Grab a Drink and Enjoy an Ocean Breeze at These Local Restaurants and Bars
It’s Surf City’s favorite time of year! If you’re heading to Huntington Beach for the 2024 US Open of Surfing, you’re in for more than just world-class wave riding. This iconic event draws the largest crowds of the summer to the birthplace of California surfing. And the crowds don’t just come for the competition but also for the beach party vibes that go with it.
This epic Huntington Beach event is taking place Aug. 3-11, and trust us—you don’t want to miss it! The US Open of Surfing’s Beach Bar and the Pacifico Surf Deck will be cracking open Pacificos, but you can also mozy across Pacific Coast Highway to chic oceanfront restaurants and laid-back beachside bars. Huntington’s surf culture put this city on the map, so it only makes sense that the downtown dining scene encapsulates everything we love about this beach town. So, without further adieu, here are nine places to eat and drink during the 2024 US Open of Surfing.
Sandbar Cocina y Tequila
Hop from the sand to Sandbar Cocina y Tequila. This casita-style restaurant knows how to go from day to night. The atmosphere leans upscale and feels like a Mexico resort when you’re sipping muddled fruit margaritas on their streetside patio. Legendary drink bowls are guaranteed fun—not to mention great for groups after a beach day. If you’re watching the US Open between Monday and Friday, Sandbar is the happy hour hotspot. Specials run on Pacificos and craft cocktails all the way till 6:30 pm. Then, DJs take over by night, making Sandbar one of Huntington’s hottest nightlife spots.
Sandy’s Beach Shack
Sandy’s Beach Shack is your classic coastal diner. It’s casual enough to wear your flip flops to and sits directly on the Huntington Boardwalk for easy access from the US Open. Sandy’s is modeled after beach parties in the 1950s and brings it back to basics with an all-American menu. It’s family-friendly and even fur-buddy-friendly. Their dog menu even donates proceeds to Huntington Dog Beach! Request a patio table under playful rainbow string lights for beach views, or grab a barstool to try one of the 25 beers on tap. We love an ice-cold Pacifico, but Sandy’s is also known for its mai tais.
Ola Mexican Kitchen
Ride the wave just past the pier, and you’ll find Ola Mexican Kitchen in Pacific City. “Ola” is Spanish for wave, which makes this oceanfront eatery the perfect place to sip back and relax after a day at the US Open. Boasting panoramic ocean views from the second-story patio and insanely delicious taco platters, Ola has become a Huntington favorite, and for good reason. Don’t get us wrong, the margaritas here are to die for, but you can’t overlook the draft selections, including Pacificos served by the pint. It’s not backed by science, but a Pacifico overlooking the Pacific just makes sense—especially when it’s happy hour. A Pacifico on draft and three street tacos are just $15.
The Brant
When your craving for ice-cold beers and burgers kicks in, walk your way over to one of Huntinton’s new hideaways. The Brant is an elevated American restaurant and bar that opened last year, just across from Huntington City Beach. It’s polished without being pretentious, with a simple and clean interior design. And let’s be real: floor-to-ceiling windows are all you can really ask for when it comes to beachfront aesthetics. Amongst the famous Brant Burger are premium plates of filet mignon and seared halibut, which makes The Brant the best option for a night out after the US Open.
Pacific Hideaway
Sophisticated charm meets SoCal beach vibes at Pacific Hideaway, where you can brunch between surf series! Bask in an ocean breeze and dine from a scratch kitchen that’s open from sunrise to well past sunset. This restaurant is part of the Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort, and the menu highlights Latin-Asian fusion cuisine that you won’t find at any other surfside eatery, all thanks to Executive Chef Coenen. Coenen has quite the resume, including creating a James Beard Award-winning restaurant. And like the menu, Pacific Hideaway’s design is unique and playful with blue tiled floors lining the patio and floral murals across the walls. The Blown Out Breakfast Bagel is the best hangover cure, but the pan-seared scallops and crispy whole snapper are delicious dinner options.
Duke’s Huntington Beach
Experience island hospitality steps from the sand and surf at Duke’s. This beachfront restaurant in Huntington Beach is known for bringing surf culture to the California coast in 1925 when Duke Kahanamoku brought the Hawaiian sport to the mainland. For this reason, it only feels right to dine at Duke’s during the 2024 US Open. The barefoot tiki bar optimizes the laid-back aloha vibe, while the dining room is perfect for an ohana-style dinner. We love the fish tacos and Guava Daiquiri, but you can’t skip the Hula Pie.
Fred’s Mexican Cafe
No one does Mexican food quite like Fred’s. From the stemmed margarita glasses to authentic queso dip, Fred’s hits the spot for traditional south-of-the-border dining. This traditional Surf City taqueria is on the second story of the Pierside Pavilion on Main Street and boasts views of the break from the patio. The atmosphere is high energy, and the vibe is as casual as Huntington Beach itself. Order a Pacifico, and you’ll fit in just like a local!
Jolie
Rooftop cocktails?! Say less. Jolie is one of the newest restaurants in Huntington Beach that is making bold moves with a menu of elevated coastal plates, a beautiful and natural design and views of the pier. This chic restaurant will captivate you with its refined brunch, lunch, and dinner offerings, complemented by a selection of meticulously crafted cocktails. Kick off your dining experience with a chilled Pacifico or blueberry watermelon margarita. Then, delight in starters such as the spicy tuna crispy rice stack, calamari and black mussels. For your main course, you can’t go wrong with the lobster roll, prime rib dip or the Wagyu strip.
The Bungalow
Last but definitely not least is The Bungalow. This oceanfront bar is where everyone will be mixing and mingling before, during and after the competition. Designed like a dreamy coastal beach house, The Bungalow is the ultimate spot for a craft cocktail and a view. We wouldn’t be surprised if the surfers themselves winded up here after the US Open. The second-story patio boasts ocean views and plenty of lounge vignettes to watch the surf. As for what to order, Bear Flag Fish Co. caters during the day, and for drinks, we like to keep it casual with a Pacifico in the summertime!
