Laguna Beach is a stunning enclave within Orange Country, California. It’s the heart of the Southern California art scene, with a strong local community centered on the active beach and gallery scene. The city has long drawn in artists and surfers alike, creating a city that is equally as beautiful as it is vibrant. This laid-back beach town will immediately have your heart and make you question why you don’t live here.
Where to Stay
Hotel Joaquin: The quintessential Laguna Beach stay. Beautifully designed by the talented Robert Mckinley, Hotel Joaquin is a restored 1960s exterior motel located just steps from Crescent Bay. The first boutique hotel of its kind in town and our favorite spot to stay for a local experience.
Casa Laguna Inn: Located right on the Pacific Coast Highway, Casa Laguna Inn is a great boutique option with beautifully crafted rooms in a Spanish architectural style. The rooms have a bungalow feel to them and you’ll feel as if you’re a guest in your friend’s beach cottage.
Casa Loma: Recently opened and well designed, this another great option for a boutique experience located right in the downtown area of Laguna.
The Montage: Great for families or those seeking an upscale resort style experience. The Montage is located at Treasure Island Beach, one of our favorite swimming coves, and set on beautifully manicured grounds. While the experience is more resort than boutique, it’s a fantastic luxurious option if you’re looking to enjoy the property and spa.
Where to Eat
Abha: A beachside cottage located on Pacific Coast Highway. A casual outdoor and indoor dining experience that is as charming as it sounds.
La Sirena Grill: A local Mexican restaurant that is a favorite of ours. We love to order their food for take out and bring it right down to the beach on a summers day.
Selanne Steak Tavern: Located in a charming 1934 home, this cosy and charming tavern serves delicious steaks in a wonderful setting both indoors and outdoors on their terrace.
Driftwood Kitchen: This restaurant is located right on the Pacific with some of the best views in town. We love to book a table here around sunset to get the full experience.
Zinc Cafe: A local classic with healthy prepared foods to take away or eat inside their charming cafe atmosphere located in downtown Laguna.
The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove: A favorite place for sunset drinks and dinner right at Crystal Cove beach. The Beachcomber feels like you're back in time in the 1950s, with simplistic cottages surrounding this restaurant available for a summer rental. Take the trolley down from the Crystal Cove parking lot to enter.
Urth Cafe: A cosy cottage turned cafe that is perfect for a local breakfast or lunch.
Las Brisas: A Mexican restaurant located in downtown Laguna. Wonderful food as well as incredible views right on the water.
Cafes and Juice Bars
Orange Inn: Located right on PCH near downtown Laguna, this place is an institution offering fresh juice and sandwiches that are perfect to eat in or take down to the beach with you.
Bear Coast Coffee: Located on PCH in a classic red facade, this cafe is as charming as can be. Come in for a coffee with your laptop and you'll want to stay all day to work remote from here.
Cafe Heidelberg: A go to spot for coffee or breakfast located in South Laguna. Their classic egg dishes and pastries are delicious and always worth a visit.
Lost Pier Cafe: An elevated take on a beachside shack serving up local fish dishes in a relaxed setting on Aliso Creek Beach.
Laguna Coffee Company: A local favorite for a coffee and outdoor hang.
Jedidiah Coffee: A wonderful North Laguna spot to sit outside and enjoy a coffee. It's also the perfect spot to work remotely on one of their outdoor chairs in the sun.
Anastasia Cafe: A beautiful breakfast cafe serving fresh juices and delightful breakfast classics.
Moulin: Located in the heart of downtown Laguna on Forest Ave., this place is one of our favorite cafes for a fully local vibe.
Local Beaches
Treasure Island Beach: Located in front of the Montage hotel, this is one of the most stunning settings in Laguna. With lush meandering pathways that will lead you down to the steps to the sand, this beach is incredibly stunning and full of families enjoying the sea. We always walk to the furthest Northern part of the beach for the more remote feel.
Thousand Steps: This is a steep set of stairs to bring you down to this cove, though it is worth the struggle. The beach is absolutely stunning, with beautiful homes perched on the cliffs above and some of our favorite little coves to dwell in for a full day of sun and sea.
West Beach: A beautiful sandy beach in South Laguna offering many places to lay down your towels and enjoy the sea. A beautiful setting that will be less crowded than the more easily accessible beaches near downtown Laguna.
Crescent Bay: One of our favorite beaches in Laguna, located in North Laguna and set among cliffs and caves. The beach always has a buzzing atmosphere, with people body surfing throughout the day. We love walking this beach as well, hiking through the rocky bookends of the beach.
Table Rock: A true locals beach that is stunning in landscape with towering rocks as natural sculptures on the sand. This beach will be more secluded in the summer as it's more of a hidden gem.
Things To Do
While the beach is really the focus of this beach city, there are also incredible walks and hikes throughout the city to enjoy year-round.
Aliso Peak, Valido Trail: After turning onto West St. from PCH, turn left onto Valido Rd. and follow maps for Valido Trail. This trail will bring you up Aliso Peak to catch some of the most stunning ocean views of the Pacific just below. It's about one hour in total and a moderate-easy trail, perfect for a family.
Top of the World: For a more challenging hike near Laguna, try the Top of the World hike that is roughly 2.5 miles long. Certainly a challenging hike that is best done in the morning before the sun gets too strong.
Cystal Cove/ Reef Point: For a roughly 5 mile hike that is leisurely and scenic, we'd suggest walking Reef Point in Crystal Cove. It's lengthy though entirely manageable for most. Even better, you can end your day with a delightful shake from the Crystal Cove Shake Shack.
Visit the Sawdust Festival in the summer for a beautiful setting within the canyon. Here local artists of all sorts gather to create their curated stalls full of crafts and artwork.
The Pagaent of the Masters series in the summer months is not to be missed. Actors create classic paintings on stage in a stunning outdoors, wooded theatre setting in the canyon.
Essential Tips
When to visit: The great thing about Southern California is you can visit year-round. However, we’d suggest avoiding May and June as it tends to historically have the grayest weather at that time. The summer season is ideal for swimming and it stays warm yet mild throughout October.
Transportation: Renting a car is required.
The vibe: Local classics and a vibrant art scene. Laguna Beach is unique, laid-back and for those seeking a more simple summer holiday by the beach.
