The food is pricey - but what do you expect being SO remote? The service is great. The ambiance is so nice -- you're literally away from it ALL on an ISLAND. read more

We've been visiting Two Harbors and Harbor Sands 3-4 times a year for many years, so this review comes from loyal guests who genuinely love this place. Unfortunately, our August 2026 visit was one of the most disappointing we've experienced. The attention to detail that has made Harbor Sands feel special was missing. We noticed trash in the Sands for days, abandoned towels that weren't removed until we mentioned them, inconsistent food and cocktails, and a general lack of hospitality from some of the staff. We also noticed staff socializing in guest palapas and lounge chairs while paying guests were nearby not being taken care of. None of these issues were major on their own, but together they created a noticeably different experience than we've come to expect. Harbor Sands has always been one of our favorite places because of its well kept grounds, excellent service, and attention to detail. With the premium prices today, we still expect that same level of quality. We're sharing this because we truly care about Harbor Sands and hope management can refocus on the little things that made this destination so special. We sincerely hope our next visit this summer reflects the exceptional experience we've enjoyed for so many years. read more

Laidback bar and eatery. Great staff, awesome views! Perfect for people watching! Do NOT come here if you're in a rush, go to the galley! Harbor Sands is on island time, which we appreciated.... If your impatience this place isn't for you, so don't come here and ruin it for those of us who appreciate it. We arrived early, but they allowed us to sit at a table until they opened, which we appreciated. The staff even went above and beyond and took out drink orders before they opened. I HIGHLY recommend sitting in a middle table, I read the sun wrong and ended up without shade, learn from my mistake! My sister got the Sammie, loved it, and fried which were crisp and good. I got the TC Tuna which was AMAZING, would make a great appetizer or light meal, if starving get it as an appetizer and get something in addition. Our server was awesome, didn't even have to ask for a refill, she just brought it out. We always had ice water and Diet Coke, never an empty cup, and she timed asking my sister if she wanted another alcoholic drink. The Pain Killer was great! #2 in popularity (Buffalo Milk is #1). The Gold Rush was tasty. And the third drink, forgot the name, was also refreshing, islands, beachy. We were never rushed. The staff was always kind. And even when the table next to us was rude, demanding, and acting all high and mighty, "we're in a rush to get to our camp site".... The staff took it in strides. While the restaurant is cashless, the staff confirmed they appreciate cash tips for when they go to Avalon, so we tipped in cash. I honestly could t recommend this place more and could have stayed all day. Great food. Great drinks. Great staff! read more

Harbor Sands - Our table before the sun took over , We people watched all the sailers and pups so much fun! - Bars Near Me - Two Harbors, California

Same menu and servers as the deck, but a bit quieter and nicer. No reason not to try it if you want to watch the harbor.

Food was excellent, bartenders were great and relaxed island vibes. Highly recommended.

I used to like the restaurant at Two Harbors, but this time the food was very disappointing. We ordered the sea bass for $35 (not cheap), and it was the smallest filet I've ever been served. It was also overcooked and seemed old. We asked for the freshest fish, and they said the sea bass was fresh. This fish was not fresh. $35 for a 5 inch piece of hard fish. I would expect this in the middle of the desert, not on Catalina. read more

The boat ride was better than the destination, and I could've done without the boat ride. Do yourself a favor and stay in Avalon. 3 items on the menu and a boring beach. I was praying I could fall asleep to make the afternoon go By faster. No such luck. However, this place is great for waking on bare feet over stab-rocks. I mean, it's a world class spot for that. I wish I'd overslept and Missed the boat. 5 more hours of whatever this is. BONUS: I don't need to eat dinner now that I had the lunch. I am unsure if it would've been better to have fasted all day or just done shots at the bar. It's weird to pay for the low point in yer stay on the island, but here it is! Also, there is a lovely view or turd covered islands so to help you pass the time! read more

Harbor Sands - Your Turd Island Beach view. - Bars Near Me - Two Harbors, California

