Mack is one of a kind of bartender that keeps you coming back. Friendly, attentive, and makes the whole bar feel welcoming -- especially from a local's perspective. Drinks were hand crafted, service was fast, and the vibe was great all night. Xclusive is lucky to have him behind the bar. PS: Taco Tuesday is the best in town read more

Xclusive Riviera - Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

We came here when our family from out of town invited us when they were guests at the hotel. All in all, food was good (some dishes were great), drinks were very solid. Service was fine. Very slow for a not a busy night of just 2 tables including ours, but we were fine with it. One guy was working both the bar and serving all the tables. My family member left him a standard tip for standard service (15 percent and he is of the older generation and from a different country with different tipping culture), and doesn't even know the new tipping customs of the younger people of 18 to 20 percent. Ten minutes after we left, when we were going to the game room, the waiter approached our group and made a big embarrassing scene in the lobby, demanding to know what was wrong with his service, asking why the tip wasn't 18 to 20 percent like the receipt indicated, and saying things like "I just want to know." He was very aggressive, very confrontational and highly unprofessional. And he handled the situation loudly, publicly, and unprofessionally and scared our children with his rude, aggressive way of speaking. If management wants to speak to him, he had dark brown hair shaved underneath and longer on top, brown eyes, and had a safety pin styled earring in his ear. He was fine during the dinner and we didn't observe any rude behavior and left happy and impressed with the restaurant but aggressively chasing older guests down in front of family, young kids, and other hotel patrons is beyond inappropriate and should be looked into by management. read more

great everything! lots of parking easy to get to lovely atmosphere nice people suburb food truly remarkable! read more

Xclusive Riviera deserves to be a destination restaurant! It is inside San Clemente Inn which has a modern and pretty lobby. The food is as good as, if not better than any popular restaurants on Del Mar but with ample and easy parking. Restaurant is not noisy unlike most new restaurants, and seating is comfy. I had a great lunch there. Will be back for dinner next time. read more

Having moved from Orange County to Encinitas, I am regularly meeting friends "halfway" for brunch, lunch or dinner I came across this amazing secret spot recently. It is located inside the San Clemente Inn property. It is a beautifully decorated intimate bar and restaurant. This full bar has a wonderful specialty cocktail menu and many types of tequila. The food is upscale Mexican and the seafood options are exceptional. We spoke briefly to the owner and head chef and he was very proud of the newly restored restaurant. There is plenty of parking and the lobby of the hotel is a lovely place to sit and visit following a great meal or cocktail or both . If you are local, you might wanna put this on your list for someplace new to try. read more

Xclusive Riviera - Main lobby of the San Clemente Inn during the holiday season. - Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

The San Clemente Inn finally has the restaurant it desperately needed. Excellent food, friendly staff and nicely appointed.

Ate here before when it was just Riviera. Xclusive was great! Food was excellent. My wife had the eggs Benedict and I had the Chilaquiles with Carne Asada. Sooooo good. So tasty and flavorful. Matthew was very courteous and helpful. Underrated restaurant and low key. Would HIGHLY RECOMMEND read more

Xclusive Riviera - Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

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This is a welcome change to the space. The food is really wonderful and the service is top notch. 4 stars because it is a little in the pricey side of things but we still go there. Last Cinco de mayo; best mariachi band I have ever heard. read more

I love everything about this restaurant. It's easy to get in, it's not loud and there's plenty of parking, which is always a plus in San Clemente. The restaurant itself is very simple, but comfortable and the food is delicious! Our server, Hailey, is amazing. She's always on it and she remembers you....which I love! read more

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Nicely situated inside of the San Clemente Inn. I really enjoyed the food. The complimentary chips, bean dip & salsa were a nice start. Excellent cauliflower taco as veggie option with side rice and black beans. I asked for flour tortilla vs corn. I really enjoyed it. Hubby enjoyed the lobster and shrimp enchiladas. Beautiful lights around bar, lounge Latin music in background and chic decor. Good service. I give it a 5 star for hotel food and 4 for standalone restaurant. read more

