The Cliff Restaurant

Every time we come into Laguna Beach, we go to the cliff restaurant first for the food and service it also since it’s very dog friendly with a dog menu. They have live music right outside. As spectacular views of the sunset. Steven, our server was fantastic and the food was amazing as always. It may be a little bit costly but well worth it. Yesterday we went for just appetizers and today we went for a full meal. That’s how much we enjoy this place. Our pup extremely enjoyed her chicken breast with rice.

We had a fantastic lunch at The Cliff! The oceanfront view is absolutely breathtaking dining under the blue umbrellas with the sound of waves crashing below made it such a relaxing and memorable afternoon. The food was fresh and delicious. We ordered the crispy calamari, which was perfectly cooked and served with tasty sauces and a squeeze of lemon so good! We also had creamy shrimp pasta and penne with marinara, both flavorful and satisfying. The refreshing drinks were the perfect touch for a sunny beachside lunch. One tip: Make sure to make a reservation or join the waitlist ahead of time. especially on weekends we were on the waiting list for 2 hours, but it was definitely worth it!

The food was fresh and delicious. The service was great. We arrived without a reservation and were told it’s an hour and a half wait. We found a great bar behind the main restaurant which is still part of the same restaurant where they serve. Live music and the atmosphere was wonderful. highly recommend.

Absolutely stunning experience! 🌅 The view at The Cliff is spectacularly awesome — the oceanfront setting alone is worth the visit. Watching the sunset from our table felt like something out of a dream. The food was delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented, and the service was friendly and attentive. Such a perfect spot for a relaxing meal with breathtaking scenery. Can’t wait to come back!

Beautiful location! The food was delicious & our waitress was very attentive. I came here for my birthday dinner & I couldn't be more pleased. Awesome place..I highly recommend it!

Very good Halibut Fish and Chips (I subbed in onion rings). The fish tacos were good as well but not the best I've had (4/5). I'd definitely come back here and next time make sure I reserve a table to have a better view!

This is a gorgeous location with great food, scenery, and wait service. If one is in this area, this could be the must visit restaurant. The hostess situation needs improving - they were quite slow.

Looking for an ocean view spot for brunch this is it. Menu has many options I ordered a popular brunch dish which was fish and chips with a mimosa. Atmosphere is great bathrooms are very clean had to take a selfie. 😊

A great place to relax and enjoy the desert. Great food and service. We love it, you will too.

My party and I went for dinner! Let me tell you! This was a vibe!!!!! A nice dinner as a live performance happens on the upper deck! Heater on since it does get chilly. Food was great, gotta add some lemon for more flavor, tartar sauce was FLAVORFUL!!! BLT was also very good, has so much flavor! Our serves was attentive to our needs even at peak hours. Gotta check out this place when you're at Laguna Beach !!!!!

Was in the area and wanted something with a nice view, so stopped by The Cliff to grab dinner. Beautiful location for sure. There was an hour wait, so just did some shopping in the meantime, then went to the bar and grabbed a couple cocktails. The cocktails taste like your traditional beach cocktails, heavy on the alcohol and getting you ready for a great time. I've we were seated, we ordered right away since the hanger of the day was starting to kick in. Got the seafood carbonara and the mahi mahi tacos. The tacos are a very good size, with ample amounts of fish in them. The fish did taste a little overcooked, unfortunately. As for the carbonara, definitely a creamy dish but has some nice things going on, especially with the smokiness of the bacon that was added to the party. But, can you ever go wrong when bacon is involved? Overall, you're really paying for ambiance, as with most places with a nice view, though the food is decent. If you're in the area, and want something with a great view and food that is ok but you won't necessarily crave again, this might just be your place

This is my go-to ocean view dog friendly restaurant. It's always busy. Too bad the Yelp waitlist was off, the wait for a table was about an hour around 3 pm on a Sunday afternoon. But I'm not mad, the weather was nice, and there was an area not in service, but had the ocean view and some empty tables. We pulled up a couple chairs, went to the bar and ordered a few drinks while we waited. Service was friendly. The atmosphere was casual but nice. Prices are what you would expect for Laguna with an ocean view. But the portions are plentiful. We started w the ahi poke w taro chips that we liked a lot. It was sweeter than most poke (do I taste hoisin?). For entrees we had the mahi mahi fish tacos and the fish & chips. The fish tacos were grilled and a bit dry. The fish & chips was a mixed bag. The fish was crispy w good fish to batter ratio, but the fries were cold and limp. Overall it was a nice dining experience, can't beat the view.

