By Jacqueline Thompson
Laguna Beach has been an artists' colony since the early 1900s, and that spirit still runs through everything here — the galleries lining Pacific Coast Highway, the restaurants carved into the cliffs, the evening light that makes the whole town look like a painting. I've spent two decades working in this coastal market, and Laguna Beach after a beach day is one of those experiences that reminds you exactly why people pay what they pay to live here. Here's where I'd send you.
Key Takeaways
- Laguna Beach's art scene, dining, and waterfront parks make for a genuinely rich afternoon and evening after the beach crowds thin out
- Heisler Park, the Laguna Art Museum, and the First Thursdays Art Walk are among the top local experiences
- The restaurant options along Pacific Coast Highway and in the Laguna Village offer everything from casual seaside bites to fine dining with unobstructed ocean views
- The Montage Laguna Beach and Surf & Sand Resort are the top choices for a spa experience or sunset drink without leaving the coast
The Art Scene: What Makes Laguna Different From Every Other Beach Town
Laguna Beach has more than 100 galleries and a cultural infrastructure that most cities twice its size would envy. The Laguna Art Museum, founded by local artists in 1918, anchors the scene with a collection focused on California art across all periods. The First Thursdays Art Walk runs on the first Thursday of every month from 6 to 9 p.m. — more than 40 galleries participate, offering artist receptions, live music, and demonstrations, with free trolley service running between locations throughout the evening. The Laguna Art Museum also offers free admission during this event.
For summer visitors, the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters is one of the most distinctive events in Southern California. The Pageant re-creates famous works of art with live performers, and in 2026 the production is themed "The Greatest of All Time." The Sawdust Art Festival, running the same summer season, features more than 200 local artists and offers hands-on classes in ceramics, glass, and jewelry alongside the exhibits.
Top Art and Culture Stops in Laguna Beach
- Laguna Art Museum — California art from the 19th century to present day, on the coastline just north of Main Beach
- First Thursdays Art Walk — monthly, free, with 40-plus galleries participating and free trolley service linking them throughout the evening
- Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters — summer season, one of the most distinctive cultural productions in Southern California
- Sawdust Art Festival — summer season, 200-plus local artists, hands-on classes available alongside exhibits
Where to Eat and Drink After the Beach
Laguna Beach's restaurant scene is anchored by the view, which is both its greatest asset and an occasional distraction from the food. The Deck on Laguna Beach is an oceanfront restaurant where the waves break directly below the dining area — seafood, sunsets, and a setting that earns its reputation. Las Brisas offers traditional Mexican cuisine with sweeping ocean views from its cliffside perch on the PCH. For something more casual and locally beloved, the Laguna Canyon Winery offers wine tastings of estate-crafted wines in a setting that feels genuinely removed from the tourist track.
The Rooftop Lounge at the historic Hotel La Casa del Camino is Laguna Beach's only rooftop bar — a compact, atmospheric spot above the PCH with coastline views that are worth a stop on any evening. For fine dining within a five-star setting, the Montage Laguna Beach's dining program sits on a clifftop overlooking the ocean and represents the top end of what coastal Orange County dining has to offer.
Top Dining and Drinking Destinations
- The Deck on Laguna Beach — oceanfront dining with the surf directly below, top choice for fresh seafood and sunset views
- Las Brisas — cliffside Mexican cuisine on the PCH with sweeping ocean views, a Laguna Beach institution
- The Rooftop Lounge at Hotel La Casa del Camino — the only rooftop bar in Laguna Beach, compact and atmospheric with coastline views
- Montage Laguna Beach dining — clifftop fine dining within a five-star resort setting, the top end of the market
- Laguna Canyon Winery — on-site crafted wines in a setting that feels far removed from the main tourist strip
Parks, Walks, and Winding Down Outdoors
Heisler Park is the best place in Laguna Beach to be in the late afternoon. The half-mile paved path runs along the bluffs above North Laguna's cove beaches, lined with public art installations and open to the kind of ocean views that remind you why this town has attracted artists for over a century. Stairs lead down to several cove beaches directly from the park, and the light in the hour before sunset here is extraordinary.
For something more active after the beach, the Top of the World hike in the hills above town offers panoramic views over the Laguna Beach coastline and Saddleback Mountain — a well-worn local favorite that earns its name.
Outdoor Wind-Down Options
- Heisler Park — half-mile blufftop walk with public art, ocean views, and stair access to cove beaches below
- Top of the World — popular hillside hike with panoramic coastline and mountain views, a local institution
- Main Beach — central, walkable, and surrounded by restaurants and shops for an easy transition from beach to evening
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the First Thursdays Art Walk in Laguna Beach?
It's a free monthly cultural event on the first Thursday of every month from 6 to 9 p.m. More than 40 galleries participate, offering artist receptions, live music, and demonstrations throughout the evening, with free trolley service linking locations across town. The Laguna Art Museum also offers free admission during the event. It's one of the best ways to experience what makes Laguna Beach genuinely different from other coastal towns.
What is the best restaurant in Laguna Beach for a sunset view?
The Deck on Laguna Beach and Las Brisas are the two most consistently recommended for sunset dining with ocean views. The Deck puts you directly above the surf, while Las Brisas offers a wider panorama from its cliffside position on the PCH. For the most elevated experience overall, the Montage Laguna Beach's clifftop dining is in its own category.
Is Laguna Beach worth visiting outside of summer?
Absolutely — and many locals prefer it. The galleries, restaurants, Heisler Park, and the broader town are active year-round, and the crowds thin considerably outside of summer. The Laguna Canyon Winery, First Thursdays Art Walk, and the restaurant scene all run year-round. Whale watching off the coast offers different species depending on the season — blue and humpback whales in summer and fall, gray whales in winter and spring.
Contact Jacqueline Thompson Today
Laguna Beach is one of the most compelling real estate markets on the California coast — and one of the most personal. The art culture, the restaurants, the coastline, and the community are inseparable from the value of owning here.
Reach out to me, Jacqueline Thompson, and let's talk about what Laguna Beach real estate looks like for you. With two decades of experience and over $2.3 billion in career sales across Laguna Beach, Newport Coast, Newport Beach, and Shady Canyon, I know this market and this lifestyle at a level that makes a real difference for my clients.