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Staycation in the area and we're looking for the trolley stop to pick us up. Happened to walk up a ways and decided to stop in for breakfast before our stop pick up time. Glad we did. It was first thing in the morning around 11am and the place was empty, except for our bartender/server. I want to say his name is Frisco because we saw another guy come in to talk to him and call him that. He took our drink order first of strawberry margarita for me, and a berry sangria for the bf. For margaritas there was a huge variety when I asked what kind they make: cucumber, strawberry, pineapple, the list went on. I just asked because I wanted strawberry so that's basically the extent of what my mind remembers. Our bartender/server made an amazing omelette (couldn't find the breakfast menu we saw on the list of pictures people posted here) but we got the version with green sauce, paired with option of fruit and toast. It was the perfect amount for us that he gave us 2 plates for. The restaurant overlooks San Clemente inn's pool and spa area. I thought service and food was excellent. Recommended. read more

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We came here on a Sunday hoping to get a brunch but unfortunately just missed the noon cut off. So ordered the combo plate with chicken enchilada and carnitas taco and both were very good. Chips and salsa with each order with beans all perfect. The waiter was super attentive there are large tvs oerfect for watching the games and large bar in the middle with ample seating . Overlooks pool area and ample parking. Perfect hidden gem read more

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Delicious Happy Hour food and great tasting Margaritas! Ambiance is wonderful and fabulous service

Such a great spot for tourist staying at the hotel and locals!! They did a great job from the restaurant that was here prior- service is impeccable, food comes out quick and everyone at the bar is nice. AND an incredible happy hour with tasty entrees that may be a good match for south of nicks. It's a quiet space and well done. read more

Xclusive Riviera - Calamari on happy hour - Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

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A group of 6 of us went for dinner last night. All of our food was so good, the service was great and really affordable! Highly recommend.

I recently stayed at the San Clemente Inn and needed dinner one night so I thought worth a try. I little bit on the pricey side but once you get the food it is worth it!! I got it to go so I can't say much about the ambiance but the serves fast and friendly. He even brought it out to me in the lobby as I was keeping my grandson busy. I ordered the shrimp taquitos and the ceviche and they threw in chips and salsa Everything was amazing. The ingredients were fresh and so tasty. Even the chips and salsa were homemade and light and crispy. Most of the time I find homemade tortilla chips to be dense and a little too crunchy, but not these. Would highly recommend read more

Xclusive Riviera - Shrimp taquitos Ceviche with tostada shells Homemade chips and salsa - Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

After a stroll on the beach, we had time before dinner for a drink and appetizer. I tell you, when you're walking about in an unfamiliar area, you see and discover more than if you were driving by. We saw a sign for the Riviera Restaurant. We didn't have a reservation, but we were able to get a seat at the bar. Cisco is the Manager, he was very friendly and shared the story of ensuring the restaurant would be open for Valentine's weekend. The staff were very helpful and friendly, they made us feel very welcomed. Complimentary tortilla chips made on the premises were served with a trio of dipping sauces. The menu included Mexican cuisine and Prime Steak. It sure was tempting to stay for dinner, but we had other reservations and needed to freshen up at the hotel. I will definitely bookmark this restaurant and return with a dinner reservation. This is truly a hidden gem, try it when you're in the area, and don't forget to tell'em that Rosemary sent ya!! read more

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We have been going in for dinner and happy hour 3-4 times a week for the past month and the food is always amazing!! Going in that often it was so nice to see how consistent everything is. The taco sampler and the short rib taquitos were our favorite happy hour choices... they are delicious!! read more

Upscale Mexican is an understatement. My wife and I a couple of friends enjoyed a wonderful casual lunch w/ seafood enchiladas, shrimp taquitos, green chili pork and civiche which I would strongly recommend ALL of them. Our server was impeccable and attentive. Can't wait to return and try something else. BTW - Tuesday is taco Tuesday all day! read more

Xclusive Riviera - Lobster and Lobster & Shrimp Enchiladas - Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Very good! I had the ribs appetizer, 4 small ribs, fries and Cole slaw , it was enough for a meal for me! The meat fell off the bone!! My husband had the chicken cordon bleu, it was good as well but not great, I felt the mashed potatoes were fake and not enough flavor, although I will admit my taste buds expect strong flavor since the dumb Covid vaccine. read more

