My review is going to be thurough and mixed, but very honest.Our group was porting for the day from a cruise. Calling to schedule and reserve was done with complete ease. During the call I greatly appreciated the fact that the date was clarified more than one time due to the no refund policy, I verified through my app and we secured the date. It was also brought to my attention that the beach was quite rocky and that water shoes were a must, we had just purchased water sneakers and opted for one pair of shoes. I did warn our group, some chose not to listen and it definitely was a miserable time for them. Unfortunately I do not recall the woman's name that secured the booking but definitely LOVED AND APPRECIATED her valuable insight and making sure the date was correct. Walk from the port, was beautiful we used Apple Map to avoid hills. Our party consists of several individuals with disabilities and we had to move slow. As huge "boats and hoes" fans we were absolutely delighted to see the big blue sign that said Catalina Wine Mixer. That really was a cool greeting. As you entered under it, it was lined with stunning palm trees on the left and the gorgeous ocean on the right. We could see all the cabanas and knew we were headed in the right direction. The views just kept getting prettier and prettier. We saw lots of people bustling around in yellow shirts, and seen different buildings. I walked up to one and asked where we checked in at. I was guided to a yellow hut over there. Checked in with ease and walked across the super thick sand to our Presidential cabana. It was very comfortable and cozy looking and the view was absolutely breathtaking taking. During my booking I asked for best view. We secured the cabana in the front on the corner. WOW!!! We noticed Evian bottled water on ice in a bucket. Towels were brought, one for each person. We had enough seating including two loungers. We were brought our two "smoothies". Which were never tasted, We only showed up with two people to start because our port day happened to require reservations to get off, which is no fault of the beach club, the rest of our party couldn't get off until noon. They arrived about 1 pm. When they arrived, we had to wait for a long time for Julian to circle back. We ordered 14 Coronas to start, everyone was ready for some drinks and some water due to the heat before eating. We walked down to the beach and hit the water. BOY WERE WE EVER SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR WATER SHOES!! The water was super refreshing, but due to the waves it was unsafe for myself, I only have use of one arm, and the waves were pretty big, coupled with the drop off under the water I was not able to get in, I knew I wouldn't have been able to get out. Again NO FAULT OF THE CLUB. The rest of our party was definitely able to enjoy it! Julian circled back with our bucket of beers and we ordered two drinks for my daughter in law, I don't recall what they were, but she loved them and sucked them down, stating they were very tasty with a good pour! We did wait for a long time to be brought our drinks and for the circling back. Our first conversation with Julian was that it was too far of a walk for several of party to get back and how do we get a taxi or a ride, our service wasn't working and we were told about the WiFi, but that was hit and miss. Our carrier is AT&T and we found it difficult to get out. We were offered to have a taxi called or he told us he could call his girlfriend. NO PROBLEM, we were never told about the free shuttle back to town. We were up in the circle area waiting for our ride when the free shuttle pulled up and we hopped in because we waited for half an hour. During our walk up to the area to be picked up we noticed an area with showers, which we used to clean the sand out of our shoes and to wash the salt water off. The restrooms were clean. There was also an area to rent tubes, shop, purchase gifts.. it was very nice! At 3 pm we asked for the platter that came with our booking, which I felt like should have been brought and not asked for before we leave. Would we return? Most likely yes, just hoping for speedier service without having to ask for what comes with the booking and definitely making use of the free shuttle or actually being able to get ahold of a taxi to get to and from. The rest of our party noticed the free shuttle sign and waited for approximately half hour and it never came so they walked it. Service booking 5/5 Service on site 3/5 Views 10/5 Property and amenities 5/5 Drinks 5/5 Free water with our booking 5/5 Seating 5/5 Vibe 10/5 Free shuttle 10/5 The service on site is very important to us! The rest AMAZING! read more

Descanso Beach Club - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

Amazing views! Located right on the beach this place was packed. The also have a DJ spinning on Saturdays, very vibey. Our server was great. So quick and attentive. Drinks 5/5: They were slinging them drinks. Every drink sounded and looked delicious. The presentation for each drink was beautiful. Ordered the pina colada and it was crazy good, literally comparable to pina coladas served in Hawaii. - Micheladas 4/5: The micheladas were stacked. Drinks came with lime, olives, a cucumber, and a pepperoncini also. So refreshing on a hot day. I had assumed that it was going to be mediocre as with most food at a beach club. I was very pleasantly surprised with the food here! - Peruvian Ceviche 5/5: Decent amount of fish and all the veggies complimented the fish very well. - DBC Asada Nachos 4/5 - Coconut Shrimp Baja Tacos 4/5 I cannot wait to come back here the next time I'm on the island! read more

