Part of Isola, the Island's live guide to eat, drink & do — open-now status, menus and one-tap directions.
Bringing the whole crew to the Island? These Catalina Island spots — restaurants, parks, arcades and attractions — are easygoing and kid-welcoming. See hours and who's open now.
We track 27 spots here, averaging 4.4★. Every listing shows the day's hours, a sample menu with prices, and one-tap call, directions and ordering — plus live "open now" status on the main guide.
On this page: Bluewater Avalon, The Lobster Trap, Maggie's Blue Rose, Descanso Beach Club, Eric's On The Pier, Catalina Coffee & Cookie Co., Original Jack's Country Kitchen, Pancake Cottage, NDMK Fish House, Buffalo Nickel, The Sandtrap, Coyote Joe's, Original Antonio's Pizzeria & Deli, Avalon Seafood & Fish Market, Scoops Homemade Ice Cream, Lloyd's of Avalon, Harbor Reef Restaurant & Saloon, Glass Bottom Boat Voyage, Nautilus Semi-Submarine (Catalina Adventure Tours), Catalina Aerial Adventure, Bison Expedition (Interior Eco Tour), Golf Gardens Miniature Golf, Island Rentals Golf Carts, South Beach & Middle Beach (Crescent Ave), Wet Spot Rentals, Descanso Beach Ocean Sports and Hermit Gulch Trail & Campground.
The big seafood house right on the water where the boats pull up — chowder, cioppino and whatever the local fleet landed that morning. Touristy at peak hour, but the deck over the harbor earns it.
Hours: Sun 11am–9pm · Mon 11am–9pm · Tue 11am–9pm · Wed 11am–9pm · Thu 11am–9pm · Fri 11am–9pm · Sat 11am–9pm
Where locals actually eat seafood — owner's a fisherman, so the sand dabs and lobster are as fresh as it gets on the island. No reservations, no view, all character; expect a wait in summer.
Hours: Sun 7am–10pm · Mon 7am–10pm · Tue 7am–10pm · Wed 7am–10pm · Thu 7am–10pm · Fri 7am–10pm · Sat 7am–10pm
Upscale-ish Mexican over the waterfront with the best margarita list in town and lobster street tacos that justify the tab. Get a window table at sunset.
Hours: Sun 11am–8pm · Mon 11am–8pm · Tue 11am–8pm · Wed 11am–8pm · Thu 11am–8pm · Fri 11am–8pm · Sat 11am–8pm
Avalon's only true beachside restaurant-bar, past the Casino — order a Buffalo Milk with your toes in the sand and stay all afternoon. Summer weekends bring DJs; winter hours shrink hard, so check before you hike over.
Hours: Sun 10am–5pm · Mon 10am–5pm · Tue 10am–5pm · Wed 10am–5pm · Thu 10am–5pm · Fri 10am–5pm · Sat 10am–5pm
No-frills burger counter on the Green Pleasure Pier, in the family for 75+ years — the buffalo burger and a breakfast burrito eaten on a pier bench is a genuine Avalon ritual. Cash-friendly, cranky-charming, closes mid-afternoon.
Hours: Sun 9am–4pm · Mon 10:30am–4pm · Tue 10am–4pm · Wed 10am–4pm · Thu 10am–4pm · Fri 10am–4pm · Sat 9am–4pm
The 6am lifeline of Metropole Marketplace — locals grab espresso and a warm cookie or the bacon breakfast burrito before the first boat unloads. Bakery case (with gluten-free options) sells down by afternoon.
Hours: Sun 6am–6pm · Mon 6am–6pm · Tue 6am–6pm · Wed 6am–6pm · Thu 6am–6pm · Fri 6am–6pm · Sat 6am–6pm
Avalon's classic sit-down breakfast — big omelettes, Belgian waffles and bottomless diner coffee a block off the beach. The summer weekend line moves faster than it looks.
Hours: Sun 7am–2pm · Mon 7am–2pm · Tue 7am–2pm · Wed 7am–2pm · Thu 7am–2pm · Fri 7am–2pm · Sat 7am–2pm
The other breakfast institution, at the quiet end of Crescent since 1984 — giant pancakes, thick French toast and omelettes that end your morning plans. Closes at 2pm sharp.
