Balboa Island

Balboa Island Review

Balboa Island is a sliver of terra firma in Newport Harbor whose quaint streets are tightly packed with impossibly charming multimillion-dollar cottages. The island's main drag, Marine Avenue, is lined with equally picturesque cafés and shops.

Sugar & Spice. Stop by ice cream parlor Sugar & Spice for a Balboa Bar—a slab of vanilla ice cream dipped first in chocolate and then in a topping of your choice such as hard candy or Oreo crumbs. Other parlors serve the concoction, but Sugar & Spice claims to have invented it back in 1945. 310 Marine Ave., Balboa Island, Newport Beach, CA, 92662. 949/673-8907.

Basilic. Basilic, an intimate French-Swiss bistro, adds a touch of elegance to the island with its white linen and flower-topped tables. Head here for foie gras, steak au poivre, and a fine Bordeaux. 217 Marine Ave., Newport Beach, CA. 949/673-0570. www.basilicrestaurant.com.

Olive Oil & Beyond. At Olive Oil & Beyond, you can sample and purchase premium oils from around the globe. There's also a lineup of unique balsamic vinegars—some flavored with fig or tangerine—and other gourmet goodies. 210 Marine Ave., Newport Beach, CA. 949/566-9380.