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Came here on our last day to Catalina. Since the private cabanas and lounge chairs were fully booked during the weekend we opted for Monday, which is on my actual birthday! Dominic was assigned to us as our "beach butler." He was extremely attentive and made sure we were more than content at all times. Since it was a Monday the setting was more chill than on a weekend and I appreciated that. We stopped by on the Saturday before and the atmosphere was loud, boisterous with a live DJ and banging music. But for a relaxing bday day, this was what I needed! Don't forget water shoes if you plan to go in the water! read more

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Review #1,087 Posted on 7.14.26 We stopped at Deacanso Beach Club on Thursday the 9th when staying in Catalina this past week. This is the spot to hit the beach when in Catalina Island. The main beach area near the harbor is what feels like smaller anyways, but Descanso is clean, private, and you have access to food & drinks too. It for sure can get crowded no matter what so you're better off going early and getting a good spot. They've got a full bar you can order drinks at to take down to the beach, sit at the bar, or at a table also nearby. Food here was really good, I was impressed. We had carne asada nachos, they had a warm queso on top, tons of meat, and fresh crispy chips, excellent. Baja fish tacos had a nice little zing to them too. Will be back 100%. read more

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Located a short distance from the Catalina Casino in Avalon, the Descanso Beach Club has a small stretch of beach with some nice beachfront dining. My wife and I visited for lunch on a port day from our cruise boat, with service and food being a mixed bag. We arrived around 11:15 and it hadn't gotten busy yet. Thus, there was really no hostess to direct us, so we ended up going past the open tables in the patio, and headed for the bar area where there were bartenders and people seated. The bartender didn't really make an effort to look around, so I asked one of the waiters/busboys standing around if I needed to order from the bar. He affirmed it, but with sort of a smirk. So we had to get the bartender's attention, ordered our food, and with him asking if we wanted something to drink, getting a tourist margarita. Also asked for a glass of ice water, and got a bottled water instead. He mentioned that the food would be delivered to us, so we went our way looking for a place to sit. His attitude was kinda of a 'Whatever' throughout. Everything was prepaid, but I did leave a tip since the food was being delivered to us. It was a sunny day, so we went to some open tables with shade from where we had entered the club. As we sat down, a waitress came towards with a big smile and menus. I let her know we had already ordered from the bar...at this point, she told us that this section was reserved for people getting table service. She didn't explicitly say we had to leave, but she implied it. So we did. We ended up sitting at the bar, right in front of the bartender who took our order. This did make it easy for the food to be delivered on paper plates, and it tasted really good (with very tourist prices, and small portions): Crispy Orange Chicken Wings (6 pieces for $19) - this is one case where getting those jumbo wings like Wingstop has, would have helped with swallowing such a high price. Chicken Lettuce Wraps ($20) - This was really well made and delicious. It also came with very fresh iceberg lettuce leafs and the dressing on top was excellent. Bottled Water ($2) Blood Orange Margarita ($16) - this was delicious, but small...forgot to take a picture, but it was served in a tumbler/highball with plenty of ice. One nice thing is that the public wi-fi for Desscanso worked well, and it was free (didn't require any sort of PII to be entered). This area also has wifi for public use, but costing money. For whatever reason, our cellular didn't work well here, so wi-fi was definitely appreciated. There's definitely a competition between the bar area and the full service area. It honestly pissed me off a bit. I do think it mattered greatly when we came. I later did see signs stating that there was a section where food would be ordered from the bar, but it would have helped if the original guy I had asked, had explained it to us. As we were leaving (giving up our seats to people waiting), I saw the other bartender (who began her shift a bit after we had ordered) hustling to greet new guests and finding space for them to sit, and clearly giving recommendations. But its clear the employees are not working together, with the customer at the center. And for that main reason, our experience wasn't very good. read more

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The best area for the island. You can either walk to it from the port or take a shuttle bus for free. It's a beach with on the left side an area where you can reserve beach chairs and a tent with tables and chairs. Then on the other side, is a full long bar with delicious food and alcoholic drinks. Overall, very lovely area to get away from the main shopping centers and just relax. read more

