Dana Point Lantern District

Dana Point Lantern District is a lovely place to walk around and have dinner. It is a few blocks back from the cliffs overlooking the harbor, so you can combine your meal with a romantic sunset walk to Dana Point Harbor Overlook. My favorite area is the ultra-modern development near the Prado West apartments. Here you can find Bear Coast Coffee with its white interior, large windows, and hanging plants. It has abundant outdoor seating in a plaza. Across the street is Maison Cafe, a European-style restaurant with much seating indoors, large windows, plus outdoor seating. This area has The Shwack Beach Grill with seating on the street corner. You can browse Penelope Pots Green Boutique, a cute florist. 

There are two parallel streets full of cafes and shops, Del Prado Ave and Highway 1. Intersecting them are streets named after different colored lanterns. Here you will find coffee shops, breweries, bakeries, and cafes. Discover which one is your favorite!
A nice beach nearby with a huge sloped lawn and walking path above it is Salt Creek Beach. It is a six minute drive north.
For an outdoor mall with white Spanish buildings, drive 10 minutes south to Outlets at San Clemente.

Directions

The Lantern District starts where Del Prado Ave and Highway 1 intersect and then continues as they run parallel for four blocks to Golden Lantern. There is parking along the road.

Click on map for interactive view