Make a Reservation at One of These Newport Beach Bayfront Restaurants for a Front-Row Seat!
The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is a seasonal staple for vessel-loving locals and visitors who want to experience the holidays on the harbor before the yuletides turn. We’re giving major props to all of the boat owners who go all out in the spirit of the season to make each parade bigger and brighter than the last. This year, the boat parade runs from Wednesday, Dec. 15 through Sunday, Dec. 19 with waterfront restaurants and bayview businesses offering prime real estate as seating for the big show. Here’s where to cozy up and watch the parade this year! Newport Beach Boat Parade
Mele Ka-Tiki-Maka
Happy Holidays from your favorite mai tai slingers! Reserve a table on Billy’s at the Beach’s new waterfront patio space or inside the cozy restaurant and lounge, so you can get your buzz on while watching the festivities unfold on the water. A mai tai is a must, but don’t sleep on their pupus like the coconut shrimp or cheese bread. If you need something to help soak up the pa-rum-pum pum pum, their huli huli chicken, pineapple-glazed pork chop or macadamia-crusted halibut will have you dreaming of Hawaii. With the festive decorations and carolers performing nightly, you’re guaranteed to have the best boat parade experience at Billy’s!
Newport Beach Boat Parade
Lido Drummer Buoy
Lido Marina Village offers an array of oceanfront offerings with bayside restaurants like Zinque, Nobu, Malibu Farm, Circle & Hook and Lido Bottle Works. But there are also plenty of nooks and crannies to cozy up in as the bedazzled boats float past. Get a cocktail to-go from Malibu Farm to keep your spirits bright (and your bellies warm) and post up on the Lido Marina Village deck to cheer on the passing parade. For the foodies in the group, our favorite dock-and-dine dishes are the burger from Zinque, the stone fruit and burrata salad at Lido Bottle Works, the chicken broccoli quesadilla from Malibu Farm and the fish and chips from Circle & Hook.
EXP 12/29
I’ll Be Ohm For Christmas
Models: Nikki Gerber, Sofia Freyre + Sage Guinaldo
NEWMARK
Want to really get in on the action? Rent an electric boat from Vision Electric Boat Rental to get up close and personal with the parade. Pop the champagne, turn on a holiday-inspired playlist and enjoy rocking around the Christmas sea. Vision Electric Boat Rental is offering a Christmas Boat Parade package for $795, which includes four hours of cruising for up to 10 people!
Newport Beach Boat Parade
The First Pinot-el
The Winery is a culinary staple in this coastal town, perfectly pairing farm-fresh, local ingredients with everyone’s favorite holiday essential: wine! Boasting some of the best parade views, diners can enjoy a delicious dinner on the bay featuring surf and turf options from short ribs and steaks to scallops and spiny lobster risotto. For a large party, request seating on their open-air patio, which includes two stone fireplaces and a retractable roof for the ultimate winter vibes.
Santa Bay-by
One of the best places to enjoy the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is on our own little slice of paradise, Balboa Island. With 360-degree views of the boat show, there’s no better place to parade. Enjoy dinner beforehand at one of the island’s hotspots—Snipe Island, Royal Hen or Ciao to name a few—and end your evening with a nightcap at The Village Inn.
Exp 12/30
Newport Beach Boat Parade
Anchors Aweigh
A+O Restaurant | Bar at Balboa Bay Resort
A+O Restaurant | Bar at Balboa Bay Resort is our final seaside selection for parade watching. The indoor/outdoor vibes of this hot spot make it the perfect place to jingle and mingle. Enjoy a drink outside by one of their fire pits or satisfy a craving with something off of their revolving menu of mouthwatering eats. They have a kids menu too, so bring the whole crew!
The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is a seasonal staple for vessel-loving locals and visitors who want to experience the holidays on the harbor before the yuletides turn. We’re giving major props to all of the boat owners who go all out in the spirit of the season to make each parade bigger and brighter than the last. This year, the boat parade runs from Wednesday, Dec. 15 through Sunday, Dec. 19 with waterfront restaurants and bayview businesses offering prime real estate as seating for the big show. Here’s where to cozy up and watch the parade this year! Newport Beach Boat Parade