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DESCANSO BEACH CLUB @ SANTA CATALINA My family and I came here on a Saturday evening, and it was honestly such a cool hidden spot. There are a ton of tables and seating right on the beach, but it's kind of secluded you actually have to walk past the theater area to find it. I genuinely didn't even know this place existed until my family and I rented a golf cart and randomly decided to stop by. The vibes here were amazing. We just found a random spot to sit, and a waiter came by pretty quickly with menus. The drinks were honestly pretty affordable for the location and atmosphere too. I ended up getting the piña colada, and it was super delicious. It came topped with whipped cream, coconut flakes, a pineapple garnish, and even a leaf which made it look really tropical and fun. My brother got the Strawberry Sunset, which had strawberry and rum, and that was also really good. We only came here for drinks this time, but I'd definitely come back to try the food because everything around us looked good. The overall atmosphere was what really made the experience though lots of people tanning, hanging out, enjoying the beach, and having a good time in the sun. Overall, this area is such a fun spot, and I would definitely come back again. read more

Descanso Beach Club - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

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Having never been to Catalina, I didn't quite know what to expect at Descanso Beach Club. I had only heard it's a "must do" experience while visiting the island. Here's what I learned and my experience. There are several ways to enjoy the beach club. Dining and drinks only: walk over from Avalon (about a short 10 minute walk or shorter via golf cart). The food is pretty good. Impressed with the poke bowl and veggie wrap. The drinks were also good, just right! There is so much dining space, plenty of tables and seating. Pay for a Cabana (approx 300) or 2 lounge chairs ($95) for 5 hours 11-4. We opted for a lounge chairs and they were fantastic. There are attendants to get you towels, open the umbrellas and take your food order. That's right, you can order food and drinks straight to you reserved lounge chair. I loved that when we purchased the seating, it was for the whole day and we could come and go as we pleased. Fernando our attendant was fantastic. Very friendly and helpful. In front of the lounge chair area there is a beautiful beach area. You should know that below the beach sand, there are rocks, so be careful getting into that water. It's not just dining and lounging, you can snorkel and kayak (for a rental fee) right off the beach club there. And even purchase a cute floatie. It's good to know that the last Kayak rental is at 2:00-2:30 because the club closes at 4. There is a nice Public access beach area next to the dining area where you don't need reservations. Another important note, if you have made it this far, is that the beach club allows you to bring your own small speaker to play music of your choice. Now this can be a good thing or a not so good thing depending on whether you enjoy the music being played. When we visited, there was a loud group of gentleman that were playing music very loud and I didn't love the music choice. Eventually they turned it down after about 30 minutes, but if that bothers you, you might consider bringing your own headphones. Overall we had a great experience and are looking forward to coming back on our next visit and ai agree it is a "must do" Catalina experience for those who enjoying lunging and relaxing! read more

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We went to Catalina Island recently for a birthday - stayed the weekend - and spent the good portion of a Saturday in July at Descanso Beach Club. Overall, we had a good time hanging out with family (all adults and one teenager) for the day. The club itself is like walking into a resort at a destination someplace outside of California. Honestly, there were times I forgot we were actually still in the state! The accommodations there pretty updated and kept clean. It's fully staffed and run pretty efficiently. There were plenty of people and things seemed to be moving quickly and waits didn't seem to be too crazy. The Aperol Spritz pop up was also a nice touch! We grabbed a bit before heading to the beach and the food + drinks were pretty good! I was expecting basic, bland resort food but everyone was pleasantly surprised. I had the poke bowl which was tasty and seemed fresh. My wife and a few others had the shrimp tacos which she enjoyed. Another person in our party had the burger. All-in-all everyone enjoyed. The drinks were also good. Nothing Earth shattering, but again, this isn't a cocktail lounge, they were good and did the job. We also have to give a special shout out to SYDNEY. She was our waiter and was top notch! Down to earth, on point with her service, attentive, authentic, and generally just a great human being. She totally went above and beyond while dealing with the chaos of the day. And did so with grace and a friendly smile. If anyone from Descanso management is reading this, Sydney gets a special commendation from our entire group. She totally deserves it and much more. Now, the areas of opportunity. While we enjoyed ourselves, the place was packed. Like really packed. There didn't really seem to be any controls or management of the crowds, although they definitely knew how to keep people moving. There were certain areas where you could reserve cabanas and other spaces which would have been nice to know in advance could have been reserved online. When we arrived we were told initially we could only reserve online. Then we were told we could talk to someone. Beyond that, beware that the portion of the beach where you don't have to reserve a spot isn't that big if the day is busy and it is rocky in parts so be prepared. Finally, there is no host where you can eat you just have to wait for someone to get up and snag a table. We found a seat fine, but it was a bit of a free for all with people hovering over tables to try and anticipate when people were finishing up. Didn't seem like the best system. All in all, we really enjoyed our day and again, we totally appreciated Sydney's service! read more

