Being Social During Business Travel

You may find yourself as one of those lucky people who gets to travel to Newport Beach for business. When you are staying in such a beautiful city as Newport Beach, there is no reason not to get out of your hotel. Thankfully, there are quite a variety of lounges, sports bars and pubs to keep you occupied; whether you are looking to catch the game, socialize, wind-down, or enjoy some live music entertainment, nightlife in Newport Beach has you covered. Here are the top places, categorized by specialty, for business travelers (and yearning locals) to grab a drink no matter what mood you’re in.

CATCH THE GAME
The Place
The name really says it all, as this bar is the place to go in the Corona del Mar village to catch the game. This cozy little sports bar nestled off of the bustling Pacific Coast Highway has eight flat screen TVs in their front room, in addition to six flat screen TVs in their back room, which means everyone’s guaranteed a good seat to watch the game. The Place boasts a laid back atmosphere, a friendly staff, and not to mention their perfectly delicious burgers and house pizzas. Make this your first choice if you are in town and looking to relax and gear up with a beer to watch your favorite sports with ease.

Rudy’s Pub and Grill
Feel that warm fresh Southern California breeze, from Rudy’s 40-foot retractable roof, as you settle into this spirited bar to grab a drink and enjoy the social atmosphere of this classic warehouse designed pub and grill. Rudy’s is equipped with over 30 high-definition plasma screens throughout the building that are always playing all of the latest sports events. Rudy’s remains one of the most popular sports bars on the Balboa Peninsula, and contributes as a local hot spot serving a crowd chock-full of all types of individuals looking to simply enjoy the game and have a good time.

Shamrock Bar & Grill
Shamrock Bar & Grill is a casual sports bar along Mariner’s Mile, also neatly located off of Pacific Coast Highway, with a laid back crowd, good prices, and a dive bar groove. Beloved by it’s locals, this is a great spot to watch the game and de-stress. Shamrock Bar & Grill is also conveniently located near many varying local nightlife locations if you’re looking to diversify your night out.

SOCIALIZE
Malarky’s Irish Pub
With their motto being “there are no strangers here, only friends you’ve not yet met,” (a quote by William Butler Yeats) you know right away that Malarky’s is one of the Balboa Peninsula’s friendliest establishments. Malarky’s opened it’s doors in 1977, and has stayed true to it’s traditional Irish Pub atmosphere and old-school vibe ever since. Malarky’s is well-known to be the best place on the Balboa Peninsula, for people of varying ages, to socialize, dance, and meet new people any night of the week.

Mutt Lynch’s
Located right off the sandy Balboa beaches, Mutt Lynch’s offers a fun, social atmosphere for all types of individuals both day and night. As if the beautiful view wasn’t enough to snag your interest, Mutt Lynch’s famous 32-ounce, yet fairly priced, frosty “Schooners” of beer ought to do the trick. The social atmosphere of this bar is heightened with the addition of community style tables. Mutt Lynch’s provides various weekly events, such as Trivia Wednesdays and “Sunday Funday”, structured around it’s welcoming social setting. Plop down next to a friendly stranger and indulge in an eclectic selection of beers on tap, tasty shareable snacks, and a pleasant view to boot. It’s truly hard not to have a good time here.

Bosscat Kitchen and Libations
A fairly recent addition to Newport Beach nightlife, Bosscat Kitchen and Libations, offers a modern-industrial setting with an emphasis on quality refreshing cocktails and a lively ambiance. Conveniently located in the Airport District of Newport Beach, this bar is the perfect spot for travelers looking for a memorable experience and the luxury of superior Southern-inspired pub food with the energy of an deluxe dive bar. Bosscat possesses an extensive whiskey selection, providing customers with an evolving offering of refreshing hand-crafted cocktails.

QUIET PLACE TO WIND-DOWN
21 Oceanfront
If you are looking for the beauty of a sunset over the glistening ocean water and a quiet atmosphere to loosen up with a quality drink, then the bar at 21 Oceanfront is the perfect spot for you. Although 21 Oceanfront is a beautiful quiet place to hangout and have a drink, they also offer jazz, adult contemporary, and easy listening live music in the lounge. This business casual establishment is also recognized as one of the most romantic restaurants in Orange County.

Sidedoor
Corona del Mar’s one and only english-style gastropub is a great place to kick back and enjoy a unique hand-crafted cocktail or flight of craft beers. Sidedoor boats a warm and charming atmosphere where customer’s can relax in comfort. Tucked away off of Pacific Coast Highway, and attached to the respectable Five Crowns restaurant, Sidedoor remains one of Newport Beach’s best kept nightlife secrets.

Bootlegger Bar at the Beachcomber
The Bootlegger Bar is a tiny little tropical bungalow bar nestled right into the sand of the Crystal Cove State Beach. There is nothing quite like this quirky beachfront bar in Southern California. The view is terrific, and the drinks are even better. The Bootlegger bar is the perfect spot to wind-down and enjoy a well-deserved drink. Order-up a tropical cocktail, sit back, and take it easy with the calm sound of crashing waves behind you.

LIVE MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
The Quiet Woman
The Quiet Woman is anything but a quiet bar. This upscale 60s-esque dive bar hosts live music for it’s patrons almost every night of the week. Known for their excellent wine selection, cocktails, and sophisticated comfort food, this social nightspot is one of the best locations in Corona del Mar to catch a live show with your drink order. Venture out to The Quiet Woman on any given week, Tuesday through Saturday, to enjoy their live music offerings.

Muldoon’s Irish Pub
A traditional Irish pub, right across from the busting Fashion Island shopping center, with a varying selection of live music entertainment every Thursday through Sunday (as well as the occasional Monday). The lively and inviting atmosphere draws patrons in, while the quality drinks and captivating music brings locals and travelers back often. This casual Irish pub has two separate bar rooms and a dining room, all surrounding a charming outdoor patio.

Blue Beet
The Blue Beet is Newport Beach’s historic jazz joint, located right off of the beach. Take a leisurely stroll down the boardwalk to watch the sunset, and then find your way into the Blue Beet’s classic brick building and find yourself surrounded by Newport Beach locals, eclectic live music, quality cocktails and a lively, welcoming ambiance to match. Blue Beet is complete with a rooftop patio, so you can enjoy your beverage in the warm breeze of the night. Like any great live music joint should, Blue Beet has a dance floor directly in front of their stage, so customers can engage in all of the upbeat fun.

Newport Beach has a wild variety of beautifully located nightlife hangouts to keep business travelers, and locals. constantly entertained and delighted. Don’t stay cooped up in your hotel during your visit, and experience all of the fun that this thriving city has to offer.