Balboa Pavilion

Balboa Pavilion Review

The Balboa Pavilion, on the bay side of the peninsula, was built in 1905 as a bath- and boathouse. Today it houses a restaurant and shops and it serves as a departure point for harbor and whale-watching cruises. Look for it on Main Street, off Balboa Boulevard. Adjacent to the pavilion is the three-car ferry that connects the peninsula to Balboa Island. In the blocks around the pavilion you can find restaurants, beachside shops, and the small Fun Zone —a local kiddie hangout with a Ferris wheel and a nautical museum. On the other side of the narrow peninsula is Balboa Pier. On its end is the original branch of Ruby's, a 1940s-esque burger-and-shake joint.