Because One Cocktail is an Intention. Two is a Commitment.

Newport Beach and Corona del Mar remain Southern California’s last strongholds of the two-martini dinner. These are establishments where ordering a cocktail before the menu arrives isn’t rebellion but ritual, and the second round signals commitment rather than excess. Down here, the ritual was held. The rooms are still dark, the bartenders still know the build and the second martini still feels like the point. Best Martinis in Newport Beach

This field guide covers Newport Beach and Corona del Mar’s most iconic cocktail-forward restaurants, listed alphabetically with martini recommendations, ordering intel and the clientele you’ll encounter. From Hollywood legacies to modern harbor-view haunts, we saved the one that started it all for last. 

 

A.

A Restaurant, The Oldest Room in the Game

Orange County’s oldest operating restaurant has been on West Coast Highway since 1926, and the room still earns it. Dark wood, leather booths, a fireplace and a bar that has seen decades of Newport regulars all set the scene at A Restaurant. The River Jetty group has several locations of this amazing restaurant but this is the original. The polish carries across all properties, but the original A Restaurant  carries more history. Order the Salty Pear Martini, and let it set the tone. On Monday and Friday nights, the kitchen makes the viral  chicken pot pie, a puff pastry- topped house classic that earns a second martini all on its own. 

Who you’ll see: the Newport old guard, longtime regulars and anyone who knows that the best rooms in town don’t always need a view.

A Restaurant
3334 W. Coast Hwy
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.650.6505
Su–Th, 5–10 p.m.; F–Sa, 5–11 p.m.

 

A Crystal Cove, Two-Dollar Oysters, Thirteen-Dollar Martinis, Every Monday Night

Monday has a reputation problem. It is the night everyone writes off, the one you spend recovering from the weekend instead of starting something. A Crystal Cove disagrees, and once you have sat at that bar with a cold martini in your hand and a plate of freshly shucked oysters in front of you, so will you.

Every Monday night, Executive Chef Elvis Morales shucks oysters to order at $2 each while the bar pours martinis for $13 with Friday-night precision. The room does not change on a Monday. The price does. It is one of the better ways to start a week: the after-work table of colleagues that turns into a two-hour dinner, the client meeting that needed a room with atmosphere, the deal that needed a good close. Order a round as they come off the shuck and let Chef Morales do the rest.

Who you’ll see: The after-work crowd, deal-closers who know a good room and anyone who has stopped writing off Mondays.

A Crystal Cove
7864 E. Coast Hwy.
Newport Coast, CA 92657
949.990.4574

 

C.

The Cannery, Over a Century on the Water, not always a restaurant.

The building has been part of Newport Beach since 1921, first as a working fish cannery and now as one of the harbor’s most enduring dining destinations. The Cannery sits right on the Rhine Channel in Cannery Village, with yachts gliding past the patio and a room that earns the word “waterfront” without overselling it. The Jellyfish Lounge upstairs runs happy hour daily from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Order the Mad Ketel, Ketel One Citroen Vodka, passionfruit, lemon and cane, and settle into the view. The sushi bar is an underrated move if you want to stay a while. 

Who you’ll see: Newport locals, boat owners and the kind of crowd that has been coming back for decades.

The Cannery
3010 Lafayette Ave
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.566.0060
Jellyfish Lounge: Su–Th, 3:30–8:30 p.m.; F–Sa, 3:30–9 p.m. | Happy Hour daily, 3:30–6 p.m.
Dinner: Su–Th, 5–8:30 p.m.; F–Sa, 5–9 p.m.
Lunch: W–F, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. | Brunch: Sa–Su, 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

 

Casa Dami, La Dolce Newport

European energy, a harbor breeze and an aperitivo that runs all night. Casa Damí serves small plates meant for sharing, and the cocktails keep pace. The Espresso Martini, Golden Eagle Vodka, espresso ristretto, Madagascar vanilla and sea salt, is the signature, and it is excellent: creamy, balanced and built for a long evening. The olive oil cake, finished with Meyer lemon, mascarpone cream and blackberry coulis, is the way to go on the food side. 

Who you’ll see: the younger, Euro-leaning Newport crowd that treats aperitivo as a sport.

