The wait is over for the debut of Oak Grill and Aqua Lounge, the new contemporary California cuisine restaurant and lounge inside the Island Hotel in Newport Beach. It was a brilliant move to add a new easy access from Fashion Island. There’s a new pedestrian entrance along Newport Center Drive, near Santa Cruz, as well as complimentary valet available at the hotel entrance.
The impressive Oak Grill boasts a an expansive heated patio—ideal for alfresco dining and live music entertainment—as well as more than 50 California wines by the glass.
Directly across from the restaurant is Aqua Lounge, with an ‘80s design vibe and a 360-degree bar that will no doubt bring strong opinions depending on how you feel about that era. (We love the floor-to-ceiling windows at both concepts.) Resident DJs spin current and international music nightly, and an intimate outdoor patio and fire pit serves both the restaurant and lounge. Relax and enjoy a curated wine and beer list, as well as crafted cocktails as well as casual bites.
Aqua Lounge will be celebrating the Fourth of July with live DJ mixes all weekend long. Starting Thursday from 7 p.m. to midnight and Friday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., DJ Tirade will be spinning his signature blend of feel-good party vibes, with DJ Elex taking over the turntables on Saturday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Executive Chef Marc Johnson oversees both the Oak Grill and Aqua Lounge’s contemporary California menu such as Oak Grill’s all-day menu featuring a variety of salads, sandwiches, burgers, flatbreads, pastas and entrées showcasing fresh fish and grilled steaks and chops, including an heirloom tomato “BLT” panzanella salad with field greens, crispy braised pork belly, and avocado; Chilean sea bass with cranberry quinoa, peas, and carrot purée; and grilled beef filet with trumpet mushrooms, fingerling potatoes, and cauliflower horseradish porridge.
Chef Johnson’s menu for Aqua Lounge, features shareable small plates and a late-night menu available Thursday through Saturday starting at 11 p.m. for after-hours cravings with street food-inspired snacks such as tacos, poutine, buffalo wings, burgers, gourmet hot dogs, and his signature breakfast burritos.
Sommelier Miguel Rodriguez curates the wine and beer offerings at both concepts with an extensive wines-by-the-glass list and local craft beers on tap. And from the cocktail list, choose from classic American cocktails such as Oak Grill’s Boulevardier with DUKE Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Campari, and Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth and Aqua Lounge’s Cucumber Cobbler with coastal sage- infused Hendrick’s gin, fresh green apple and cucumber purée, housemade ginger syrup, and fresh lemon juice.
Oak Grill is open daily from 6:30-11 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. for lunch, Sunday-Wednesday from 5-10 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday from 5-11 p.m. for dinner.
Aqua Lounge is open daily at 11 a.m. for drinks and the regular food menu, with a late night menu featured at 11 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Oak Grill and Aqua Lounge is at 690 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach.
Reservations for Oak Grill at 949.760.4920 or visiting oakgrillnb.com; and for Aqua Lounge at 949.760.4342 or visiting aqualoungenb.com.
