Balboa Peninsula

Known for its modern and beautiful letterpress stationery, Sugar Paper also does great holiday cards, wedding invitations, and monogramming. The tiny shop (with a sister location in the Brentwood Country Mart) also offers cards and paper goods from Rifle Paper Co., Kate Spade, and more—and they can wrap any gift (just bring a box) while you wander around Lido Village.

Alchemy Works is the brainchild of LA-based husband-and-wife duo Lindsay and Raan Parton. The industrial-style shop doubles as a gallery and events space, so there’s lots of room to peruse the hand-picked apothecary pieces, letterpress prints, and indie-designer accessories, including Heidi Merrick velvet bodysuits, Janessa Leoné hats, Clare V clutches, and Grace Lee jewelry. Also sharing the space is a Warby Parker shop-in-shop and a Blacktop coffee counter. The original location is in DTLA.

Staying true to the brand's minimal, warm aesthetic, the Jenni Kayne Newport location is decidedly the most beachy of the designer's six outposts: floor-to-ceiling white offsets the bleached wooden platforms resulting in a clean, light-filled, inviting boutique. Look for the collection's greatest hits (velvet mules, cozy cashmere, silk blouses) along with finds from The Great, Acne, and Santa Maria Novella.

There are now thirty-two outposts of Nobu—and they draw a devoted tourist-y crowd—but the Newport Beach location, tucked into the charming Lido Marina Village, is worth braving the crowds. The two-story waterfront design is stunning—and to cap off the incredible service Nobu is know for, there's a boat valet, which makes the experience a bit more indulgent.

The NY Times may have deemed the fish taco as the unofficial fast food of Laguna, but that's doesn't mean they're all equal. This restaurant-market hybrid continues to impress us with theirs—Baja-style with the freshest catch and house-made slaw. Also on offer: incredible poke, chowder, seafood plates, and one of the best grilled seafood sandwiches we've had. Get here early and be prepared to wait—but trust: it's worth it. (Or if you're looking to cook, head to the market section for the daily seasonal catch and a few lemons, then head home to make the perfect meal.)

We're all about fresh, no-frills seafood (charcoal broiled shrimp and scallops on a skewer, Maryland-style crab cakes) and this Balboa Peninsula space is consistently a go-to when we've got out-of-town guests to entertain. Place an extra order of king crab legs with lots of fresh lemon and butter. (Trust.) Photo: Megan Converse.

From now through Dec. 24th, goop GIFT has set up shop in Lido Village, a new shopping and dining compound on the water in Newport Beach. With the goal of making the seasonal shopping as stress-free as possible, goop editors have done all the hard work for you, and with twelve personality-driven gifting categories there's something for everyone (and we mean everyone—pets included). Whether you need a special gift or token for the health nut, the cook, the dreamer, the host, or the lover in your life—to name but a few—we've got you covered. Shoppers will find everything featured in our goop gift guides IRL, alongside the very best of the goop shop across skincare, homewares, clothing, and accessories. The Newport Beach outpost (other locations include Miami and New York City) operates as a legit one-stop-shop. Once you've completed your shopping, enjoy the convenience of in-store wrapping, personalization (why not?), plus, local delivery to your home.