The Cliff Restaurant in Laguna Beach, California, offers a dining experience that feels as memorable as the coastline it overlooks. Set against sweeping ocean views, this inviting restaurant blends the relaxed charm of an outdoor eatery with the polish of a destination known for its seafood-leaning American cuisine, thoughtful service, and welcoming atmosphere.
Whether guests arrive for breakfast with a view, a leisurely brunch, a lively lunch, or a romantic dinner, The Cliff delivers a setting that makes every visit feel special.
Its reputation is backed by strong customer praise, with a 4.40 out of 5 rating from 4,501 reviews, reflecting the consistent quality and appeal that keep locals and visitors returning.
What makes The Cliff especially compelling is the range of experiences it offers. Guests can enjoy outdoor seating, dine-in service, takeout, delivery, and on-site service, making it easy to fit the restaurant into any occasion.
The menu brings together comfort food, healthy options, happy-hour drinks and food, and a well-rounded selection of alcohol, beer, cocktails, coffee, and wine.
The restaurant is also known for its great beer selection, great cocktails, great coffee, and great wine list, along with fast service, live music, a fireplace, and a focus on local specialties that add a sense of place to the meal.
With breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, table service, and catering available, The Cliff is designed to be a dependable choice for both everyday dining and larger celebrations.
Accessibility and guest comfort are clearly a priority here. The restaurant includes a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating, and toilet, along with an assistive hearing loop, helping more guests enjoy the experience with ease and confidence.
Amenities such as Wi‑Fi, free Wi‑Fi, a bar on site, and restroom access add to the convenience, while the atmosphere strikes a balance between casual, cozy, lively, romantic, and trendy.
Planning is made simple with reservation acceptance, card and NFC mobile payment options, and the expectation that there is usually a wait — a sign of a place that is genuinely in demand.
Located at 577 S Coast Hwy in Laguna Beach, The Cliff Restaurant stands out as a welcoming coastal destination where great food, beautiful views, and attentive hospitality come together to create a truly satisfying dining experience.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at The Cliff Restaurant
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
All your breakfast favorites wrapped up in a warm flour tortilla: bacon, chorizo, eggs, potatoes, refried beans, and cheese, with avocado. Served with our house-made Pico de Gallo.
Locally sourced bagel topped with velvety cream cheese, salmon, crisp red onion, and capers. Accompanied by cucumber, tomato, and avocado.
Our signature Cliff waffle crowned with crispy fried chicken and paired with savory gravy and maple syrup---sweet, salty, and oh-so-satisfying.
Fluffy scrambled eggs, savory ham, and melted cheese stacked on a buttery croissant. Comes with breakfast potatoes or fresh fruit.
Your morning, your way. Two eggs cooked to your liking with your choice of breakfast potatoes or fruit and choice of sausage, bacon, or ham.
The nachos of breakfast! Crispy Have-A-Chips smothered with cheese, and topped with two eggs any style, guacamole, sour cream, and refried beans.
Cozy and comforting: served with brown sugar, dried cranberries, and our house-made candied pecans.
A vibrant mix of Sambazon acai, pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, chia seeds, topped with granola, coconut, and a drizzle of honey.
A classic done right: poached eggs, Canadian bacon, and creamy Hollandaise on a toasted English muffin.
Fresh and flavorful with tomato, spinach, and avocado, finished with our zesty Hollandaise.
West Coast indulgence with sweet crab meat, avocado and velvety Hollandaise.
A hearty mix of Canadian bacon, brie, mushrooms, spinach, sweet onions, and garlic, finished with a dollop of sour cream.
t crab, creamy Havarti cheese, and fresh avocado, all drizzled with silky Hollandaise.
Dive into this savory sensation! Vodka and our zesty Bloody Mary mix set the stage, while a garden of goodies steals the show---crisp celery, tangy olives, pickled veggies, and a strip of crispy bacon. But wait, there's more! A juicy poached shrimp and a show-stopping snow crab claw make this cocktail a full-on seafood celebration. Sip it, snack it, and let the good times flow!
Bubbly, bright, and full of sunshine! Sparkling champagne meets a splash of fresh orange juice for the ultimate brunch companion. One sip, and you'll feel like you're sipping on pure sunshine---cheers to endless vibes and good times!
Hear from our valued guests
My wife and I have literally been to The Cliff at least 100 times. The food is always outstanding, the staff and service is the best. They will always find a way to accommodate reasonable requests and will make things right if on the off chance something isn’t as expected. You can’t beat the the happy hour deals and of course the live music is second to none!!!
Food was super tasty! View was beautiful. Not too expensive! Lots of cute shops right next to the restaurant. Highly recommend!
