City Style: Newport Beach | The Times
The Times | December 2009
City Style: Newport Beach,
Southern California
Floating palaces, fashion and fine dining in Orange County. By Laura Ivill
Fashion Island
This indoor/outdoor shopping mall has nearly 200 stores, including Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s, and a few independent eyewear, travel and interiors options. See how much more bang for your buck you get for US brands such as Anthropologie and 7 For All Mankind denim.
401 Newport Center Drive (00 1 949 721 2000; shopfashionisland.com).
The Cannery
The rich and famous of Southern California moor their impressive yachts in Newport Bay, and the waterfront Cannery bar is a hip destination by day and night. Go early and enjoy a few sundowners by the water’s edge. Newport Beach is home to The OC, and the young and beautiful flock here to see and be seen.
3010 Lafayette Road (00 1 949 566 0060; cannerynewport.com).
The Resort at Pelican Hill
This vast, green 504-acre property built in the Palladian style has space and peace in abundance. Zone out in the spa and swim in the Coliseum pool (the world’s largest circular pool) overlooking the resort’s two 18-hole golf courses with views across the Pacific. Each of the 847sq ft bungalows has a private terrace.
22701 Pelican Hill Road South (00 1 949 467 6800; pelicanhill.com).
Harborside Restaurant and Grand Ballroom
Bette Davis used to dance the night away here in what was originally a grand Twenties bathhouse. With its sweeping views of the harbour, it is arguably the best venue from which to enjoy the comings and goings of 16,000 glitzy yachts and pleasure craft. On April 23, watch the largest international yacht race in the world when more than 400 boats set off for Mexico.
400 Main Street, Balboa Village (00 1 949 673 4633; harborside-pavilion.com).
21 Oceanfront
The sound of the Beach Boys still evokes the vibe of Newport Beach, where the group started in 1961. This fine-dining restaurant is a romantic destination, where you can look out to the pier and watch surfer dudes at play. And it’s surf’n’turf inside, with tiger prawns, Alaskan king crab legs, filet mignon or a tender rib-eye all on the menu.
2100 West Oceanfront (00 1 949 673 2100; 21oceanfront.com).
Crystal Cove State Park
Take a stroll along the park beach and you’ll feel like you’ve travelled back in time. Dozens of mid-century wooden cottages have been restored to recreate the laid-back feel of the original Californian beach communities. Walk up an appetite along one of the three hiking trails, covering 17 miles, then visit the Beachcomber café for great food right on the beach.
Off Pacific Coast Highway between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach (crystalcovestatepark.com).
City Style is edited by Laura Lovett