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Balboa Island Review

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Balboa Island

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Category: Neighborhoods/Streets
Location: Newport Beach

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Fodor's 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. Stop by ice cream parlor Sugar & Spice (310 Marine Ave., Balboa Island. 949/673-8907. www.killerorange.com) 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. Basilic (217 Marine Ave. 949/673-0570. www.basilicrestaurant.com), 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. At Olive Oil & Beyond (210 Marine Ave. 949/566-9380. www.oliveoilbeyond.com), 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.