Palmilla Cocina y Tequila is a new, elevated Sonoran- and Baja-inspired culinary and social gathering hotspot on the Newport Beach Peninsula. Under the culinary direction of SoCal’s Chef Ray Alvarez, Palmilla offers vibrant Mexican dishes made with premium ingredients, a dynamic bar program featuring the largest selection of tequilas and mezcals in Orange County, and a lively atmosphere that transports locals and visitors to the coasts of Cabo San Lucas.
Palmilla Cocina Y Tequila features home-style Mexican cuisine featuring the freshest seafood and the finest cuts of beef, along with an amazing selection of premium tequilas, mezcals and globally inspired wines.
Jill Sprankle
Palmilla Cocina y Tequila was an excellent choice for dinner. Even though we didn’t have a reservation and it was very last minute, they were incredibly accommodating and found us a great spot at the bar. The bartender was super helpful and welcoming, which immediately set the tone for a great experience.
They start you off with complimentary fresh, warm tortillas served with delicious salsa and honey butter — such a standout touch. Everything we ordered was fresh and absolutely delicious. I had the fish tacos and was really happy with my choice, and the enchiladas ordered by others at our table were just as perfect.
The vibe inside is really cute — modern and cozy with a tropical flair — and the signature cocktails were fun and well-crafted. From the food to the service to the atmosphere, everything was spot on. Definitely a place I’d go back to!
… moreMaria Yu
Excellent food, very lively space. Feels like a Tulum day club. The complimentary flour tortillas were excellent, fresh on the table with salsa and whipped honey butter to start. Recommend the tacos and the surf and turf enchiladas.
… morekelly gilbert
Been dying to come try this spot out because i always see it when i go out in newport with friends! Finally scored a reservation with 2 girlfriends & was genuinely surprised. The food here was immaculate. They bring out hot tortillas instead of traditional chips— with a trio of salsa, guacamole, & a sweet butter (which was insanely good). Don’t be fooled though, it’s not complimentary like most mexican restaurants, as they will charge you for it! The drinks here were outstanding. I ordered an espresso martini & it was one of the better ones i’ve ever tried. My friend also got their raspberry mojito which i now wish i would’ve ordered because it was BOMB! They had a pretty decent variety of vegetarian options on the menu, as neither myself or friends eat any meat. I ordered the potato taquitos & my friend for the vegetable enchiladas. I’d rate both 8.5/10- pretty good, very spicy, but nothing too crazy or special. The only downside I’d say about this place is the actual space itself. Yes it’s very aesthetic and great for photos— but incredibly small! We were seated on a table the size of my nightstand for 3 people. If you don’t mind that aside— I enjoyed my visit and would definitely come back for the drinks themselves! Would recommend if you’re in the area and can get a reservation.
EDIT TO REVIEW: Update*** I came on halloween night with some friends since it seemed like a good crowd & I wanted to put my friends onto the raspberry mojitos! Long story short, the bartenders working halloween night were outrageously rude to not only my friends & i— but multiple people around us. I can understand it being overwhelming & annoying having to deal with a lot of people while working a holiday— but I used to work in the service industry & being rude is NEVER excusable. The girls in my group went up to order our drinks & a few moments later, one of us re-ordered the same drink —since one of our other friends tried it & liked it. Well the 2 men bartending acted like we were the biggest inconvenience of their night & told us we were going to wait because he wasn’t going to make multiple drink orders, since we should’ve all ordered at once. Then proceeded to tell the older gentleman next to me “I see you buddy, you’re gonna have to wait, I will get to you dude”. I mean my mind was honestly blown. To talk to customers that way is absolutely unacceptable, especially when everyone is being nothing but polite! I can honestly say I will most likely skip this place going forward due to how the staff thinks they can talk to paying customers— acting like we’re inconveniencing them for doing their job & expecting a tip afterward. There’s way too many good places to try, especially in newport, who will serve amazing drinks without an attitude!
