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City in the United States
Photo: Levi Clancy, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Laguna Beach is a resort-residential community (population about 23,000 in 2018) along the Pacific coast in South Orange County in Southern California. It is known for its extensive artist community, seaside village atmosphere, beautiful beaches, and luxury resort hotels. Fans of the Beach Boys will recall the mention of the city in the song "Surfin' Safari". In warm sunny weather, Laguna Beach can have an overwhelming Mediterranean-island ambiance. Laguna Beach attracts a few million visitors a year.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The Art-A-Fair Festival is one of three premier outdoor art shows held annually in Laguna Beach. Located in Laguna Canyon between the Sawdust Festival and Festival of Arts in a beautiful garden setting, it features over 125 artists, plus live entertainment, fine food, demonstrations and workshops. Artists from California as well as many other states and countries apply annually and are accepted through a jury system, which contributes to the high quality of art and master crafts among participants.
This fine art festival showcases Orange County’s most accomplished artists during the summer months. Held on the same grounds as the Pageant of the Masters, there are demos, music, and food available in addition to the artwork.
Held nightly during the summer, the Pageant of the Masters advertises itself as the place "where art comes to life", which is about the best description that could be given of an event that is unlike any other. For over seventy years this annual pageant has presented recreations of famous paintings, statues and other works of art on a stage with orchestral accompaniment. The catch is that real people act as models for the subjects depicted. The artwork is textured in such a way that it is often impossible to distinguish the 3-D reproduction from a 2-D image, so bring binoculars to get a closer look. Tickets sell out early every year, so plan ahead to attend this event.
So named because as the highest peak in the area, it provides a spectacular view of the ocean. Top of the World has been a longtime favorite destination for Orange County's romantically inclined. Sunsets and sunrises from this location are both incredible.It can get pretty crowded, so choose a good time to get in early while the getting's good. It's also a designated wildlife sanctuary.
It was built by a resident for his own beach access. The Pirate Tower now serves as a quaint Laguna Beach landmark on the beautiful coves and beaches.
artists home tours
Get an insider's peek into the hidden world of artists with Laguna Beach Art Tours' home tours. Enter artists' private home studios, see live art demos, amazing locations + purchase original art. Tours ideal for corporate groups, clubs or any special day; by appointment.
Laguna Beach's oceanside park, this stretching park covers the immediate north end of the main beach, and is a lovely and romantic excursion along the water. Very romantic with great sitting spots and vistas.
Charming Mexican restaurant with a good selection of meats on the menu. Great to take your out-of-town friends to.
Vegetarian café serving breakfast and lunch. Very popular with locals.
Great Italian food including pizza, pastas and hearty sandwiches, with pitchers of beer available. The southern location has outdoor seating for people watching with an ocean view. Friendly and totally casual. One of three locations, soon to be four.
Popular breakfast place that also does lunch. Has indoor and outdoor seating. Breakfast $10, Lunch $10-15.
Looks like a hole in the wall, seating is limited to a few barstools and handful of tables and benches, but the best Mexican food.
Same great food as the village location, but with plenty of seating indoor and out. Also has 19 taps of craft beers on tap. Also has the advantage of free parking in a large lot.
Good for breakfast & brunch, sandwiches, smoothies, coffee and tea. Freshly made baked good include delicious peach muffins. Small indoor seating area, but right next to a lovely stretch of beach if you get your items to-go.
Family-run and very friendly. Popular for breakfast and also serves lunch including malts and milk shakes.
Fast-food ambiance, but quality of the food equals many higher-price restaurants. Favorites include Cajun-spiced seafood tacos, blackened lobster tacos, and the mushroom-and-tofu burgers. Opens late on Friday and Saturday, til 2AM.
If any eatery can be called typically Laguna, this might be it. Only organic vegan ingredients are used in preparations. Smoothies, salads, and pita sandwiches are favorites.
