The Deck at Crystal Cove Historic District
Perched directly above the sand alongside the check-in office for the historic cottages, this elevated timber deck offers some of the most enviable oceanfront seating on the coast. Built-in benches and traditional wooden picnic tables look out across the surf, making it the premier open-air spot to unwrap a breakfast sandwich or coffee while watching the tide come in.

Promenade Courtyard at Crystal Cove Shopping Center
For a morning bite paired with sweeping Pacific views, discover the ocean-facing promenade near Trader Joe’s. The courtyard blends shaded cafe tables, umbrellas and classic wooden Adirondack chairs, giving you a front-row seat to catch the coastal breeze while enjoying artisanal pastries, gourmet deli picks or craft coffee.

Seitz Park at Fashion Island
Located along Fashion Island’s ocean-facing edge near Macy’s, this manicured refuge provides a quiet reprieve from the retail hum. Named for former Irvine Company architect Roger Seitz, the park is framed by olive trees with benches and lounge seating — an ideal perch for a relaxed morning coffee or a light bite picked up from nearby Sessions West Coast Deli or Whole Foods Market.

Coastal Peak Park at Pacific Ridge
Sitting at the highest elevation of Ridge Park Road, Coastal Peak Park serves as the scenic gateway to the Irvine Ranch Open Space and Laguna Coast Wilderness. Shaded pavilions equipped with

picnic tables and barbecue grills command views of the surrounding canyons and coastline, offering a rewarding picnic setup, whether you’ve just finished a trail run or simply driven up to catch the sunset.

Moro Beach At Crystal Cove State Park
Part of the historic Irvine Ranch, this scenic day-use area features 16 covered picnic tables, plus 58 more for campers at the nearby reserved campsites. For hikers, additional tables sit along the bluffs and a few miles up the rugged trails at the primitive Moro Trail Campgrounds. Overlooking protected coastline, the area is a breathtaking spot to picnic amid native plants in a restored coastal habitat.

At Crystal Cove Shopping Center, Marché Moderne stands as one of Southern California’s premier destinations for contemporary French cuisine. Founded and operated by husband-and-wife duo Florent and Amelia Marneau, the bistro combines classical French cooking technique with fresh, market-driven ingredients.

Long before opening Marché Moderne, Florent Marneau built a formidable fine-dining pedigree in Paris and California. After early training under legendary pastry master Gaston Lenôtre in France, he relocated to Orange County to work with Pascal Olhats at Tradition by Pascal, later serving as executive chef at Tim and Liza Goodell’s acclaimed Newport Beach restaurant, Aubergine.

Marneau was chosen by chef Joachim Splichal of the Patina Restaurant Group to serve as executive chef at Pinot Provence in Costa Mesa, where he spent a decade solidifying his reputation as one of the region’s top culinary talents. Amelia Marneau brought equally impressive credentials, having trained as a pastry chef at the Michelin-starred Les Ambassadeurs at Hôtel de Crillon in Paris before joining Florent.

After debuting at South Coast Plaza in 2007, the Marneaus eventually set their sights on an ocean-adjacent venue in Newport Coast. In late 2016, Irvine Company Retail Properties announced the high-profile deal to bring Marché Moderne to Crystal Cove. “We are excited to begin our next chapter here in the stunning Newport Coast community and look forward to the culinary evolution of Marché Moderne,” Florent said.

When Marché Moderne unveiled its Crystal Cove location in 2017, the physical transformation was immediate. The restaurant introduced an expanded footprint featuring a glass-enclosed kitchen where diners can watch the staff at work, a 10-seat marble dining counter and an open-air patio cooled by ocean breezes. The menu retained classic bistro mainstays — coq au vin, braised rabbit, moules frites and roasted marrow bones — while expanding into vibrant coastal dishes like hamachi crudo with yuzu-jalapeño sorbet and charred octopus with chorizo emulsion. Amelia’s pastry program remained a centerpiece, known for delicate house-made macarons, banana cream tarts and a weekend-only Napoleon.

Critical reception was swift and enthusiastic. Orange County Register restaurant critic Brad A. Johnson highlighted the upgrade, describing the space as “larger and in many ways more glamorous than the original.” Johnson praised the kitchen’s wide-ranging menu, declaring that “it is still the best French bistro in California” and consistently awarding the restaurant a No. 4 ranking on his annual list of the best places to eat in Orange County. The Los Angeles Times similarly praised the establishment as “the best bistro in Southern California.”

Today, Marché Moderne remains an anchor of Irvine Company’s restaurant portfolio and a benchmark for modern French dining on the West Coast.

Barcelona’s coolest restaurants blend traditional Catalan dishes and contemporary sensibilities — and likely serve tapas. Which perfectly describes Telefèric Barcelona, new at Fashion Island. Makes sense: The family that owns it has had restaurants in or near the city, Spain’s second most populous and Catalonia’s capital, for decades. And it for sure serves tapas.

