A Newport Beach Landmark Turns 100: From The Arches to A Restaurant

In 2026, A Restaurant will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its iconic location along Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. The milestone marks a century of hospitality, community and history at one of Newport Beach’s most recognizable dining destinations.

For many locals, A Restaurant is more than historic. It is personal. I have been going there since I was a kid, and years later it became the place where Paul and I celebrated our wedding reception. Like so many longtime Newport Beach favorites, it holds decades of memories for the community.

The property first opened in 1926 as The Arches, the same year Coast Highway connected Huntington Beach to Newport Beach. Founded by John Vilelle and James Sturgeon, the roadside diner and service station got its name through a community contest advertised in the Balboa Times. The winning name came from 10 year old Victor Chatten. With its Mediterranean style architecture, arches and red tile roofs, The Arches quickly became a gathering place for locals and travelers and a familiar landmark along the coast.

In 2008, partners Joseph “McG” Nichol and restaurateur Jordan Otterbein of River Jetty Restaurant Group took over the historic property and reintroduced it as A Restaurant, keeping the signature “A” as a nod to its past. The concept evolved into a modern steakhouse while preserving the character and legacy of the original space.

Today, Executive Chef Robert Gomez leads the kitchen with a seasonally inspired menu that highlights premium ingredients and longstanding relationships with local farms and purveyors. The menu focuses on both land and sea, paired with a thoughtfully curated wine list designed to complement each dish.

While the name, ownership and menu have evolved over the decades, the heart of the restaurant has remained the same. A Restaurant continues to be a place where people gather for celebrations, dinners with friends and special occasions.

Giving back has also long been part of the restaurant’s story. Over the years, the restaurant and River Jetty Restaurant Group have supported organizations including the Hoag Hospital Foundation, Newport Beach schools, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society through its Bike MS fundraising ride from Orange County to San Diego.

That commitment continues in 2026. River Jetty Restaurant Group will participate in several Hoag related events this year, including sponsorship of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club from March 22 through 29, as well as the Hoag Summer Fest at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort in June.

To commemorate the centennial, A Restaurant will celebrate throughout 2026 with special anniversary programming and community events. The official anniversary falls in August 2026.

One hundred years after it first opened, A Restaurant remains a Newport Beach classic. 

For more information, visit ARestaurantNB.com.

The Arches circ. 1926. Photo courtesy of the City of Newport Beach. 

Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to the Beatles

Imagine hearing The Beatles performed live with a full symphony orchestra. Audiences will get that experience on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., when Classical Mystery Tour returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts for a special 30th anniversary concert.

This milestone performance celebrates three decades since Classical Mystery Tour’s very first concert, presented at Segerstrom Center (then called Orange County Performing Arts Center) in 1996. For this anniversary event, the acclaimed Beatles tribute will be joined by a 30-piece orchestra comprised of Pacific Symphony musicians, bringing the beloved Beatles catalogue to life as it was originally recorded.

Tickets range from $35 to $155 and are on sale now. There is an optional separate admission post-concert reception at The Silver Trumpet Restaurant (located within Avenue of the Arts Hotel) across the street from Segerstrom Center. Meet the band and enjoy appetizers, dessert, drinks, and live music. Price includes validated parking at the hotel for the evening (show and VIP reception), one drink ticket, and gratuity. Event limited to 50 people.

Visit SCFTA.org for tickets and more information. 

Far more than a tribute band, Classical Mystery Tour recreates the Beatles experience with remarkable authenticity. The four musicians look and sound just like The Beatles, delivering spot-on renditions of the hits fans know and love—from “Yesterday” and “Eleanor Rigby” to “All You Need Is Love,” “A Day in the Life,” and “Hey Jude.”

“The emotional and nostalgic connection that our show has for audiences is powerful,” says Jim Owen, Classical Mystery Tour’s founder and the show’s John Lennon. “We have some real show-stopping numbers like ‘A Day in the Life,’ which features an orchestral soundscape that is exciting to hear.”

Since debuting in Costa Mesa three decades ago, Classical Mystery Tour has:

• Performed with over 100 orchestras worldwide
• Played more than 1,000 concerts
• Appeared at major concert halls including the Sydney Opera House and with prestigious ensembles such as the Boston Pops
• Earned its reputation as the #1 Symphony Pops attraction in the United States

From the Beatles’ early years through their solo eras, the show offers audiences the chance to experience “The best of The Beatles like you’ve never heard them before.”

Tickets are available through Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ website and box office. Visit SCFTA.org for more information.

Napa in Newport Expands to Three-Day Wine Weekend for CureDuchenne

CureDuchenne’s annual Napa in Newport fundraiser returns March 20 to 22 as an expanded, three-day celebration at Pendry Newport Beach, bringing some of Napa Valley’s most sought-after wineries to the coast. The elevated weekend experience pairs world-class wine and dining with a mission to support research, care and advocacy for those living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The weekend opens Friday with intimate vintner dinners hosted by Peter Michael Winery and Simon Family Estate. Saturday’s black-tie gala includes a grand tasting with more than 25 premier Napa wineries, followed by a multi-course dinner by Chef Colin Bedford of Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire and a live auction featuring travel, private dining and rare wines. New this year, The Ultimate Pour offers a rare, private tasting from cult producers MacDonald and Fairchild, available with select sponsorships and weekend packages. The evening continues with a VIP after-party at Pendry’s Elwood Club.

The celebration wraps up Sunday with Brunch and Bubbles, featuring sparkling wines from JCB. Proceeds benefit CureDuchenne, a global leader in advancing research and care for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. To date, Napa in Newport has raised more than $13 million for the cause. Tickets, tables and weekend packages are available at napainnewport.org.