Small Island, Big Flavor: Catalina's Food Scene

Sometimes one of the most fun activities for vacation is planning out your dining ahead of time. On the small island of Catalina, there are quite a lot of options for not only typical island fare, but also comfort foods, happy hours, treats, and more. 

Catalina cuisine often includes fresh catches because the waters surrounding the island offer access to seasonal seafood. From October to March, California spiny lobsters are in season; they’re often served grilled, steamed, or in tacos. Another local special are Pacific sand dabs–small, delicate flat fish that are often lightly breaded, pan fried, and accompanied by a lemon and butter sauce. Seasonally, seafood lovers can order local white seabass, yellowtail, or swordfish, depending on the season. 

However, there is so much more than just seafood when it comes to Catalina dining. Try a bison burger, sip signature Catalina cocktails, or enjoy some great Mexican food while on island. Wondering how you’re going to fit in all this great fare while you’re here? A Catalina Food Tour can take you all over town to discover exactly why Catalina is a small island with big flavor. Read on to learn about some of the best stops on Catalina’s food scene.

Wake up with Catalina Coffee and Cookie Co. Need to fuel up for your day? You’ll find a huge selection of great coffee and tea drinks as well as baked treats and savory breakfast items to help get you going. How could you not start your island morning with a croffle? A waffled-croissant coated in turbinado sugar and baked in a waffle iron. Its crispy outside and buttery inside make it a crunchy, cozy morning treat. Need something savory? Try a breakfast burrito or a bodega bagel. Grab a horchata latte for your caffeine fix and a matcha white chocolate chip cookie to nibble on later. 

Catch you on the Topside. Not a lot of hotels or condos on Catalina can offer the views that you get when dining at Topside, a special spot in the heart of Avalon with panoramic views. The menu boasts a fun assortment of Italian-Spanish-American fusion items, fresh coastal cuisine, and thoughtfully curated craft cocktails. There’s even a rooftop fire pit for added ambience. Opt for a purple pancake stack in the morning, a catch of the day sandwich for lunch, and come back for an Avalon Spritz and surf and turf sliders at happy hour. 

Step aboard at El Galleon. A longtime go-to on Avalon’s Front Street, the interior of El Galleon feels like a grand ship. While on board for a culinary adventure, try the crispy Firecracker shrimp. Scallops and clam chowder, Baja calamari, and flatbreads are also crowd pleasers. And you may not know this, but you cannot leave Catalina without trying the island’s famous drink: a Buffalo Milk. This rich and creamy blend of vodka, Kahlua, creme de banane, creme de cacao, and half and half is topped with whipped cream and nutmeg–like a drink and a dessert in one!

Become enchanted with El Encanto.  Step into the historic Spanish-style courtyard marketplace and enjoy some Mediterranean-inspired offerings. Snack on the house dips like Island Hummus Verde with cilantro, spinach, basil, lemon, and crushed pistachios, the golden whipped feta with hot honey, and classic tzatziki. In the mood for seafood? Try a refreshing Shrimp and Avocado Cocktail. 

Sweeten your day at Lloyd’s of Avalon. This fixture on Avalon’s Front Street has been making fresh saltwater taffy and many more confections since 1941. In need of a sugar fix? You must try some freshly pulled taffy, handmade fudge, caramel apples, chocolate dipped pretzels, or an ice cream treat from Lloyd’s. 

End your evening at the Marlin Club. After all your food touring, you might have had enough to eat. Have a night cap at one of Avalon’s kitschiest drinking holes. The menu features a great selection of very islandy, rum-forward, tiki-style cocktails like a mai tai, a Chi Chi, or a Singapore Sling. Unwind here at the end of a very successful food tour day. 

The scoop on a Catalina Food Tour. Catalina Food Tours love to dive into the whole dining experience–from cocktail hour to after dinner. That said, these tours are for ages 21 and older because some locations are bars, and some of the food tour items are indeed adult beverages. Typically, a Catalina Food Tour lasts about 2.5 hours, and you’ll walk about one mile all around downtown Avalon to visit five favorite tasting locations. All locations feature a number of well loved entrees, desserts, and drinks for you to taste. Tours are available daily, year-round, rain or shine! Groups for food tours tend to be about 10 guests, but please reach out if you will be with a bigger group or if you’d prefer a private tour. 

Ready to reserve your spot on a Catalina Food Tour? Head to our booking page, or give us a call at 310-961-3730 to learn more.