Great view of the ocean and passing trains. Relaxed vibe. The food is interesting and great. I like…read morethe Spicy tuna Bites. The drinks are excellent. The 1945 Mai Tai is better than the ones I have had in Hawaii. Joey the bartender is great. It gets very busy, so it's best to go early for a relaxed time.

Great bar with beachside views. It's super casual with good vibes. The drinks are fantastic and the…read morequesadilla was big enough for us to share for date night. Service was good but not super attentive. Personally, that's how I like it. They have TVs and billiards. I would definitely recommend.

We came down to Dana Point for our annual tattoo trip and always try to stay somewhere new. We…read morespecifically look for places with ambiance and character rather than chain hotels like Marriott or Hilton. Some boutique hotels are hits, others... not so much. This one absolutely surprised us in the best way. El Caminante Bar & Bungalows is right across the street from the beach and instantly stands out. The interior design is exquisite - thoughtful, warm, and stylish without feeling pretentious. Our room had half doors on both sides that open up so you can enjoy the ocean view and fresh air, which was such a unique and relaxing touch. There's also an in-room record player that even connects to your phone via Bluetooth (such a fun detail). The bed was extremely comfortable, the shower had piping hot water with great pressure, and the Le Labo shower products were a luxe bonus. The on-site bar and food were super convenient, the staff was genuinely kind, and the location is perfect, right in the heart of Dana Point and a short drive to San Clemente. We also loved lounging on the outdoor daybeds outside our room and hanging out on the patio with the chimineas at night. The rooms are on the smaller side (mainly because of the massive king bed), but it honestly didn't feel unbearably cramped. There's plenty of storage with space under the bed for luggage, drawers built into the bed frame, and wall-mounted hangers, which made everything work well. As for the cons: it is close to the train tracks, so it can get a bit noisy, but earplugs are provided and we personally slept just fine without them. There's no fan, so the room can get a little warm, we just kept the windows open. Unfortunately, during our stay the internet wasn't cooperating, so we couldn't screen-cast to the TV, which made it pretty useless, but that was a minor inconvenience overall. We also really loved that this is a small, family-owned property. We will 100% be back. This is officially our new favorite spot in Dana Point--full of charm, comfortably close to the ocean, and reasonably priced without sacrificing style or comfort.

I am so sad you closed! I was just trying to rebook and find you guys and found an article that in…read moreJanuary you closed. The community really missed out as this was a super awesome experience that made me feel like I wasn't in Southern California anymore. Deeply saddened but thank you for the original experience. I just wish I got to stay in that upstairs suite, which is what I was going to book. Best of luck and I hope to see the hotel open soon.

This review is long overdue! I've been a VIP member for about six months, and I'm almost a daily…read morevisitor. The lounge has two main areas. First, there's the sophisticated bar, which is smoke-free and the perfect spot for high-end spirits and amazing cocktails (The Gov'ner Old Fashioned is a must-try!). The staff are welcoming, friendly, and always smiling! They've started adding some events to the schedule, like Whistlepig/Cigar tastings, Cajun Boil, Macallan tastings, and wine tastings. They're also introducing a late-night happy hour with food and live music, which is a great way to enjoy a sophisticated drink when most restaurants have closed in the area. The second part of the lounge is the two cigar lounges: the day lounge and the VIP lounge, which has lockers. Both lounges have high-end luxury seating and lots of screens for all your favorite sports. The staff keeps the lounges clean with friendly service. At the back, there's a walk-in humidor that's well-stocked with a great selection, including Davidoff, Padron, Opus X, Fuentes, My Father, Foundation, and Placencia, just to name a few. The Winston House stick blended by Placencia is an incredible stick for an exceptional price! Both lounges have a bunch of friendly regulars, so it's always easy to find conversation, or you can just relax and enjoy the moment! This place is a hidden gem that I consider to be the best cigar lounge in SoCal!

I've been with Winston's from the beginning and it's a very nice place, as it's new. That said, I…read morehave had issues with membership. I have now spoken to 3 people on the phone, and twice in person, to discontinue my membership as I travel often and don't utilize it often. Over the course of almost 5 months, they did NOT grant the refund, in fact, I'm being charged more now for my membership even though I am grandfathered in. Once I posted this review, this is the response I received via email. From Rick (CEO and Managing Partner) "NO that will not happen. No one promised you a refund to October. As I promised I will refund your last payment." If you're considering making this Winston's Club home, my suggestion is to go somewhere else. Their behavior is that of a company on the verge of closing.

Longboard Rooftop Lounge in Dana Point is a fantastic spot for sunset cocktails with a view. The…read morerooftop setting over Pacific Coast Highway gives you a great look at the coast, the drinks are creative and well-priced, and the vibe is relaxed but fun. It gets busy on weekends which tells you everything you need to know. Great place to start or end a night in the Dana Point harbor area.

We came for a one night get away at the hotel and had an early dinner at Longboards. The drink…read moreselection is very interesting. My Endless Summer was great. I also had a Beach Therapy. Service was excellent. We were greeted and checked in on - frequency was just right. Our food wasn't the greatest. The Charcuterie Board is fine. The Spinach Artichoke Dip... came with good pitas. We got to look at the water and watch the sunset, which is always lovely. Our bill came and we were happily surprised to see Happy Hour pricing for our starters.

