We will spend one night in Newport Beach in mid-April and would like suggestions about where to stay and what to see in the area. We would also like to know a place for dinner that offers light fare such as entree salads, sandwiches, and pasta.

Anybody?

I always recommend The Crab Cooker at Newport Beach. It's grilled seafood, very reasonably priced. It's 'light fare' if you don't eat their fabulous potatoes! Really good clam chowder, cole slaw. A very simple menu, great food. They get very busy, with a long line outside at peak dinner times. Highly recommend it.

I also enjoy walking around Balboa Island, adjacent to Newport. It's tiny, with little shops and cafes, beautiful homes. Fun to wander around it.
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For one night in Newport Beach, I recommend staying close to the water. The Balboa Bay Club is nice as it is on the bayfront with great views. It is close to some great restaurants, such as the Rusty Pelican or The Arches. If you would like to be on the beach, Portofino is nice. Close by for dining, I recommend 21 Oceanfront, Kantina, or Cannery. Have fun!

The Crab Cooker is OK if you want to stand in line to wait for a touristy waterfront experience. It can be very noisy and messy. I think you are probably looking for something a bit more upscale.

It would help if you can give an idea of your budget for the hotel. Thanks

We stayed for several days at the Newport Channel Inn on PCH and loved it. It's just across the street from the beach and had a small frig, microwave and coffee maker in the room which was convenient. They have a website (Newportchannelinn.com) that you can check out. It isn't a fancy resort, but the prices reflect that too. There is a little restaurant next door where we got some good sandwiches on the day we checked in. Just driving down PCH you will come across any number of restaurants; we enjoyed the Huntington Beach Pier and there were lots of places to eat or drink down there as well.

Our experience with The Crab Cooker is that there are as many locals as tourists who eat there, so I wouldn't call it "touristy". If you go before peak time, you can avoid the lines. The atmosphere suits a place you can walk to directly from an afternoon on the beach. My take on The Crab Cooker is that it's a funky old California place, with character. Not upscale, but I didn't assume that's what the OP wanted.
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Happytrails - live a little and dine at Roy's.

Thanks for all the great suggestions.

We try to keep hotels to an average of $200 per day.

I have found an AAA rate of $180 at the newly remodeled Fairmont, and free parking is possible on the weekend.

The AAA rate at Balboa Bay Club is $240 and parking is $26. I figure the total would be about $300 with tax. Should I go for it?

We had a Roy's here in the Seattle Westin for a few years. It was said to have started in Hawaii. Is the Roy's you mention, TTess, part of the same organization?


HTTY

Oops! I called the Balboa Bay Club and learned that for $240 my veranda will overlook the parking lot.

If I want one of those rooms facing the bay I have to cough up $395 ($465 with parking and tax), which makes the ocean front room I book in Cannon Beach, Oregon, seem downright cheap.

The Balboa Bay Club is definitely in a nicer location, but the Fairmont is just newly remodeled, so they're both good choices...I don't know which I'd choose...

when we want to go out casual, we enjoy Bluewater Grill (just after you drive onto Balboa Peninsula, take a left- then it's before you actually drive onto Lido Isle). They don't take reservations, so if's a weekend, forget it. Otherwise not bad- call them first to confirm it's not a long wait. You can look up exact directions online. Then go to one of the piers and walk around.

Gosh, HTTY, there is a huge outdoor/indoor mall near Newport beach but I cannot remember the name. It has a variety (many, if I recall correctly) of restaurants including Cheesecake Factory and Wolfgang Puck. Maybe someone else knows what I'm talking about.

Happytrails - same Roy's and very good.

Fashion Island goes on FOREVER - miles and miles of a closed mall, strip malls, fanchise restaurants, etcc...

However - very close to Fashion Island are two restaurants that I would recommend. One is called "The Quiet Woman" - very cool, great menu, at night (i don't know if it is every night) there is a band after 10pm. Low-key band, nothing crazy, but just a cool place.

There is also a Tommy Bahama restaurant - I know, very commercial, BUT good place to have a drink and they have very good drinks.

There is a REALLY romantic restaurant (small - GREAT wine) across the highway from Tommy Bahamas, but I can't remember the name! Right next door to this "nameless" restaurant is one of the best wine shops I've every been.

French 75 is pretty cool - located by Macy's in Fashion Island.

Thanks for all the great information.

Does anybody know about the Daily Grill: 957 Newport Center Drive? They seem to have the kind of menu that doesn't necessarily rope one into over eating.

Assuming you want an experience other than at a chain restaurant in a mall, you could try Newport Landing. Take the ferry across the channel for fun (60 cents each, I believe).

http://www.newport-landing.com/

The Daily Grill is good ... it's a small chain restaurant here ... they have alot of comfort food like meatloaf. Can't go wrong there!

You might consider Billy's on the Beach ... make a reservation though. Casual atmosphere, great fish dishes!

Oysters at Macarthur and PCH has great food, a pleasant bar, an enjoyable jazz combo, and a very relaxing atmosphere. One of my favorites anywhere.