The Terrace Cafe

Wow. Location is amazing! Service is always really really bad here. Not sure why, but at least they are consistent about it. Servers have an attitude like you’re bothering them, and take forever to take orders, bring refills, or bring menu items out.
But the location makes waiting not a problem.
this year started carrying this restaurant, but prices started here high and keep going up. So your $ 25 off on a bill that is sky high to begin with might not make as much of a dent as you had hoped.
But what about the food quality, Robert, you ask? The food quality here is average. Nothing will knock your socks off in terms of flavor or food items. They have added a few items (the menu at the Terrace used to be four things, not kidding), but the food here is not that exciting.
You come here for the view, period. And that view is amazing.

Went there for drinks. It was a great view and the drinks were made right. I didn’t try the food.

Amazing view of Pacific ocean, find your own seats can be a little challenging, but I liked it, more fun right:)
Food: 4
Service: 4
View: 5
Décor: 3
Ambience: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Totally lunch bill for 2 with 3 alcohol beverage, 2 entrees: $ 75
Loved our relaxing lunch there, we seated ourselves at a table in the bar area, still could see the amazing view from our table, n no Sun, even better, I don’t like to get into the sun :(This is the view bar of hotel Laguna, small bar with a TV and a lounge area.
Very good beer selection from around the world, Belgian golden ale was sooo yummy! N strong! Had Stella on tab n Mojoto too… Little buzzed after 3 drinks :).Fiancé ordered sausage plate from Octoberfest menu, I had a few bites, very very delicious! My fish tacos were tasty too. Portions were big for lunch. I will try fresh seafood next time .
I really loved the atmosphere, so relaxing. We just sort of yelled at the bartender to order our food n drinks, it was fun :) Beach people are relaxing n easygoing :) There was only one bartender in the view bar, but he was very friendly and fast too, the manager lady took some of orders too and served us good and fast.
We enjoyed our relaxing lunch very much, great place for a romantic date with beautiful view, or to have some fresh seafood, or casual lunch.

Great view and location, but food and service is average. I was in the mood for the mussles and fries after seeing other Unilocaler reviews but they were out. So I went for the cioppino which has crab, fish, clams and MUSSLES… whaaaaa? Anyway, the ciopinno was ok, the fish was tough, crab was a little salty, but the mussles were good! =) Had a glass of white wine which wasn’t very cold and had the key lime cheesecake, which was decent. Go here for the view, but don’t expect much else.

Views and the vacation feeling are awesome! Food is pricey but good, almost everything is $ 15 – 20, we had a Terrace cheeseburger and a Quesadilla, both were better than expected from a tourist-​trap-​nice-​views joint. Service is fast, they are in a hurry. Only valet parking, so park on the back streets and walk.

I was truly looking forward to my date in Laguna. We had planned an early dinner then drinks and gallery hopping in Main Beach. I had a
gift coupon to the Terrace Café in Hotel Laguna so we headed to the Café for dinner at 5:30 to watch the sunset.
While the view is incredible, I was. I am soo disappointed by the food. Not worth the price, even with the $ 25 off certificate. I had the lamb chops and the fried «gnocchi.» I put that in quotes because if that was gnocchi I don’t plan on ever eating it again. They were dried up mini french fries for the most part that sat under a heat lamp for hours. Absolutely horrible. I had to send them away and asked for another side dish. they said they could give me fries… a beachside restaurant in Laguna where every entrée is over $ 16 and they can only give me fries… I was starving so I took it.
Over all… epic fail with a great view.
I suggest going for happy hour drinks ($ 7 martinis) and not eating.

Beautiful spot for breakfast, brunch or lunch. The spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean is enough to spend a leisurely 2 – 3 hours just taking in the relaxed atmosphere.
The breakfast menu has some good selections such as braised short rib hash and the lemon-​scented pancakes — we ordered both of those plus some!
Start with a mimosa and sit back and take your time. They don’t rush you here.
Lemon scented pancakes are al dente just the way I like pancakes, but I completely missed the lemon scent. Chantilly cream and the compote were the perfect accompaniments although maple syrup is also on the plate if you want it.
Short rib hash comes with eggs of your choice and I ordered poached. Chef Paul Bauer uses a root beer marinade to slow cook the short rib and the result is tender and extremely flavorful,
The Hotel Laguna Omelette is offered with regular eggs or just plain egg whites. I thought I should go healthy so opted for the latter. It is a Greek style omelette with roasted red peppers and feta cheese with a handful of spinach thrown in for color, texture and adds to the overall flavor.
Crab Cake Benedict was the last item we ordered but unfortunately it was my least favorite. I didn’t like the brioche toast it was sitting on. There wasn’t enough of a textural difference between the crab cake and the brioche for me to get a good feel in my mouth.
I’m looking forward to coming back to try the lunch menu.

You can’t beat the marvelous view of Laguna Beach! This place is awesome because you are just steps away from the private beach of the hotel!
The food want bad, but it wasn’t as good as the view! I had the salmon with a lemon butter sauce with capers. The salmon came out without the capers and by the time I got the capers, I was almost done with my meal. The prices are a bit high, but you have to take into account the stunning view of the ocean. Overall, I will definitely go back!

Hotel Laguna is finally doing a make over! The patio. Terrace café .now has better food and the view you cant beat for the low prices.
This place is now called… ocean view… it is nicer since they updated the furniture too.

