Rum Social

Taking over the old Watermarc restaurant in Peppertree Lane in downtown Laguna Beach, Rum Social Kitchen & Cocktails is an exotic, upscale hideaway. Head upstairs for the ultimate experience at Rum Social’s Treehouse Bar, where one-of-a-kind cocktails set the scene, with an emphasis on rum, of course. Order the Jungle Bird with Copalli Rum, Gran Classico, pineapple, banana, and a dark rum float.

Located in the former Watermarc space, Rum Social offers a buzzy, tropical escape in the midst of Laguna Beach. The cuisine takes hints from islands of the Caribbean and Polynesia, and like its predecessor, the small bites are inspiring. Start your evening with an order of Platanos and Hamachi Crudo, then move on to the Sesame-Crusted Ono with parsnips and shishito peppers in a ginger broth, but be sure to save room for the bright and fruity Citrus Parfait with yuzu, key lime, roasted strawberries, and passion fruit caramel. And while you can’t leave without trying a specialty cocktail, you might have difficulty narrowing it down to just one. We suggest the One Night Stand, a blend of white rum, chartreuse, and luxardo.