Paellas and tapas prepared by Spanish chefs are presented in an airy, vibrant setting anchored by a buzzing cocktail bar, sunny by day/romantic at night patio dining and front-row views into the open kitchen. Design and decor feature one-of-a-kind pottery by Spanish artisans, while the namesake miniature teleféric — Catalan for cable car — will soon traverse the dining room ceiling.

Most order tapas: crispy crab croquetas, topped with tuna sashimi and caviar on request.

The prettiest: wagyu empanadas! Wagyu short ribs are finished in a vibrant mojo rojo and topped with a Manchego-cheese cracker resembling a lacework leaf.

Most luscious: garlic-infused prawns in olive oil and lemon threads, with ciabatta for dipping.

Jamón ibérico de bellota, made from black Iberian pigs raised on acorns in open grasslands and cured for three years, is practically obligatory; the “5J black label” option elevates the experience.

The patatas bravas — tangy, crispy-fried potato cubes with a pimento-inflected salsa and aioli — have been on Padrosa family menus for nearly 35 years.

The burrata bowl — with cherry tomatoes, seasonal fruit, basil oil and kale chips — is a standout and an ideal stand-alone lunch, especially with add-ons seared tuna filet or smoked salmon.

A half dozen paella styles, the menu centerpiece, range from a veggie version to Our Famous Fiesta Paella, a luxe and larger offering featuring Canadian lobster and fire-grilled American wagyu rib-eye.

Popular paella negra tops its squid-ink-darkened rice with gulf shrimp, scallop and broccolini. The starring lobster paella finds the sweet and tender crustacean flanked by gulf shrimp and octopus. Iberico paella delivers pork chop, pork belly and piquillo peppers plus roast chicken.

Telefèric’s Prime Wellington offers a distinctive take on the British classic: Braised short rib and Iberian ham in the requisite golden puff pastry arrive over gnocchi and potato parmentier, crispy-fluffy cubes.

In the cellar are 200-plus Spanish wines. An albariño or tempranillo by the glass to start can take you worlds away.

Other preludes, and postludes, are alone worth a visit. Gin and tonic cocktails, an art form in Spain, arrive in a balloon goblet. The aromatic Ibiza, gin infused with butterfly pea tea plus kaffir and orange peel, morphs from violet to lavender when the tonic is added.

The decidedly new-world La Flaca — combining mezcal, tequila, green-chile liqueur and prickly pear, topped tableside with a smoke bubble — is the don’t-miss cocktail.

Desserts include the unforgettable torrija — think Spanish French toast — with creme brulee, passion fruit and ice cream. The orange “mochi” is a showstopper in the shape of the fruit served with Valencian orange mousse, citrus jelly and orange crumble. You can order both, along with churros with chocolate and toffee, as a trio.

Meal’s end might bring a porrón, a taste of Barceloneta sangria poured from above directly into the diner’s mouth. The tradition symbolizes shared celebration. Here, it could not feel more appropriate.

It’s been precisely 100 years since A Restaurant opened as The Arches — a roadside diner and service station in Newport Beach built to coincide with the opening of Pacific Coast Highway. The Arches would become a dining landmark, drawing generations of local families as well as Hollywood glitterati.

That component of glamour was tastefully, and spectacularly, realized with the opening of A Crystal Cove four years ago. Gold ceilings, velvet booths, wood floors and two fireplaces coalesce with coastal sophistication. Mediterranean menu influences and a whisper of New York vibes add to the cosmopolitan feel.

And yet, according to General Manager Kimberly Jepson, the vibe is casual and convivial, thanks to the restaurant’s Newport Coast regulars and encouraged by her own long-standing commitment to community-focused hospitality. It’s a lively night spot.

Under the stewardship of Newport Beach natives and Corona del Mar High School alumni Joseph “McG” Nichol and Jordan Otterbein — who both frequented The Arches during their youth — the sibling location, in the Crystal Cove Shopping Center along Coast Highway, has established itself as a cornerstone dining destination in the city.

The pair’s River Jetty Restaurant Group portfolio also includes A Market in Newport Beach, CdM Restaurant in Corona del Mar and A PCH in Long Beach. The group also runs the historic Lido Theater.

Executive chef Elvis Morales brings an elite culinary background shaped by years at fine-dining destinations including Mastro’s and Marché Moderne. His mandate: “Always try something different.”

Menu favorites: whipped feta with truffle honey, orange zest and house-made focaccia; and spicy yellowfin tuna on crispy tempura eggplant. New and seasonal: pan-seared Alaskan black cod with charred green beans, and a pear tart with buttered caramel sauce.

Weekend brunch brings lemon ricotta pancakes, newly added lobster rolls and caviar service. Duck confit sopes — with A5 wagyu, refried beans, breakfast radish, salsa verde, crème fraîche and queso fresco — are the savory showstoppers.

Weekly rituals include Monday’s $2 oysters and $13 martinis, Tuesday’s half-off wine bottles and Wednesday’s industry nights. Sunset Sips Happy Hour offers discounted wines and cocktails and signature bites including the squash blossoms and “A” burger.

