Part of Isola, the Island's live guide to eat, drink & do — open-now status, menus and one-tap directions.
Catalina Island is an island — so eat on the water. These spots serve up bay and estuary views along with the meal. See menus, hours and who's open now.
We track 22 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, Avalon Grille, Steve's Steakhouse & Seafood, Maggie's Blue Rose, Descanso Beach Club, Eric's On The Pier, M Restaurant, El Galleon, Avalon Seafood & Fish Market, Harbor Reef Restaurant & Saloon, Luau Larry's, Topside by NDMK, Catalina Casino, Avalon Theatre (Casino Movie Palace), Glass Bottom Boat Voyage, Nautilus Semi-Submarine (Catalina Adventure Tours), Two Harbors, Lovers Cove Marine Preserve, South Beach & Middle Beach (Crescent Ave), Wet Spot Rentals, Descanso Beach Ocean Sports and Parasail Catalina.
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
The Island Company's polished flagship on the corner of Crescent and Catalina — the closest thing Avalon has to a proper upscale dinner house. Floor-to-ceiling windows onto the bay and a serious central bar.
Hours: Sun 11am–9pm · Mon 11am–9pm · Tue 11am–9pm · Wed 11am–9pm · Thu 11am–9pm · Fri 11am–9pm · Sat 11am–9pm
The island's dinner-house institution, upstairs overlooking the bay — 28-day-aged corn-fed Angus and local seafood, run by the same family for decades. Book ahead; it fills every summer night. Takes a short winter break in early January.
Hours: Sun 4pm–8:30pm · Mon 4:30pm–8:30pm · Tue 4:30pm–8:30pm · Wed 4:30pm–8:30pm · Thu 4:30pm–8:30pm · Fri 4:30pm–9pm · Sat 4pm–9pm
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
Coastal Italian on the waterfront (the old Villa Portofino space) — pastas, cioppino and a proper wine list, plus weekend breakfast. Takes a winter break each January, back mid-February.
Hours: Sun 8am–1pm, 5pm–9pm · Mon 5pm–9pm · Tue 5pm–9pm · Wed 5pm–9pm · Thu 5pm–9pm · Fri 5pm–9pm · Sat 8am–1pm, 5pm–9pm
Fifty-plus years of prime rib, ship's-galley decor and the island's beloved karaoke nights (Thu–Sat in the bar, more often in season). Old-school in every way — that's the point.
Hours: Sun 11am–8pm · Mon 11am–8pm · Tue 11am–8pm · Wed 11am–8pm · Thu 11am–8pm · Fri 11am–8pm · Sat 11am–8pm
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
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 Catalina bar. Order the Wiki Wacker, get the straw hat, and you're officially on island time — 30+ years of tropical drinks, swordfish tacos and live music steps from the sand. Kitchen's better than it needs to be.
Hours: Sun 11am–1pm · Mon 11am–1pm · Tue 11am–1pm · Wed 11am–1pm · Thu 11am–1pm · Fri 11am–1pm · Sat 10am–1pm
Avalon's rooftop — NDMK's sister spot at the far end of Crescent with harbor views, handcrafted cocktails, oysters and tap beers from breakfast through sunset. The view at golden hour is the whole pitch.
Hours: Sun 8am–9pm · Mon 8:30am–8pm · Tue 8:30am–8pm · Wed 8:30am–8pm · Thu 8:30am–8pm · Fri 8:30am–9pm · Sat 8am–9pm
Avalon's 1929 Art Deco crown jewel — never a gambling hall, but home to the world's largest circular ballroom. Book the walking or behind-the-scenes tour; times sell out on cruise-ship days.
Hours: Sun 10am–4pm · Mon 10am–4pm · Tue 10am–4pm · Wed 10am–4pm · Thu 10am–4pm · Fri 10am–4pm · Sat 10am–4pm
First-run movies inside the Casino's 1,184-seat 1929 movie palace, with hand-painted Beckman murals. Catch the vintage Page pipe organ played before Friday–Saturday shows; schedule thins outside summer.
Hours: Sun 6pm–9:30pm · Mon 6pm–9:30pm · Tue 6pm–9:30pm · Wed 6pm–9:30pm · Thu 6pm–9:30pm · Fri 6pm–9:30pm · Sat 6pm–9:30pm
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
Catalina's one-restaurant, no-stoplight west-end outpost on a half-mile isthmus between two coves — the anti-Avalon. Ferry in via Catalina Express or hike the TCT; the Dive & Rec shop rents snorkel gear, paddleboards and bikes.
Hours: Sun 8am–5pm · Mon 8am–5pm · Tue 8am–5pm · Wed 8am–5pm · Thu 8am–5pm · Fri 8am–5pm · Sat 8am–5pm
The island's most reliable snorkel spot — a protected, surf-free cove of kelp forest teeming with garibaldi, opaleye and calico bass, a short walk from the ferry dock. Rocky entry, no facilities; rent gear nearby.
Hours: Sun 7am–7pm · Mon 7am–7pm · Tue 7am–7pm · Wed 7am–7pm · Thu 7am–7pm · Fri 7am–7pm · Sat 7am–7pm
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
Soar up to 800 feet over Avalon Bay with the Casino shrinking below — tandem and triple flights available, and observers can ride along. Book the first trip of the day for $30 off per person; weather-dependent.
Hours: Sun 8:30am–5:30pm · Mon 8:30am–5:30pm · Tue 8:30am–5:30pm · Wed 8:30am–5:30pm · Thu 8:30am–5:30pm · Fri 8:30am–5:30pm · Sat 8:30am–5:30pm