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Clockwise from top left : The Deck on Laguna Beach ; Rasta Taco ; The Cliff ; rooftop tables at Skyloft
Of course , in a beach town like Laguna , it ’ s no surprise that many restaurants take advantage of the coastal location . Among them , California-influenced French cuisine can be found at C ’ est La Vie restaurant and bakery , which also has a deck overlooking the ocean . And Larsen at Hotel Laguna offers outdoor seating to enjoy a meal ; choose from burgers , tacos , a shrimp po ’ boy , salmon nicoise , moules frites , tuna crudo and more .
For a quintessential beach dining experience , Lost Pier Cafe ’ s patio is right next to the sand at Aliso Beach . Come straight from the surf , with your sandy toes or flip-flops , and enjoy breakfast burritos , fish tacos , poke bowls , burgers or hot dogs while watching the waves crash onto the shore . Even rent a portable fire pit from the cafe to roast s ’ mores . The Deck on Laguna Beach also offers a close-to-the-beach setting to sip creative cocktails and indulge in fresh seafood from ceviche to oysters , cioppino , shrimp tacos and more on the oceanfront patio .
The Cliff is another place to tuck into a meal while keeping one eye on the ocean views : From chilaquiles , omelets or French toast in the morning to grilled shrimp salad or fish and chips at lunch and surf and turf for dinner . Notably , fine dining spot Splashes at Surf & Sand Resort is expected to reopen in late June after a remodel , so guests may once again enjoy the patio seating where you can hear the crashing waves below .
In north Laguna , diners will find an expansive patio at Urth Caffé , which serves up European-style delights from waffles to quiche , pizzas with unique toppings , sandwiches , salads , baked goods and coffee
drinks . Next door , a garden patio offers open-air dining for Dai Mei Express Hot Pot . The location is ideal for those taking a break from gallery hopping or visiting Laguna Art Museum across the street or fueling up for an afternoon of downtown shopping .
While downtown , a few spots with outdoor seating are La Sirena Grill , with all manner of tacos and burritos plus a popular blackened salmon salad ; Rasta Taco , which offers flavorful Jamaican jerk chicken and Caribbean carne asada or al pastor tacos , burritos and Reggae Bowls ; or Lumberyard , where comfort food like burgers , meatloaf and baby back ribs can be enjoyed on the side patio to soak up some sunshine and take in the bustling scene .
Zinc Cafe is a go-to downtown spot with a large patio and lots of vegetarian and vegan options , unique items like potato arugula pizza ,
LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE 63