Lots of cocktails to choose from, good service, and a really cool atmosphere. The cocktails here…read moreare really good

The Lost Inferno is a tiki bar in San Clemente that is themed around the classic 1980s movie "The…read moreGoonies". It is a drinks-only bar for now, so eat before coming. Their website teases that food is coming soon. It is a fairly small place and I would definitely recommend making a reservation on Yelp. If there are no reservations available when you want to visit, they also have a Yelp live waitlist. The building has its own parking lot with about ten spaces and is shared with the sushi speakeasy upstairs. We arrived around 6:30pm on a Sunday night, and luckily there were still quite a few spaces available. A half hour later, the place was packed. The outside of the building is not marked. Enter through the red double doors in front, walk to the right, and the entrance will be easy to spot. Seating options include eight seats at the bar, four high-top tables in the main area that seat four people each, and a slightly raised grotto area with one four-seat table and two two-seat tables. We often like to sit at the bar, but I reserved a table in the grotto so we could get the full experience and I'm glad I did. The interior has great décor with a mix of tiki and pirate ship elements. The walls are wooden plank, with cargo netting, ropes, and tiki lights above. The walls have portraits of Goonies movie characters. Take two steps up to the grotto area, and you are inside of a cave with skulls, shells, and treasures embedded in the cave walls. There is also a small waterfall in the corner. Scan the QR code on the table for the cocktail menu. It is colorful and many of the drinks have names tied to The Goonies. Each drink also has zero, one, or two skulls next to it to indicate the booziness factor. They have quite a few original cocktails as well as classic tiki drinks, a few mocktails, spirits, beer, and wine. I started out with the Ash Landing (Hamilton Pot Still Blonde Rum, Hamilton 86 Demerara Rum, Hamilton Pimento Dram, Angostura Bitters, Pineapple, Lime, Ginger, One Skull booziness, $14). This was definitely a little on the boozy side, with good ginger flavor and the pineapple and lime in the background. She started out with the One-Eyed Willy (Pou Vodka, Lychee, Guava, Coconut, Sweet & Sour, $15, keep the mug for $65). It is rare that a vodka drink is my favorite of the night, but this was both of our favorites. It was very balanced and juicy, and not boozy at all. The guava, coconut, and citrus from the sweet and sour were all there. We bought the mug, and they bring you a new one in original packaging. The purchased mug is colored a little differently (blue instead of black) than the mug the drink is served it, but it still looks great. While walking around taking pictures, I ran into our server and mentioned that it was my girlfriend's birthday. He kindly brought us some shots on the house. He said it was a recipe they had for shots during Halloween, and it tasted like a spin on a kamikaze. It was very good and much appreciated. I have a hard time resisting a cool mug, so for my second drink I ordered the Slick Shoes (Planteray Pineapple Rum, Worthy Park Rum, Bounty Dark Rum, Strawberry, Papaya, Lime Juice, $17). It is served in a cool sneaker mug with a flaming lime half on top. It was nicely balanced and just a tiny bit boozy. It had a nice light fruit flavor, not overly sweet at all. I think it is sometimes served in a regular glass, so if you order it, be sure to ask for the sneaker mug. Her second cocktail was the Never Say Die (Producer Mezcal, Kiwi, Lemon, Mango, Grilled Pineapple, $14). The smokiness of the mezcal was on the hairy edge of being too smoky for me, but she loved it. She could taste the kiwi and mango. We shared one last drink, the Garden of Eden (Papa's Pilar Blonde Rum, Lavender, Lemon, Elderflower, Cucumber Bitters, One Skull booziness, $17). It had an interesting (good) floral flavor profile, and didn't strike me as boozy at all. I could definitely taste the cucumber notes from the bitters. There was good 80s music playing in the background. It's a Goonies themed bar, I get it, but we would have enjoyed a few tiki songs in the mix too. There is one unisex restroom out in the lobby area. It is nice that they also themed it with wooden plank on the walls and ceiling, and some nautical décor. Daniel was our server and was very friendly and provided great service. Thanks again Daniel for the birthday shots! Bartender Felipe also delivered one round of our drinks and was also very friendly. All of the drinks were good and there are definitely more on the menu that we would like to return and try. We had a real fun time, thanks Lost Inferno!

Service was good people are nice heard a couple of good jokes had a good time. Appetizers were good…read moreand the place is real easy to find.

My wife and I stopped by Jane in San Clemente for a date night while visiting from San Diego and…read morestaying overnight, and the whole vibe was incredibly chill. The music mix was one of my favorite parts. They played a little bit of everything from A to Z, so there was something for everyone to enjoy, which is exactly what I look for in a bar. Huge shoutout to Dean for the amazing drinks and the solid drink selection. The standout of the night was an off menu drink recommended by a regular, Jeremy. Shoutout to Jeremy! Peter made the drink and it is worthy of a spot on the menu. The Rattlesnake Milk was exactly what I came in looking for. I am dating myself a bit, but it reminded me of the pink SoBe drink, with a nice smoky bite at the tail end that mezcal lovers will appreciate. Top notch cocktail with a top notch, friendly crew. We had a great time and will definitely add this to our must visit spots when coming up from San Diego. Good cocktails and a good time.

