There’s a kind of afternoon in San Clemente where one taco leads to another, and it’s another hour before you even consider the sunset. The ocean will still be there tomorrow. There’s really no point rushing home. This, friends, is the coastal crawl—and these 14 spots are where it begins.
Baja Fresh
$ | (949) 361-4667 | WEBSITE
It’s impossible to leave Baja Fresh without feeling completely satisfied. Which is what makes it perfect for the kind of quick, fresh meal you’re after. A consistent, flavorful experience at this Mexican-inspired spot in San Clemente delivers like the fresh salsas at their bar. Expect things like the tasty fajitas with a brilliant, intensely satisfying squeeze of lime, and the signature salsa bar covered in a luscious flavorful blanket of perfect selections.
OC Tavern
$$ | (949) 542-8877 | WEBSITE
A tavern in San Clemente that recently reopened under new ownership says two things to us: pool tables and sports. OC Tavern has been doing this for a while now. It’s a casual spot from a familiar era. When nachos were a staple, when a cold beer and brunch got the day going, and when Sundays were lazy, drawn-out precursors to the week ahead. Kevin, the owner, checks on guests like a fantastic host, while Madison serves with exceptional attentiveness.
The food is very good, the bartenders receive high praise, and everyone feels like a regular. It offers reasonable value and is worth returning to, especially for that brunch menu.
Rapport Coffee by Cafe Smith
$ | WEBSITE
Nothing compels a human being like that little six letter word, posed as a question. You know the one we’re talking about. The one that gets your mind racing. The one that can make you feel a bit fuzzy. The one that anyone will cancel and rearrange a morning around. So next time someone asks that simple one word question, ‘Coffee?’—go to Rapport Coffee by Cafe Smith in San Clemente. It’s one of Southern California’s finest locations for whiling away an afternoon.
The drinks are expertly crafted, the bean selection extensive, and there’s even outdoor seating.
The Picnic Cafe
$ | WEBSITE
No spot in San Clemente is more lunch-perfect than The Picnic Cafe, where a midday meal can stretch as long as you please. This charming local favorite was born with cheerful vibes and a delightful menu featuring amazing sandwiches, delicious coffee, and matcha that pairs perfectly with the adorable flowers throughout. The friendly service and honest staff only enhance that classic relaxed cafe feeling. Before you know it you’ll be multiple cups deep, completely forgetting the clock.
Ruby’s Diner
$ | (949) 492-7829 | WEBSITE
We’re generally fans of early mornings. But in this extremely tactical situation, early mornings are not your friend. Early mornings are a tell. Early mornings could lead to the realisation it’s time for work, not breakfast, and there are emails to send and meetings to attend. So that’s why you go to Ruby’s Diner. It’s one of San Clemente’s stalwart surf-themed restaurants, and, importantly, it’s a big fan of breakfast all day.
It’s one of the many non-surfing-related reasons why this place became a local classic in no time.
Antoine’s Cafe
$ | (949) 492-1763 | WEBSITE
Once known as a hidden gem, this San Clemente cafe has been revived—charm, French flair, service, and all—to its former quaint glory. The French-ish food is something of a delightful backdrop to the memories. A savory Antoine’s Benedict pleasantly satisfies and French toast is enjoyable, if a little lacking in crisp. That said, you won’t come to Antoine’s for a gastronomic leap into the future, you’ll come for a take-your-time breakfast that’ll charm your friends into thinking it’s Sunday.
Denny’s
$ | (949) 492-2382 | WEBSITE
Nothing, absolutely nothing, says ‘we’re having a classic American breakfast’ like a pre-planned, weekend morning, Grand Slam Slam from Denny’s, does it? Trust us, we’re speaking from experience. This is not a meal that fuels a morning of light activity. If you’re not up for the whole spread though, there are still plenty of other options at this San Clemente staple that will guarantee a very hearty and very relaxed meal.
The Meltdown
$$ | (949) 492-2382 | WEBSITE
This roadside diner and classic American restaurant in San Clemente has the power to satisfy anyone. The Meltdown’s convenient location off the freeway is perfect for both late-night cravings and early morning refueling, and the dining area itself is like a cozy neighborhood spot that serves the best stuffed strawberry pancakes in town (alongside other excellent breakfast plates). Yes, if you come here you’ll feel like the King of Comfort Food.
Andalusia Kitchen
$$ | (949) 295-7024 | WEBSITE
Some restaurants deliver quick Mediterranean bites, but at Andalusia Kitchen, deeply authentic daytime indulgence is the whole point. Everything about this hidden gem in The Old City Plaza—the glorious shawarma, its cozy corner location, the attentive owner wordlessly bringing you an extra basket of warm pita bread—is conspiring to encourage lingering.
The air of homely Mediterranean charm (please see: the aromatic spices wafting from the open kitchen) only adds to the feeling that it would be rude to leave without savoring one more bite, ahem plate, of baklava.
High Tide Coffee San Clemente
$ | (949) 667-2599 | WEBSITE
High Tide Coffee San Clemente, a surfside coffee spot just steps from the ocean, pretty much guarantees that most visitors will be content with the quality espresso drinks and a cold brew with that perfect cold foam top before the veggie burrito (a must-try) even arrives. A lot of the menu—that chia seed pudding included—is very hard to say no to. And that’s exactly how you’ll feel when someone suggests ‘one more cortado’ while the relaxed surf music plays in the background.
Poke Tiki Laguna Niguel
$ | (949) 569-0097 | WEBSITE
The last time we hit Poke Tiki for lunch, we left the office at noon and returned at 3pm sporting a mango boba glow and a vague alibi about traffic. A build-your-own bowl fever dream of a meal at this spacious poke spot begins with a clean, well-lit counter service ceremony, then launches into topping after fresh, generous salmon hit. Minutes blink by in seconds and before you know it you’re eating rose milk tea and already plotting your spectacular return to Laguna Niguel.
Flights & Irons Urban Kitchen
$$ | (949) 388-3991 | WEBSITE
You know what would get your family to agree on where to eat for once? Comfort food and hard cider flights. And this San Clemente spot delivers on both fronts. The atmosphere is warm, the rustic-chic décor invites you to settle in, and friendly servers deliver eye-candy plates of chili with cornbread. The American comfort food isn’t fancy but order the BBQ Chicken Salad and that double cut pork chop with applesauce, and you’ll leave happy and full, with zero plans of cooking dinner tonight.
Alohana Acai Bowls & Coffee
$ | (949) 388-4015 | WEBSITE
There are a dozen bowls on Alohana’s menu, not to mention smoothies and coffee, and if that doesn’t whisper “honey, I’m going to be here a while, something’s come over me” then nothing will. This cozy Capo Beach spot gives off those Hawaii vibes, and the generous bowls travel across different fruit combinations, taking you and your morning plans to complete your errands before noon, with them.
Your visit may begin with an innocent little sip of coffee but will flow into a full thirty-minute Rivi bowl and chunky monkey smoothie affair.
Sonny’s Pizza & Pasta
$$ | (949) 498-2540 | WEBSITE
Nowhere along the San Clemente coast has as much heart as Sonny’s Pizza & Pasta. Not even the pier. Open since the early 2000s, this family-run Italian spot is a warm neighborhood hub where a casual dinner can effortlessly turn into the kind of lingering feast that keeps families coming back.
Start with a glass of their smooth house merlot at the table, then dive into the homemade meat lasagna or the crispy thin-crust pizza, followed by enough tiramisu to lead you to where every meal at Sonny’s winds up—sipping another glass and craving more of that stuffed calamari on the flower-filled patio out back.