CasaDamí
2210 Newport Blvd Ste 101
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.781.4644
M–Th 5–10 p.m.; F–Sa, 10 a.m.–11 p.m.; Su, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.

 

CDM Restaurant, Chef-Driven Everything

Stylish, light, and a touch more modern than its neighbors, with sun pouring through the windows by day and a low electronic hum by night. CdM Restaurant comes from the same River Jetty group as A Restaurant and A Crystal Cove, so the polish runs deep, and the cocktail program actually cooks, which is not a given in a coastal room. Order “The Bell” martini off their list. It has Meili Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, fresh lime Juice and a touch of simple syrup. It is a built, contemporary take rather than a stiff classic, and it works alongside the sliced ribeye and the charred octopus. The Parker House rolls, beurre de baratte and fleur de sel, are worth the carbs. 

Who you’ll see: the design-and-creative set and the younger Corona del Mar crowd.

CdM Restaurant
2325 E Coast Hwy
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
949.990.4823
Su–T, 4:30–9 p.m.; W–Th, 4:30–10 p.m.; F–Sa, 5–11 p.m.

 

F.

Five Crowns, The English Country Inn That Has Outlasted Everything

A replica of one of England’s oldest country inns, Five Crowns has been a Corona del Mar landmark since 1965 and has never needed to reinvent itself because it got it right the first time. Fireplaces, antiques, period paintings and the kind of warmth that makes the room feel like it has been waiting for you. Order a classic dry gin martini at the bar in SideDoor, the attached casual gastropub where happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Then move to the main dining room for prime rib, the bone-in ribeye or the lobster tail. The bread service alone justifies the reservation. This is a room where the second martini makes complete sense.

Who you’ll see: the CdM anniversary crowd, longtime locals and anyone who understands that a dining destination that has lasted 60 years earned it.

Five Crowns
3801 E Coast Hwy
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
949.760.0331
Su–Th, 4:30–9 p.m.; F–Sa, 4:30–9:30 p.m. | SideDoor Happy Hour: M–Th, 4:30–6 p.m.

 

G.

Gulfstream, Biscuits, Oysters & The Best Patio in Town

Gulfstream features Hillstone precision from the first pour to the last. They serve the martini ice cold in a frosted glass, and the detail that earns it a spot here is what happens next. When yours starts to warm, they bring a second chilled glass to the table and pour it over so it never goes soft on you. Order the Crisp Martini: Botanist gin, St. Germain, Sauvignon Blanc and freshly squeezed lemon juice, and start with the biscuits. Book ahead, because the wait runs long on a good night. 

Who you’ll see: Fashion Island regulars, lunch crowds that turned into dinner crowds, and a steady stream of Newport business tables.

Gulfstream
850 Avocado Ave
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.718.0188
M–Th, 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.; F–Sa, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Su, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. 

 

J.

Joey’s, Fashion Island’s Favorite After-Dark Hangout

At JOEY’s, they hand you a glass of champagne by the fire before you have even sat down, which tells you exactly what kind of night this wants to be. This see-and-be-seen room delivers a deep cocktail list and a kitchen that leans into seafood and surf and turf. Order the JOEY Martini once you are in. It is glossy and a little flashy, which is the right register for the place. Ask for a spot near the fire on the way in. 

Who you’ll see: influencers, young Newport money, and the see-and-be-seen set.

JOEY Newport Beach
453 Newport Center Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.826.5699
Su–Th, 11 a.m.–midnight; F–Sa, 11 a.m.–1 a.m.

 

L.

Louie’s By The Bay, Italian Steakhouse Goals, Harbor Views Included

Yachts out the window, steak and Italian on the table and a marina view that does most of the work. Louie’s BY THE BAY is Bond on the water, and it suits the slow boat-watching better than anything else on this list. Inspired by the extraordinary life of Louie Zamperini, the modern Italian steakhouse pairs elevated Italian cuisine with premium steaks, fresh seafood, handcrafted cocktails and panoramic bay views that make every visit memorable. Order the Louie’s ‘Caviar’ Martini, 25 Olive Brine Caviar Pearls, Blue Cheese Olives, 4 ounce side car, and choose your base. Who you’ll see: Boat owners, locals and the marina set.