Descanso Beach Club - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

It was my first time here during a day trip with my boyfriend for his early birthday celebration. We had the best weather (after the sun burnt off the clouds ) so we were able to enjoy it to the fullest. We booked two beach loungers that were in the third row. I felt like we naturally got some good breeze and more shade from the tall trees being in the third row. Our server was great and very attentive, the bar tenders were so nice, and even servers not assigned to our section were very talkative and welcoming! We had the chips and dip, spicy chicken tenders, and a couple of their specialty cocktails. Everything was fresh and super tasty! Water and towels were complimentary our whole visit. My advice if you are visiting descanso and plan to go in the water, make sure you bring water shoes as the beach leading into the water is entirely made of rocks. I was able to wear my sandals so I could go into the water thankfully. If you don't have beach wear or shoes, there is a small shop a few steps up from the beach club where you can buy anything you might need for a good beach day! Highly recommend making it a part of your catalina trip, especially if you want to relax and take in the views. read more

Descanso Beach Club - View from the loungers - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

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Made a reservation for my daughter and me, knowing Catalina would be a port stop. I'm giving it 4 stars only because they didn't open until 11, but once they did, the service was top‑notch. We really enjoyed the food, the kids' chicken nuggets, the guacamole and chips, and the delicious sushi bowl. The views are absolutely gorgeous. The only reason we ended up leaving was because the wind picked up and the beach was pretty rocky, which made it hard for my daughter to get into the water. read more

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I had a great time here for a friend's birthday. We reserved chairs near the water. We were greeted immediately and escorted to our section. Our server was very nice and polite and helped us with menu suggestions. The weather was beautiful and we had a few things. Shots, nachos , and a few other items . It was a wonderful time I would recommend. read more

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I came here for the beach since it seemed like a good place for food and relaxation. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Tortilla Salad and was a bit disappointed. Even with the dressing, the salad was pretty plain and just lettuce. For the price, you can definitely get something better. You're moreso paying for the beach and the vibes than the food. Service was pretty fast and staff were nice and friendly. read more

Descanso Beach Club - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

We had an amazing experience at Descanso Beach Club in Catalina! We rented the larger cabana for our group of 10, and it was spacious, comfortable, and well worth it. The cabana included complimentary towels and bottled water, which was a nice touch and made our day even more relaxing. The food was delicious and reasonably priced, and the staff was friendly, attentive, and welcoming throughout our visit. They even surprised us with complimentary snacks, which was greatly appreciated. The beach itself is beautiful, and the cabana provided the perfect place to relax and enjoy the day with friends and family. I would absolutely rent a cabana here again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Catalina. One tip: bring water shoes because the shoreline is a bit rocky. Overall, a fantastic experience! read more

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We spent the day in a cabana and this was my favorite thing I ate all day! The chips and guacamole were excellent too. It may seem expensive to book a cabana, and it is a lot. I think it was $300 for the day. But the service and the quality of everything we were served was top tier! The water was so clear- I was able to change into my snorkeling gear from the privacy of our cabana and come straight back for yummy food and cocktails ALL DAY LONG! I recommend booking your chair or cabana in advance. Especially on days when there is a cruise ship in town. read more

Descanso Beach Club - Poh Kay bowl - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

Food came out quickly so service was good, ambiance and views are great (right on the sandy beach). The food was typical bar food. Wings were nicely sauce and not dry at all Baja coconut shrimp tacos were so so Chicken salad was with ground chicken which was a little strange but actually pretty yum read more

Descanso Beach Club - Baja shrimp tacos and chicken salad - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

We have been coming here for years! Sadly the quality of food and drinks just keeps going downhill and getting more and more expensive. Some of the food and drinks they presented to us were just embarrassing. If I'm paying $32 for nachos the chips better be intact! Also we added guacamole to the nachos which was $8 extra and they didn't even add it. We had to go back up to request it. The types of liquor they use in their drinks has also gone down sadly. We have no issue paying good money for good or drinks when it's worth it, but sadly this place just keeps going downhill. Of course the ambiance is amazing! We still love it here overall just probably won't be dining here anymore unless they turn it around. Even the kids food has turned to trash! They use to have good chicken strips and now they have processed Dino nuggets. It's really too bad. read more

