The Fashion Epicenter of Newport Beach

Do you know WHY there is an open-air shopping center in Newport Beach? Well the answer is…because why not! I keep coming back to the pleasant year-round weather but this really is a perfect reason to have an outdoor mall. What makes this resort-like shopping environment even more unique is the gorgeous Pacific Ocean in the background.

I mentioned shopping at Fashion Island in my Top 5 Things To Do In Newport Beach but really want to expand on it a little more.

With over 200 stores and restaurants, it has often been described as a “fashionista and foodie paradise”. There are several chain department stores like Nordstrom and Macys intermixed with some trendy and high-end boutique stores. Sure, you can spend a small fortune shopping here but for some savings, you can download the Retail Therapy app on your phone to enjoy discounts at several of the shops, snack places, and restaurants. But don’t worry, not every store is pricey. There are stores like Forever 21 and Francesca’s.

Even if you are not completely into shopping, this is a great place to walk around and enjoy the open air, fountains, and koi pond. The Koi pond is probably my favorite spot. It’s definitely a place for both kids and adults alike.

For a real entertainment experience, visit The Lot upstairs. This is technically a high-end movie theater but it’s so much more. Sure, the high-end movie theaters with leather recliners and in-seat dining (with cocktails) has been the rage for a few years now but The Lot takes it to a whole new level. You can grab a coffee and pastry at the café, breakfast/lunch/dinner at the restaurant, or drinks at the bar. You can then decide to see a movie in one of the seven auditoriums in a luxury recliner with full in-seat dining. This isn’t just any type of food delivered to your seat but rather gourmet meals like pan roasted Scottish salmon, grilled filet mignon, and blistered shishido peppers – yum!

So, as you can see, Fashion Island is not just an ordinary shopping mall but much more. I didn’t even touch on the annual holiday tradition where, on average, a 90-foot live fir is brought in from 650 miles away and decorated and then displayed at Christmas time --- but I’ll save that for Christmas time. So, if you happen to find yourself with a hankering for some new clothes or a fancy entertainment experience, head over to Fashion Island and enjoy all it has to offer.