Wanted a nice brunch with a view that my kids would enjoy with me. They are 10. The Cliff restaurant has a great brunch and lunch menu. I didn't realize that it is one or the other when coming here. We were told when being seated that is the case, and we decided to stay. We got an amazing seat right on the ledge so we could see the ocean, the beach and the people. It was perfect for what I wanted and the weather was perfect. The waiter was so nice and came quickly to take our order, drinks, etc. he let me order from the lunch menu even though I was told the whole table could only order breakfast or lunch. He explained the timing concerns so I understood when my kids breakfast came out before mine. Excellent service. The coconut shrimp was underwhelming. Dry and the shrimp were pretty small. Seemed to be all batter. The kids loved their breakfast burrito and pancakes. Valet is cash only but thankfully it was open and available.

If you're looking for great food, excellent service and a view that will blow your doors off, this is the place! We stopped by to have a light meal. Valet parking was great. I recommend the clam chowder whether a cup or bowl. We split a club sandwich that was fresh and tasty. Mimosas were top shelf. You have to try this restaurant, you won't be disappointed.

Food was well-priced and flavorful! However, portions of the pilaf and green beans were a little small. I came to Laguna Beach and found this restaurant on Yelp, which was a short walk away from downtown. You walk around 5 minutes from the city center to arrive at this unassuming and cute restaurant situated overlooking the ocean. The ambience is very cute and perfect for date night or a cozy night with friends. The restaurant only has outdoor seating, but the patio was hearted so I wasn't cold during the meal. The food comes out quickly and has good flavor! Reasonable prices too. The only thing is that there could have been more pilaf and green beans for the size of the steak. Otherwise, I enjoyed listening to the ocean with my meal, which was unique!

After having gone here a few times with generally good experiences, this time was truly a massive disappointment. In sitting on the top deck self-seating bar area, service was really slow. Staff was busy, but it seems the self seating area is more neglected than the rest of the restaurant. Of course the views are excellent... but what was really terrible was the food, and the drinks were sub par. I got the calamari burger and while it was cooked well, there was absolutely no flavor and it was dry. I don't even think there was any salt added at all. I had one bite and wasn't worth it to eat more. There was supposed to be a remoulade sauce and you can see in the picture I added there was a mere tiny smear of it. My partner got the chile relleno burger and looks were deceiving- it looked great, but also had zero flavor. Super frustrating that we spent money on these meals we didn't even want to eat. We wont be back unfortunately

Beautiful outdoor space for a restaurant but I would not come here solely for food. I recommend checking in before coming to the restaurant through Yelp, our waitlist was about 45 min for a Saturday morning on a sunny day. Our server was friendly and they were accommodating to what table we wanted. I ordered the Surfin Cowboy Burger (3/5) and my friend ordered the Chile Rellano Burger (4/5). Both burgers were cooked well done, so it was a little bit dry, but the buns were soft and fries not bad. I would definitely get the Chile Rellano Burger! I liked the freshness from the poblano pepper that the Cowboy was missing. Overall I would not come back to the Cliff Restaurant but it was a good experience to try and enjoy the view.

This is an absolutely gorgeous restaurant where you can dine seaside and watch the sunset if you time it right. The open air, as well as the event space below and the nearby shops make for a very cozy yet upscale environment. The food was pretty good, though there were some hits and some misses.. The poke was a hit, while the soup was a bit of a miss, as it was served cold. They make a pretty good burger here as well. We unfortunately saw a rat during our visit, which our waitress seemed a bit unarmed by, which was unsettling.

