Summer travel is back! According to booking.com CEO Glenn Fogel, 85 percent of travel searches this year are for domestic destinations. Outdoors adjacent and beach locales piqued people’s interest after being cooped up indoors much of the time last year.
Catalina remains a hotbed for Southern Californians. Previously, the island’s food options were…let’s just say “limited.” But now, tasty and sustainable dining abounds in Avalon. From bougie locales such as Descanso Beach Club to the new Naughty Fox at Bellanca Hotel, the island is flush with flavor. Some dining tips for your next visit:
A 20-minute walk from the ferry transports is Descanso Beach Club, Avalon’s only beachfront restaurant. Reserve a cabana or chaise lounge as you relax under white umbrellas dotted in the soft sand.
The ahi tuna sashimi with shaved cabbage, radish sprouts, pickled ginger and wasabi packs a spicy punch of flavor. The comfort food beach fare continues with crispy nachos covered in pulled pork or carne asada, house-made cheese sauce, pico de gallo, and avocado puree. The crowd-pleaser dish is large enough to share and pairs well with a bucket of icy Modelo Especial.
The kids can chomp on grilled cheeseburgers and splash in the ocean just feet away from your beach chairs. The complimentary water and towel service make for a relatively stress-free day at the shore. If you plan to venture into the water, one recommendation: bring a pair of beach shoes. Catalina’s rocky coastline is rough on landlubbers’ feet.
1 St. Catherine Way, Avalon
For happy hour, request a table on the waterfront patio and enjoy the sunset with a margarita in hand. Bluewater Grille’s menu is flush with sustainable seafood options such as oysters on the half shell, chipotle blackened swordfish and cedar plank salmon with roasted leek vinaigrette.
While watching yachts drift into the harbor, try a creative cocktail or a sizable oyster shooter. There are three options: a Michelada version with a salted rim, beer, Worcestershire, tabasco and lime; the Island oyster shooter with tequila, orange juice, black currant, lime and ginger beer; and the Bloody Mary-inspired Shucker’s Choice with vodka, horseradish and lemon.
The creamy New England-style clam chowder and buttery lobster roll combined with that seaside ambience tempts you to stay overnight. A day trip isn’t long enough to discover the wonders of Catalina.
306 Crescent Ave., Avalon
The Naughty Fox at Bellanca Hotel
The recently opened Bellanca Hotel is a welcome addition to Catalina’s thoroughfare. The in-house restaurant, Naughty Fox, concocts a delicious Buffalo Milk. The official cocktail of Catalina is a nod to the resident bison herd that roams the island. Originally created on Harbor Reef in Two Harbors, the drink sips like a chocolate banana-flavored White Russian. The Naughty Fox serves a delectable version that’s raved about on Yelp.
The menu features a mixture of island flavors inspired by the Mediterranean. The blackened fish is sandwiched inside a brioche bun with tzatziki, pickled red onions, tomato and arugula. The creamy scallop chowder and mac and cheese are family favorite (read: kid-friendly) options. Elevate the dish by adding lobster, shrimp or scallops.
Finish the meal with a root beer float flavored with cinnamon ice cream or opt for the cookie sampler with white chocolate macadamia nut, rocky road and toffee cookies paired with – you guessed it – Buffalo Milk. Yee haw!
111 Crescent Ave., Avalon
If you prefer your dessert to-go, swing by Scoops Ice Cream shop. The selection of house-made ice creams and gelato is often a last stop for guests before boarding the ferry back to the mainland.
The amarena cherry gelato can be a tad syrupy, but the salted caramel Straciatella and mint chip ice cream will satisfy your sweet tooth. The creamy vanilla will make the kids go giddy, especially after they scope out the wide selection of toppings: chocolate and rainbow sprinkles, gummies, chopped nuts and cookie crumbles galore!
For diners seeking a dairy-free and somewhat healthy option, try the dark chocolate-dipped banana. It’s a Southern California classic and a sweet finish for any Catalina getaway.
501 Crescent Ave., Avalon