Hours: Sun 7am–2pm · Mon 7am–2pm · Tue 7am–2pm · Wed 7am–2pm · Thu 7am–2pm · Fri 7am–2pm · Sat 7am–2pm
Locals' pick for sushi and genuinely local fish, a block up Claressa away from the waterfront markup. Bluefin sashimi and the Da Bomb shrimp are the moves; expect casual counter vibes, not white tablecloth.
Hours: Sun 11am–9pm · Mon 11am–9pm · Tue 11am–9pm · Wed 11am–9pm · Thu 11am–9pm · Fri 11am–9pm · Sat 11am–9pm
Out by Pebbly Beach where the tourists don't wander — call for the free shuttle and eat where the locals do. Mango wings, solid pizza and Mexican plates, plus $16.95 pasta night Mondays.
Hours: Sun 10am–9pm · Mon 11am–9pm · Tue 11am–9pm · Wed 11am–9pm · Thu 11am–9pm · Fri 11am–9pm · Sat 10am–9pm
Up Avalon Canyon by the golf course — the daily 2–7pm happy hour ($2 street tacos, $2 drafts, $5 margs) is the best food deal on the island. Worth the ten-minute walk inland.
Hours: Sun 8am–7pm · Mon 8am–7pm · Tue 8am–7pm · Wed 8am–7pm · Thu 8am–7pm · Fri 8am–7pm · Sat 8am–7pm
Started as Saldana's Taco Shop in 1982, now the rowdy Mexican cantina a few steps from the pier — burritos are pricey ($24, island tax) but the margarita pitchers and 2am kitchen keep everyone coming back.
Hours: Sun 10am–2pm · Mon 10am–2pm · Tue 10am–2pm · Wed 10am–2pm · Thu 10am–2pm · Fri 10am–2pm · Sat 10am–2pm
The 1950s-themed pizzeria on Sumner since 1983 — thin-crust pies, subs and peel-and-eat shrimp, with sawdust-floor charm. The reliable family dinner or beach-takeout play.
Hours: Sun 11am–8pm · Mon 11am–8pm · Tue 11am–8pm · Wed 11am–8pm · Thu 11am–8pm · Fri 11am–10pm · Sat 11am–10pm
The fish-and-chips shack at the end of the Green Pleasure Pier, owned by a working commercial fisherman — locally caught fish fried while you watch the harbor. Also a real fish market if your rental has a kitchen.
Hours: Sun 10am–5pm · Mon 10am–5pm · Tue 10am–5pm · Wed 10am–5pm · Thu 10am–5pm · Fri 10am–5pm · Sat 10am–5pm
Avalon's only house-made ice cream and gelato — two dozen rotating flavors (Rose Petal Raspberry, Kahului Espresso) that filled the void Big Olaf's left behind. Doubles as the town's Starbucks counter from 7am.
Hours: Sun 7am–6pm · Mon 7am–6pm · Tue 7am–6pm · Wed 7am–6pm · Thu 7am–6pm · Fri 7am–8pm · Sat 7am–8pm
The candy institution on Crescent — watch the taffy puller work the window like it has for generations, then leave with a box of saltwater taffy and a caramel apple. Nobody's vacation is complete without it.
Hours: Sun 8am–5pm · Mon 8am–5pm · Tue 8am–5pm · Wed 8am–5pm · Thu 8am–5pm · Fri 8am–9pm · Sat 8am–9pm
The one real restaurant in Two Harbors — if the swordfish flag flies on the pier, local swordfish is in the kitchen. The attached saloon is where the Buffalo Milk cocktail was invented 40+ years ago; bar opens at 3pm daily.