We celebrated my boyfriend's birthday at Parlor Pizza and it was absolutely perfect from start to…read morefinish. Anthony was our server and bartender, and he truly made the night special. He was attentive, friendly, and so on top of everything making sure our drinks were full, our food came out smoothly, and that our whole group felt taken care of all evening. We were lucky enough to have space in the speakeasy area with all of our guests, which made it feel private and extra fun. Being able to hang out, celebrate together, and even play pool made the night feel so unique and memorable. Everything about the experience the atmosphere, the service, and the overall vibe was amazing. We couldn't have asked for a better place to celebrate. Thank you, Anthony and Parlor, for such a fantastic birthday dinner!

San Clemente: Lovely and lively, The Parlor replaced Brick restaurant and a nice replacement it…read moreis. Fabulous service from start to finish. Very attentive without being intrusive. Ordered were a Pepperoni pizza and the Margherita pizza. Margherita is always too bland for me no matter where I have it. I have to go for pepperoni always on my pizza, and it was tasty. I would've added mushrooms, but it wasn't my turn. Nice crust, flavorful, very thin Woodfired pizza. Just a note-share and eat it there. Too floppy for leftovers. My preference. Tagliatelle Bolognese was upscale flavor with the right spice and totally 100% agreed with my taste buds. I am a fan of thinner pasta, but this is how it's done at Parlor. Funny, it was extremely long strands of pasta so have your knife ready. Unlike the pizza, it made great leftovers, and I thought it tasted even better the next day. So I don't recommend sharing it. Ha! Make reservations, find parking or take the trolley when it's running.

Didn't even know this place until my friend found it under Margs in San Clemente and Happy Hour as…read morethe key words. We got there just in time for Happy Hour on Thursday (4-6pm) and honestly, its 5 o'clock somewhere. Our server was Amber and the best server, it was our first time here and she made sure we were served well in the patio area. First thing we ordered was margaritas and I had to get the mango for I wanna say a dollar or two dollar more from the Happy Hour prices which was fine because I love a good mango margarita. Worth the price and it was goooddd. strong but good flavor and that tajin rim. We got a couple of appetizer, chips and salsa was included when we sat down but we wnated more food. It's a girls much needed debriefing time on our life and this place was it, Such a vibe, great food and great company, plus it wasn't too much when we got there. Definitely coming back here in the next few weeks, and since I'm working locally now, I might have to stop by for a marg or two after work.

We went to San Clemente's Franco's Famous Cocktail Bar as a group of 7 on a Friday night. We sat…read moreoutside on the petite patio which backs up to the main road. We are a fun but not wild group that loves our Mexican food and margaritas and had a nice night The footprint for the restaurant is very small inside and out. Patio seating does have lamps and is dog friendly. There is bar seating inside as well. The food is decent for Mexican food. It ranges from street tacos to some fun jalapeño poppers and various enchiladas and such. Salsa is red and tasty and chips are fresh. Margaritas are well-made and there is a good drinks menu at pretty standard $20 and under dollar prices. Service was polite, and we asked at the beginning of the meal to split the check because one of our friends is being cautious about funds and it was not a problem since we asked at the beginning of the meal. Prices sit restaurant level for this area, which means dinner for two with two margaritas each is $100. As per all main San Clemente, parking is extremely limited and usually not directly in the attached lot. Bathrooms are also part of a plaza system so much more shared and informal. This is a fun little spot and we will probably be back again.

We've been to the other Hook & Anchor locations starting with Newport and then Costa Mesa, but this…read morewas our first time visiting the Dana Point location -- and it did not disappoint! Beautiful restaurant with great outdoor seating. My family and I sat outside and it was very peaceful and relaxing. The service was excellent, and Karina, our server, was awesome from start to finish. We ordered the Oysters Rockefeller, which were amazing, along with the Connecticut-style lobster roll and the lobster carbonara. Both were absolutely 5-star dishes. The lobster roll was cooked to perfection with the warm butter sauce, and the lobster carbonara had incredible flavor throughout. My kids got the cheeseburger and fries, and I have to say, for a kids meal the cheeseburger was surprisingly meaty and very tasty. The fries were perfectly crispy as well. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

Good place! Of course came for the seafood. I will say it is a little steeply priced for what you…read moreget. I ordered the Newport salad- it was great- but small portions of lobster, crab and got three shrimp for $27... The side of the parmesan fries were good- didn't expect the thicker pieces of cheese. Overall good spot to go to and the owner is so kind.

We enjoyed our brunch here and chose this corner spot on a whim. Service is superb from every staff…read moremember from the hostess and everyone who waited on us or thanked us while leaving. Well done!

First time here, no complaints. Great menu, delicious food plus awesome vibe & atmosphere - open…read moreair seating. Clarissa helped us and she was awesome!super helpful and joyful. As San Juan locals , we will definitely visit again