Loved my fish and chips. A chill place by the water. Can’t beat the view. They also have a dog menu which we loved
Amazing experience overall. When we arrived, we were told the wait time was about one hour. I explained that I really could not wait that long, and the staff was incredibly helpful and found a table for us much faster than expected. That alone made a great first impression. Our table did not have a perfect ocean view, but honestly, I loved it. It felt peaceful, relaxed, and comfortable, which made the experience even better. We ordered the calamari steak, fish and chips, and carbonara. Everything was absolutely delicious. The calamari steak was perfectly cooked and very flavorful, the fish and chips were crispy and fresh, and the carbonara was rich, creamy, and done just right. My mom and I both loved the food a lot and truly enjoyed every bite. Great service, amazing food, and a very welcoming atmosphere. Definitely a place we would come back to again. Highly recommended when visiting Laguna Beach 🌊🍽️
Definitely worth the drive, so beautiful 😍. We came here on a Saturday afternoon and it was busy but we waited less than 20 minutes for a table. Our view was amazing and the food and drinks were absolutely delicious 🤤. Great for a date breakfast lunch or dinner with spectacular views of Laguna Beach! Treat yourself at least once in this life and go to The Cliff.
This place defines coastal dining in Laguna Beach. The Cliff Restaurant sits high above the Pacific with sweeping ocean views that instantly slow you down. It is the perfect backdrop for lunch, dinner, or sunset cocktails, and one of the best vantage points on the coast. The poke bowls are a standout. Fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared with top tier ingredients. You can taste the quality in every bite, light yet satisfying, and ideal for an oceanfront meal. Service was smooth and welcoming, striking the right balance between attentive and relaxed. The atmosphere feels elevated but never stuffy, making it easy to settle in and enjoy the moment. If you are searching for great food with a true ocean view in Laguna Beach, this is a must visit.
The view was amazing I didn't like the fisjmh b chips they were a bit greasy and too much breaded crust ..not enough fish but my family got different diseases and they alm liked their food..
This is a place I have visited many times, and everyone I’ve brought along has genuinely enjoyed it. We have tried a variety of dishes without repeating the same menu, and consistently found the food to be well-prepared and satisfying across the board. With its open view of the ocean, it is an ideal setting for a relaxed meal and unhurried, intimate conversation. I would certainly recommend it for those seeking a peaceful and scenic dining experience. That said, the service leaves much to be desired. It is often difficult to catch the staff’s attention, and they tend to appear busy and somewhat inattentive. With this in mind, I would recommend visiting primarily for the atmosphere rather than the service.
I got the tacos and they were fantastic! We got a couple of appetizers for the table and they were really delicious as well. the atmosphere was fantastic. it was a friday night and there was live music that was fun and created a great ambiance. The sun set was glorious. the sky, sea, and sunset continued to change the colors of the sky and the ocean as it set and then disappeared. he really was a fantastic night. And I would go there again, any time i'm back in town!
Make sure to come either with a reservation or off peak hours to enjoy the seaside balcony view that the establishment has to offer. Now to start off, we ordered the caesar salad, calamari steak, fish tacos, seafood carbonara and clam chowder. The salad's vegetables were fresh with the right crunch from the bits of bacon put in between with the sauce. Next, the calamari steak had a fine amount of batter crust on the top of the squid meat to give it a splendid paring within the mouth. As for the fish tacos, the right amount of fish, vegetables and some fresh avocado is a "must" order as well. Last but not least, the seafood carbonara has fresh crab meat within, going well with the freshly made pasta and parmesan cheese. With this in mind, the ambiance of the restaurant is fabulous as the view is not only a exemplary view of Laguna Beach but the cool breeze from the ocean brings any good given day to a great one.
Common questions about The Cliff Restaurant
The Cliff Restaurant is located at 577 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651, United States, Laguna Beach, CA, United States.
You can reach The Cliff Restaurant by calling +1 949-494-1956.
The Cliff Restaurant has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 based on 4501 customer reviews.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet, Assistive hearing loop.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following from the business: Identifies as women-owned.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following service options: Outdoor seating, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in, Delivery.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following highlights: Fast service, Fireplace, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Great coffee, Great wine list, Live music, Serves local specialty, Sport.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following popular for: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Happy-hour drinks, Happy-hour food, Healthy options, Late-night food, Private dining room, Small plates, Spirits, Vegetarian options, Wine.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following dining options: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom, Wi-Fi, Free Wi-Fi.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Lively, Romantic, Trendy.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following crowd: Family friendly, Groups, LGBTQ+ friendly, Tourists.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following planning: Usually a wait, Accepts reservations.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following children: Good for kids, Has changing table(s), High chairs, Kids' menu.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following parking: Free street parking, On-site parking, Paid parking lot, Paid street parking, Somewhat difficult to find a space, Valet parking.
The Cliff Restaurant features the following pets: Dogs allowed, Dogs allowed inside, Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
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