Dining at Balboa Bay Resort: A+O, Bar nineteen48, Blend Cafe and pool bar
Balboa Bay Resort’s on-site dining centers on A+O Restaurant | Bar (waterfront California coastal cooking), Bar nineteen48 (lobby cocktail lounge), Blend Cafe (coffee and grab-and-go), plus the seasonal Waterline Pool Bar for poolside drinks and light bites. All venues are open to resort guests and the public; hours and live entertainment vary by outlet.
In this guide
Dining at a glance
Balboa Bay Resort offers several on-site food and drink options: A+O Restaurant | Bar (waterfront), Bar nineteen48 (lobby lounge), Blend Cafe (coffee and grab-and-go), and the seasonal Waterline Pool Bar at the pool. In-Room Dining and Onboard Provisions (boat delivery) extend the resort’s food service.
Meals are a la carte — the property is not an all-inclusive resort. Hours for each outlet and special offerings (happy hour, live music, high tea, pool service) are published by the resort and can change seasonally.
- A+O Restaurant | Bar — breakfast, lunch & dinner with waterfront seating and daily happy hour
- Bar nineteen48 — cocktails and small plates in the lobby; live music on select nights
- Blend Cafe — coffee, smoothies and grab-and-go items for early mornings and snacks
- Waterline Pool Bar — seasonal poolside cocktails and a light menu; poolside drink service available via In Room Dining on weekends
| Service | Typical Offering | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A+O Restaurant | Bar | California coastal cuisine, cocktails, indoor/outdoor seating | Daily happy hour; open for breakfast–dinner |
| Bar nineteen48 | Signature cocktails, refined small bites | Live music Thu & Sat evenings; high tea Fri–Sat (advance reservations) |
| Blend Cafe | Coffee, smoothies, grab-and-go sandwiches and snacks | Open early daily |
A+O Restaurant | Bar — waterfront meals and happy hour
A+O Restaurant | Bar is Balboa Bay Resort’s waterfront dining outlet serving coastal California cooking with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking Newport Bay. The restaurant serves breakfast through dinner and runs a Daily Happy Hour Monday–Thursday.
Per the resort, A+O’s hours are Sunday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 8:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.; the kitchen typically closes at 9:45 p.m. (bar may stay open later on Fridays). Live weekend entertainment and outdoor fire-pit seating are part of the venue’s offerings.
- Hours: Sun–Thu 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.; Fri–Sat 8:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
- Daily Happy Hour: Monday–Thursday 3:00–7:00 p.m.
- Good for: breakfast, casual bay-view lunches, dinner with fire-pit seating on weekends
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Breakfast–Lunch | Coastal breakfast items and lighter daytime plates |
| Afternoon | Happy hour Monday–Thursday; bay views and patio seating |
| Dinner & Weekends | Full dinner menu; live music and extended bar hours on Fridays |
Bar nineteen48 — cocktails, bites and music
Bar nineteen48 is the resort’s intimate lobby cocktail lounge, named for the original Balboa Bay Club’s year of founding. It features signature cocktails and a small-plates menu developed by Executive Chef Diego Bernal.
The lounge is open Thursday through Sunday, with spirits served roughly 5:00 p.m.–midnight and food available in the evening. Live music plays on Thursdays and Saturdays, and the lounge offers a weekend high-tea service on Fridays and Saturdays (reservations recommended).
- Typical hours: Thu–Sun, 5:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m.; food roughly 5:00–10:00 p.m.
- Menu highlights include crafted cocktails (Mai Tai, Margarita, Martini) and small bites such as Baked Brie, Kobe Beef Mini Burgers, and Tuna Crispy Rice
- Live music: Thursdays and Saturdays (evening sets)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Cocktail service | Signature drinks and classic cocktails |
| Small plates | Chef-curated bites to share or pair with cocktails |
| Entertainment | Live music Thu & Sat; high tea Fri–Sat (advance booking) |
Blend Cafe — coffee, grab-and-go and light meals
Blend Cafe is the resort’s casual coffee shop and grab-and-go spot, ideal for early risers or quick snacks between activities. The cafe offers coffee, smoothies, breakfast burritos, egg bites, yogurt parfaits, sandwiches, salads, and packaged snack boxes.
Blend Cafe’s posted hours on the resort site are 6:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. daily; some listings show extended hours on certain days. Blend Cafe also offers bottled beer, wine and ready-to-go items for convenience.
- Hours: typically 6:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. daily (check current posted hours)
- Good for: morning coffee, quick breakfasts, picnic items for the marina or beach
- Menu types: hot coffee, smoothies, breakfast burritos, sandwiches, salads, snack boxes
| Best for | Why |
|---|---|
| Early mornings | Opens before other outlets for coffee and breakfast |
| Grab-and-go | Prepackaged items and sandwiches for outings or boat trips |
| Casual snacks | Light bites and bottled beverages |
Waterline Pool Bar and poolside service
Waterline Pool Bar (sometimes called Waterline Pool+Bar) operates seasonally alongside the resort’s heated 25-meter pool and offers craft cocktails, beer, wine, and a light pool menu. Poolside food and drink service is available; In Room Dining can deliver poolside on weekends by request.
The resort’s pool is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; poolside menus and service hours vary with the season. Chair-side service, lounge seating, and private day beds or cabanas are available (cabanas for rent).
- Pool hours: 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. daily
- Pool menu: craft cocktails, wine, beer, and light lunch/snack items (seasonal)
- Poolside options: chair-side service, cabana/day bed rental, and weekend In Room Dining pool delivery (call the resort)
| Pool feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Pool length/temperature | 25 meters; heated (resort lists 80 degrees) |
| Pool service | Waterline Pool Bar seasonal; In Room Dining pool delivery Fri–Sun |
| Extras | Cabanas and day beds available for rent; chair-side service |
Practical tips: reservations, rooms and delivery
Reservations are recommended for A+O Restaurant | Bar during dinner service and for Bar nineteen48 events (live music, high tea). Blend Cafe does not usually take reservations. For special requests or large groups, contact the resort’s dining team or the 24-hour front desk.
In-Room Dining serves daily and can deliver to guests staying in any room or suite. If you’re staying in specific room types and want convenient access to dining or pool areas, note these room names when booking: Room (Newport); Room, Courtyard Area; Room, Bay View; Standard Suite, 1 Bedroom (Newport); Superior Suite, Courtyard Area; Superior Suite, 1 Bedroom, Bay View; Executive Suite (Governor); Presidential Suite; Premium Room, Beachfront.
- Call the resort or use its online pages to confirm current hours and to book high-tea or live-music seating
- In-Room Dining hours: available daily (check resort site for times); poolside delivery Fri–Sun via In Room Dining
- Onboard Provisions: ask the concierge if you want delivery to a private boat or Duffy in the harbor
| Service | How to arrange |
|---|---|
| Reservations & special events | Contact the restaurant or front desk; advanced booking recommended for weekends |
| Poolside delivery | Order through In Room Dining (weekend pool delivery available) |
| Boat delivery (Onboard Provisions) | Arrange via the resort’s recreation/concierge |