Took some girlfriends here for a Sunday brunch! We got here around 12:20 pm and used the yelp waitlist, was about 40 mins not bad. The nice ocean views and sounds of the waves set the tone of the place. Calming and peaceful and you don't feel rushed. I've not come here for lunch before so we had ordered the duo, veggie sandwich and mahi taco with shrimp for appetizer. The duo portion was quite small but the clam chowder was good. The grilled cheese side was also very small: so for the price not getting much but it's only about $19, just slightly disappointed with portion. The veggie sandwich had good flavor and nice fresh mozzarella really made it. The mahi tacos were filling but a little bland without the extra sauce add ons. Overall, we had a great time and enjoyed the day celebrating birthdays for several of us, & a beautiful day to get out.

Parking was not hard if you use the public parking lot 6 (by Nicks in Laguna) which is not a far walk from the place. Pay with QR code. You may not want to wear heels as you have to come down a few steps and around the blocks. But if u are dressed to 10, def valet. Got fish and chips but tbh I wasn't impressed. It was not crispy and too doughy. Oh the abomination! Wet doughy batter that's not crispy! It didn't help that the weather was a bit cooler so the dish cooled down really fast. The view was really great just watching the waves. Wait time to sit on the edge for the best view is definitely longer than if you were sitting in the inside perimeter of the restaurant. Thank goodness for the boutiques that you can walk around while waiting. Overall, the stars will be given just for the view, but the food really was not an impressive highlight of the restaurant.

If you are looking for a fantastic view.......The view here is amazing, so peaceful and relaxing sitting listening to the waves and the pelicans fly over. If it gets chilly out they do have plenty of heaters that are turned on. On the way to the hostess stand there are tons of cute little shops you can wander in and out of. The menu is loaded with options for everyone. The bruschetta was incredible fresh and was a large portion. The chile relleno was hands down my favorite dish of the night. This dish offered so much flavor from the chile used to the cheese inside. And the crunchy breaded was delicious! I had the fish tacos and they were very good as well. My fish was I tad over cooked but overall great food. I would recommend The Cliff if you are looking for a fabulous view and food!!!

Candle light dinner by the beach is so good! I tried: 1. Shrimp ceviche 2. Halibut Laguna 3. Chicken macademia 4. Moscow mules 5. Summer sangria

Went on a Saturday morning, and the 2 of us were able to get seated right away at a high top. It's not the tables against the glass, but since you are raised up, you still have a great view. They are super dog friendly - I loved their separate menu. We ordered brunch, and the portions were a good size and decent price compared the location. Food was a little slow coming out, but not a big deal getting to sit on the cliff. Our server was super nice, as were the other workers. We would defend stop again when passing through!

Great service with an amazing view. So many great drink and food options on the menu. I ordered the fish tacos and my husband got the fish n chips, both were amazing. I recommend sitting outside during the sunset.

I had high hopes for this restaurant after reading the raving reviews but everything was very mediocre. I think all of the hype relies mainly on the oceanic views. The restaurant itself looked very run down as opposed to the photos on Yelp. Made my way out there on a Wednesday and was able to add my name on the waitlist via Yelp. As with most restaurants near the beach; there is only street parking or valet. (Valet was $6 per hour, cash only.) I had just parked my car on the street when my table was ready. Within the 7 min walk to the restaurant, Yelp removed me from the list entirely. A bit frustrating because normally, one would receive the "Text 1 if you are on your way." The hostess was a bit annoyed when I tried to explain, but eventually they understood and I was walked to my table. I was expecting so much more for the pricing but the tables and chairs were really old. The service however was very attentive and quick. Drinks: Both drinks were very watered down. Nothing special. - Blueberry Mojito - Manhattan Food: A bit on the pricey size and overcooked. Sauces did not compliment the seafood well because they were overpowering. - Ahi Tuna Steak - Scallops: $5 per

Great menu with diverse options from hamburgers to lobsters and a price that reflects choices. Service is always great. I Like the valet parking as you usually have to pay for parking in Laguna Beach anyway. Very dog friendly with their own special menu. Call yelp before to get on wait list. Of course the biggest draw here is the view overlooking the beautiful beach and ocean. Just a great place to go for happy hour or a special occasion!