Descanso Beach Club - $32 nachos. Seriously?! This is embarrassing! I would be embarrassed to serve this. - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

Had such a great experience at Descanso Beach Club on Catalina Island! The frozen mocktail was refreshing, flavorful, and the perfect drink to enjoy while taking in the beautiful ocean views. The beachside table seating made the experience even better--we got to relax right by the water and enjoy the laid-back island atmosphere. read more

Descanso Beach Club - Frozen mocktail - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

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13/10! Pablo went above and beyond for us and his surrounding customers! I'll tell you right now A day here with rented chairs is just what the dr ordered. We had such an amazing time, beautiful weather, very nice happy Staff and an amazing facility! Definitely worth every penny! read more

Descanso Beach Club - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

YUMMY the food the drinks and very sweet server Mayra, oyster sooo good so fresh and Peruvian ceviche with the sea bass and extra guacamole on the side by the beautiful beach, so perfect When the sweet server Mayra said "SUPER GOOD" you should order it ! She chose Dragonberry Mojito for me and Oh boy... it's made my day, ended up coming back for the second glass after lol Delicious food yummy drinks and sweet Mayra and by the beautiful beach everything so perfect Will come back maybe for the third dragonberry mojito and saying hi to Mayra lol Was celebrating my husband and Father's Day weekend, Amazing place to visit chill and dine Recommended of course read more

Descanso Beach Club - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

TERRIBLE service. To begin with, we were standing by the bar for 15 - 20 min straight & one of an older male bartender was rude & didn't acknowledge us, he kept skipping us! We decided to sit in a table and while sitting one of the workers hit me with an umbrella twice because he was trying to move it. If there has to be accommodation make sure you look at your surroundings! These ppl look miserable. They are not friendly at all! Would not go to this restaurant again read more

What a fun place! We did not have reservations for beach bleachers but reserved pair in person for $120. Although our time was cut short for the Catalina Wine Festival, the space was amazing, the sun was great, and the food was okay. Our server, Leo, was great as well. Highly recommend the fresh coconut juice for $5! ! It is a beautiful private beach on the island and we had a great time. Kayaking and live music are available on certain days as well. read more

Descanso Beach Club - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

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My husband and I visited Descanso beach club on a Thursday afternoon and were nothing short of impressed! We had booked 2 lounge chairs right at the sea line & we're almost overwhelmed with how stunning it was. We were taken to our seats and sat promptly with exceptional service from the check in stand and almost immediately greeted by our amazing server Danny. Danny provided us with water right away and got our order out to us ASAP! We were shocked how quickly it came out actually lol. The nachos were SOOO GOOD! We devoured the whole plate. Not pictured is our second wine bottle of Rosé we ordered which Danny also brought out very quickly! I do wish that the shore was sand, not all rocks as it hurt to walk down to the water so HIGHLY recommend bringing water shoes if you want to get in the water! Overall experience was 100/10 & we will definitely visit again! read more

Descanso Beach Club - Pinot Grigio by the beach - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

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Love the lounging area by the beach. I ordered drinks and chicken tenders with fries. Everything was very delicious and I love it that they gave you a little free smoothie when you booked the lounging area. To get front row reserved lounge chairs was amazing price, especially coming from Vegas where that price would not be possible. Staff was very attentive and very nice The one thing that I will say is watch out for Tarr on the beach that's little black puddles of like oil tar. The reason I say this is I watched a girl try to scrub her foot out for a good hour and her boyfriend really was trying to help her and she was sitting on the beach and they couldn't get that black tar off her foot so watch for oil and black tar! read more

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Descanso Beach Club in Catalina Island is amazing. Great food, incredible drinks, and the view is absolutely spectacular. There's no better place to chill and relax on the island. It really makes you feel like you're in a different country while still being in California. If you're visiting Catalina, this is the place to go. - Check my drone video until the end!! That was a nice shot showing the Catalina Casino. read more

Descanso Beach Club - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

Oh but they have the most DELICIOUS frozen drinks over ever. I am very qualified to make this statement because 1) i NEVER drink unless something is yummy and doesnt taste like alcohol 2) only ever get 1 drink. But HERE I couldn't stop ordering the dang strawberry daiquiri. It felt like drinking a strawberries and cream cake. Our server was Julian and he was amazing- always checking in on us and having the enthusiasm to answer every question about him and Catalina Island by 8 drunk girls. This place is THE spot on Catalina so it can def get crowded. Even their nachos were DELICIOUS. read more

