Diane Armitage

21-year Laguna Beach resident &
absolute devotee of this amazing town.

Here our thousands of insider tips and
recommendations
for all the best places
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Bodega Laguna Dropping Into Former Laguna Fish Co.

Laguna restaurateur Ivan Spiers is doing a fast and efficient restaurant...

Pinafini Joining Laguna’s Restaurant Row

At last a "coming soon" banner has appeared at the former...

Red Dragon Flying High

For oh … maybe about 8 years … the ownership of the Red Dragon enterprise on...

San Shi Go Closing Sept. 17th, 2023

The go-to sushi favorite for three decades, San Shi Go Laguna Beach, is...

Pageant of the Monsters Returns – Oct 2023

Just when you thought the backstage at Pageant of the Masters had gone dark...

Three Big Announcements for This Weekend (Aug. 18th-20th, 2023)

Three big announcements this weekend, Aug. 18-20, 2023): Potential Tropical...

Best Food & Drink

Top 5 Margaritas in Laguna Beach

Top 5 Margaritas in Laguna Beach

Cinco de Mayo lands on Friday this week, which is a perfect time to present my updated  “Top 5 Margaritas of Laguna Beach" list. Here’s how my search for the best margaritas in Laguna Beach began … For 14 years now, I’ve been polling my readers and faithfully...

Best Mother’s Day Buffets and Dining in Laguna Beach – May 8, 2022

Best Mother’s Day Buffets and Dining in Laguna Beach – May 8, 2022

My Mom LOVES Laguna Beach. (And I so love my Mom. The photo is us when I was about 8.) There's no place she would rather be on Mother's Day than here in Laguna Beach. So, by default, I'm sure your mothers all feel the same. Fortunately, there are a number of Laguna...

Upcoming Events & News

Last Chance for Winter Fantasy at Sawdust this Weekend

Last Chance for Winter Fantasy at Sawdust this Weekend

I’ve said many times in past blogs that I wait for the Winter Sawdust Festival to do my Christmas shopping. I’m also quite sure that if I were to ever think of leaving Laguna Beach, my closest friends – who are repeated recipients of gifts from the Winter Sawdust –...

46th Annual Dana Point Boat Parade: Dec. 10th – 12th, 2021

46th Annual Dana Point Boat Parade: Dec. 10th – 12th, 2021

Far closer than the Newport Boat Parade and a heck of a lot more . . . creative, the 46th Annual "Fiesta" Dana Point Boat Parade of Lights happily returns Friday, Dec. 10th through Sunday, Dec. 12th. The parade kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at...

Get to Know OC & LA Chefs

Chef Jeff Moore – EATS Kitchen – Irvine

Chef Jeff Moore – EATS Kitchen – Irvine

Meet Chef Jeff Moore, Owner and Chef of EATS in Irvine. Chef Moore started working in restaurants to stay alive in college and, after learning to make the best Philly Cheesesteak in the world, he was hooked on creating food that people love. Click to learn more about...

Best Food & Drink

Scott McIntosh Opens 3rd Reunion Kitchen Location

Scott McIntosh Opens 3rd Reunion Kitchen Location

Congratulations to my restaurateur/chef buddy Scott McIntosh, who’s known in this town for Boat Canyon’s successful Reunion Kitchen as well as Asada Tacos + Beer. On Monday this week, he opened his 3rd Reunion Kitchen location, this time in Santa Barbara right on the...

Laguna Beach Foodie Fare

Laguna Beach Foodie Fare

In case you aren’t privy to my social media platforms @bestoflaguabeach, I thought I’d use this column to share some of my favorite single items that you definitely want to follow up on. Before I explain all these beautiful food and drink items, let me answer those...

Larsen is Friendly Hospitality at its Finest

Larsen is Friendly Hospitality at its Finest

With the new Larsen restaurant open in Hotel Laguna, everyone and his neighbor can be seen at the new swank digs. I was one of those people last week, meeting my two dear friends, both chef concierges at Montage Laguna Beach and The Resort at Pelican Hill. These lead...

Oliver’s Weekend Brunch

Oliver’s Weekend Brunch

For several months now, Chef/Owner Erik De Marchi of Oliver’s Osteria has been serving up brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. I’ve been so intent on dining on his sumptuous food in the evenings, that I never got around to brunch until this past weekend. Now I wonder how...

Best Local Lobster is Back: Coyote Grill

Best Local Lobster is Back: Coyote Grill

In Laguna Beach, we locals look forward to about three events each year. In October, it’s all about the lobster … for the month’s duration, you’ll find us standing on street corners in South Laguna, anxiously awaiting the unfurling of the “Local Lobster” banner at...

Pumpkin Jumps Into Menus

Pumpkin Jumps Into Menus

As we all scream toward Halloween and the surprising arrival of November, this week's gentle reminder of Thursday’s (Oct. 21st) "National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day" and Tuesday’s (Oct. 26th) “National Pumpkin Day” prompted me into fast action. We have some ripe pumpkins...

Upcoming Events & News

Sunglass Gallery’s Harry Bagga Shines

Sunglass Gallery’s Harry Bagga Shines

After properly grieving the loss of my 14-year Fendi sunglasses, I trooped back to the only man I trust - 31-year Sunglass Gallery Owner Harry (Harjit) Bagga. This is the guy who looks at you once and heads right to the perfect sunglasses. Fendi, apparently, has lost...

Citing COVID Cases, Sawdust Marketplace Closes

Citing COVID Cases, Sawdust Marketplace Closes

Initially scheduled through December 20th, the Sawdust Marketplace closed yesterday (Saturday) for the season and the year. Marketplace organizers noted that "Due to rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases in our own area, and several confirmed cases among our Sawdust...

Citing COVID Cases, Sawdust Marketplace Closes

Sawdust Festival – Plenty of Shop Opps Thru Dec. 20th

After a thwarted attempt to open at the end of July this year, our famed Sawdust Festival chose to wait it out a few more weeks They finally opened on Sept. 19th to a scaled back "Outdoor Marketplace" on weekends only. And so far, it's moving along just beautifully....

The Drake Nears First Anniversary With Enthusiasm

The Drake Nears First Anniversary With Enthusiasm

Exactly one year ago, I interviewed the founders of The Drake Laguna Beach who, after three long years, were putting the finishing touches on the city's new posh jazz supper club. They finally opened the last week of September, just when the City of Laguna Beach...

Get to Know OC & LA Chefs

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