Hours: Sun 8am–4pm, 5pm–8pm · Mon 8am–4pm, 5pm–8pm · Tue 8am–4pm, 5pm–8pm · Wed 8am–4pm, 5pm–8pm · Thu 8am–4pm, 5pm–8pm · Fri 8am–4pm, 5pm–12pm · Sat 8am–4pm, 5pm–12pm
The 45-minute classic since the 1890s — glide from the Green Pleasure Pier to Lovers Cove and watch garibaldi swarm under the glass. Seasonal night trips chase Catalina's famous flying fish.
Hours: Sun 10am–7pm · Mon 10am–7pm · Tue 10am–7pm · Wed 10am–7pm · Thu 10am–7pm · Fri 10am–7pm · Sat 10am–7pm
The yellow semi-sub dives you six feet below the surface at Lovers Cove, with round portholes and fish feeders at every window. Departs the Green Pier several times daily — easier on kids than snorkeling.
Hours: Sun 9am–5pm · Mon 9am–5pm · Tue 9am–5pm · Wed 9am–5pm · Thu 9am–5pm · Fri 9am–5pm · Sat 9am–5pm
Five self-paced ropes courses (beginner to advanced) of ladders, log bridges and balance beams in the eucalyptus grove next to Descanso Beach. Plan ~90 minutes; closed-toe shoes and 55" height required.
Hours: Sun 11am–3pm · Mon 11am–3pm · Tue 11am–3pm · Wed 11am–3pm · Thu 11am–3pm · Fri 11am–3pm · Sat 11am–3pm
Two hours in an open-air biofuel Hummer through Middle Ranch and Cape Canyon hunting for the island's famous bison herd, descendants of a 1924 movie shoot. Sightings are wild-animal luck, but guides usually deliver.
Hours: Sun 9am–3pm · Mon 9am–3pm · Tue 9am–3pm · Wed 9am–3pm · Thu 9am–3pm · Fri 9am–3pm · Sat 9am–3pm
An 18-hole, par-51 course tucked into a hillside garden one block off the beach — an island fixture for nearly 50 years. Last tee-off an hour before close; the course record is 41 if you're feeling brave.
Hours: Sun 9am–9pm · Mon 9am–9pm · Tue 9am–9pm · Wed 9am–9pm · Thu 9am–9pm · Fri 9am–9pm · Sat 9am–9pm
Family-run since 1981 — grab a 4-seater and do the classic Mt. Ada / Wrigley Road scenic loop above town. Walk-up only, cash only, drivers 25+, and a strict 2-hour max; lines form by mid-morning in summer.
Hours: Sun 8am–5pm · Mon 8am–5pm · Tue 8am–5pm · Wed 8am–5pm · Thu 8am–5pm · Fri 8am–5pm · Sat 8am–5pm
Avalon's two free town beaches flanking the Green Pleasure Pier — calm harbor water, steps from every shop and taco on Crescent Ave. Small and towel-to-towel by 11am on summer weekends; come early for sand.
Hours: Sun 7am–8pm · Mon 7am–8pm · Tue 7am–8pm · Wed 7am–8pm · Thu 7am–8pm · Fri 7am–8pm · Sat 7am–8pm
The budget go-to by the Cabrillo Mole ferry dock, three minutes from Lovers Cove — rent one hour, get the second free. Kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel sets and wetsuits since '91.
Hours: Sun 9am–5pm · Mon 9am–5pm · Tue 9am–5pm · Wed 9am–5pm · Thu 9am–5pm · Fri 9am–5pm · Sat 9am–5pm
Launch straight off Descanso Beach for kayak and SUP rentals or guided paddles toward Frog Rock — calm, clear water and no harbor traffic. Snorkel packages include wetsuit and vest.
Hours: Sun 9am–5pm · Mon 9am–5pm · Tue 9am–5pm · Wed 9am–5pm · Thu 9am–5pm · Fri 9am–5pm · Sat 9am–5pm
Avalon's backyard trail — a steep 1.7-mile grunt from Avalon Canyon up to Divide Road, loopable with the TCT for knockout harbor views. The walk-in campground below is the only one near town.
Hours: Sun 6am–8pm · Mon 6am–8pm · Tue 6am–8pm · Wed 6am–8pm · Thu 6am–8pm · Fri 6am–8pm · Sat 6am–8pm