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Visitors to Newport, Oregon, come for the sand, surf, and ocean air. This breezy community along the Oregon coast is centered halfway between the California and Washington borders, and it’s an easy drive from Portland, Salem, or Eugene.
You may come to spend the day touring the nearby Yaquina Lighthouse. Hiking trails of the Suislaw National Forest are just a few miles away. Or you might just like to plop your beach chair down with a good book and soak in the sights and sounds of the Pacific Ocean gently crashing against the rocks and sand.
In any case, you’ll want good meals throughout your stay and will invariably end up trying some of the best restaurants Newport, Oregon has to offer. Whether you come for brunch, dinner, or just a scoop of ice cream, you’ll be sure to find a great dining experience in Newport.
So look no further because below is our list of the best restaurants in Newport, Oregon.
Ocean Bleu Seafoods at Gino’s
Let’s start with a seafood restaurant because, well, you’ve come to a seaside city. You’re bound to try some of the local ocean seafood available. And Ocean Bleu Seafoods is a classic.
As you arrive, dozens of buoys hang from the roof to greet you. Swinging wooden entry doors remind you of being on a fishing boat. The blue-and-white checkerboard tiles continue the theme. This cleverly designed eatery is ready to give you a hearty seafood experience with comfort food galore.
Try the rockfish tacos, calamari basket, or blackened sablefish (a local favorite). For a lighter meal, the house crab salad is always a good choice.
Georgie’s Beachside Grill
If you want a more refined dining experience with a great view of the Oregon coast, try Georgie’s. They specialize in a variety of Northwest seafood, such as Dungeness crab, Yaquina Bay oysters, and halibut. And of course, what seafood meal wouldn’t be complete without a chowder bowl.
If you want a truly special dish, try the beloved Diablo Seafood Pasta. It’s devilishly good.
What’s also great about Georgie’s is that if you’re not a seafood lover, but still want to experience the ambiance and views, they have gluten-free and vegetarian options throughout the menu.
Reservations are helpful for breakfast or lunch. They are required for dinner.
Chowder Bowl at Nye Beach
A football field’s length away from historic Nye Beach sits this quaint restaurant that specializes in hot dogs and Italian food. No, seriously, as its name implies, you will get a delicious bowl, or bread bowl, of clam chowder here. You can also try the fish and chips, sauteed prawns, petite fried oysters, or shrimp cocktail.
We recommend the chipotle shrimp bacon wrap. Inside a spinach tortilla, you’ll bite into sauteed prawns, baby greens, tomato, avocado, and bacon topped off with a dollop of chipotle ranch dressing. Plus, they serve you a piping hot cup of chowder with it. Wow. And if you don’t mind the extra carbs, ask for a chowder bowl.
Zach’s Bistro
Here’s an intimate Oregon coast restaurant that kicks any dining experience up a notch. Described as “Market-fresh New American Cuisine,” Zach’s offers a prix fixe meal for parties of four to eight diners. Order the night before and the chef will prepare a blind menu of locally sourced products. You can opt for properly paired wines for an additional fee.
Zach’s also offers themed Friday night meals, as well as special tasting/pouring menus for those who attend opera performances at the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts. The chef also prepares three-course heat-and-serve meals for those who don’t wish to cook on Thanksgiving.
Cobblestone Pizza Co.
If you’re toting kids back from Newport Beach, you’ll likely want some comfort food for the whole family. And what better comfort food is there than pizza? Whether you choose the gargantuan 28-inch Cobblestone Combo or the 10-inch gluten-free vegetarian pizza, this family-owned establishment delivers.
Cobblestone also offers an array of salads. We like the Italian Chef salad because it’s like a pizza on lettuce. It comes complete with mozzarella cheese, salami, pepperoni, ham, and vegetables.
And while you’re relaxing with your pizza, salad, and beer, let the kids have some coins and try out the arcade games.
Barge Inn Tavern
If you like restaurants with a sense of humor, you’ll love the Barge Inn Tavern. Here they brag about being the “home of winos, dingbats, and riff-raff” since 1935.
