Overlooking the beautiful Newport Harbor, Lighthouse Cafe offers a stunning waterfront dining experience. This popular destination serves brunch and dinner daily, featuring an eclectic menu of New American and fresh seafood dishes. Located in Marina Park on the Balboa Peninsula, the restaurant provides a perfect seaside escape with its rooftop deck, fire features, and convenient dockside access for those arriving by boat. It’s the ideal spot to enjoy a meal with breathtaking views in a vibrant, coastal atmosphere.
Airy eatery with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering eclectic American eats, a deck & bay vistas.
Sarah Nunes
Lupita greeted us with a genuine smile and like she was welcoming us into her own home. Angel took our order after delivering water to our entire party of 6. Very quickly we were served our lattes and fresh squeezed orange juice followed by the best eggs Benedict I have ever eaten. The lemon blueberry pancakes are a must try and the cinnamon French toast was delicious! Food was served quickly, piping hot and beautifully plated. We were able to give our compliments directly to Chef Francisco who came out to meet us after Andrew(manager) let him know we had a retired Chef with us. Service, Food and atmosphere are all top notch! We will be back soon!
… moreGrace C
We enjoyed sitting outside on their patio. It was a bit crowded even for a Friday but i guess everyone has the same idea with it being a nice day out. Service was good. Mary was sweet. Food was meh.
Lobster roll- appreciated that it was warm, but both the lobster and roll was DRY. We ended up using all the butter it came with to try to moisten it. Definitely have had better. We used to love going to Hook and Anchor but they moved to Costa Mesa.
Clam chowdwr- loved the flavor of it. Just needed more clams.
… moreAmanda D
Amazing place for brunch with a view. Mary our server was amazing, attentive and kind. The food was great, as was the drinks. Parking is available as well. Andrew the manager was also great, and accommodating. We will definitely be back. 100% reccomended for brunch
… moreLauren Rangel
Great first time!! My lighthouse Benedict was fabulous! Some of the best hollandaise sauce I’ve ever had!! To top it off the manager, Andrew, and my server, Ada, were both extremely friendly and attentive! Will definitely be coming back!
… moreJake Wyatt
My fiancé, myself and both our families had the absolute pleasure of celebrating our post-proposal Valentine’s Day dinner at The Lighthouse Cafe this year, and I truly can’t imagine a more perfect place for such a special night. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere felt warm, inviting, and celebratory. The staff went above and beyond to make the evening feel personal and meaningful, and their attention to detail did not go unnoticed. Special shoutout the manager Andrew for accommodating our group and all the details leading up to the big day, Kim for being the most wonderful hostess to greet us and tend to any last minute requests we had and the staff for being so attentive and polite from the start to the finish of the evening!
The food was outstanding, perfectly prepared, and memorable in every way. And can’t forget the amazing selection of drinks! Every course added to what was already one of the most important nights of our lives. What really set the experience apart, though, was how genuinely kind and accommodating everyone was. They helped make the night feel effortless, fun, and as special as it possibly could have been.
If you’re planning a proposal, an anniversary, Valentine’s Day, or simply want a beautiful waterfront setting with incredible food and service, I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. It will always hold a special place in our hearts. Five stars all the way.
… moreArmen Khechadoorian
It was beyond my expectations! The food quality was on par with Bayside Restaurant. I wasn’t a fan of the shrimp cocktail at first, but I still finished it—it had such an interesting and exciting flavor . The building was beautiful, and the staff truly cared about their guests.
… moreTrish Wright
We stopped in for breakfast on our way to the airport. It was dead and the weather was overcast. I bet this place and view are amazing when it’s clear out. We sat outside in an area for great views. The service was spectacular. Both our waiter and the host were very attentive and friendly. You have to pay for parking as it’s at a marina. Another reviewer mentioned the restrooms being at the front of the marina. I thought they were pretty clean and didn’t have an issue walking just a bit further. Now the food-good portions. The clam chowder was amazing. It was the star of the meal. It was peppery and just delightful. Best I’ve ever had. The avocado toast was ok. It lacked some real flavor. The salad it came with was mellow and fresh. The chorizo Benedict was good. It had good flavor and the chorizo wasn’t oily. Eggs were perfectly poached. The potatoes they came with were good as well.
… moredalia alqaseer
We recently had the absolute joy of hosting our wedding dinner at this wonderful restaurant, and I honestly don’t think words can fully capture how special the entire experience was – but I’ll try.
From the very beginning, communication was seamless and reassuring. David was truly exceptional throughout the planning process. Every email, every question, every last-minute detail was handled with such care and professionalism. He made us feel completely at ease and genuinely excited leading up to the big day. His responsiveness and attention to detail were invaluable, and it felt like he was just as invested in our day as we were.
On the day of the event, Andrew stepped in as our point person, and we could not have asked for a more organized, calming, and thoughtful presence. He orchestrated the evening with grace and precision, ensuring everything flowed effortlessly — from our arrival to the final toast. It’s rare to find someone who can manage logistics so smoothly while also making you feel personally cared for, but Andrew did just that.
And of course, we must mention Dave and Xochi, who delivered outstanding service with such warmth and genuine hospitality. They were absolutely amazing — attentive without being intrusive, always present when needed, and full of positive energy that truly added to the atmosphere. You could feel that they weren’t just doing a job, they were helping create memories, and that means so much.
Every dish was perfect, every glass was full, and every guest left with a smile. But more than that, we left with the feeling that our wedding dinner wasn’t just an event on a calendar — it was treated with heart.
To David, Andrew, Dave, Xochi, and the entire team: thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You gave us a night we will treasure forever.
Thanks ☺️
… moreEric Ghahermanian
Food was average, the view is relaxing but it took almost an hour to get out 2 entrees. People who sat same time as us got their food and paid and left and we didn’t get our food yet. The server didn’t even do anything and just said they went from lunch to dinner. She didn’t offer anything to fix it just acted rushed and brought the check. Good was average. Not worth the price at all 1 iced tea, a grilled artichoke and 2 entrees were about $100.
… moreYoung Labrutto
Dining right next to the beach, overlooking the ocean, was such a romantic and lovely experience — definitely the highlight of our visit. The food itself wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t particularly impressive either. One downside was the restroom situation — we had to use a public restroom nearby, which was a bit inconvenient. Overall, the place had a nice vibe, but nothing too memorable aside from the view.
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