… moreTam G (Tam)
I’ve been here before for dinner and drinks and enjoyed their mole and margaritas, but brunch was very disappointing. The coffee was just a basic brew, not hot, and came with small packaged milk ,surprising for a restaurant of this level. Service was inattentive despite the place being almost empty.
The worst part was my scrambled egg bowl. It looked fine at first, but underneath was half a cup of watery liquid that smelled off , very unappetizing. I had to move everything to another plate and leave the juice behind. Other dishes at our table were just okay, nothing memorable.
Ambience is still nice, and dinner may be better, but I definitely do not recommend brunch here.
… moreJoe Sandoval
Palmilla is so consistent and amazing! The short rib crunchy tacos are out of this world. And the fact that they have ice cold Happy Dad Fruit Punch to wash it down is next level! Also, go all three options of butter and salsas on your complimentary tortillas, you won’t be disappointed. Our server Roland was the best and the entire team here is top notch, Fabius was the manager and has his team providing great service, food and overall experience.
… moremeghan m
Vegans!! They have a vegan menu and it is DELICIOUS I’ve now had the vegan bowl and vegan enchiladas and WOW incredible. The enchiladas were perfect, came with a green rice that was unexpected and tasty. My mom (not vegan) decided to get the vegan enchiladas as well and absolutely loved them. We all left full and incredibly satisfied. I came for my birthday and our sever (i unfortunately forgot their name) had brown hair and floral tattoos she was so nice and went above and beyond for me. This place is beautiful and I felt very special. I will be back and bring all my friends here. 10/10
… moreGabs Jaan (Exploring)
I’m so happy that my girlfriend recommended this place. I have to say the food and the drinks were great . I had the cucumber jalapeño martini it was delicious. The service was absolutely amazing. Our bartender Alley was awesome and the atmosphere was annual occasion. Clean bathrooms with big mirrors to take some cute pics.
… moreQuynh Dao
I really wanted to love Palmilla. I made a trip to OC to celebrate with friends and it was an interesting experience to say the least. Service from the hosts and general manager were terrible! Our waitress was nice and sweet and she did a great job. But I can agree that it’s slow. Food wasn’t top tier but it was what’s expected. It reminded me of Casa Madera in West Hollywood… the TEMU version. The space was cute but crowded and not diverse at all. Weird crowd and vibe. Valet was great- nice friendly guys and it was convenient. Our reservation was at 6P, and although I appreciate the effort to squeeze us in (supposedly they’re booked and busy)… it wasn’t up to par. It was pretty empty and we weren’t seated until our reservation time and even that seemed like a struggle. As for the food… my favorite was the shrimp cocktail. We shared a variety of appetizers and played which also included steak fajitas, nachos , seafood enchiladas and short rib tacos. Prices were expensive but the plates were huge and had big portions.. I’d say we over ordered! They have a good drink menu, the drinks were aesthetic. I’d also suggest to skip dessert because the fried ice cream was a big disappointment (El torito’s version is superior) and it took a long time to receive it with the manager cleaning the table before we even finished it. Overall impression? Snobby for no reason and the experience fell flat.
… moreSarah Antoniadis
This place is so elite. I legitimately think about their flour tortillas daily. So so so good. I always sit at the bar- best service, friendly staff, and they take care of you. Drinks are fab. Ambiance is great. Highly recommend. Also, the valet guys are so nice.
… moreChinyere Okoli- Azzalarab
I recently dined at Palmilla Cocina y Tequila in Newport Beach, and it was a fantastic experience! The food was absolutely delicious, with a wonderful selection that really showcases the flavors of Mexican cuisine.
Reservations are definitely recommended if you want a table, as the place can get quite busy. However, if you don’t have a reservation, there’s a nice middle area where you can find seating and still enjoy the full menu.
The service was attentive, and the ambiance was vibrant, making for a great dining atmosphere. Plus, the valet parking made it easy to get in and out. I can’t wait to go back and try more dishes!
Highly recommend for anyone looking for a great meal in Newport Beach!
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