Jepson notes that the Crystal Cove center’s restaurant scene is remarkably close and collegial — a tight-knit community where Javier’s day-shift staff comes for happy hour and the A Crystal Cove team enjoys a pre-shift meal at Bear Flag Fish Co.

It is this balance of polished culinary craft, energetic atmosphere and genuine local connection that defines the A Crystal Cove experience.

Telefèric Barcelona | Fashion Island
Wagyu empanadas! The winning new Spanish destination fills them with braised wagyu short ribs finished in a vibrant mojo sauce and topped with a lacework-leaf-shaped Manchego cheese cracker. There’s also a generous American wagyu rib-eye chuletón, bone-in and seared asador style over an open fire.

Ocean 48 | Fashion Island
Sourced from wine-fed Hakima Farms cattle, a 3-ounce starter of seared A5 Kobe New York strip at the spectacular venue serves as a prelude to mains of Australian “Japanese black” wagyu filet in two sizes and a behemoth American wagyu tomahawk.

Set Steak & Sushi | Newport Center
Intriguing options abound at the Pendry’s fine dining room. Date-night perfect: the cook-it-yourself American wagyu (or off-menu Japanese A5) hot rocks starter. Japanese A5 wagyu katsu sliders bring generous slices of super-tender filet. From Australia: “chocolate” New York strip from cacao-nib-fed cattle.

Mastro’s Ocean Club | Crystal Cove Shopping Center
The special-occasion favorite offers A5 Kobe and A5 wagyu in 2-ounce increments — starting at 4 and 8 ounces, respectively — and a generous appetizer of A5 wagyu carpaccio. Often featured: A5 wagyu filet mignon. There’s an American wagyu boneless rib-eye, too.

Joey | Fashion Island
Global-hit starters at the stylish spot include an American wagyu beef carpaccio whose truffle-Dijon aioli, capers and Grana Padano crisps are only the beginning. It’s an explosion of flavors and textures whose showstopping presentation literally stops other diners walking by.

Red O | Fashion Island
The wagyu smash burger is the start of the Mexican magnet’s weekday Express Lunch menu. It brings two Australian wagyu patties, American cheese and more on a brioche potato bun. Crazy-delicious fries are finished with tajín and cilantro.

Sushi Roku | Fashion Island
An impressive array of wagyu offerings at this sumptuous intersection of Japanese and global flavors includes prettier-than-a-picture A5 wagyu carpaccio; A5 “sushi” and crispy-rice hanabi, both strikingly presented; elaborate star-of-the-show A5 wagyu hot-stone ishiyaki; and creative American wagyu options, too.

Javier’s | Crystal Cove Shopping Center
Mexican heritage meets contemporary sophistication and … Australian wagyu. Lauded for its top-notch steaks as well as seafood and resort decor, Javier’s presents its wagyu tomahawk rib-eye with crispy smashed potatoes, refried beans, blistered peppers and a gobernadora shrimp-and-melted-cheese taco.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar | Fashion Island
The premium-beef icon presents a Japanese A5 wagyu strip — described as “A5+” — from renowned Kagoshima Prefecture as a sizzling hot stone experience with miso glaze, grated horseradish and artisanal salt. Also offered: an Australian Carrara wagyu strip with black garlic sauce.

RH Ocean Grill | Fashion Island
Served amid transporting decor on the roof at luxury home furnishings destination RH, the charred wagyu rib-eye arrives with a caramelized crust and thinly sliced. Sourced from Australia’s lauded Westholme, the 14-ounce cut makes it ideal for sharing.

Pelican Grill & Bar | The Resort at Pelican Hill
Grand decor, polished service and a relaxed vibe are the winning combination. Make it an all-American wagyu experience with beef tartare — minced steak and pickled Dijon mustard atop a toasted brioche trio — followed by a wagyu filet with bordelaise and bearnaise sauces.

The Butchery | Crystal Cove Shopping Center
Want to make a wagyu steak at home? The Butchery offers a spectrum of American wagyu cuts — skirt steak, picanha, tri-tip, boneless rib-eye and tomahawk — plus a Japanese A5 New York strip. The hottest tip of all: Don’t overcook!

Since opening its doors at Fashion Island in 2024, Ocean 48 has firmly established itself as one of Newport Beach’s essential dining destinations. The coastal concept from the Mastro family — restaurateurs Jeffrey and Michael Mastro, alongside their father, Dennis — pairs a raw bar and wild-caught seafood with USDA Prime steaks and a cellar-heavy wine program.

Set against an interior reflection pool, intimate dining nooks and a glass-enclosed master butcher shop, the restaurant delivers an energetic mix of OC luxury and classic high-end hospitality.

Chief Culinary Officer Marc Lupino spearheads dining operations at Mastro family-owned steak and seafood restaurants from Newport Beach to Chicago. Lupino opened the original Mastro’s 25 years ago as well as Mastro’s Ocean Club at the Crystal Cove Shopping Center when it debuted in 2005. Today, he oversees multiple Steak 44, Steak 48, Ocean 44 and Ocean 48 locations, including Ocean 48 at Fashion Island, the flagship location for the concept.