Had the best server at the upper bar while we got this app and a drink before we were sat for our actual meal. We loved it all!

What a beautiful restaurant in Laguna Beach overlooking the ocean. The views are breathtaking. Located at the Laguna Village you will find The Cliff Restaurant. No reservations needed you can join the waiting list on Yelp the day of your visit. We waited about five minutes after checking in to be seated. Very nice customer service from the hostess to the waitress and everyone in between. We had a lovely dinner. The food was average but the cocktails were amazing. I liked the Alaskan halibut that I ordered but my son didn't like his burger. The fish tacos were ok, the shrimp cocktail was delicious so was the coconut shrimp. Overall a great place to have lunch or dinner while enjoying the views and the ocean breeze.

We joined our friends here for lunch. They were busy but service was efficient. I enjoyed my salad and everyone else enjoyed the fish tacos. The view is just wonderful! Definitely will come back! (Plus, all the little booths make waiting for tables enjoyable!)

I am super impressed with this restaurant, I even came back a second time on my vacation in Laguna beach. The tacos, and scallops were wonderful. The biggest seller for this restaurant is the fact that it is on a cliff overlooking the ocean, the view is an absolute dream. Hearing the ocean while dinning at night feels so magical, and the live music creates such a fun atmosphere. Bonus point's the staff were awesome too!

We brought my girlfriend's mom here for her birthday. The food was ok but this place is more about the view and ambiance. I had the Cliff club sandwich which was good and so big I could only eat about 80% of it. They had the mahi mahi tacos and said the fish didn't have much flavor but the sauces were good. Our waiter Eric was friendly and provided good service. He brought out a complimentary sundae with fresh fruit dessert for her birthday which was delicious. Unfortunately it was an overcast day but the view and just enjoying a nice lunch in this setting was a very nice experience. They have a convenient valet parking lot right next to the restaurant which is great because parking is often a pain down there. And be sure to get on the Yelp live waitlist before arriving to avoid showing up and having to wait a long time to be seated.

Beautiful view of laguna beach from this restaurant, but you may have to wait longer than usual if you want the beachside view. I ordered the chili relleno burger which was a decent size meal, but pretty expensive. Definitely paying more for the view than quality of the food. Service was accommodating and welcoming.

Stunning views, tasty food, & amazing service. Waited about 15 minutes for a table during lunch on a Sunday and was sat right up against the glass, wow! I ordered the lobster bisque, ahi poke and the fish burrito and OMG they were all so good (I'm still dreaming about the burrito). The food came quickly and service was attentive. Bonus, the prices are reasonable for the location & they're dog friendly!! I hope to visit again next time I'm in Laguna Beach!

Still reminiscing about earlier in the Sept at Laguna Beach right by the Pacific Ocean. The Cliff is a very popular restaurant not just for the music and the wonderful views sm. But the food ain't too shabby either! I believe they take reservations( went with friends) and that is highly recommended especially if you end to get better views. Loved the Calamari burger! Service is quick and friendly. #ocean #oceanviews #views #seafood

This dog-friendly beach view restaurant is a hidden gem. Located right next to Driftwood Kitchen, parking can be limited during peak times so best to either do valet or plan accordingly. They don't take reservations so put name on yelp waitlist and expect to wait at least 90 minutes during busiest time at 6. When arriving, check in with host/hostess and not at the bar. State if you want beach view (be expect to wait). While waiting, there are limited shops to look around to. There's a breakfast and lunch menu as well but during specific times. Dinner menu is simple: appetizers (there are shareable as well), salads, daily soups, pastas, entres (Mexican, chef specialties and seafood) and side dishes. Drink menu has more than 1% alcohol so prefer to order nonalcoholic drinks. Sodas / water are refillable. Dog menu is located on the drink menu while kids menu is separate. Hot sauce and steak sauce are available upon request. Order the shareable chicken nachos and bruschetta. Both are beautifully plated. Chicken is moist and the cheese is surprisingly good. Order the surf and turf and gf order ribeye steak. Asparagus is huge and the sauce for the steak is kind of salty but not too salty.Entrees are seasonal btw. Overall, highly recommended and would come back during special occasions. Service was excellent and server was knowledgeable on answering first timer questions.