The Latest from greer's oc
43rd Annual California Cool Art Auction at Laguna Art Museum
Laguna Art Museum is thrilled to unveil details for its highly anticipated 43rd Annual California Cool Art Auction, benefiting the museum and its programs. This premier event, celebrating the best of California art, kicks off on February 15, 2025,…
Twyla Tharp 60th Anniversary at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents two performances on February 15 and 16 celebrating the 60th anniversary of Twyla Tharp, one of the greatest choreographers of our time. Twyla Tharp’s ability to merge music and movement into works of startling…
Tomatomania Returns: The Ultimate Tomato Plant Sale at Roger’s Gardens
Tomatomania returns to Roger’s Gardens for its 14th year from Friday, February 28 – Sunday, March 9, bringing the world’s largest—and most fun—tomato plant sale. Scott Daigre and his team of Tomatomaniacs are back with an incredible selection of…
Stonefire Grill Supports Wildfire Relief with Meal Donations and Fundraising Match
Stonefire Grill, a beloved Southern California restaurant group with 13 locations across Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, and San Bernardino counties, is stepping up to support those affected by the recent wildfires. The restaurant will match donations up to $10,000 collectively,…
Follow Greer on Pinterest
from the blog
- 01.31.25 – 43rd Annual California Cool Art Auction at Laguna Art Museum
- 01.31.25 – Twyla Tharp 60th Anniversary at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
- 01.30.25 – Tomatomania Returns: The Ultimate Tomato Plant Sale at Roger’s Gardens
- 01.29.25 – Stonefire Grill Supports Wildfire Relief with Meal Donations and Fundraising Match
- 01.29.25 – GANNI Warehouse Sale: 70% Off in Tustin This Week
- 01.29.25 – Pacific Symphony Rings in the Year of the Snake with a Spectacular Lunar New Year Celebration
- 01.27.25 – Support LA: An Evening of Giving at Westwood Coast
- 01.27.25 – Boots & I-Do’s: A Bridal Market at Swanner House
- 01.27.25 – Renaissance ClubSport Introduces RGT Training System at The Edge
- 01.24.25 – E20 Training Brings Cutting-Edge Fitness to Costa Mesa
- 01.24.25 – Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea at Knife Pleat
- 01.24.25 – The Crack Shack Kicks Off the New Year with Bold New Flavors
- 01.22.25 – The Rent The Runway Warehouse Sale
- 01.22.25 – Dinner and a Show: Kimberly Akimbo & The Park Club
- 01.20.25 – California Wildfire Benefit Dinner at Bello
- 01.20.25 – Celebrate Romance in Temecula This February and Beyond
- 01.18.25 – Born in OC Lunch & Learn with Greer Wylder at Zov’s
- 01.13.25 – Supporting Animals in Crisis: ASPCA and Pasadena Humane Respond to Southern California Wildfires
- 01.13.25 – LA Fire Benefit: A Night of Music & Community at The Wayfarer
- 01.10.25 – Support LA Fire Relief Efforts at HAVEN, PROVISIONS, and Chapman Crafted Beer
More Daily Doses
- 01.30.25 – Explore, Dine, and Relax: Catalina Island’s Winter Getaway Packages
- 01.29.25 – Celebrate Lunar New Year with Incredible Dining Experiences at South Coast Plaza
- 01.27.25 – Ospi Costa Mesa Brings Southern Italian Flavors to Orange County
- 01.23.25 – Wild Strawberry Café Opens in Laguna Beach
- 01.22.25 – Ring in the Year of the Snake with Festive Fun at The District Tustin!
- 01.20.25 – The Winter Cocktail Tour at The District at Tustin Legacy
- 01.19.25 – Graze Craze Expands to Costa Mesa with Charcuterie Boards & Boxes
- 01.18.25 – Segerstrom Center for the Arts Presents: An Intimate Evening with David Foster and Katharine McPhee
- 01.15.25 – NEP Café Redefines Modern Vietnamese Dining with a Bold New Chapter
- 01.13.25 – Over 110 O.C. Restaurants Unite for Wildfire Relief Fundraiser – Tuesday, Jan. 14
- 01.02.25 – Segerstrom Center for the Arts Presents GRAHAM100
- 12.30.24 – Book Signing & Conversation with Greer Wylder: Born in OC
- 12.29.24 – Ring in the New Year at Triangle Square: Dining, Dancing, and More
- 12.25.24 – Mr. Moto Pizza Brings Its Legendary Funky Pies to Orange County in Early 2025
- 12.23.24 – RH Newport Beach: A Masterpiece of Design and Dining at Fashion Island
- 12.23.24 – River Street Marketplace Welcomes First Wave of Shops and Eateries to San Juan Capistrano
- 12.20.24 – Restored Crystal Cove Cottages Now Open for Online Reservations
- 12.16.24 – Molly O’Neil Opens Luxury Design Studio and Home Decor Shop in Costa Mesa
- 12.16.24 – Celebrate the Season in Style at RJB Restaurants’ Coastal Favorites
- 12.11.24 – Mercado Mesa: A New Culinary Experience at Paseo 17