Popular local chain making fresh, delicious and inexpensive Mexican food.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dinner main course $15-18.
The deck has great views of the beach and (relatively) cheap food like burgers and salads.
Mexican restaurant that has a patio with some great views of the ocean. Mediocre and expensive food, but excellent views for having a cocktail. It gets pretty packed on a nice summer day.
Hawaiian themed restaurant. Lots of vintage decorations and tiki stuff. Good food with a wide cocktail selection.
Dinner only, it closes at 1AM but service ends at 11PM. Notable wine list. Dinner $40.
(Dinner only). Panoramic ocean views, contemporary French cuisine. A great choice to celebrate a special occasion. Reservation strongly recommended and men should wear a jacket. Dinner $50 and up.
See description above under "Eat".
Locally owned, you can get breakfast in the morning and treat yourself to dessert at night. Eclectic decor, big comfy chairs, patio seating and friendly staff. Some of the best coffee in Orange County.
Locally owned, the coffee beans are roasted in-house. Limited seating inside and along the walkway outside.
See description above under "Eat".
In downtown.
The Dirty Bird
About six blocks south of Main Beach, it offers live music every night. The interior is covered in dollar bills, graffiti, and more. Since 1969. Also sells merchandise.
Brussels Bistro offers live jazz Tu-Th. On Friday and Saturday the brasserie-style restaurant transforms into one of the hotter nightclubs in town. Happy hour is offered daily from 4-7PM.
Chicken wings and beer and things.
Casual pub with two bars, downstairs and upstairs. Live music most nights. Burgers, Irish comfort food and the like. Chain place with locations around OC and one in Las Vegas.
Formerly America's Best Inns. Across the street from the ocean and Crescent Bay Park.
Bed and Breakfast across from the ocean in Laguna Beach. Rooms designed for one or two adults. Romantic, terraced gardens. Full service spa, charming unique rooms and suites with modern amenities, gourmet breakfast prepared with local ingredients, afternoon wine and cheese, high speed internet, and ocean view garden hot tub.
Convenient location, across the street from ocean access and a Ralph's supermarket open 24 hr.
Sumptuous oceanfront hotel on a bluff with superb service, gorgeous grounds, and delightful views. Facilities for meetings, weddings, spa retreats, as well as a variety of fine dining restaurants.
A luxury hotel in Orange County featuring oceanfront suites, for business and leisure travel. This Laguna Beach hotel also offers romantic vacation packages, wedding venues, catering and meeting rooms.
Built in 1929 as a seaside retreat for Hollywood movie stars, this elegant Mediterranean style landmark offers lodging accommodations with their own unique characteristics and antique furnishings.
Mediterranean-inspired coastal retreat.
Two heated pools, Jacuzzi, poolside lounge, onsite Beach House restaurant, health club and beach butlers.
Completely renovated in 2010, the villas of The Retreat offer luxury vacation rentals and extended-stay accommodations that sleep 4 comfortably.
Has one-, two- and three-bedroom accommodations at a central downtown location with panoramic ocean views. Each villa has fully equipped kitchens, entertainment centers, satellite television and internet access and key-card security doors.
Aliso Creek Inn
Offers full service suite lodging featuring full kitchens, dining, banquets, meeting services, golf and recreation amongst the historic and inspiring Aliso and Woods Canyons.
Stand up paddle and surf lessons $95 for private. $75/person for semi-private. Lessons include wetsuit and board.
By car
Laguna Beach stretches along the Pacific Coast Highway (CA 1) at the "T" intersection of Laguna Canyon Road (CA 133), which becomes Broadway in town.
By rail
There are Amtrak and Metrolink stations in Irvine, Laguna Niguel, San Juan Capistrano, and San Clemente. From there it will be necessary to take public transportation or a taxi.
By public transit
By car
Although a car may be convenient, parking is at a premium in the summer; beware of having your car towed. You'll probably have to pay to park downtown in beach weather.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Santa Ana · International · SNA
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