Fancy Location, Fancy Prices
Written: Jan 14 '03 (Updated Jun 27 '07)
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Pros: Open-air shopping that takes full advantage of its coastal location
Cons: Unless money's not an issue, you won't be buying much there
The Bottom Line: The full Fashion Island experience is best enjoyed with money, but you can still have fun if you're on a tight budget.
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| lynndee's Full Review: Fashion Island - Newport Beach, CA |
Coastal breezes, beautiful people walking their beautiful children and beautiful dogs, unique specialty designer boutiques, a variety of food to be had at a variety of prices--Fashion Island offers all of this and more.
Shopping
Fashion Island's most important anchors are Bloomingdale's (including a detached home store in a separate location) and Neiman Marcus, but the anchors aren't what's distinctive about Fashion Island's shopping, the boutiques are. Start with children's stores, like This Little Piggy Wears Cotton, Grasshoppers, Quiksilver Youth, Babystyle, Girl Mania, and Lola Rouge Kids. Once you've stylishly dressed the kids, it's time to treat yourself at stores like Apropos (voted Best Women's Boutique in Orange County), Betsey Johnson, Talulah G, Lola Rouge, Anthropologie, lululemon athletica, or Rebel. Fix up your favorite man in Garys, At-Ease, Chip & Pepper, or American Rag, or drop him off at the Sharper Image or Apple store. Want to pamper your skin? Check out L'Occitane, The Body Shop, Caswell-Massey, and Bath & Body Works. Need to update your hairstyle? Schedule an appointment at Toni & Guy or Christophe Salon. Finally, your home can be outfitted from a variety of upscale home retailers, including Pottery Barn (this store includes furniture), Garys Island Home, Shabby Chic, Design Within Reach, Between the Sheets, and very upscale mattress manufacturers Duxiana and Hastens Beds. A personal favorite is the housewares section of American Rag because of its continental flavor (pastis glasses mix with Moroccan lamps and high-end design books). It's a great place to pick up a unique housewarming or hostess gift.
Dining
Once you've worked up an appetite, you can find just about anything to satisfy it, from McDonald's to The Ritz.
Casual Dining: Fashion Island has two food courts, the upper-level Island Terrace, which includes Orange County staple Wahoo's, Subway, Red Robin, and the aforementioned McDonald's; and the subterranean Atrium Court, featuring Pain Du Monde (coffee, baked goods, and sandwiches), Fatburger, Red Rock Chili Co., La Salsa (Mexican), Philadelphia Grill, Pasta Bravo, and China Grille, among others. Sadly, The Sweet Life (my favorite casual place to eat at Fashion Island) has been replaced with Cafe R&D, which my friends and I all agree is a disappointment as far as the food goes. Casual chain restaurants include California Pizza Kitchen, The Cheesecake Factory, El Torito Grill, P.F. Chang's, and Coco's (just outside the center). Snacking opportunities run the gamut from Auntie Anne's Pretzels to Teuscher Chocolates.
Fine Dining: A more leisurely dining experience can be found at familiar eateries like Wolfgang Puck Cafe, Daily Grill, and Roy's Pacific Rim Cuisine. Again, where Fashion Island really shines is with unique restaurants like Zagat standout The Ritz (technically across the street, but close enough to be counted). Roy's, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, French 75, Muldoon's (Irish), and Blue Coral (seafood) help round out the varied selection of excellent places to indulge in a tasty meal. Both Bloomingdale's (59th & Lex Cafe) and Neiman Marcus (Mariposa Restaurant) have their own eateries as well.
Relaxing
A great way to catch your breath and give your overburdened arms a break is to people watch by the koi pond or one of the three outdoor fountains. Fashion Island is the perfect place to observe stereotypical Southern Californians (blonde, wealthy, tanned, and toned) in their natural habitat. Are you a fan of "Real Housewives of Orange County"? Well, that's where I saw Lauri with George before last season aired.
I love to take out-of-town friends with little children to Fashion Island because kids LOVE the fountains! Be forewarned that there's one that children can play in that shoots up large droplets of water--your little one might need a change of clothes.
In the summer Fashion Island hosts a series of free evening concerts, and there's a popular jazz festival at the neighboring Hyatt Newporter. In mid-September a mini-village of elaborate playhouses springs up, part of the Project Playhouse benefit auction for HomeAid. Fashion Island boasts the country's largest Christmas tree, an excellent place to take that family photo for the Christmas card.
Recharging
If you don't leave town without Born to Shop in your Birkin bag, and shopping is more of a vocation than an afterthought, then perhaps you should book a room at The Island Hotel (formerly the Four Seasons) or the recently remodeled Newport Beach Marriott, both of which offer luxury accommodations on the "ring road" that encircles Fashion Island. Close by you'll find another upscale resort, the Hyatt Newporter. Less expensive hotels are available somewhat further afield, but you're traveling in style, right? While you're in town, don't forget to visit South Coast Plaza (which still does not have its own, separate Epinions review; visit www.southcoastplaza.com for information), only about 15 minutes away.
Spas: What better way is there to keep your energy level up during a multi-day shopping extravaganza than to visit one of the nearby spas? The Island Hotel has an on-site spa and salon, and the Marriott developed the Pure Blu spa as part of its remodel. Other spas in the area not affiliated with hotels include Amadeus Spa and Spa Gregories.
Web Info
As long as my review is, I haven't covered everything. www.shopfashionisland.com features a store directory, virtual tours of the koi pond, Atrium Court, and one of the fountains, an interactive map, driving directions, event listings, and more. You can also visit the Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau (www.visitnewportbeach.com) for helpful information about the Newport Beach area, including less expensive accommodations than I've listed above.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
lynndee
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Location: California
Reviews written: 11
Trusted by: 1 member
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