Welcome to Newport Beach
A scenic coastal city with a large harbor and upscale amenities
Newport Beach is a pristine luxury community on Orange County’s scenic Pacific coast. This stylish city has a strong business community with outstanding fine dining and boutique shopping. Upscale waterfront restaurants overlook thousands of vessels docked at Newport Harbor. Balboa Island and the Balboa Peninsula offer lots of activities and entertainment. From golfing to surfing, Newport Beach’s recreation options are endless.
Newport Beach has gorgeous homes in a wide variety of styles on both the mainland and the islands. Neighborhoods within the city include exclusive gated communities with spectacular real estate and mesmerizing views.
What to Love
- Luxurious coastal city
- Waterfront fine dining
- Newport Harbor
- Fashion Island
People & Lifestyle
Newport Beach is a highly sought-after city with beautiful scenery and an impressive array of upscale amenities. This is one of the best destinations in California for boating. Newport Harbor stretches for three miles with around 9,000 vessels. There are beaches and surf spots surrounding the Harbor, along with expansive unspoiled natural areas inland.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Newport Beach is packed with exceptional choices for upscale shopping and dining. Gulfstream is a stylish dining destination serving elegant entrees prepared with ocean-fresh seafood. Gulfstream’s sophisticated menu is paired with an excellent selection of Napa Valley wines and craft cocktails. Fashion Island is a world-famous shopping center featuring a wide array of high-end restaurants and retailers. Premium brands with Fashion Island stores include Alice + Olivia, Anthropologie & Co., Balenciaga, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Lululemon, Prada, Restoration Hardware, Tom Ford, Tommy Bahama, and Victoria’s Secret. This sprawling shopping complex is anchored by Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom department stores.
Dining options are similarly extensive, with more than two dozen eateries. Highlights include the nutrition-focused True Food Kitchen. In a converted beachfront cottage in the beautiful Crystal Cove State Park, The Beachcomber serves an eclectic menu of Californian coastal cuisine from breakfast through dinner. Other waterfront dining options include Cannery Seafood of the Pacific at the Balboa Peninsula’s Cannery Village. This repurposed seafood cannery is one of Newport Beach’s longest-running restaurants. Nobu at Lido Marina Village is the Newport Beach outlet of one of the world’s most celebrated sushi restaurants. Nobu offers an array of Japanese small plates, sublime sushi, and an unforgettable omakase cocktail experience.
At the Crystal Cove Shopping Center on the Pacific Coast Highway, Javier’s combines elevated Mexican fare and excellent margaritas with mesmerizing views of the Pacific Ocean. The adjacent Mastro’s Ocean Club serves a refined menu of classic steakhouse and seafood dishes in a classy white-tablecloth setting.
Things to Do
Newport Harbor is the West Coast’s largest recreational harbor. This is your starting point for all kinds of activities on the shimmering ocean waters, from romantic sunset cruises and whale watching tours to stand-up paddleboarding.
The rock jetty at the western edge of Newport Harbor has created the dramatic surf spot the Wedge at the southeastern point of the Balboa Peninsula. This popular spot for skilled surfers and bodyboarders can see waves reach 30 feet in size. Newport Pier juts out into the ocean from the beach at Balboa Peninsula, offering stunning ocean views and spectacular sunsets. The Balboa Peninsula’s 10.5-acre Marina Park features a sailing center, outdoor fitness circuits, and basketball courts, and an ocean-themed playground for kids. The Balboa Fun Zone is a waterfront amusement park with a Ferris wheel and many other family-friendly attractions.
Balboa Island is accessible from Newport Harbor and the Balboa Peninsula by bridges for cars, bikes, and foot traffic and the Balboa Island Ferry. This idyllic island offers a great variety of restaurants and quaint specialty shops. Along the Pacific Coast Highway, the Balboa Bay Resort boasts sweeping views over the harbor and Newport Bay. Amenities at the Balboa Bay Resort include restaurants for Californian coastal dining, luxury wellness and spa treatments, and outstanding pool and fitness facilities. The Hyatt Regency resort offers challenging play for golfers of all skill levels at the nine-hole executive Back Bay Golf Course.
Schools
The Newport-Mesa Unified school district serves Newport Beach.
- Eastbluff Elementary School, Public, K-6
- Newport Elementary School, Public, K-6
- Mariners Elementary School, Public, K-6
- Roy O. Andersen Elementary School, Public, K-6
- Newport Harbor High School, Public, 9-12
- Newport Christian School, Private, PK-11
