On a mission to hunt out a brand new food-and-drink journey, my spouse and I lately traveled to Santa Catalina Island to discover the island’s culinary and cocktail scene. To cross the mere 22 miles from the mainland, we boarded the Catalina Express in Long Beach — although it’s solely about an hour, make sure you improve to the Commodores Lounge for precedence boarding, a comfier seat, and a complimentary cocktail, the proper combo to start your island journey.
Disembarking in Avalon, we checked into the Bellanca Hotel. Newly reopened after a $4 million refit, Bellanca has that Instagrammable vibe with a rooftop terrace overlooking the harbor, cruiser bikes to discover the city, and the hip Naughty Fox Restaurant. Our ground-floor suite had a concertina door that opened extensive to welcome within the hustle and bustle of Avalon, simply steps from the clear blue water of the bay.
We spent the afternoon exploring with a glass-bottom-boat tour to Lovers’ Cove earlier than espresso from Lloyd’s of Avalon energized our meander by way of downtown. For dinner, we headed to M, the place elegant service and subtle ambiance make it arguably the best eating in Avalon. Seated on their ocean-front patio, we scoured the menu of Italian fare and signature cocktails, choosing the burrata, fried calamari, and massive Cadillac margaritas as appetizers earlier than entrées of lobster, shrimp, and clam linguine and panko-dusted sand dabs.
A brand new day dawned with breakfast at The Naughty Fox. Hailing from the famed Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, govt chef Russel Hayden’s menu of elevated café choices features a to-die-for lobster eggs Benedict in addition to muffins, smashed avocado toast, and baked French toast. With a stylish vibe and outside seats that overlook the hubbub of island life, it’s a super spot for breakfast, lunch, or just cocktails.
Fueled up, we ambled right down to Brown’s Bikes to select up our electrical bike leases. After a short introduction to the bikes and their features, we zipped off alongside the coastal roads of Catalina earlier than ascending Mount Ada. Our electrical help and a “boost” mode made hill climbing a breeze. Freewheeling downhill, we zig-zagged by way of the again streets of Avalon, observing the steep tapestry of hillside housing earlier than heading inland towards the Botanical Gardens and the Wrigley Memorial. Motivated to burn our breakfast energy, a three-mile hike past the memorial took us to the Garden to Sky Summit and its rewarding views of either side of the island.
Returning our bikes, we hightailed it to an early dinner at The Lobster Trap, a bustling island favourite frequented by locals and guests alike. With stiff Moscow Mules in hand, we opted for a bursting lobster roll and fries, and the halibut with veg and rice pilaf. Neither dish lasted so long as the grins on our faces.
Our closing morning noticed us again at The Naughty Fox for an additional scrumptious breakfast: a tacky bacon popover, smashed avocado toast, and a few mimosas.
Sans baggage and with lunchtime upon us, we snuck down a facet avenue to NDMK Fish House for a closing gorge on contemporary ahi tacos with sautéed veggies, loved with our toes within the sand. Then we had been ready to model into cozy Commodores Lounge seats again aboard the Catalina Express — with only one closing spherical of Bloody Marys earlier than we declared mission achieved.
See bellancahotel.com, catalinaexpress.com, and visitcatalinaisland.com.
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