This review is for the Lounge at the Hotel Laguna. The menu and food are the same as the Terrace Café with which the Lounge shares space.
Service is adequate. There was only one bartender for the Lounge and one waitress. The bartender didn’t seem too enthused to be working and it took some effort to get some service. There was a wait each time to get new drinks.
The food — I hate to say — may be some of the worst food I’ve had in Laguna Beach. Our table ordered the Calamari, Lettuce Cups with chicken, a Pizza, and a Provence Salad. Each dish was prepared like it came from a cafeteria. You could taste the raw ingredients used in each dish were subpar. The Provence salad was essentially bagged greens with some poorly seared and low grade tuna on top. The biggest surprise was the prices were rather exorbitant, especially considering the quality of the food.
Bottom line — good view and location. But the food quality and prices just don’t justify going here.

Tucked away in the back of the Hotel Laguna on Coast Hwy, this is a signature SoCal beach find: great views and good food. Prices are on the high side for a café ($ 16 to $ 25 for most plates, salads $ 12 to $ 16) but portions are generous and well prepared. Plus you have to adjust for the spectacular view: the outdoor café is nestled steps above the private hotel beachfront and has a commanding view of the Laguna shoreline.
We had cioppino, which included four giant prawns, and the bread was essential to soak up the delicious broth. Also had the mussels and frites in white wine cream sauce although it would have been better if the fries were served on the side rather than in the broth.
Service was beach casual but don’t worry about waiting: turn your attention to the beautiful views of Laguna Beach.

I live in Newport and I absolutely recommend this place as a hidden gem, very casual place you sit yourself and the staff is always very nice. The views are always great and the food is without exception terrific I love the Pear Salad with the Candied walnuts and the Blue Cheese Burger (I can only have one or the other).

$ 18 dollar burger – over cooked. Fries-​reheated and stale. But a really beautiful beachfront location. So, at best 2 stars.

Good food, great view, awful service.
Although the food ended up being pretty good, the service was horrific. I wouldn’t ever bring anyone back here because the service was so bad.
After my first experience, where the service was inattentive and slow, I gave the place another shot because it’s close, on the water, and they serve breakfast late. BUT, it couldn’t have gone worse, service wise. We felt they were rude, inattentive, slow, and, then messed up our orders.
I will not be going back again and wouldn’t recommend it. Try the Cliff Restaurant or C’est La Vie instead– right next door.

I have been here twice, once on a cloudy windy day and the other on a sunny perfect day and honestly both times the view blew my mind!
The food is on the expensive side but honestly it is the view you are paying for! For three of us it ran about $ 120 including tip and taxes.
Service is good, their wine selection is decent, the mixed drinks are really good especially their mojitos. Food wise I have had their fish and chips which are really good, their fries are delicious! Their veggie sandwich is superb with grilled portabello, veggies and goat cheese!
This would be an awesome spot to take a date to sit back and enjoy some wine or your favorite mixed drink and watch the sun set.

It’s the «ahhh-​ha» moments in life that make you feel as if you’re at the perfect place at the perfect time.
The Terrace Café did this for me… not so much for the food as the spectacular view. Located in The Hotel Laguna, it sits high up on a hill over looking the Pacific Ocean. What a calming atmosphere to have lunch in! I ordered the seared ahi which was very tasty and well presented.
I only wish I would have been here at dusk with a glass of pinot grigio… :)

The view, atmosphere, and service is worth 5 stars. The food is on the pricey side which is why I gave the Terrace Café 4 stars.
This is a very casual place (no pretentiousness), which in my mind makes it a great place to dine for lunch or breakfast. My husband and I were casually dressed in flip flops and shorts, and felt at ease here. The patio is seat yourself, and we found a great spot right along the clear railing closest to the beach.
The terrace overlooks the Pacific and the views are amazing!!! You can see Catalina Island on a clear day and the views of the beach below are great for people watching.
They had heaters turned on, and since it wasn’t crowded, they put one right near our table. Luckily the weather was nice, so it wasn’t necessary, but on the colder days, I think they would be short. So wear a jacket/​sweater on those days the weather dips below 70 degrees.
The food was really expensive for lunch. We got two appetizers and coffee and our bill was $ 50 with tip and tax. The steak quesadilla was good, but felt greasy. We also got the chicken nachos that were excellent. The chips were delish!
Our server, Ashley, was pleasant, and was always refilling our coffee and waters without us having to ask her. It was a very comfortable place to just unwind after a long weekend, and enjoy the sunset or beautiful view.
Street parking is the best if you get lucky, if not there is a parking lot next door that charges $ 3 per half hour.

Beautiful setting… imagine dining on a huge glass-​enclosed patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with the beach below you and kids playing in the surf. A perfect Southern CA day! Then you open the menu…$ 17.00 cheeseburger? $ 18.00 coconut shrimp (4 pieces)? $ 12 desserts? Welcome to affluent and touristy CA! I loved the atmosphere, hated the prices. Lunch for 6 cost $ 175 (burgers, salads, sodas). We could only justify it by saying «we’re on vacation»…gulp.

The view is what this place is all about. Seriously, the day was a perfect so cal day. No complaints here. Although we sat 3 tables from the edge, it was still really nice. I saw bloody marys and mimosas floating by, but I did not partake. The food was pretty good too-​I orderd a nicoise salad with a huge peice of albacore, and the bf got crab cake sandwich which was also pretty good. The portions were decent, although sort of pricey. I think it was all worth it with that view. seriously. perfect.
However, I must say that they need a few more umbrellas.

The Terrace Café has a great brunch buffet on Sundays and the spread is delicious. Everything is beautifully presented and very very fresh. I especially love all the smoked fish they have. O yea. and the unlimited mimosas… But the killer view is what makes this restaurant so great. The Pacific ocean stretching right out in front of you and the fresh salt breeze makes you want to sit out there forever. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. I believe they have a special Father’s Day Brunch every year so you might want to check that out as well.
This place is located inside Hotel Laguna and although you can park on the street, parking in this area can get horrendous so I suggest you just pay for the hotel valet parking.