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Note - This is the only Restaurant/ Bar in Two Harbors. You really don't have a choice. We ate and drank on Saturday and Sunday night. Per the hrs posted on Yelp, they were closed. Not correct. Mike the bartender was the one who took care of us on both days. Per Mike KITCHEN closes at 8p and the BAR usually stays open till 9p. All depending on how manny people are there. Saturday was a busy day at Harbor Sands. There were at least 15 ppl in the bar. Music was playing out of a juke box and several games of pool were had. Dinner - we ordered Swordfish Kabobs and and a Buffalo burger (clearly the burger was not for me) Swordfish came with rice and veggies. Swordfish was well cooked and seasoned. Rice and broccoli needed salt and seasoning. Buffalo burger came on a pretzel bun that was more like a sweet bun. Mike was on it with the drinks and even gave me a taste of Buffalo Milk, the island drink. We made it back on Sunday after a 16 mile hike. We were STAVING. So again, the only option we had for food. We ordered the following: - jalapeño cornbread - I wasn't a fan at all. I would not try this ever again - Cheesy beef pasta - it was ehhhhhhhh - cheese pizza - very greasy and the crust was just soft and seemed under cooked. But because we were exhausted & starving, we ate what we could. This isn't a place to exam too closely because it's the only place to eat! So ignore the red flags and icky stuff :-/ read more

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Was totally blown away by how fun this place was on a Friday night. We got into town by ferry at 9pm and the bar/restaurant was still super lively. They have a bunch of TV screens and a pool table inside YOU MUST TRY THEIR FAMOUS BUFFALO MILK!!! read more

Harbor Sands - Margaritas - Bars Near Me - Two Harbors, California

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For views and OK food, Harbor Sands won't go wrong. Been coming to Two Harbors for over a decade and yes, the food used to be better but that was all pre-covid and when supplies were plentiful. I do the swordfish and it's more than enough. Every server does there best, so give them credit and tip well. read more

A very relaxing dining experience...the view, an even more relaxed sight. Customer service is as expected, nice! Food was delicious. Ordered appetizers because we were more tired than hungry. Got the ahi tacos, chips & salsa, calamari, & clam chowder. Served on disposable plates. Waitress was thoughtful to ask if we wanted to finish off the last bit of salsa & chips before she cleared our table. Had good drink selections. Had some craft beers & hot toddy. The quality was to be expected for this kind of dining. Straws available upon request. Breezes will keep you cool, but remember to hold on to your trash and napkin because they will fly with the breeze. Restroom is a short walk to the detached mobile structure shared by everyone. Very clean with a shower. read more

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We took the Cyclone boat ride over to get to the Two Harbor port where this restaurant is, the 20 min boat ride over was fantastic at $15 each way like a taxi, beautiful scenery might even see a dolphin, once you land not much there but 1 store, 2 restaurants, shower and bathrooms, a beach with cabanas and loungers you have to rent, kayak, and camping. This restaurant is on the beach, seating under canopies, you can see all the boats and beach area, we ordered the fish tacos with chips and salsa, the food was average but not bad, they have a full bar, I ordered off the menu and got a Miami Vice which was perfect. It was a fun experience, boat ride, beach dining, for 2 hours of your day. I'm giving it 4 stars because of the boat ride and scenery read more

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Backpacked from Avalon to Two Harbors and stopped by this place for a nice treat. It's right on the beach which is awesome. I would suggest getting the bison/kobe burger. The buffalo milk is good as well. If I had the option, I would give this 4.5 because it's $7 for a 1/2 cup of beer and $10 for a 1/2 cup of mixed drinks including the buffalo milk. My friend and I spent about $100 total... but probably because of my friend who drank copious amounts of beer after our trek read more

Harbor Sands - Bars Near Me - Two Harbors, California

Due to an Atmopheric River, we were stranded for four days in Two Harbors. In the off season, they are only open for dinner 5-7. So, we ate there all four evenings. All the food was good and the service friendly. Highly recommend. read more

I reserved two beach chairs for the fourth of July and it was a good thing, because the Sheriff was kicking people off the public beach due to COVID-19. We ordered some delicious burgers and cocktails and sat under the umbrella enjoying the view. What a great afternoon! Service was a bit slow but way better than it could have been with the Coronavirus still going on. We had plenty of space from other people and felt safe. The staff were really friendly. We will be back! read more

