Hotel
I stayed at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa because I was traveling with a large group for the NCAA basketball tournament. My college made it to the National Championship this spring and my family followed them all the way! This hotel is a great location for the beach and shopping. There is a great pool on the property and the beach is a quick walk. Across the street from the hotel is Fashion Island, a great outdoor shopping mall.
The Marriot has a Starbucks located in the gift shop of the Hotel. I grabbed a quick breakfast and a tea in there most mornings.
Food + Drink
True Food Kitchen is always a great option for a light healthy lunch. I was very happy to see that there was a location in Fashion Island. The location was a little tricky to find because it is not in the middle of the shopping mall but more across the parking lot.
PF Chang is also located at Fashion Island. It is another guaranteed good meal when I am traveling. I had a suite with a large table so we ordered take out and ate in my room while watching more basketball.
Fig + Olive is a great French restaurant with a really good drink menu. This is also located in the same area as Fashion Island. We were able to walk from the hotel. The menu offers so many options. if there is a filet mignon on the menu, I am for sure ordering it. All of the food was so delicious and the setting was very nice. This is a great place to grab dinner. We were able to have conversations and not have to speak over any noise.
Because we were there for a sporting event it only made sense that we spent a lot of time gathering in the hotel bar, The Lounge at Hook and Spear. We met there for drinks while waiting for our bus to pick us up and take us to receptions and games. We also ended up there after the games because we were celebrating two victories that lead us to the Final Four Tournament the next weekend.
Shopping
Fashion Island is a great outdoor mall in Newport Beach. There are so many stores and I did not get a chance to visit all of them but I did stop by a few of my favorites.
Chanel at Neiman Marcus was my first stop. I love Chanel but can’t always find something in my price range. I love Chanel jewelry and brooches. This time I found the cutest pink double C earrings that my mom treated me to!
Gucci at Neiman Marcus was a fun stop. I also love Gucci bags and accessories. I didn’t find anything during this visit but it is always
Alice + Olivia is my absolute favorite brand. I, of course, had to stop in here and see if they had anything I needed.
Anthropologie is always a good place to find eclectic items for your closet or home. I just moved into a new home in December so I found a few items to decorate my new place. I didn’t have room in my suitcase so I actually just took pictures of what I wanted and then ordered them online. My favorite find was my dining chairs!!
Vince is a great staple in my closet. This brand offers so many silky soft solids. I love everything in their collection. I usually grab a few plain t-shirts and sweaters. This time I didn’t find anything but I had to stop in and look around.
