Your Guide to a Romantic Couples’ Getaway in Newport Beach
Cotton candy sunsets, seasonal dining and serene spaces make Newport Beach a divine destination for some summer romance. If you’re looking to get away with your sweetheart this season, let our coastal city sweep you off your feet. Bask in beautiful beach days, sunset sails and evenings spent in the comfort of a sumptuous resort. Our city is eager to make your daydreams a reality; here’s how to live out the romantic summer vacation of your dreams in Newport Beach.
Stay
Perched on the harbor’s edge, Balboa Bay Resort offers a romantic retreat with its waterfront views, classic Mediterranean design and cabana-lined pool deck. Choose between three types of rooms—the Bayview, the Courtyard and the Newport—which each offer their own unique amenities like private balconies, fireplaces and sunken marble tubs. And once you’ve settled in with your sweetheart, you’ll want to spend some time basking by the Olympic-size pool, winding down at the 10,000-square-foot spa and sipping on a smoked cocktail at A+O Restaurant | Bar. Balboa Bay Resort will effortlessly make your picture-perfect summer romance a reality.
play
Add a little adventure to your weekend away with a cruise through the canals of Newport Harbor in your very own private gondola. Gondola Adventures, Inc offers everything from an exclusive Antipasto Cruise featuring local fare to a Dessert Cruise with a selection of gourmet sweets. But if you’re looking to let sparks fly, reserve the Amore Cruise and revel in sunset views as your charming gondolier navigates the bay’s waters in one of the most beautiful gondolas in the world. You’re sure to fall head over heels for this one-of-a-kind experience.
dine
Galley Cafe, The Cannery, Five Crowns, A+O Restaurant | Bar
With waterfront restaurants for days, every meal out in Newport Beach can be turned into a picture-perfect date! Start your morning with a cozy harborside breakfast at the Galley Cafe (one of Newport’s oldest and best-kept secrets!), then head over to The Cannery for a coastal breeze and a seafood lunch. For dinner, we recommend keeping it classic with a date night at Five Crowns in Corona del Mar. Inspired by England’s earliest country inns, this old-school establishment sets the perfect scene for an intimate dinner for two. But if you’re not one to venture far, A+O Restaurant | Bar at Balboa Bay Resort is also a popular spot for smoked cocktails, fresh seafood and bay views.
explore
Lace up your sneakers and embark on a hike through one of Orange County’s most serene natural spaces: Crystal Cove State Park. This preserved stretch of coastline is home to rolling waves, 3.2 miles of sandy beaches, tidepools and breathtaking rural spaces. One of our favorite hikes is through El Moro Canyon, which features a path with a variety of intertwining trails that lead to a peak called Emerald Bay Overlook. Once you reach the top, revel in sweeping ocean views with your sweetheart, and cheers to an afternoon well-spent.
nightcap
Below CdM Restaurant in Corona del Mar lies a hidden watering hole with exclusive, award-winning cocktails. Elements of red velvet, wood beams and low lighting make this speakeasy-style concept as chic as it sounds. Snap some photos together in the retro 1940s photo booth, then order an after-dinner libation. To find Under CdM, locate the staircase to the right of the main entrance that leads to the bar’s red leather door; beyond it, you’ll discover a sultry space perfect for a nightcap.
