Welcome to Dana Point Local, your local guide to discovering the restaurants, experiences, events, people, and independently owned businesses that make Dana Point one of Orange County’s most unique coastal communities.
You shouldn’t have to search five websites and scroll through endless social media feeds just to figure out what’s happening around Dana Point.
The Dana Point Insider Pass gives you convenient access to local information directly from your phone.
Whether you live here, you’re visiting for the weekend, or you’re experiencing Dana Point for the first time, start here to discover more of what makes this city special.From Dana Point Harbor and the Lantern District to Doheny State Beach, Capistrano Beach, local restaurants, live music, whale watching, coastal activities, and community events, there’s always something to discover in Dana Point.
Dana Point Local brings those experiences together while putting special emphasis on the independently owned businesses and local people that give the city its character.
Dana Point’s food scene stretches from longtime harbor institutions to destination restaurants, neighborhood favorites, and some of Orange County’s most memorable coastal dining.
Explore Eat & Drink →
☕ Coffee Importers — A Dana Point Harbor institution and longtime gathering spot serving locals and visitors as the harbor continues its transformation.
🍕 Truly Pizza — An award-winning artisan pizzeria in the Lantern District, known for its open-air garden and destination-worthy pizza.
🍽️ Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern — Contemporary American dining with a patio overlooking Dana Point Harbor.
🌮 Lupe’s Mexican Eatery — A casual local favorite for tacos, burritos, and Mexican food just up the hill from the harbor.
🏛️ Coastal Kitchen — Set inside a historic Dana Point building with roots reaching back to the city’s early development, combining local history with contemporary coastal dining.
🍺 Station Craft Brewery + Kitchen — A Lantern District gathering place pairing locally brewed craft beer with California-inspired food and Dana Point’s modern coastal atmosphere.
🌊 Chart House Dana Point — Perched high above the coastline with sweeping Pacific Ocean views, making the setting as memorable as the meal.
Explore Dana Point Harbor, whale watching, beaches, boating, outdoor activities, family experiences, coastal attractions, scenic places, and other ways to experience Dana Point.
Explore Things to Do →
🐋 Go Whale Watching — Head out from Dana Point Harbor to explore one of the world’s best-known areas for spotting whales, dolphins, and other marine life.
⚓ Explore Dana Point Harbor — Walk the waterfront, browse local shops, grab a coffee, watch the boats, or simply enjoy one of Dana Point’s signature gathering places.
🏖️ Spend the Day at Doheny State Beach — One of California’s iconic beach destinations for surfing, swimming, picnicking, camping, and relaxing along the coast.
🌊 Visit Salt Creek Beach — A spectacular stretch of coastline below the Ritz-Carlton, popular for surfing, beach days, and sunset walks.
⛵ Get Out on the Water — Rent a kayak or paddleboard, take a sailing excursion, go sportfishing, or experience Dana Point Harbor from the Pacific.
🥾 Walk the Dana Point Headlands — Explore coastal trails and overlooks with panoramic views of the Pacific, harbor, cliffs, and surrounding coastline.
🏛️ Visit the Ocean Institute — Discover Dana Point’s maritime heritage and marine environment through educational exhibits, ocean programs, and its location beside the historic Pilgrim site.
Find live music, community events, festivals, weekend activities, seasonal celebrations, harbor events, and what’s happening around Dana Point.
See What’s Happening →
🐋 Festival of Whales — One of Dana Point’s signature traditions, celebrating the annual gray whale migration with harbor activities, entertainment, marine education, and family events.
🎸 Ohana Festival — Dana Point’s nationally recognized three-day music festival brings major artists to the shores of Doheny State Beach each fall.
🎶 Concerts in the Park — Free summer concerts at Sea Terrace Park bring live bands, food, drinks, and the community together for evenings outdoors.
⛵ Maritime Festival — Tall ships, maritime history, live entertainment, family activities, and nautical traditions take over the Ocean Institute and harbor each September.
