Where to stay in Newport Beach ( & 4 must-do activities)

Let me just start with a statement – I love Newport Beach. I grew up spending most of my weekends there as a child. Shopping at Fashion Island, exploring the waterways, and eating frozen bananas on Balboa Island were a few of my favorite activities. In recent conversation with the BFF, we decided that we absolutely needed a vacation. Newport Beach immediately came to mind as the perfect weekend getaway from San Diego. In today’s article, I’m sharing where to stay in Newport Beach and 4 must-do activities while you’re in the area.

Where to stay in Newport Beach: Balboa Bay Resort

LOCATION

Balboa Bay Resort is centrally located along the Newport Waterfront, and about a ten minute drive from Balboa Island, Lido Marina, and Fashion Island. You also have easy access to the Balboa Bay Club where you can rent a boat for the afternoon. (We’ll get to that in a bit).

Address: 1221 West Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663

AESTHETIC & ROOMS

The Forbes Travel guide recently awarded the hotel with a four-star-hotel rating for the third year in a row. The moment you pull into the valet it’s easy to see why! The staff went out of their way to make us feel at home, and the decor was reminiscent of a European beach resort.

Our room overlooked the courtyard and pool in the middle of the resort. We sat on our balcony sipping wine and eating the most delicious macaroons before getting ready for dinner.

DINING

Whether you’re passing through Newport for the day, or are staying at the hotel, dining at the A&O Kitchen + Bar is a must! We found a table overlooking the water and enjoyed dinner and drinks al fresco to the tune of a DJ. They do offer brunch on weekends and lunch and dinner throughout the week.

Our order: The Rosé all day signature cocktail, old fashioned cocktail, A&O burger, Miso-glazed Scottish Salmon. (Check out the rest of the menu here.)

The A&O is one of 3 dining options on site. Currently, The Waterline, which is their signature restaurant, is temporarily closed due to COVID. Blend, which is perfect for a quick coffee and breakfast before a day of exploring is open. Their speedy service and great menu came in handy as we were scurrying to catch the ferry to Catalina Island.

AMENITIES

Lastly, let’s talk about the delicious amenities. This is key when deciding where to stay in Newport Beach. The hotel features a 24-hour fitness studio, a newly renovated pool & bar area with cabanas you can rent for the day, an adorable onsite boutique, spa, and options for recreation rental. You can read all about the amenities here.

Things to do in Newport Beach, CA

Now let’s talk about things to do in the area. Except realistically, you may find yourself not wanting to leave the hotel!

Rent a duffy boat through the Balboa Bay Resort

Contact the hotel concierge to have them book you a duffy for the afternoon. The rentals are in 2 hour increments and you can explore the waterways or make a stop on Balboa Island or Lido Marina. The boats seat up to 12 so this makes for a fun group activity!

Social distancing tip: Sail to the Lido Marina and pick up lunch to-go from Zinqué or Malibu Farms. You can then dock on the water and enjoy your open air picnic!

Do some shopping at Lido Marino

Lido Marina is a work of aesthetic art! This retail space, located along the waterfront is the perfect afternoon activity. Be sure to grab a coffee at Herst Coffee Roasters, pick up flowers at French Buckets, and explore all the little shops.

Visit the Sherman Library & Garden

We stumbled upon the Sherman Library & Garden on Instagram, and it’s a gorgeous hidden gem. Walk around the grounds and find a spot to sit and enjoy the nature.

Explore Balboa Island

Balboa Island truly deserves its own article as there is a lot to do on such a small island. A few recommendations? Grab a frozen banana from Sugar n’ Spice, play some arcade games at the Balboa Fun Zone, and walk along Marine Street and pop in and out of the different shops.