best view in SOCAL
 

What is the best ocean view in Southern California. Laguna Niguel and southward? And if you know, what restaurant/bar/stopover would you choose.

If you can get to Laguna Beach...which is coastal (Hwy 1) from Laguna Niguel and only about 30 minutes away -- Las Brisas Restaurant has the most magnificent view and wonderful outdoor patio for drinks. They have very good and not too expensive Mexican seafood and nice ambience. There is a Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel coast that has a beautiful view but of course much pricier. There is also a fabulous hotel in Aliso-Laguna, Montage (I think) that is supposed to be great...probably very pricy though...but beautiful. My #1 choice is Las Brisas for overall great spot for view, drinks, food.

Cannon's Restaurant on the bluffs at Dana Point is excellent and has a panoramic view of the marina and the curving coast line for miles. When I lived in the area, I rated it as my #1 place to take a first-time date for the ambience, the food, and the view.

The Ritz-Carlton is actually in Dana Point, and why it's called the R-C Laguna Niguel is a complete mystery. The Montage is on the coast in south Laguna Beach.

Las Brisas has a great view, no question; go for drinks. Skip the food-- it's only fair, and you can get far better Mexican in southern California.

The rooftop at Casa del Camino, a hotel a bit south from Las Brisas on Coast Highway, has wonderful views.

Splashes, the restaurant at the Surf & Sand Resort (also Laguna Beach), is practically on the beach, and the sunsets are priceless.

There's always the Sky Room at the historic Breakers Hotel in downtown Long Beach. Since it's several stories up, you can see for dozens of miles.

The top-floor restaurant at the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica has wonderful views. If it's reopened.

Now that I think of it, the views at both Casa del Mar and Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica are stellar.

And what about from the terrace at George's at the Cove in La Jolla?

Or on the bluffs overlooking Crystal Cove? Or driving up PCH from Santa Monica toward Malibu, continuing up to Cambria?

There are too many beautiful ocean vistas to list.

Georges at the Cove, La Jolla
georgesatthecove.com

Lahaina's on the deck, Pacific Beach

rjw_lgb_ca: I can clear up the mystery for you. When the RC was built, it was in an unincorporated area adjacent to Laguna Niguel and with a Laguna Niguel mailing address (which it still has).

A couple of years later, LN tried to annex the coastal area adjacent to its border but some of the people in the high-home-value areas objected. The management of the RC publically expressed their preference for the LN annexation but an election was held and the residents voted to annex to Dana Point instead of LN.

By that time, the RC at LN label was widely known and it was apparently decided to retain it, despite the election and annexation.

I may be slightly off topic, but I had to comment on the view from the Getty Museum Center in L.A.: having just returned from there. Absolutely gorgeous facility on a hill, with top notch art (ie: Van Gogh's "Irises", Rembrandts, etc.)and Stunning Panoramic views of LA area from the mountains to the sea. Best of all...its free!

dwooddon: Mystery cleared up! Thanks for the OC history.

RE: Getty Center views. Yep, they're beautiful. The view from private homes in Pacific Palisades on the other side of the canyon where the Getty is located is even more spectacular (the head of my company has his stately mansion on a mountaintop across that very canyon).

I am printing this and taking with. I have heard of these places and I want to be sure and stop in even just for a drink and the view.