The wine-and-beer menu is more extensive than the selection of food. But that’s OK because what the Barge lacks in quantity they make up for in quality. We are particularly fond of the Bilge Burger, which adds bacon, ham, and egg to a hearty cheeseburger with all the fixings. And at only $10, it’s a steal.
The Barge Inn also features an array of cool products to take home. So come hungry and leave with a Tavern beanie.
Newport Kum Yon
It’s always nice to find a restaurant featuring Asian comfort food along the Oregon coast that touches all the bases. Here you will find every required main dish, from sweet-and-sour pork and Kung pow chicken to Mongolian beef and egg drop soup.
But what makes Kum Yon one of the best restaurants is its focus on vegetarian options. This area of its menu is devoted to dishes like Szechuan Tofu, Broccoli with Black Mushrooms, and Vegetable Chow Yuk. They will add tofu protein to any dish for a small fee.
For those who crave some seafood at lunchtime, we recommend the salmon teriyaki bento. The plate comes loaded with mouthwatering barbecue pork, pot-stickers, and flaky tempura-battered shrimp and vegetables.
Super Oscars
Do you ever crave Mexican food after a day at the beach? If so, your day around Newport won’t be complete without a quick drive to Super Oscars. Just more than a mile from Nye Beach, you’ll find tradicional and nuevo cuisine.
Street tacos are a fan favorite, and you’ll quickly find out why. Fresh ingredients plus a variety of available sauces – from tangy and sweet to hot and spicy – will tickle every part of your tastebuds. And the generous portions will leave you muy contenta.
Try lucky numero 13, the adovada plata. This pork dish is marinated in delicious red chili sauce, and it comes with rice, beans, and salad.
Arr Place
Ahoy mateys! This cool joint is a weekend-only Oregon coast eatery that asks you to order ahead during the week before your visit and lives by the motto “Dessert First.” Here you can order a variety of homemade ice cream, mini keto puffs, or their flourless mocha torte. Delish!
You can also order a plethora of hot-out-the-door breakfast items. These favorites include huevos rancheros, French toast, and eggs benedict.
We like to check their website a few days before any trip to Newport to find out what the “Weekly Whims” are. Each week the cooks preparr (get it?) a new dish or two based on the produce of local farmers’ markets and their collective whimsy. We figure if the chefs are inspired to create something extraordinarr (get it?), it must be worth trying.
Café Stephanie
Another hole in the wall close to Nye Beach, Café Stephanie is one of Newport’s best restaurants due to its hearty, French-inspired breakfasts. This Pacific kitchen specializes in omelets and quiches. The roasted veggie quiche with chevre cheese is particularly tasty. It’s also a good choice for any vegetarian.
Café Stephanie isn’t limited to eggs, though. They offer a full menu of griddle favorites and comfort food, including crepes, Belgian waffles, and a vanilla French toast with Marionberry compote.
In the mood for a light breakfast before hitting the beach? We recommend the granola, served with vanilla yogurt and fresh seasonal fruit.
Lucky Thai Elephant Restaurant
If you hanker after the taste of lemongrass, coconut milk, curry, and cilantro, you’ll be dutifully impressed with the Lucky Thai Elephant. They have more than 100 dishes on the menu, from soup to nuts and then some.
We recommend the Hormok Ta-Lay, a flavorful seafood stew peppered with Thai red curry, eggs, bell peppers, cabbage, and coconut milk. You also can’t go wrong with the Chicken Thai Barbeque marinated in a lemongrass mixture and topped with peanut sauce.
Then stick around for dessert and try one of their homemade ice creams – choose from mango, coconut, or strawberry.
Final Thoughts
We hope we’ve whetted your appetite with our list of the best restaurants in Newport, Oregon you have to check out.
As you can see, there are a variety of choices – from seafood restaurants to comfort food places to those that offer vegetarian and/or gluten-free options. It’s all there within a short walk or drive from this central Oregon coast village.
So why not book a stay at a nearby hotel or condo for an upcoming weekend and spend some time with the sand between your toes and some good food in your stomach!
