8 new things to do in Newport Beach

Check out these fresh places to eat, hang, and shop from morning till night.

Walk into JuiceMi and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into Instagram heaven. Patterned pink tile, palm tree wallpaper, and a hanging swing enliven the shop, which opened in August 2018. Cozy up to the counter and try a super-food smoothie bowl, a bite-size avocado toast drizzled with truffle balsamic glaze, or a coconut-activated charcoal latte. Owners Henry Tran and Mimi Chau are usually around to chat about juicing health craze.

Head to the patio to score a spot around the fire pits at A&O Kitchen and Bar at Balboa Bay Resort. Beverage director Ben Carpenter concocts fresh cocktails, some with ingredients sourced only in California. Order the drink, We Used to Vacation: It’s topped with poppy Amaro liquor and served in tiki glassware. balboabayresort.com. 

Spend a night at the AAA Four Diamond Lido House in one of its 130 rooms or five cottages (two-bedroom three-story homes decked out in beach-chic decor), and you won’t want to leave. Head to the rooftop for views of the harbor at Topside bar. marriott.com. 

Throwing an event? Shop kitschy greeting cards, colorful party supplies, and more at Skyhaven Boutique, with a new location across from the Balboa Island Museum. The shop also sells trendy clothes, accessories, and shoes.

Be prepared to wait for a table at Olea, which opened in November 2018. It’s well worth it. Nibble on fried green tomatoes served over Burrata and topped with crispy Serrano ham chicharrones before digging into a main course. Two standouts include crispy Jidori chicken schnitzel slathered in a wild mushroom sauce and bourbon-braised pork short ribs with creamy white cheese grits. Save room for Olea’s version of an ice cream sandwich: dark chocolate-chunk cookies filled with peanut butter cup gelato and a peanut crumble. 

Share a plate or two at Malibu Farm Lido, a new outpost of the popular Malibu restaurant. Favorite dishes include Newport nachos with pickled jalapeños, Fresno chili, and crème fraiche as well as cauliflower-crust pizza topped with arugula basil pesto, heirloom tomatoes, and lemon vinaigrette. 

Take the ferry or bridge across Newport Bay to check out the newly expanded Balboa Island Museum. Learn about the island’s history and the celebrities who once lived in Newport Beach (think John Wayne and Shirley Temple). The well-curated gift store stocks home decor, candles, and toys. Free admission. Open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday–Sunday.

Inspired by Southern California’s Mexican culture, Chihuahua Cerveza offers aguas frescas, street tacos, and a self-pour beer wall. Bring friends and Fido to chill on the pup-friendly patio.