Laguna Beach Spot Makes U.S. Top 100 Hotel Restaurants List

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A Laguna Beach restaurant overlooking the Pacific has been named one of the Top 100 Hotel Restaurants in America by OpenTable.

Splashes at the Surf & Sand Resort is among six California restaurants included on OpenTable’s 2026 list, which recognizes hotel restaurants based on diner reviews and other dining data.

The Laguna Beach restaurant specializes in contemporary coastal cuisine made with fresh, local ingredients. Its oceanfront setting offers panoramic views of the Pacific, while the menu features seafood, steaks and seasonal dishes paired with wine.

The list comes as hotel restaurants increasingly influence where Americans travel and stay. OpenTable reported that 61 percent of Americans surveyed have chosen a destination because of its food or restaurant scene, while 60 percent of people planning to travel this summer said they had booked a hotel specifically because of its restaurant.

Hotel restaurant dining among travelers was also up 13 percent year over year, according to OpenTable’s reservation data.

“Restaurants aren’t just an itinerary line item anymore, they’re the anchor,” said Matt Davis, OpenTable’s head of North America Hotels. “This year’s Top 100 list spotlights the hotel hotspots worth traveling for.”

Other California restaurants on the list

The five other California restaurants named to the list are:

• Gemma at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills — Los Angeles —Gemma is the rooftop restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, serving modern Pan-Asian cuisine with views of Southern California. Its menu includes dim sum, sushi, seafood, wok dishes and premium steaks, including Japanese Wagyu.
• SingleThread Restaurant & Inn — Healdsburg —SingleThread is a 55-seat fine-dining restaurant with five suites above it. Chef Kyle Connaughton and farmer Katina Connaughton showcase produce, herbs, flowers and honey from their 24-acre Dry Creek Valley farm in a 10-course tasting menu.“A great hotel restaurant immerses guests in the local culture, telling the story of a destination through its seasons, local ingredients and customs,” Connaughton said.
• Sky Room — Long Beach — Located atop the Fairmont Breakers in Long Beach, Sky Room offers fine dining with views of the harbor and Downtown Los Angeles. The restaurant serves American and seafood dishes along with cocktails and wine.
• The girl & the fig — Sonoma — The longtime Sonoma restaurant serves seasonal, Provençal-inspired cuisine built around fresh vegetables, herbs and other Wine Country ingredients.

• The Pony Room — Rancho Santa Fe — The Pony Room at Rancho Valencia Resort serves American-inspired comfort food and seasonal specialties. The restaurant is also known for its agave-spirit selection, wine program and handcrafted cocktails.

OpenTable said 92 percent of surveyed diners have eaten at a hotel restaurant without staying at the hotel, suggesting the restaurants increasingly serve as destinations for locals as well as travelers.

The 2026 list was generated using more than 10 million reviews from verified diners and dining data collected from May 2025 through April 2026. OpenTable considered diner ratings, the percentage of five-star reviews and other dining metrics, with restaurants required to meet a minimum threshold for reviews.