🏄 Doheny Surf & Art Festival — Surf culture, local artists, live music, exhibitions, and community activities come together at iconic Doheny State Beach.
🚘 Dana Point Classic Car Show — Hundreds of classic cars line Del Prado in the Lantern District for one of downtown Dana Point’s signature community events.
🎄 Seasonal & Harbor Celebrations — From summer festivities and Fourth of July fireworks to holiday traditions and harbor events, Dana Point offers something happening throughout the seasons.
Discover locally owned and operated businesses serving Dana Point—from restaurants and retailers to professional services, health and wellness, automotive, and other community businesses.
Explore Dana Point Local Businesses →
You shouldn’t have to search five websites and scroll through endless social media feeds just to figure out what’s happening around Dana Point.
The Dana Point Insider Pass gives you convenient access to local information directly from your phone.
Discover:
And because the pass works with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, there’s no separate app to download or another account to manage.
The Dana Point Insider Pass can provide timely updates about local events, live music, community happenings, and other useful information so you can spend less time searching and more time experiencing Dana Point.
Discover Dana Point through the people who know it best. Meet the Locals and our 60 Seconds of Dana Point video series introduce you to local business owners, chefs, creators, and community members as they share their favorite restaurants, hidden gems, things to do, and must-try experiences. It’s a more personal way to explore Dana Point—through genuine recommendations from the people who live, work, and build businesses here.
Meet the Locals →
Dana Point offers far more than a beautiful coastline.
Start the morning with breakfast at a local restaurant. Walk the harbor. Head out for whale watching. Spend the afternoon at the beach. Discover an independently owned shop. Catch live music. Find a happy hour. Finish the day at a locally owned restaurant.
Dana Point Local helps you find those experiences and discover some of the people and businesses behind them.
Explore Dana Point →
Sometimes visitors explore our hometown more than we do.
Dana Point Local gives residents an easier way to discover a restaurant they haven’t tried, a new local business, live music happening tonight, an upcoming community event, or something different to do this weekend.
Skip some of the noise and rediscover what’s happening in your own backyard.
See What’s Happening in Dana Point → updated Monthly
Locally owned businesses do more than sell products and services.
They’re our neighbors.
They employ local residents. They support community organizations. They sponsor local events and teams. They create gathering places. And collectively, they help give Dana Point its identity.
Dana Point Local makes it easier to discover those businesses and the people behind them.
Explore Dana Point Local Businesses →
Looking for Dana Point boutiques, specialty retailers, gifts, surf shops, local products, and independently owned places to shop?
Shop Dana Point on Shop Local OC →
Looking for Dana Point restaurant specials, happy hours, discounts, promotions, and local offers?
Find Dana Point Deals on Orange County Coupons →
Need a Dana Point plumber, electrician, HVAC company, roofer, contractor, landscaper, or other home service professional?
Find Local Pros on Home Service Pros OC →
Google can tell you what’s nearby.
Social media can show you what’s trending.
Review sites can show you ratings.
We want to help you discover what’s local.
Dana Point Local is being built around the people, businesses, places, experiences, and events that make this community unique.
Our goal is to make it easier for residents and visitors to:
Discover Local.
Experience Local.
Support Local.
And when it’s time to choose where to eat, shop, visit, or do business:
If you own or operate an independent Dana Point business, we’d like the community to know who you are—not just what you sell.
Thrive Local OC helps local businesses increase their visibility, tell their stories, strengthen their presence across search and AI discovery, and create stronger connections with the customers they serve.
Opportunities include local business listings, enhanced authority profiles, Meet the Locals and Spotlight Videos, local content, and customer engagement solutions.
Whether you’re looking for dinner tonight, live music this weekend, something to do with the family, a new local business, a coastal adventure, or simply a place you haven’t discovered yet:
Start local.
Explore Dana Point.
Meet the people behind it.
Support the businesses that make it unique.
And take the city with you through the free Dana Point Insider Pass.
THRIVE LOCAL OC | OWN LOCAL