Cheeseburger was wonderful! View is spectacular! Loved the onion rings. Even got a sundae for my birthday.

Lunch/dinner with an oceanfront view? Yessss...my kinda vibe. We put ourselves on the Yelp waiting list on Friday around 11:30a. Not sure if that's even needed because when we were waiting to be seated, I saw plenty of high tops, tables on the upper porch area and even tables one row behind the highly sought after ocean view. We were on the waiting list for over an hour!!! Granted, we really want a table right in the front so maybe that's why it took longer? Who knows? Didn't get seated till close to 12:50pm. We ordered the mahi mahi tacos which consisted of three large tacos packed with yummy goodness. Big pieces of fish...they don't skim you here! Also includes a small portion of rice and salad. I ordered the grilled shrimp salad. Portion was perfect. The sliced avocado, onions & corn complimented the salad really well. Standard dressing was balsamic but you can opt for any dressing for your own personal preference. I was apprehensive about the service and food quality thinking it wasn't going to be the best since this restaurant screams 'tourist' but I take that back. Our waiter was attentive; checked to see how our food was to our liking and anything we needed was brought out in a timely manner. We both really enjoyed what we ordered. Delicious food...fantastic view, what more can I want? Def a solid spot!

Ricky, was our friendly server today and he gave a five-star excellent service!! He made sure everything was good and we were well taken care of. He checked up on us frequently, which was nice. And since we were celebrating, he brought an ice cream dessert with berries, which was the highlight of our day. The ambiance is very nice outside the patio, overlooking the beach. Our food was excellent, as well!! We ordered the coconut shrimps and the Mahi-mahi bowl salad. It was the perfect amount to share because my friend wasn't too hungry. Everything came out very delicious; we finished everything. We enjoyed it very much. Thank you Ricky and The Cliff team!!

The view and vibe here are really good but everything else is pretty subpar. The service was friendly but very slow and the food is mediocre at best, with the exception of the clam chowder -- one of the best I've ever had. So if you're in the area and have time to kill give it a try, but don't expect to be blown away by anything other than the views.

Perfect service. Delicious food. Seagulls were entertaining us the entire time. Highly recommend the restaurant. It is terrific

The view was amazing during our lunch which alone made it well worth the visit. They could have just served PB&J and I wouldn't have cared. We all tried something different including a a cocktail or two. Everything was top notch. Would highly recommend on your next visit to Laguna Beach.

Very nice view and food is pretty good. I got the fettuccine alfredo and the service was pretty quick for a Wednesday evening. A little pricey but you get a good portion of food. Adding chicken was 11 bucks tho so likeeeee if ur on a budget i'd hold off on that

This place is GORGEOUS!!!! The prices are beyond fair and it's an experience that I'll never forget! the shrimp was the best I've ever had and the clam chowder soup was also the best I've ever had. Thinking about driving all the way back today just for more! We spent 80$ for a full meal, appetizer, desert, drinks and 2 shots/2beers. Tell me how???

I have been going to the Cliff since it opened. I haven't been there in a few years. I have to say it has gone completely downhill. 3 of our orders were wrong. The glass of wine I ordered never came. When it finally did it was rancid. The service was poor. The restaurant itself is dirty. Super sad that other than the view it was horrible. I will never go back.

Worth a try! Baja burrito - The burrito was crispy and the toppings combined inside were tasty! I will say that it was a bit dry though so the salsa was truly needed. The tortilla chips were also a bit on the plain side and could use some more salt. Halibut Laguna - Mango and papaya salad added a nice sweetness to the dish. My friend ordered it, and it came with the choice of a baked potato, fries or rice pilaf. She chose the rice pilaf and thought it was a good choice. The fish was well cooked, perfect to their liking. The service was super sweet. They were so attentive and immediately came over and asked how everything was when we called. The beach view also made it a really pleasant place to eat at.