Louie’s BY THE BAY
2801 W Coast Hwy
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.720.1800
Su–Th, 5–9 p.m.; F–Sa, 5–9:30 p.m.
Brunch: Sa–Su, 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Happy Hour: Daily, 4–6 p.m. | Wed. all night, 4 p.m.–close

 

M.

Mastros Ocean Club, The Scene Where Sequins Feel Appropriate

At Mastro’s Ocean Club, live piano carries the bar, the room is loud, glamorous and expensive on purpose, and the whole thing is engineered for a long, celebratory night. Order the Get Loose with the Goose. The reason to sit at the bar is simple: they leave the shaker on the table with the extra pour still in it, so the second one is already waiting. Commit to the bone-in ribeye and the lobster mac and cheese if the occasion calls for it.

Who you’ll see: The room most likely to seat a pro athlete, a reality-TV face or a developer toasting a close.

Mastro’s Ocean Club
8112 E Coast Hwy
Newport Beach, CA 92657
949.376.6990
M–W, 5–9:30 p.m.; Th–F, 5–10 p.m.; Sa, 4:30–10 p.m.; Su, 4:30–9:30 p.m.

 

N.

Nick’s, The Westcliff Weekday Regular

The polished, grown-up of the group, Nick’s is a neighborhood bistro that punches above its strip-center address. The service is warm, the room is comfortable and the kitchen is more dialed than it needs to be. Order the Crisp Martini, Malfy gin, Sauvignon Blanc, elderflower and lemon. No notes, just reliable, the kind of drink you can order on a Tuesday and feel taken care of. 

Who you’ll see: Westcliff neighborhood regulars and the dependable weeknight crowd.

Nick’s
1617 Westcliff Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.432.4420
M–W, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Th–Sa, 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Su, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 

 

O.

OCEAN 48, The Sexiest Seafood in Fashion Island

Ocean 48 features a glowing pool that anchors the patio, a serious raw bar and a room built for any occasion. Order the California Citrus Martini, St. George Citrus Vodka, peach and elderflower-infused Aperol, Carpano Bianco Vermouth, fresh-pressed lemon and orange bitters, open a dozen oysters and let the night build from there. The au gratin potatoes are the side to get, and they tend to make a fuss over a birthday if you mention one. 

Who you’ll see: the special-occasion and celebration crowd, the big-night tables.

Ocean 48
151 Newport Center Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.989.0048
M–Th, 4:30–9:45 p.m.; F–Sa, 4–10:15 p.m.; Su, 4–9:45 p.m.
Bar: Su–Th, 4–10:15 p.m.; F–Sa, 4–10:45 p.m. 

 

Q.

The Quiet Woman, Classically Cool Since 1965

At The Quiet Woman, the martini is the brand. They pour it oversized and send the extra out in a small sidecar of ice so your glass never empties before you are ready. It is a Corona del Mar institution with a cult following, intimate and a little raucous, with live music kicking in around 9 p.m. and a regular crowd that treats the place like a second living room. Order the Vesper Martini, Chopin, Nolet’s, Lillet and lemon peel, and lean all the way in. 

Who you’ll see: the Real Housewives of Orange County crowd, since the show has filmed here, and the CdM regulars who were holding down the bar long before the cameras showed up.

The Quiet Woman
3224 E Pacific Coast Hwy
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
949.640.7440
T–W, 5–11 p.m.; Th–Sa, 5 p.m.–midnight; Su, 5–9 p.m. 

 

R.

R&D Kitchen, Classic American, Impeccably Executed

Think the same Hillstone polish as Gulfstream, just one notch more casual and best taken at the bar counter. R+D Kitchen is lively without being loud, the service is sharp and the famous crispy chicken sandwich deserves all the hype. Order the lemon drop martini, and you have one of the great low-key combinations in Newport. If you take whiskey instead, ask about the ice, because they keep a proper large cube behind the bar. 

Who you’ll see: low-key locals, off-duty chefs and the in-the-know bar crowd.

