Best Hotel Bars In Orange County
Bars and clubs can all end up blending together into one disco ball-fueled dance party if you hit the town often enough. Too many dives make you swear off drinking and too many upscale nightclubs will drain your bank account. With a relaxed vibe, hotel bars are the best of both worlds. They keep the craziness away but the selection of drinks and music can still keep the party going. Even better, no threat of drinking and driving will arise with comfortable beds only a hallway away. Check out these excellent hotel bars and check into a night out on the town with some friends.
Lobby Lounge
Montage Laguna Beach
30801 S Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 715-6000
www.montagelagunabeach.com
Located on a sprawling and beautiful property in Laguna Beach, The Montage is one of the areas premier resorts. As the resorts centerpiece, the Lobby Lounge is a comfortable setting complete with 360 degree views of the glimmering Pacific Ocean. With plush wood furnishings and rich decor, this indoor/outdoor setting allows guests to sit back and relax. Enjoy the beach experience with a cocktail in hand and listen to Steve Siu, the featured pianist.
Palm Terrace
Island Hotel
690 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 760-4920
www.islandhotel.com
Popular for its excellent service and friendly staff, the Palm Terrace in the Island Hotel gives travelers and locals alike a reason to head down before it gets packed with people. An especially tasty seafood menu highlights a tasty mixture of all genres. The myriad of drinks fill up two pages and cover the liqueur spectrum, from dozens of white or red wine choices to single malt scotches. The neighborhood is nice and is located close to the water for those not interested in sticking around for the live shows or musical performances that are performed Thursday through Saturday.
Shorebreak Hotel
500 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 861-4470
www.jdvhotels.com/shorebreak
The Shorebreak Hotel is known for a few excellent things, like being dog-friendly and offering valet parking. Luckily for you and your buddies, the bar and its happy hour are two good reasons to head down to Newport Beach. Menus for such popular dining times are usually cheap, easy and generic, but this place has exciting choices like sweet potato tater tots and fried chick peas. Feel free to drink the weekend goodbye with Sunday specials on bloody marys or bring your dog to Monday nights Yappy Hour special where your pet eats for free if you dine.
Meritage Restaurant & Wine Bar
DoubleTree Hotel Santa Ana
201 E. MacArthur Blvd.
Santa Ana, CA 92707
(714) 825-3333
www.doubletree3.hilton.com
If you are feeling a little fancier than your average bar crawl, head down to the Doubletree Hotel in Santa Ana and check out the Meritage. The typical trappings of a bad restaurant or bar are all gone, as the environment and conversation are both a little more elevated than normal. The wine list runs deep and is perfect for some of the American and French-inspired happy hour food. Just don’t plan on staying until last call.
Bristol Palms Bar
Hilton Orange County
3050 Bristol St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 540-7000
www.hiltonorangecounty.com
For those looking to maybe get a little bit of business done during their drinking, the Hilton's Bristol Palms Bar might be the perfect fit for you. The vibe is one of serenity and relaxation, and its happy hour sticks to the classic theme of simply making your favorite beers cheaper for a few hours. But with some culture comes a want for wine, something found in full force at this location. In the spirit of keeping things casual, the bar shuts down an hour before midnight so you can go home and take on the next day at work.
The Rooftop Lounge
La Casa del Camino
1289 S. Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 497-2446
www.rooftoplagunabeach.com
For something completely different, head up (literally up) to the Rooftop Lounge in Laguna Beach’s La Casa del Camino. The menu is loaded with tons of options, but the specialty cocktails are the best, offering everything from pumpkin-infused drinks to Irish apple tea. Beyond the great drinks is the ridiculous view from the rooftop, providing some eye candy to make the night even better. People often get married here, so expect a few wild people to come up and start a celebration.
