Newport Beach’s dining scene is about to take a decidedly moodier turn.
The arrival of The Nice Guy signals a shift toward a more layered, late-night energy along Pacific Coast Highway. Slated to take over the former GuacAmigos space, the concept brings with it a reputation that extends far beyond its menu.
Originally rooted in West Hollywood, The Nice Guy has built its identity on contrast. Part restaurant, part lounge, part social theater. Inside, dim lighting, plush interiors, and a vintage, almost cinematic glamour create an atmosphere that feels intentionally removed from the outside world.
That sensibility is now making its way to Newport Beach.
The new location, positioned along West Coast Highway, places the concept directly near the harbor. An address that previously carried a more casual, waterfront energy is now being reimagined as something more intimate and more curated. A shift from sunlit afternoons to evenings defined by ambiance, music, and a sense of arrival.
At its core, The Nice Guy is grounded in Italian comfort cuisine, though the experience extends well beyond the plate. The menu is expected to mirror its Los Angeles counterpart, with dishes like rigatoni Bolognese, cacio e pepe, chicken Parmesan, and wood-fired pizzas, alongside a strong cocktail program designed to carry the evening forward.
Behind the concept is The h.wood Group, known for creating some of the most recognizable nightlife-driven dining experiences across major cities. Their portfolio is defined by spaces where design, music, and crowd are as considered as the food itself. Destinations that feel as much like a scene as they do a restaurant.
For Newport Beach, this marks a notable evolution.
A city long defined by coastal ease and polished dining is beginning to embrace something more layered. More experiential. Less about where you dine, and more about how the night unfolds once you arrive.
Timing for the opening remains unconfirmed, with the project still moving through permitting, but anticipation is already building.
Because if Los Angeles is any indication, The Nice Guy does not simply open its doors.
It arrives. And the energy around it tends to follow.