We explore the beautiful area of Newport Beach to find out where to stay, what to do, and where to eat
Words Alastair James
An hour outside busy Los Angeles, there’s a definite change of vibe as you enter the quieter streets of Newport Beach. The loud and congested highways melt away, replaced by pristine boulevards lined with towering palm trees and lush green vegetation. It’s clean, peaceful and delightfully suburban. Over five days, I was able to experience an array of delights to create a handy guide for your next trip Stateside.
ACCOMMODATIONVea Newport Beach
Vea, the first of Marriott’s new soft brands, is well situated for making the most of all Newport Beach has to offer. With 253 elegantly designed and stylish rooms decorated in soft greys and neutral tones, it is the perfect place to relax after a hard day’s exploring. Molton Brown toiletries add a sense of luxury. The sea-view rooms, meanwhile, ensure guests wake up to a stunning sight. VIEW Restaurant & Lounge serves up delicious seasonal treats all day long. At breakfast, guests can look forward to classics like Eggs Benedict as well as Californian flavours such as the Breakfast Burrito — a mouthful but packed with flavour. Similarly, dinner offers a tempting array of dishes that make use of Newport Beach’s proximity to the coast, with plenty of fresh fish as well as high-quality meat cuts and light salads. The hotel also comes with grand event spaces and lawns, a well-equipped gym, and SpaVea, complete with warm baths, steam rooms, Swedish saunas and a quieter spa pool away from the busy main pool. Weekday rates start from $459 (approx. £385) per night.
Hyatt Regency
The Hyatt Regency features classic Tuscan architecture. Every one of the spacious rooms comes with a balcony or patio, while villas and suites offer larger groups more private spaces with their own amenities. The 36-acre hotel is also host to the Newport Beach Jazz Festival over the first weekend of June every year. This dog-friendly hotel prides itself on being a home away from home. Weekday rates start from $349 (approx. £279) per night.
Lido House
Also part of the Marriott family, Lido House has a calming, beach-house vibe. The hotel makes tasteful use of nautical features throughout the light and open-plan rooms, creating an air of a laid-back luxury. But the cottages are the stars of the show. These five stunning three-floor properties are their own beach houses à la Grace and Frankie. Interiors are masterfully designed with a retro, playful feel from the sp
