Top 10 Restaurants in Orange County

What is it? Marché Moderne sits on Pacific Coast Highway, a ten-minute walk from the Newport Harbor waterfront. It is a fine dining destination that holds a Michelin star.

Why we love it: This restaurant balances its creative French roots with the high-end rigor required of a Michelin-starred kitchen. Its location offers a rare, deliberate quiet, pulling diners away from the nearby commercial bustle of Fashion Island and into a space that feels more like an intentional retreat than a typical roadside establishment.

Good to Know: Marché Moderne requires a smart and elegant dress code, so save the casual beachwear for your walk along the Newport Beach coastline.

What is it? Napa Rose sits at 1600 Disneyland Dr, just a short walk from Disneyland Park. The restaurant holds a Michelin star and a Wine Spectator Excellence Award.

Why we love it: It manages the high-wire act of contemporary, farm-to-table fine dining while positioned only a few hundred meters from the gates of Disney California Adventure Park. The kitchen leans into French influences, providing a rare sense of quiet within an otherwise high-energy district.

Good to Know: Napa Rose enforces a smart and elegant dress code, so plan for a polished look rather than park-ready casual wear.

What is it? Splashes Restaurant sits at 1555 S Coast Hwy in Laguna Beach, a ten-minute walk from the Laguna Art Museum. The restaurant holds a Wine Spectator Excellence Award and features a menu rooted in seafood, contemporary, and South American influences.

Why we love it: The terrace layout earns its high marks from nearly a thousand diners who prioritize the combination of fine dining and proximity to the water. It offers a rare marriage of high-end South American-inflected seafood and a refined, romantic setting that remains accessible just off the main coastal thoroughfare.

Good to Know: Given the seaside location and the focus on seafood, the wine list at Splashes Restaurant leans heavily into crisp whites and coastal pairings that cut through the richness of the kitchen's South American preparations.

What is it? Nobu Newport Beach is a fine dining restaurant at 3450 Via Oporto #101, located a five-minute walk from the Newport Harbor waterfront. It offers a menu centered on Japanese, sushi, and seafood.

Why we love it? The restaurant delivers a high-end experience that justifies its expensive price tier, bolstered by a 4.68 rating from 980 reviews. It is a fifteen-minute drive from the Sherman Library & Gardens and sits just over a mile from the retail hub of Fashion Island, providing a central but distinct luxury destination in Orange County.

Good to Know: The smart and elegant dress code is strictly observed for guests arriving via the valet at Nobu Newport Beach.

What is it? Ammatoli sits on East 3rd Street in Long Beach, roughly a ten-minute walk from the city's downtown core. It is an award-winning Middle Eastern, Lebanese, and Mediterranean restaurant that claims the no. 35 spot on the L.A. Times 101 Best Restaurants list.

Why we love it: While many restaurants in the region prioritize either scale or convenience, Ammatoli leans into a fine dining atmosphere with a terrace that feels distinct from the surrounding streetscape. The kitchen maintains a consistently high bar, evidenced by a 4.81 guest rating across more than 1,600 reviews, proving that its approach to Mediterranean staples resonates well beyond its local zip code.

Good to Know: The smart and elegant dress code at Ammatoli suits the terrace setting, which offers a vantage point over the neighborhood as you move through the menu.

What is it? Harvest Restaurant sits on Coast Highway at The Ranch at Laguna Beach. It is an 1,800-meter walk from Aliso Beach Park and a thirty-five-minute walk from Thousand Steps Beach.

Why we love it: The restaurant balances the relaxed, farm-to-table sourcing of contemporary California cuisine with a formal, luxury-minded atmosphere. With over 500 guest reviews settling at a 4.71 rating, it serves as a reliable destination for diners seeking a romantic, fine-dining experience on the terrace.

Good to Know: Harvest Restaurant enforces a smart and elegant dress code, so pair your dinner attire with layers suitable for an evening meal on the open-air terrace.

What is it? Herb & Ranch sits at 5301 California Ave, approximately an eighteen-minute walk from the University of California, Irvine. This restaurant features a farm-to-table menu blending international and modern influences within an outdoor terrace setting.

Why we love it: While many spots in Irvine cater to quick campus turnover, Herb & Ranch offers a rare fine dining environment that pulls from both local produce and global techniques. It manages to earn a 4.73 rating from its diners because the luxury-leaning space uses its terrace view to elevate the mid-price experience beyond the typical strip-center lunch.

Good to Know: The smart and elegant dress code at Herb & Ranch means you will feel underdressed in athletic wear, especially if you choose a table on the outdoor terrace.

What is it? R|O-Rebel Omakase sits at 361 Forest Ave #103 in Laguna Beach, a short walk from Main Beach and the Laguna Art Museum. It holds a Michelin star and functions as a focused destination for Japanese sushi and seafood.

Why we love it: While many Laguna Beach dining options lean into coastal tropes, R|O-Rebel Omakase prioritizes a disciplined approach to fine dining. It manages to feel both private and considered, holding a high guest rating of 4.84 that reflects the precision required to maintain its Michelin-starred status in a competitive market.

Good to Know: The formal, smart and elegant atmosphere at R|O-Rebel Omakase makes it a fitting choice for a romantic evening, provided you allow enough time to navigate the full omakase progression without rushing.

What is it? Knife Pleat sits on the third level of 3333 Bristol Street in Costa Mesa, just an eight-minute walk from the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. This French restaurant holds a Michelin star and maintains a position on the L.A. Times 101 Best Restaurants list.

Why we love it: It separates itself from the high-traffic luxury retail environment of South Coast Plaza by offering a focused, fine-dining experience that prioritizes creative French technique. The dining room creates a rare, quiet atmosphere for the area, earning a high guest rating that reflects its consistency within a steep price bracket.

Good to Know: The smart and elegant dress code at Knife Pleat means you should leave the sneakers and casual wear at the Westin South Coast Plaza, which is only a short four-minute walk away.

What is it? Selanne Steak Tavern sits at 1464 S Coast Hwy, an eight-minute walk from Heisler Park and roughly ten minutes from the Laguna Art Museum. The restaurant holds a Wine Spectator Excellence Award for its program and focuses on a combination of grills, seafood, and contemporary fare.

Why we love it? The venue avoids the transient feel of typical coastal tourist spots by leaning into a rigorous, expensive fine dining model that commands a 4.80 rating from nearly 800 guests. It provides a rare combination of high-end grill service and an intimate, romantic atmosphere that makes the four-figure price bracket feel earned rather than assumed.

Good to Know: Selanne Steak Tavern reserves its terrace for those adhering to a smart and elegant dress code, providing a private vantage point over the coastline that is distinct from the bustling streets nearby.