Cress Street Beach

Located just south of Brooks Street Beach at the end of a long strip of connecting beaches, Cress Street Beach is an ideal destination to relax and de-stress. Unlike more popular seaside spots in Orange County, Cress Street Beach is isolated and peaceful. To find the beach, you can drive to the intersection of Cress Street and Pacific Coast Highway, where you will see the historic Cress Street clock at the top of the beach access stairs. Due to its seclusion from other beaches, parking is more feasible, as there is available metered parking along Pacific Coast Highway.

At the bottom of the beach access stairs, you will find a large protruding rock formation referred to as Halfway Rock - a favorite for children to explore and climb. Overlooking the rock formation, there is a bench atop the Cress Street Beach stairs where parents can enjoy the scenic views and supervise their children. For nature lovers, there are scattered rocks in the water where marine life frequent, providing ample opportunities to snorkel and scuba dive. We recommend you bring an underwater light to check out the amazing creatures hiding amongst the reef, including sheepsheads, garibaldis, senoritas, bat rays, sand bass, and sculpins.

At the bottom of the beach access stairs, you will find a large protruding rock formation referred to as Halfway Rock - a favorite for children to explore and climb. Overlooking the rock formation, there is a bench atop the Cress Street Beach stairs where parents can enjoy the scenic views and supervise their children. For nature lovers, there are scattered rocks in the water where marine life frequent, providing ample opportunities to snorkel and scuba dive. We recommend you bring an underwater light to check out the amazing creatures hiding amongst the reef, including sheepsheads, garibaldis, senoritas, bat rays, sand bass, and sculpins.

If you get hungry, Comedor is an excellent restaurant with a casual ambiance that is known for its delicious Spanish and California-style tapas dishes and outstanding cocktails, and which has been featured in many publications including LOCALE Magazine and The Orange County Register. The Rooftop Lounge offers an amazing panoramic ocean view of the Pacific Ocean – it serves a large variety of delicious local California-style cuisine dishes and has an award-winning bar that is known for its signature fresh fruit Mojitos. Penguin Café is a beachfront diner regarded as a local hot spot for its home-style brunch menu, personable and welcoming staff, and quick service. If you are looking for a fine dining experience, you can also walk five minutes to Natraj Cuisine of India, an authentic Indian restaurant known for its delicious lunchtime buffet, vegan-friendly dishes, and affordable prices.

If you are looking for a place to stay near Cress Street Beach, you can take a short 5-minute walk to the Surf & Sand Resort, a 4-Star Mediterranean-style resort that offers oceanfront balconies, an award-winning spa, and exceptional coastal dining at its very own Splashes Restaurant, of which features a Mediterranean-inspired menu by Executive Chef Ron Fougeray. You can also make yourself at home at Capri Laguna Inn, a 4-Star oceanfront hotel that is situated directly on the sand and has outstanding amenities, including a heated pool, fitness center, chairs and umbrellas on the beach, and even sand toys for the kids. Directly across the street from Cress Street Beach, you can also stay at La Casa del Camino, a charming 4-Star Spanish-style hotel, where you will be met with a warm welcome from their fantastic staff and can enjoy live music during the Happy Hour provided at the hotel’s very own K’ya Bistro.