Visited The Cliff with my boyfriend to celebrate my birthday with a beachside lunch. We loved it. The food was great! I ordered the fish and chips and my bf ordered the prime rib dip. So delicious. We both enjoyed the Bloody Mary's. Loved the set up of the bar so that you can enjoy a drink before being seated. The service is crazy fast. Those workers are HUSTLING. They literally deserve every single tip $$$. Can't wait to be back!

It's worth the wait for breakfast/lunch with a view! Our server was quick & attentive despite having a couple large parties to help simultaneously. Mahi Mahi tacos were amazing with the aioli, prime rib sandwich was really good - again the aioli was delicious! The ahi poke was also great, the chips were interesting - I'd probably ask for tortilla chips next time. Totally worth it & we'll be back!

We got there before they opened but they Sat us down anyways and offered us drinks while we waited. I had the Fish,shrimp and chips outstanding and my Husband had the French dip one of the best. We had the shrimp Ceviche to start with it was amazing. The view was the absolute best loved it. The he wait staff was so friendly and very attentive.

Jorge is the best waiter. Well, he's the only one we had and he is awesome. We came back today, but he doesn't come in until later. The bartenders inside are great too. Lauren was our bartender yesterday and today, our bartender is Lucio. He's awesome as well. I just came in for a chocolate martini and grilled shrimp skewers lol Ambiance is beautiful. Food tastes amazing.

We use to come 3-4 days a week, but no more music and too many changes. We go to other restaurants with music now. Hopefully 2025 the cliff gets more food options, new music and more music at the cliff. We miss it.

Went to the Cliff restaurant for a company Christmas party. Service was on point, ambiance nothing short of amazing being right near the water & food was yummy!

Karla was awesome, very accommodating and even brought over a space heater since it was cold

This was my place !!!!! Always recommending it to friends n family I still go every time I visit Cali once every two months Disappointment Started with waiting to put a name down when being completely ignored n having her ask the ppl behind me how many in their party ,.. thankfully they told her I have been waiting Then being told we couldn't sit by the glass which there were 4 empty tables (wouldn't of been a big deal if we were first come first serve but we asked the host n waited over an hour to have a glass seat) then told no we r having an event (which was a wedding on the lower area) it was just upsetting the fact they sat everyone after us : including a party tht missed their reservation there So we were seated in the back corner Which still was pretty. Ordered a cup of soup for my grandmother before we ordered drinks or meals it was brought out as a bowl mentioned to waitress I thought I ordered a cup. She argued with me tht I said bowl n that she wrote down bowl. I know I ordered cup our order is always the same One of my guest at the table asked what time dinner started (cuz they heard about the grilled scallops) she said it was at 4. Mind u it was 3:45 We planned on ordering appetizers n drinks My guest asked if she could order that or see the dinner menu Waitress told us we have a 60 min table time n tht we couldn't order tht Considering we waited 30 min for soup Another 20 for drinks im sure she could of let her order the scallops It was just a disappointing experience No one checked to see how everything was the whole time except I believe the amazing waiter/busser who took our photo

Cute beachfront restaurant with a seafood-focused menu! We were meeting up with some friends in town and impulsively chose this spot based on its Yelp page alone. We went on a Friday night around 7PM and got seated right away since it was already dark out and I'm sure it's most popular during sunset. The staff and food was great. My only issue is that the tables along the railing were really close together and we had to push our chairs very close to the table just to squeeze in. It was quite empty when we went, yet every party was back-to-back.

I love this place and have been going for years. The food is fine, but not really what you go for. The views are epic. I had a strawberry margarita and that was delicious. I also had the burger. Both were good. Service was good as well. Pro tip-Make sure you join the Yelp list before you get there as there's always a wait for the seats closest to the ocean.

Clam chowder is excellent. We had fish and chips which were golden brown and crispy and delicious. The tartar sauce was excellent. Another one in our party had the steak nachos and they were terrific. Two boys had the hamburgers and they enjoyed them both and devoured them completely Other person in our group had the fish tacos and enjoyed them. It was a good meal all the way around.

It was a beautiful morning. The fact that you can get on the waitlist on Yelp is amazing!! View was beautiful!!! Service is good.. food was good as well.