Harbor Sands - Relaxing on two Harbor Sands beach chairs. - Bars Near Me - Two Harbors, California

Incredible Wedding Venue! My husband and I had the best day of our lives celebrating our wedding at Two Harbors, Catalina with the Catalina Island Co. EVERY little detail was taken care of. A special shout out to Leslie, their Sales & Events Manager. Other than my husband, Leslie was my favorite person involved in my wedding. She remembered every request and ensured everything went off perfectly. From the catering (Harbor Sands is delicious), to the flowers (Tracy is amazingly talented), to all the vendors she recommended - there isn't a single thing I'd change. Thank you Catalina Island Co!! read more

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Great spot right on the beach. A bit more upscale and classy then what Two Harbors had to offer beforehand. The theme is South Pacific Island and they even imported white sand. This is because back in the 30's Two Harbors was used by Hollywood as location and it used to have thatch huts. Now they have private palapas you can rent but they are very pricey ($129 weekday-349 for holiday) Food is good. Real friendly service. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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Such a disappointment. I've been coming here for years and this summer the food has definitely gone downhill. Since 4th of July weekend, they made even more changes, replacing the previous large light and fluffy Fish & Chips for something out of the freezer... small, dried out lumps of fried batter. The fish inside was hard and difficult to chew. The Poke bowl and hamburger are the only things left that is edible. I can't wait for them to change the menu back. read more

Harbor Sands is located right next to the Harbor Reef Restaurant. They have an outdoor bar which opens up into an expansive patio overlooking the beach and harbor and also an inside sitting area/ bar. The inside bar area is actually connected to the Harbor Reef Restaurant, BUT different menus are offered at each. Harbor Sands probably has slightly cheaper and what you might call grungier food. So expect some bar food, appetizers, and burgers. For drinks, their local specialty is a mixed cocktail called *Buffalo Milk*. I had a sip of this and wasn't a fan mostly because it tasted heavily of banana and I personally am not so fond of them. A very frothy and cooling drink otherwise. I went ahead and grabbed for an IPA like a crazy woman. I needed some pain meds after 4 days of hiking on the TCT! It was $9.50 in like a 12oz cup, so a tad pricey for sure! But I suppose kegs are heavy and costly to transport onto an island. My friend also went for a Bloody Mary which wasn't bad at $9.50 although it comes in a small plastic cup too. Such a relaxing atmosphere on the patio with some shaded spots under the awning and some in full sun closer to the railing. It's the only place you can grab dranks in Two Harbors and honestly it's not a bad choice. read more

Harbor Sands - Some Elysian IPA ($9.50) for celebration after 45+ miles - Bars Near Me - Two Harbors, California

This place is a great destination when in Two Harbors for lunch or dinner. Beer is pricey so mixed drinks is your best bet. Calamari and fish and chips we're good. Actually the calamari is exceptional. The shaded deck it's impressive and ideal place to have your lunch by the beach. Everything is served in plastic cups, plates and silverware on the patio . read more

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We rented a couple lounge chairs for the day. View was nice, wait staff was prompt with our drink orders and warned us that food would take about an hour. So we ordered and asked if we added on chips and guac if that would come out sooner. Took about the same amount of time as with the food. I ordered the poke bowl which we horrible. I actually sent the first order back. Rice was seriously over cooked, stuck together in big clumps and a few soggy chips. They brought me a second and it was just as bad as the first. Looked like some old rice that had been at the bottom of a rice steamer for a few days. Waitress asked to take a photo of the rice...I'll def come back for the drinks, view and vibe...but I'll be bringing my own snacks with me next time. read more

Noah, we had a wonderful time being served by you. Food is always good even though it took the kitchen 45 minutes to make. Bummed that my Calamari was cold, didn't want to tell you because I knew a warm dish probably would have taken another 45. FYI, my main reason for 20+ years going to your spot to eat is the Calamari steak and the Buffalo milk yet quite dissatisfied this time, not you but the kitchen needs to get their ish together. Then to make it worse, we came back that night for inside meal with our Yacht club and the rib-eye was so chewy, Crème brûlée was delicious but the thinnest ever, ugh, sorry to vent but sad that it's gotten to this. See you soon and hopefully for a hot Calamari steak. read more

