An Easy Weekend Away in Laguna Beach

Cliffside studios, photos courtesy of Montage Laguna

It’s not always easy to manage a big faraway vacation—we all need some closer-to-home getaways that still feel like we’re actually getting away. On a good day, you’ll drive south to Laguna Beach in less than two hours and find yourself surrounded by a cute, quirky little beach town—sort of like how Malibu used to feel—filled with local boutiques, art galleries, great restaurants, surf shops, clean beaches, beautiful hikes, and a handful of stunning resorts. 

The Montage Laguna Beach is perched on a clifftop overlooking the ocean and they’ve done a remarkable job making the property a one-stop paradise—you don’t really feel the need to leave. It’s easy to fill a weekend with luxurious spa treatments (take advantage of the spa’s quiet, adults-only pool, which arguably has the best view on the property), beach walks, pool lounging, and trying everything on offer at their three restaurants. 

The pool at sunset

When I stayed, I tried their summer pop-up, Taste of Talay—a Thai-inspired menu by Bangkok native, chef Marc Narongchai—in a collaboration with Montage Los Cabos’ critically-acclaimed Thai restaurant, Talay. The flavors were big and authentic with dishes like charcoal-grilled satay chicken, ceviche, Thai pork dumplings, lobster curry, spicy crab noodles, mango sticky rice, and fun cocktails like the spicy Thai margarita or tequila spritz with Aperol foam.

Chef David Serus, a Ritz-Carlton alum originally from Le Mans, France, was appointed executive chef at Montage Laguna Beach in 2019, just before the pandemic hit. As he tells me, his goal was to bring Studio, the resort’s now-shuttered fine-dining restaurant, to Michelin-star status. Sadly, like so many others, it just couldn’t survive the pandemic, but Serus has big plans to “put some life back into the beautiful space,” he says. It will be much more casual and approachable than Studio—not an hours-long meal with wine pairings but something more down-to-earth, with a new raw bar overlooking the ocean. Each of the resort’s menus will get a bit of a refresh, all with Serus’ refined approach to cooking with seasonal Southern California ingredients. We talk about how much fun it is for him to work with such a great team, both on the corporate side and the in-house culinary staff, who respect his vision and allow him the wiggle room to take these dining concepts to new heights. 

An inspiring view

The Loft is a casual all-day dining restaurant with an amazing panoramic ocean view. Breakfast isn’t to be missed—I loved the eggplant shakshuka and, truly, had one of the most stunning shareable fruit platters ever—and neither are the raw bar options on the dinner menu. The Lobby Lounge feels like a big, comfortable living room. It’s warm and homey, with books on the shelves and lots of nooks and crannies to have your own space, with a great menu of snacks and cocktails to choose from. I often realize I’m at the right place when there are as many locals as tourists—it’s just an unbeatable view.

The rooms at the Montage have Craftsman-style bedrooms with big soaking tubs, a patio or balcony, and that view. Lots to do on land and sea too, from challenging hikes nearby to sailing, paddle boarding, snorkeling, and kayaking to explore the Southern California coast. I’d also suggest not missing the complimentary Sunset S’mores on Friday and Saturday out on the lawn, which seems to be equally enjoyed by just about everyone. 

Venture off the property to explore the town and hit some of the must-try spots like dark chocolate gelato from Gelato Paradiso, brunch at Zinc Cafe & Market (now with locations in West Hollywood and DTLA) because I’m obsessed with the Middle Eastern breakfast and their French toast with orange butter or on-the-water Driftwood Kitchen for their blueberry pancakes with caramelized hazelnut butter and maple syrup. On the way back to L.A., stop in Newport Beach to stroll around Lido Marina Village—pick up some craft beer and wine and have lunch at Lido Bottle Works, then bring home some organic sourdough from Rye Goods, or grab a gift for yourself from favorites like Malibu Farm Home Collection or Lido Village Books. 

The coastline