This beach club is a must stop for us during summer times. We hung out at the bar and lounge area for a couple hours this time. They had DJ spinning mostly old school and early 2000 hip hop songs. The food menu has gotten better and bigger, it used to be very limited. They make very good Bloody Mary and michelada, Buffalo milk is very tasty too. They have full service for the tables near the beach. But other seatings are on first come and first serve bases. People just order at the bar and get everything by themselves when they are ready. The beaches next to the ocean are all public access, remember there are no private beaches in California. Beach club lounge chairs and cabanas are in the back for renting. They also rent out floats and beach chairs. The summer send off Hawaiian themed dinner was nice, they served fresh cut tuna and grilled sword fish on the beach. Hawaiian hula dancing was so much fun to watch. This is a fantastic place to hang out with a lively atmosphere. It's fun either you rent cabana / lounge chairs or just hang out for an hour or two. The ocean views are the best! read more

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I've visited Catalina Island with my family several times and have rented the beach cabanas at least four times. Unfortunately, our experience on July 18, 2026 was very disappointing and unlike our previous visits. We rented two cabanas from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM expecting a relaxing family day at the beach. Guests in a neighboring cabana became heavily intoxicated, and we brought our concerns to the waiter. We also reported another cabana where guests appeared extremely intoxicated and someone was vomiting. What bothered us most was that alcohol service appeared to continue despite how intoxicated some guests seemed. We were there with our family to enjoy a peaceful day, and the situation made us very uncomfortable. We told the staff that if the situation continued, we would have to leave. Unfortunately, nothing improved enough for us to feel comfortable staying, so we left around 1:30 PM -- only a few hours into a cabana rental that was supposed to last until 5:00 PM. Before leaving, I spoke with the lady at reception and was told that we would receive a refund. I relied on that assurance, but as of August 11, I still have not received the promised refund. This is especially disappointing because this was not our first visit. We have rented cabanas here multiple times before and never experienced anything like this. I would have preferred for Catalina Island Company to simply follow through on the refund that was promised to us. I hope management reviews what happened and how alcohol service and guest complaints are handled so other families don't have the same experience read more

What a great place! We went to Catalina for a day trip away from the kids. The level of customer service is above what we see at 5 star hotels. The staff was very friendly (Alan was amazing). The club's grounds are clean, and I always see staff picking up any trash. The staff would go around constantly and offer free samples of smoothies, fruit, popsicles. This is just amazing! Good for them of doing this as it is highly noticed! Highly recommend and we will be back! read more

Descanso Beach Club - Clear waters! - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

Server fantastic. Drinks & food really good. The view is gorgeous. The problem is the DJ is so F-ing loud. Turn the volume down. What an absolute turn off! read more

I was here for the view. Ive was here on my last trips here and I rembered sitting looking at the picturesque views of the water and boats so I came back. Unlike the last time it was very busy so service was a little slow. I wished they had a little more items on the menu but in the end I settled for the burger and fries. It wasnt horrible. Id come back just for the view. read more

Descanso Beach Club - Descanos Beach Club - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

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Such a beautiful area of the island! We ate lunch yesterday at the Beach club. They had plenty of people working, since tables were full and in demand. They cleaned quickly between each. Service was great and friendly! I ordered the Buffalo Milk and the steak fajitas. My son had the Cabana Colada and the burger. Both didn't look very appetizing when they arrived, but ended up being pretty good. Can't beat the tropical setting! read more

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We visited a week after a storm had brought torrential rains to the Southland. It was the last weekend of February and we had sunny skies, 80 degree weather and snow capped mountains to stare at over on the mainland. We enjoyed our afternoon at Descanso laying out, soaking up the sun, and sipping our drinks. They do provide complimentary water bottles and are happy to bring ice. There is a limited food menu and attentive drink service. The staff were friendly and came by often. The bathrooms were super clean, and the beach loungers were so comfortable we were able to take much needed naps. We opted for chairs in the last row that had some natural shade which worked out since we didn't need to ask for the umbrellas near our chairs to be opened. It was all perfect! read more