Harbor Sands - Bars Near Me - Two Harbors, California

Had lunch here with my friends today, bartender Ryan took care of us, he was awesome and made great drinks! We ordered the Angus burger and swordfish sandwich, the burger was great and the sandwich was very delicious and so worth it! read more

Reflecting back to earlier in the week, one of our favorite things we did was spend the day at Two Harbors. What made it a gem was beachside table service. Our server, a nice young lady transplanted from the big state of Texas, she not only had southern charm, but Callie was quick to offer great menu advice as well as activity advice of wonderful things to do on the island. She helped make our day relaxing and fun. I highly recommend this location and asking to sit in Callie's section. The poke bowl is pretty amazing too! read more

This is the place to be! Summer evenings, sitting outside, listening to a local band, and enjoying friends, family, and family people. Two Harbors is a great place to hike, camp, Bring your boat, and get away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland. If you don't have a boat you can take the Flyer here. This part of the Island is remote and serine. There is only one place to stay, one general store, and basically one place to eat. It consists of a cafe, bar with a pool table and bar food, and a sit down restaurant. All which are good. A piece of paradise unlike Avalon. A must do for hikers, campers, and boaters (power, fishing, and sailing). read more

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We reserved 6 chairs for the Fourth of July with our family. Cali our waiter was amazing. She came and checked on us often. She went above and beyond any waiter I have ever had. She was very personable and super nice. We had an amazing day thanks to her and the gorgeous beach! read more

I love harbor sands but Mike the bartender is the worst. The best bar with the worst bartender. Period

Menu was not as reflected on website. Waited nearly an hour for our food which was awful but it's the only place to eat at Two Harbors. Drinks at the bar were small, half pours for $11-$15 each. read more

Foods amazing and could ask for better service, Thanks Shay! And the guy inside i believe Jacob ! Only one working with a full patio. Killed it! read more

Get yourself a cocktail and bison/kobe burger. Jorge is da man behind the bar. He'll take care of you.

The Harbor Reef Restaurant and Bar is getting better and better. The Harbor Sands is the newly remodeled outdoor beach area with lounge chairs. I don't like how the Harbor Sands area has been covered with imported silica sand-- it looks ridiculous and unnatural. Also, they have cut off all access to the west side of the beach so you have to enter from the east side of the pier and go under the pier which is impossible at moderate tide OR walk all the way around to the back dirt road to get to the remaining sliver of public area. It's not inviting at all. They didn't need to hog the beach they way they did, but the are trying to "resort-ify" this little gem in the rough and apparently keep out the riffraff ordinary people who have been supporting the area businesses for the last several decades. Try being inclusive instead of exclusive. read more

Great location right on the sand at Two Harbors! The food is good, service is just a bit slow-bit its summer and they are busy!

I've had some fun times here in the recent past, but yesterday's visit was a disappointment. A group of 4 adults and 2 kids, hungry from trekking back from Parsons, were ready to eat. We sat at a table and watched the waiters walking by resolutely avoiding us. After a while of watching other people who came in after us place their orders, I beckoned over a poneytailed millenial who had been ignoring our stares. He looked at us and said "I'll be there in a minute". Then he carried on talking to one of the other staff, walked off and never came back. I ended up going into the cafe and ordered some food to take back to the table. Sad to discover the Buffalo Burger is no longer an item, so I ordered regular burgers. It took nearly half an hour for the food to be cooked and it was pretty dreadful. Dry overcooked burgers, limp fixings, lukewarm fries.So yeah, bad experience. I really hope they can improve things. By the way, the Buffalo Milk is way overrated IMO. Basically a White Russian with too much cream. The Dude does not approve! read more

If you want some beach, sun, and relaxation, then this is the place. Harbor Sands is low key fun. You get the ambience of a upscale beach club with a better deal! Food was great! Palapa was clean! Snorkeling is a must! Staff was friendly and very attentive! read more

The staff here is disorganized and rude. They have a difference of opinion on what time the place opens. That shouldn't be a matter of opinion. I heard multiple snarky comments about the guests from the staff. We had to set up our own beach chairs (F-) and the staff was nowhere to be found. As on other islands, they've figured out you've got nowhere else to go so tough luck. read more