Xclusive Riviera - Ribs appetizer - Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

We love Xclusive Riviera!!!!! We were trying to decide where to go for Valentines Day and we decided that was what we really wanted even though we had been there 2 weeks prior! The food and drinks are amazing! We've brought friends there and they love it too! read more

My friend and I walked the San Clemente beach trail today and decided to try Xclusive Riviera for brunch. It was FANTASTIC! We sat at the bar and had a great time chatting with Mac about all that is local to San Clemente. He gave us recommendations on food they are known for and drinks for our visit. We decided on the bottomless mimosas and had a fun visit! I had the huevos rancheros and my friend had the enchiladas. The decor is fresh and modern, but comfortable and Mac told us about live music there every Saturday night. This is a new must-try for Mexican food in town. I highly recommend and cannot wait to come back soon! read more

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Was trying to find a place to meet up "half-way" with old work colleagues that were in town. Picked this place on a whim and...wow- this is "not another Mexican Restaurant". Great ambience and service. Everyone loved their choices. No leftovers. read more

I was looking for a nice, quiet, quick and hopeful delicious dinner. I headed down to the restaurant and was greeted by a clean restaurant, friendly staff and nice ambiance. I wasn't expecting much out of the menu (usually hotel restaurants aren't that great), but was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the pork belly taco, the short rib tacos and a virgin mojito. The meal came with chips, salsa and beans. The price was reasonable. Recommend! read more

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Excellent service, amazing flavors and great drinks. Chef Manny will blow your mind with his excellent work and experience cooking. Ricky at the bar with make sure your request for drinks are met . Definitely the best food in San Clemente. read more

Xclusive Riviera - Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

Best Mexican food I've ever had!!!!! Brunch is amazing. Drinks are all fresh juices! GM Mack is so funny!!! Bartender Jake is so handsome and makes the best drinks. Really nice what they have done with the place. The chefs own it and take pride in this place, it shows!!! I'm so glad a local spot has great parking and a chill vibe. So glad they are not on Del Mar. Walked to the beach after. Perfect brunch!!! read more

Xclusive Riviera - Bottomless mimosas Tuesday thru Sunday starting at 9AM!!!! Fresh juice so good! - Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

Overall a very, very, good Mexican Restaurant. We went on Christmas Eve and enjoyed great margaritas, chips, guacamole, and dinner. Service was very good - it is worth a try. More menu items than other Mexican Restaurants in the area; including more traditional items and some unusual items. read more

Love this place, i keep trying different things and they never disappoint. Crazy good twist on old fashion making Mexican or Oaxaca style. read more

Xclusive Riviera - Mole De Pollo - Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

Beautiful remodel since Adele's left these premises. Service was good but the dishes we chose were we believe overpriced and exceedingly pedestrian- will not be returning. read more

Excellent happy hour menu. Great price, great food. Must try. My husband loves the baby back rib plate. All the appetizers are excellent. The complimentary chips with bean and salsa is a nice touch. read more

Have visited this location plenty of times. Last two most recent visit was to try out their new cuisine of Mexican food menu. My first visit I had to try out their Molcajetes salsa flavor was on point, but could have appreciated a little more fire but I do understand that this is a business & not all customers would appreciate thatalso would have prefer some freshly pressed handmade corn tortillas served along side my Molcajete, but I understand not every Mexican restaurant is accustomed to that. Overall I do recommend the Molcajete as a shareable option if you decide to order. The second visit my husband loved the LA Hotdog & I enjoyed my shrimp tacos & devoured my margaritas! Now I am not a fan of margaritas but this place is the place to come & have them, a must! They have a variety of flavor options on their margaritas. I still have yet to try their Tamarindo Margarita & am sure I will not be disappointed, as well as the rest of the variety of Mexican cuisine on their menu. My husband had a Paloma that he mention was delicious as well. Staff members were great welcoming & friendly. I even noticed, on my first visit, what seem to be the manager making rounds on the guest tables being attentive to customers just checking in on how their meals & service was going. Definitely a gem of a restaurant to care about their customers so much and wanting to make that kind of connection with customers. The restaurant is a small hidden gem with a beautiful ambiance interior. read more

