For the turf, head to Selanne Steak Tavern, located in a historic 1934 home on PCH, for steaks served in a much airier and brighter space than your typical leather-boothed steakhouse. Fun fact, it’s owned by Hockey Hall of Famer and six-time Olympian Teemu Selanne and local businessman Kevin Pratt. For burgers in a more casual space, Ahba is the place to be for a delicious wagyu burger with caramelized onions and a creamy aioli—make it a double.
Keeping it cool, but casual, Truly Pizza recently opened their second location in another quaint little bungalow on PCH. They source their ingredients from local farms in Orange County and were recently ranked the fourth best pizza in the country. Simple, yet absolutely perfect, try the Champion Cheese, or for a more unique pie, the Umami Mushroom, both of which will have a thick, bubbly, long-fermented crust.
For a pre- or post-dinner beverage, Laguna Beer Company, founded in 2014 by two natives, has a wide array of style options, along with their own diverse food menu. If you’re more into wine, McClain Wine Cellars, which is one of a small number of Black-owned wineries in the country, offers red and white options sourced from vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley. Or end your day with some Gelato Paradiso—in the summer, expect to get in line, although it’ll be worth the wait. (Try the pistachio gelato with imported nuts from Bronte, Italy.)
Where to stay in Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is not short on luxury hotels. Montage Laguna Beach offers rooms and suites, along with three bedroom villas that can sleep up to eight people. You’ll enjoy its pristine, mosaic-laden pool with dramatic ocean views and its wide variety of restaurants on site, which draw even non-hotel patrons. Though you should definitely explore everything else Laguna Beach has to offer, if you don’t feel like leaving Montage property, no one will blame you.
