The Ultimate Guide to Newport Beach for a Weekend Getaway

Here is the guide for Newport Beach for a weekend getaway.

I recently was invited by the tourism board of Newport Beach to spend a weekend there and enjoy all the city has to offer.  I’m fairly familiar with Newport Beach — as I have friends who live in the area and have attended weddings there and of course watch my fair share of Real Housewives of Orange County.   

However, this weekend was a very different experience of Newport Beach than I have ever had there and it was so much fun – I attended with four other bloggers (and their husbands/friends). 

If you have plans to be in Orange County I highly recommend Newport Beach for a weekend getaway. 

After reading this ultimate guide to Newport Beach, CA – you’ll be making plans to go there ASAP!

Newport Beach Weekend Getaway
Newport Beach Weekend Getaway

My girl gang for the weekend: Stuart Brazell, Hunter Collector, Good, Bad and Fab, and Posh Classy Mom.


First up:

Have a delicious Breakfast and take a Duffy boat ride

Babette’s — this is actually a restaurant that was started in East Hampton (that I have actually been to).  (Newport Beach does consider itself the Hamptons of California so eating there was fitting). 

The west coast Babette’s is a great place to enjoy a meal — with spacious indoor and outdoor seating and an assortment of food.

newport beach
Newport Beach Weekend Getaway

What to wear in Newport Beach?

Newport is the perfect beachside town to wear a white and lightweight jumpsuit!

newport beach

Go for a sail on a Duffy Boat – a staple in the OC!

Duffy Boats are very common in Newport Beach — they are little boats with a small covering and perfect for cruising the marina.  Notable views from the boat: John Wayne’s House (he was an Orange County resident — the airport is even named for him) and a sleepy seal!

newport beach duffy boat ride
seals in newport beach

Saw this little fellow up with our duffy boat.


Have lunch at the Lido Marina

Seemed like we had just had breakfast when we were sat for lunch — well let’s just say Newport Beach has no lack of food or drink: let the rosé flow!  We snacked on hummus, burgers, steak and more at the Lido Marina. 

Newport Beach Weekend Getaway
Newport Beach Weekend Getaway

In between lunch and dinner, Zia (Hunter Collector) and Stuart (Stuart Says), and I hung out at the pool at the hotel: Fashion Island Hotel. 

It’s a lovely hotel and it is located on Fashion Island — which is Newport Beach’s large indoor/outdoor mall: with a Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, and a Nordstrom (amongst other stand alone shops) you’re bound to find something for you love!

Newport BeachNewport Beach Weekend Getaway with Zia Domic and Stuart Brazelle.

Shop Swimsuits!


Dinner with WWD

Newport Beach Weekend Getaway Fashion Island Hotel

(Shop this Top Shop matching set: Top // Skirt )

Later we had a private dinner with Alex Badia — Fashion Editor and fashion insider at WWD (and a fellow Spaniard), who was set to host a panel at Fashion Island with Neiman Marcus the next day.  We dined on steak (Adam and I had steak for all three meals that day — HA!) and delicious appetizers and side dishes.

The next day there was an electric bike ride around the island — which I unfortunately was a little too nervous to do (something you may or may not know about me is that I am not a huge bike person — I do ride bikes but it’s very circumstantial.).  So the bike ride was a no go for me but we did enjoy a lovely breakfast and later in the day we attended a sit down talk with Alex and Neiman Marcus on Fashion Island.

newport beach

Alex interviewed Nadine Haders: costume designer from the movie Get Out and Paco Delgado (from Spain also, pictured below with us) from Les Miserables.

Newport Beach Weekend Getaway
Gingham jumpsuit Club Monaco

A Club Monaco gingham jumpsuit – is a great piece of clothing to wear in Newport.


Next Stop: the perfect Italian lunch

We ate at Cucina Enoteca (which, by coincidence, I had been to last November for my cousin’s wedding in Newport Beach).  It was so delicious — it’s a located on Fashion Island, so you can easily dine there after a day of shopping!  Just look at those food photos!

newport beach
Cucina Fashion Island Pizza

Saturday evening we attended the Newport Beach Film Festival awards.  It was held at the Newport Beach Country Club — which overlooks a beautiful golf course.  We were able to see Alex present awards to Nadine and Paco and we chatted with entertainment people!

Newport Beach Film Festival

Shop this two piece set: Top (sold out but dress version is really cute!) // Skirt (on sale!)


It was a fabulous trip and it showed me a new side to Newport Beach!  There is just so much in Newport to do: from the beach, to shopping to eating and film/entertainment, to relaxation.  It also happens to be a really easy laid back town where you can easily dress up or down and be comfortable.

Do check out the restaurants, shops, and hotels from above if you take a trip there — and if you have any questions — feel free to reach out!

I must say the best part of the weekend was meeting new Los Angeles based bloggers (since moving from NYC, I have been slowly building my network out here) and I know that I’ve made some lasting friends and connections.  Check the other girls out here: Stuart Brazell, Hunter Collector, Good, Bad and Fab, and Posh Classy Mom!

Balboa Island Ferris Wheel

(Adam enjoyed it too because he had some Insta hubbies to commiserate with, err, I mean talk about how much they love taking our pictures!)

Balboa Island

Here are a few more photos from the trip:

Room service at Fashion Island hotel

Breakfast with a view — after I took this picture, I spilled coffee all over my hand and on the food — so blog photo versus reality is a real thing — ha! 

Balboa Island

Are you planning your Newport Beach weekend getaway?

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