Lido Marina Village Travel Tips: Unwind in Newport Beach’s Seaside Gem

Your TL;DR Travel Guide on What to Do in Orange County’s Lido Marina Village

TL;DR: Lido Marina Village is a small, upscale community nestled in Newport Beach, California. As a quaint seaside neighborhood, Lido Marina is a fantastic place to relax for a few hours and enjoy some “treat-yourself” luxury. Expect to spend some money on parking plus whatever you plan to spend on shopping.

If you are looking for a relaxing way to spend a part of your day, Lido Marina Village is the perfect California coastal community to explore. Nestled in between Pacific Coast Highway and Newport Blvd, Lido Marina Village is a small community at the top of the Balboa Peninsula. Since the area is fairly small, you can easily squeeze Lido Marina Village into a part of your day’s plans. Read on for my recommendations on what to do in this charming OC gem.

What to Know Before You Go

Lido Marina Village Parking

Before heading into the Lido Marina Village, be advised that parking can be a bit of a headache (but it doesn’t have to be!). As a highly congested area, a little bit of patience and some planning can help make your trip a smooth and enjoyable experience. The best way to park will depend on how busy it is (visiting on a summer day weekend tends to have higher volume of traffic) and how much money/time you are planning to spend at Lido Marina.

One of the easiest ways to find parking is in the local parking garage (located: 3434 Via Lido, Newport Beach), which offers parking validation for two hours with purchase from a local business or restaurant. However, the hourly rates for the parking garage do run on the higher side (starting at $10 for the first hour with a $50 max).
If that hourly rate sounds too high given your plans, you can also find street-parking, with pay-by-app options which offers a much cheaper hourly rate. These spots are pretty easy to spot but do tend to fill-up. However, you can only park in these spots for a few hours at a time (the last time I was there, I could add 4 hours max). But, I personally think that’s plenty of time to check out the area.
If you are looking for a day of complete luxury or shopping, Lido Marina Village offers complimentary valet parking (you must show a receipt (or several) that equal $250 or more. Find more information about this special offer here.

Bathrooms

Located centrally in Lido Marina Village, there are easy to find public restrooms available.

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Start your day with a local coffee shop

After parking my car, I like to stop by Herst Coffee Roasters and grab a latte or tea to sip on while I walk around. Herst is the closest local coffee shop if you are walking around Lido Marina. You can also check out Blue Bottle Coffee, which boasts an impressive array of espresso-based drinks.

If you’re looking for a truly relaxing way to start your day, I recommend taking your drink to go and walking over to the dock (located in between Nobu and Zinque) and finding a seat so you sip while watching the boats go around the Harbor.

Depending on when you visit, you may be able to catch some live music or a local small business fair. To see what’s happening, check out the Village’s calendar here.

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Buy some flowers at French Bucket Flower Cart

With all the feeling of a small-town seaside community, Lido Marina Village has a wonderful array of fresh flowers for purchase from French Bucket Flower Cart. Stop by the flower cart and grab a bundle of flowers to add a little more brightness into your day.

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Browse some books at the local book store

Seaside communities have some of my favorite independent bookstores, and Lido Marina Village is no exception! Located just off of Via Lido is Lido Village Books. With all the peaceful calm of a small indie bookstore, Lido Village Books is the perfect place to browse through their curated selection. The bookstore also houses a lovely children’s section, if you’re looking to grab some books for the little ones in your life.

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Go Shopping

Lido Marina Village is a haven for boutique shopping with a collection of small shops scattered throughout the small community. It’s the perfect place to go shopping for unique items or gifts for loved ones.

Not sure where to start? Roller Rabbit always catches my eye with its bright and colorful displays. Or, you can embrace California’s relaxed surf style by visiting Cynthia Rowley. See what else you can discover here.

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Eat Some Seafood

A seaside town is the perfect place to grab a bite of some delicious, local seafood. If you’re up for a light walk, you can venture over to the Cannery, which boasts great views of the water and fine dining that is sure to delight a seafood-lovers palate.

Just across the water is Bluewater Grill with its beautiful waterfront patio. Bluewater Grill is another way to fall in love with Southern California’s fresh seafood. With dock-side access, if you are renting a boat in the area, the restaurant also allows you to eat on your boat for an even more private and unique dining experience.

If you’re looking for something besides seafood to try, stop by Malibu Farm, a farm-to-table restaurant, located within Lido Marina Village.

Lastly, as a up-scale community, these restaurants fall on the more expensive side. If you’re hoping to grab a more casual eat, you can check out what else is available in the area here. Lido Marina Village is also close to the Balboa Peninsula community, which has great Mexican food spots and small pizza eateries. Take a walk along Newport Blvd for a few more great options at various price points (just be aware that Newport can get a bit congested with traffic).

Check out more on Balboa Village here.

With a wide variety of shops and eateries to explore, Lido Marina Village is a beautiful place to experience a little bit of luxury. Let me know if you’ve tried any of these places!