coast’s premier regattas. And each December, the harbor and adjacent homes are bedecked with festive lights during one of the largest and longest-running Christmas boat parades in the country.

From casual neighborhood haunts to chef-driven destination dining, the culinary scene in Newport Beach has something for every epicurean. Restaurants are imbued with California’s kitchen philosophy of drawing on local and seasonal ingredients for flavorful yet healthful dishes, and the bountiful local waters mean that freshly-caught seafood is ubiquitous on menus. Add to that a crafty cocktail scene (including creative zero proof options) and coveted bottles from revered regions in the state and beyond, and it’s never just “dinner out”.

Atop the boutique-y Lido House, Topside overlooks palm trees, the hotel’s cottages and the pool, with views of downtown and the ocean. It’s a buzzy spot for Sunday Funday, happy hour or sunset, with a DJ, an impressive selection of Champagnes by the bottle, inspired cocktails and shareable bites. Sip a Sea Spray, which shakes lime leaf-infused gin with blue spirulina syrup, lime and a vegetal snap pea syrup, or their signature Margarita, which arrives with a seasonal popsicle. Uber-fresh yellowtail ceviche is tossed with yuzu, cucumber, watermelon and serrano, crispy avocado “tacos” are lettuce-wrapped with a spicy aioli and grilled chicken skewers are dusted with harissa and served over aji verde.

At SET Steak and Sushi at the sophisticated Pendry Newport Beach, outdoor tables are situated beneath rattan lantern-studded trees, and patio heaters and blankets ward off chilly evenings. Indulgences on the menu range from Mayura “Chocolate” Wagyu New York Strip from Japanese Breed BMS 9+ fed extra cacao nibs to caviar service with blinis and crème fraîche flavored with everything bagel seasoning. Each piece of a king salmon nigiri flight is finished with either herb butter, black truffle or crunchy garlic, and a Surf and Turf roll is filled with snow crab and asparagus and wrapped in seared Wagyu slices. But dessert’s the star: a white chocolate conch shell with matcha cake and creme anglaise flavored with blue curacao, adorned with white chocolate pearls. Next door, Bar Pendry serves libations at a sleek bar-in-the-round.

For a posh lunch in an even posher setting, grab a table on the terrace at the Coliseum Pool & Grill at The Resort at Pelican Hill, a five-star luxury resort set on 504 acres on the Pacific Ocean reimagined as a luxe Italian villa. A crisp glass of Sancerre or a rosé from the Veneto is a perfect match for the ahi tuna poke bowl with spicy mayo, or explore the “Spritz Life” section of the menu with a refreshing limoncello-based fizzy elixir.

Several spots in Newport Beach offer dock-and-dining and water views, including Baja-style Mexican at Sol Cocina, seafood towers and cioppino at The Cannery and steamed clams and crab cakes at Bluewater Grill.

From outdoor pursuits by, on and under the water, to a round of golf with a stunning Pacific backdrop, to restorative wellness treatments in sumptuous surroundings, diversions in Newport Beach always come with a side of coastal splendor and a dose of indulgence.

Grey whale migration occurs in the waters around Newport Beach from December through April, but the waters are also home to blue whales and other sea creatures the rest of the year. And the best chances of catching a glimpse of the region’s marine life are on a private charter with Newport Coastal Adventure. The fast Zodiac-type boats can travel farther than the larger, more cumbersome operators (13 nautical miles compared to about half that) and turn on a dime when your captain spots a tail flap. Playful pods of 1,000 dolphins just might surround and follow your boat, and sea lions jockey for a spot to nap in the sun on a floating buoy that marks the entrance to the harbor. 

With ten miles of coastline, there’s no shortage of beaches, whether your penchant is lying on a lounge chair in the sand or navigating the beach break on your board. Laid-back, rustic Crystal Cove State Beach has three beach areas below the bluffs, including two coves at Reef Point and Los Troncos, which spill into a historic district with homes dating back to the 1930s; an underwater park offshore beckons scuba divers and snorkelers. 

The popular Corona del Mar State Beach has sandy beaches and spectacular vistas, while its diminutive sibling Little Corona del Mar is flanked by rocky reefs that protect it from the surf and make for a great dive site and calm waters for swimming. Decidedly not calm is The Wedge, whose 30-foot waves are SoCal’s biggest swells; witnessing highly-skilled body and board surfers navigate them makes for great photo ops while you’re perched on your (safer) vantage point on land.

If you want to take to the links, the two courses at Pelican Hill Golf Club have some of Newport Beach’s most breathtaking coastal panoramas. The Ocean North course at Pelican Hill Golf Club has ocean views from every tee, while several holes on the Ocean South course are located right at the water’s edge.

Nestled within the opulent resort, the 23,00-square-foot Spa at Pelican Hill evokes thoughts of a Tuscan villa, with colonnaded walkways, muted natural stone and vaulted ceilings. Bespoke treatments include the Coastal Renewal Ritual, which includes a sea-salt exfoliation, body wrap and massage, and the Amber Gold Signature Massage, where warm oil and rhythmic strokes relieve muscle tension and usher in a calm state of mind. Separate men’s and women’s aqua retreats with steam rooms, saunas, saltwater Roman soaking tubs and relaxation lounges inside are joined by a sunny terrace overlooking verdant gardens outside.

Ample shopping centers can quell your craving for retail therapy. Fashion Island, an outdoor mall and entertainment complex set among palm trees and lush foliage, has the largest concentration of department and designer stores, with luxury brands like Balenciaga, Givenchy, Gucci, Chanel and Bottega Venta. Stroll the stark white storefronts at Lido Marina Village, which is accessible by land or sea for boats up to 24’; there, shop for Malibu-inspired home goods at Malibu Farm Home Collection and men’s and women’s California attire at Towne by Elsewalker, then drop into Lido Bottle Works for an order of potato and leek croquettes and a crisp Santa Barbara Chardonnay. 

Or, dock or take the water taxi to Balboa Island, where dozens of charming family- and locally-owned shops and cafes line Maine Avenue. (Be sure to stop into Sugar ‘n’ Spice for a frozen banana dipped in chocolate and topped with sprinkles, nuts and more; the beloved treat was invented on the island in 1945.)

Finally, whether you’re sailing, driving or flying out of Newport Beach, you can’t leave without taking a ride on a Duffy Boat. The fully-electric cruiser, which is affectionately referred to as a “golf cart on the water”, was invented in Newport Beach, and on warm, sunny weekend afternoons these whimsical watercraft are ubiquitous. Rental companies like Duffy Electric Boats, Pacific Electric Boat Rentals and OC Boat Rentals give you basic instruction and offer several-hour rentals. 

For a more carefree, leisurely jaunt, Sea Señorita Duffy is the only operator that includes a captain, who can arrange for the boat to be pre-stocked with beverages and snacks. Listen as he regales you with the history of the harbor and its seven islands (several of which were man-made) and points out the former waterfront mansion of celebs like John Wayne and Shirley Temple as you nosh on charcuterie, sip a flute of Brut Champagne and gaze out at the sparkling blue water. Elevated, yet sea-breezy, with nautical ease combined with posh seaside culture: this is Newport Beach.