R+D Kitchen
555 Newport Center Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.219.0555
M–Th, 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.; F–Sa, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Su, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

 

Rothschild’s, Fresh Italian Since ’77 

Candlelit and Italian, with walls covered in so much art it reads like a small gallery, Rothschild’s is the closest thing to a New York steakhouse martini room Newport has. It has been a Corona del Mar staple for decades, the kind of place couples come back to on anniversaries. Order The Classic Espresso Martini with vanilla vodka, baileys, kahlua and a little R for Rothchild’s sprinkled on. Sit in the bar later in the night when the music comes up. 

Who you’ll see: longtime Corona del Mar couples and the anniversary-and-art crowd.

Rothschild’s
2407 E Coast Hwy
Corona del Mar, CA 92625
949.673.3750
M & Su, 4–9 p.m.; Tu–Sa, 4–10 p.m.; F–Sa bar until midnight 

 

T.

21 Oceanfront, Tuxedos, Tides and the Newport Pier

And the one that started it all for many of us. 21 Oceanfront sits right on the oceanfront across from the Newport Pier. Open since 1991, this Newport Beach institution is housed in the landmark McFadden Building, one of the oldest structures on the Balboa Peninsula. It’s dark and classy inside, with a doorman checking reservations before you reach the dining room and a live singer working the bar most nights of the week. Get there before the sun drops so you catch it going down over the water, then settle into a booth and stay.

Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday, 4–6 p.m. in the bar and lounge. The house move, and regulars have been ordering it this way for years, is the Cucumber Martini: Effen Cucumber Vodka, simple syrup and lime juice. Pair it with the escargot, and you have the truest two-martini start in the city. 

Who you’ll see: the Newport old guard and the yacht-club set, couples who have been booking the same booth for thirty years.

21 Oceanfront
2100 W Oceanfront
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.673.2100
Bar opens daily at 4 p.m. | Happy Hour: M–Th, 4–6 p.m.
Dinner: Su–Th, 4–9:30 p.m.; F–Sa, 4–10 p.m. 

 

A Few House Rules

Sit at the bar at least once: The best version of every one of these rooms is the bar, where the pour runs heavier and the conversation runs better.

Order the second one before you think you want it: The whole idea is the room and the hour, not the rush to the check.

Tip like the regular you are about to become: That is how the carafe shows up next time without you having to ask.

Questions People Ask 

What is a two-martini lunch, and how is it different from a three-martini lunch?

The three-martini lunch was the midcentury business ritual, the long, boozy midday meal that Wall Street and Madison Avenue turned into a symbol of success in the 1950s and 1960s. The two-martini version is its more civilized descendant, dialed for dinner rather than the workday. The math matters less than the spirit of it. You take a real table, order a proper martini and let the night breathe. You order the second one because the evening earned it.

What is the difference between a dirty martini and a dry martini?

A dry martini uses very little vermouth, which lets the gin or vodka lead. Ask for it extra dry, and you get next to no vermouth at all. A dirty martini adds a splash of olive brine, which makes it salty and savory and is usually served with olives in the glass. Order it extra dirty for more brine. The two are not mutually exclusive, so you can absolutely order a dry, dirty martini, which is what a lot of the regulars on this list do.

Where can you get the best martini in Newport Beach and Corona del Mar?

It depends on what you mean by best. For the biggest pour, The Quiet Woman serves it oversized with the extra in a sidecar. For ceremony, Mastro’s leaves the shaker on the table. If you prefer a crisp, gin-forward pour, Gulfstream’s Crisp Martini, Botanist gin, St. Germain, Sauvignon Blanc and fresh lemon juice is the move. If you’re a history buff, A Restaurant has been pouring them on West Coast Highway since 1926. For waterfront atmosphere, The Cannery does it right on the Rhine Channel. Five Crowns in Corona del Mar provides a classic room that has earned every inch of its reputation. For the classic on the oceanfront, 21 Oceanfront is the move. You will not go wrong at any of them. 

Do you need a reservation, and is there a dress code?

For the marquee rooms, yes, book ahead. Mastro’s, 21 Oceanfront and Gulfstream all fill up on a good night, and a weekend without a reservation is a gamble. Dress code runs smart-casual at most of these spots. A jacket is rarely required, but you will never feel overdressed in one. If you would rather not commit to a table, the bar is usually first-come, and at most of these rooms, the bar is the better seat anyway.