Xclusive Riviera - Mango Margarita - Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Need more help at 5pm the bar tender had to take orders and didn't check on us if we needed refills or anything else such as more chips or salsa read more

Found this place on a Google search and Yelp had good reviews so we decided to try it. Boy, were we glad we did! We were greeted and seated promptly. Xisco, the manager and mixologist, came over and got our drink order quickly. They served us some chips, salsa and beans. I have to say these are the best chips and salsa we've ever had!! It was warm and fresh and crunchy!!! I'm not much of a beans person but the beans were delicious!! Hubby ordered the asada enchilada and short Rib taco and it was incredible! You can tell the tortilla and sauce were homemade! The short Rib taco was tender and very tasty! My shrimp taquitos were uniquely presented, crunchy and delicious! The Spanish rice was seasoned perfectly! To top it all off, we ordered the butter cake. Even though we were full, this completed our meal! It was moist and scrumptious! The service and the food were excellent and we're definitely coming back here the next time we're in town! read more

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What a gem! We stumbled upon this place after failing to find beach parking by the pier. Beautiful decor, friendly service, and the food!!!! So bomb and unexpected for a hotel restaurant. Apparently locals are already aware, but for a quick road trip stop, I highly recommend this place. We split the lobster and shrimp enchiladas and they were delicious! Crispy edges, smothered in sauce and stuffed with lobster. I literally did a "happy dance" after my first bite. Two perfect mimosas rounded out a perfect quick lunch. Pro tip, you can ask for dressing for your gorgeous salad garnish if you so desire. Cheers! read more

Xclusive Riviera - Lobster & Shrimp enchiladas, sub Spanish rice for white rice because it's my favorite. Everything about this was on point. - Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

JUST. WOW. I had heard about Xclusive through the San Clemente Facebook page so decided to check it out. 6 of us went for dinner and all 6 of us agreed that it was "Xcellent"! We all had different menu items (can't even recall what they all were) and every dish was plated beautifully, fresh and tasted amazing. Margaritas were really good, made with all fresh ingredients. And the desserts!!! We had the butter cake (ask to have a shot of butterscotch liqueur poured over the top!!!) and the carmel filled churros were the perfect way to end our dinner. This is such a great addition to San Clemente and we are already talking about going back soon. They also have a happy hour, so we'll be checking that out too! General manager Xisco is the best and made sure everything was perfect! read more

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This place feels like a destination with an energy that's polished, inviting, and unmistakably elevated. The food is smart and spirited. The kind of menu that surprises in the best way. Cocktails at Riviera deserve a moment. Each drink felt thoughtfully composed--expressive without excess. The bar program reflects real intent and expertise from a team that knows their craft, and spotting a bottle of AsomBroso behind the bar felt entirely fitting. Riviera is anything but ordinary--it's lively, confident, and thoughtfully executed in every detail. A standout experience in San Clemente, and one I'm already looking forward to revisiting soon. --Rick read more

Tucked inside the San Clemente Inn off Avenida Califia exit is THE BEST Mexican cuisine! We have dined several times and the food is fantastic. From enchiladas mole, fajitas, their bowls, soups, salads, tacos are all delicious!! It's the original chef from Sol Agave in the kitchen and it shows. The service is attentive and the bar is fun!! Also as a bonus the prices are very reasonable! What a gem! read more

This was a hidden gem. Located inside of a hotel. We had reservations but it wasnt during a busy time and barely had people in there. Came around brunch on a Saturday and it was delicious. Had their omelet and my friend had the Benedict. It was a lot of food for the price! The potatoes were delicious as they were crispy! Sometimes Ive had soggy potatoes but these werent. It was quiet and my friend and I had a good convo. Only downside was there were no options for a latte. Their coffee was good though! read more

Food is fabulous! Great service! My favorite dish is the octopus taco, it's tender and flavorful.

Food was good enough. However the chicken in the taco was pretty good. The food is pricey for what it is. Good customer service. read more

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