Philz Coffee: Drip coffee is taken to a whole other level at Philz, where every cup is made by hand, right in front of your eyes! Their customized blends are perfectly smooth and tasty, and the baristas will make them exactly to your liking! (@philzcoffee)
Bobby’s pick: Silken Splendor
Alli’s pick: Iced Mojito with half sweetener
Milk + Honey: Their coffee is good, but their tea is better. We crave their shaken iced teas on hot days - it’s the perfect post-beach treat! (So is their shaved ice!!)
Bobby’s pick: Watermelonade
Alli’s pick: Passion fruit Shaken Iced Tea
Breakfast
Sugar Shack Cafe: Cheap, hearty, and consistently delicious. The Sugar Shack is a no frills kind of a place, and we love it for that. So does the rest of HB, too! The wait can get long (especially in the summer), but it moves quick. (@sugarshackcafe)
Bobby’s pick: Breakfast Special (substitute french toast!)
Alli’s pick: Wake Up & Shine (add avocado!)
Ruby’s Diner: Typically we wouldn’t include a Ruby’s Diner in our guides, but the one in HB is an exception. It’s at the end of the pier, so you can’t beat the views. (Get their early to snag a window seat.) And hey, we like their RubySpuds!! Sue us! (@rubysdiner)
Bobby’s pick: ABC Omelette
Alli’s pick: Avocado Toast
Lunch/Dinner
The American Dream: This place takes comfort food to another level. From truffle mac + cheese, to “Party Fries” (cheddar, grilled onions & thousand island dressing. Oh man.), to their giant burgers… this isn’t where you should go if you’re on a diet. Or let’s rephrase that - this is where you should go to BREAK your diet. ;) (@theamericandreamhb)
Our picks: The Truffle Mushroom Mac + Cheese, the Buffalo Cauliflower, the Party Fries, and the BBQ Stout Bacon Burger.
Bear Flag Fish Co: We’ve tried fish tacos around the world, and we still can’t beat the ones at Bear Flag. But you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, and if you’re a poke fan, theirs is some of the best in town! (@bearflagfishco)
Bobby’s pick: Bear Flag Burrito
Alli’s pick: Bear Flag Fish Tacos (with avocado)
Ola Mexican Kitchen: Cold margaritas, ocean views, chips and salsa… what more could you want?! We LOVE their happy hour (M-F, 3-6pm) and Taco Tuesday (all day!), with $5 tacos and $6 margaritas! (@ola_mexican_kitchen)
Bobby’s pick: Carnitas & Carne Asada tacos
Alli’s pick: Baja Fish tacos
Tanners: We love sitting at their “Treehouse” bar for drinks and people watching. We prefer to go on the weekdays when it’s a little more mellow - and happy hour is 4-7pm, Monday through Thursday! (@tannershb)
Bobby’s pick: Tanner’s Old Fashioned
Alli’s pick: Black Smoke
The Bungalow: This place can be a SCENE (especially on the weekends!) but we still love it. You can’t beat the views, the drinks, or the whole hip experience. Go midday (less crowded), bring some friends, order some drinks, and you’ll instantly feel cool. (@thebungalowhb)
Bobby’s pick: The Golden Bear
Alli’s pick: The Bungalow Margarita
Barefoot Bar at Dukes Huntington Beach: Steps from the sand, you’ll feel as though you’ve transported right to Hawaii! Monday nights their “Aloha Hour” is all night, with discounted prices on drinks and appetizers! Mondays aren’t so bad, afterall! (@dukeshb)
Bobby’s pick: Black Salt Bloody Mary
Alli’s pick: Duke’s Mai Tai
Shorebreak Hotel: We love this casual, beachy hotel. It’s part of the Kimpton family, so you’ll get all of their special perks - like wine hour, doggies are welcome, and the friendliest service… Plus it’s across the street from the beach! (@shorebreakresort)
Pasea: While we have yet to stay here, we’ve heard great things about the Pasea! It’s located right next to Pacific City, so you’re close to the beach AND great shopping. The pool looks epic, and they have an AMAZING place for dogs to hang out called “Paw-sea”! (@paseahotel)
Shop at Pacific City: Located in a prime location on PCH with incredible ocean views, Pacific City is Huntington’s best spot for food and shopping. You could spend a whole day “grazing” (our term for eating little bites at too many restaurants) from restaurant to restaurant or perusing the shops. Where else can you shop, eat, and watch the waves crash?
Milkshakes at Ruby’s on the Pier: see above in the breakfast section. You won’t regret it.
Try to surf! There’s a reason Huntington Beach is known as Surf City USA. The waves are good, the surf vibes are strong, and you are bound to be stoked if you paddle out. If you are new to surfing, check out Banzai Surf School for a lesson!
You know it! HB has the best dog beach in the area, and it just might be Sally’s favorite place in the world! Pacific City is also extremely dog friendly, and most of their restaurants have patios that accomodate dogs!
The shops and restaurants on Main Street are (for the most part) all really touristy. It’s worth a walk around, but if you’re in the mood to shop, we suggest you head to Pacific City instead.