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If you are debating reserving a pair of beach chairs on your next Catalina trip, my review is that they are worth it! And book early - we saw several people get turned away day-of because all of the spots were sold out. Ambiance 5/5: It was perfect to be right next to water and watch boats sail by; a highlight of the trip. One downside was the amount of bees in the area. They would fly into our drinks, land on our food, and hover around us as we were trying to relax. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if there is anything the beach club can do to minimize this, but it was bothersome. Food 4/5: The ceviche ($25) was delicious and tasted very fresh. They did not skimp on the chips either! The burger ($19) was also satisfying. I would've liked if the drinks/food costs were credited towards the chair reservation, since that itself was pretty pricey. Unfortunately, the Virgin Strawberry Mojito ($9) was not good. A faint strawberry taste in soda water. Definitely regretted getting this. Service 3/5: When we arrived early in the day (11am), our waiter was extremely attentive, stopping by every 20 minutes or so. However, once more chairs began to fill up (12pm), we had to hunt him down whenever we wanted to order a drink, or needed our umbrella adjusted. Most, if not all, of the umbrellas are missing the stick to make it stay up, so you really do need the help of a staff member because they know a particular way to tie it so it stays up. read more

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I have lived all of my adult life in Southern California and have never been to Catalina Island, until I had the opportunity to go with my employer for an all-day outing recently. The venue where we all had lunch was the Descanso Beach Club. It was very lovely in the main dining area. Our food was served buffet style. There was smoked salmon, barbecued skinless chicken breast, Caesar and Caprese salads, buttered basmati rice, and tiramisu for dessert. There was also an open bar available, which was nice for those who like to drink socially. The service we received was very friendly and attentive. The staff came around clearing all our dirty plates, silverware, and drinking glasses. We were in the upper floor of the building, which featured spectacular views of the beach. Aside from the beach-goers swimming and sunbathing, there were others who partook of aquatic activities like kayaking, paddle boarding, and snorkeling. The weather the day we went was perfect, with sunny skies and high temps in the low 70s, with a nice breeze blowing off the ocean. I definitely wouldn't mind returning here if we had another opportunity. read more

So expensive, but the best food and drink I had on the island. For 2 drinks and a split entree it came out to ~$63. Nice beach and cabanas for rent. I didn't check how much but I'm sure they are crazy expensive. Might be worth it if you have a group though. read more

Descanso Beach Club - Red Bull trash can - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

Came during a cruise stop. The beach club had a nice view and lots of seating area. The food prices were a little pricier than some of the other restaurants in the area. We ordered the Original Buffalo Milk, which was refreshing but overall an okay drink. Not very strong for the price and when I asked about adding an extra shot, the bartender said it would double the price of the drink. The location is nice but I wouldn't order from here again. read more

Descanso Beach Club - The Original Buffalo Milk - New American Near Me - Avalon, California

Great, relaxing experience if you can shell out $100 for a pair of chairs. We went on a Friday and I'm very glad we did. Weekends seem to sell out, but it was quiet on the Friday we went. Service was great. Raul took care of everyone on the beach. The food and drink prices aren't outrageous, just normal "California expensive" rather than "Catalina expensive". The beach club has sand, but the actual beach in front of it is all very sharp rocks. read more

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Beautiful beach club getaway! I wish we were able to book one of the loungers but tip - you gotta do that way in advance! Loved the accessibility of the restrooms, showers, floaty stores and within walking distance from the express. We sat at the bar first for drinks - strong and delicious and loved it. First come, first served but even on a holiday weekend didn't have a problem. Service is a little slow but that's totally fine as this was our main plan. Only reason this is 4 stars is because the orange chicken wings are actually terrible, they're cold, not the expected flavor and just bland and I would like to politely recommend them removing it from the menu. It actually disuaded us from ordering more food. Otherwise, excellent drinks and vibes and I hope to come again with a big party and take advantage of the cabana :) read more

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Catalina island of course is beautiful, but then you go to Descanso Beach Club, and wow...it gets even better. Basically, we started out at a quaint "fishing village" type feel of Avalon...walked the beach path past the old casino to a non-descript riveria!!!! The beach bar though...all of a sudden we are in the Caribbean with emerald waters and extremely tasty versions of pina coladas. The great part, the cruise ship people don't seem to know about this (we are on a Catalina to Ensenada cruise now) and almost no one is here!!!! While we are not having food here this trip, it is well worth the visit if you are out here! read more

Descanso Beach Club - Cabana Coladas basking in the sun ready to drink! - New American Near Me - Avalon, California