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Breath taking sunsets - Nelson's at Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Nelson's at Terranea Resort

4.5
4.5
378 Reviews
$31 to $50
Contemporary American

Make a booking

2 people
8:00 pm
Booked 52 times today
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Great for scenic views
  • Charming
A guest favorite for casual dining, Nelson’s is perched directly above the ocean coves made famous by the 1950s television series Sea Hunt – from which this modern surf shack takes its name. The cliff-top eatery pays homage to Sea Hunt’s main character, Mike Nelson, as well as actor Lloyd Bridges’ lifetime efforts to protect the environment and the ocean. Guests enjoy coastal cuisine and a warm, friendly bar atmosphere surrounded by outdoor fire pits and unrivalled sunset views. This Southern California restaurant offers one of the most scenic locations in Palos Verdes to enjoy a meal or drink in a relaxed setting.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Gastro Pub, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00 am–8:00 pm Fri 11:00 am–9:00 pm Sat 9:00 am–9:00 pm Sun 9:00 am–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (866) 690-6821
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Juan Nunez
  • Area
    Rancho Palos Verdes / Rolling Hills Estates
  • Cross Street
    Palos Verdes Drive South
  • Parking details
    Hotel Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 378 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.3Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Beach Cities

    Great for outdoor dining

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Nestled in the stunning Terranea Resort, Nelson's offers "unbeatable views" of the ocean, making it a delightful spot for both casual and romantic dining. With a menu featuring highlights like the seafood Cobb salad and fish tacos, and servers like Amanda and Pierce earning "praise for their attentiveness," Nelson's promises a satisfying experience. While some find the menu "pricey," the "spectacular views" and "friendly service" make it a must-visit destination.

378 Reviews
  1. Aaron

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a fabulous experience as a group of 4 adults and 4 kids. We made our reservation via OpenTable the night before and had no difficulties securing a table for our larger group. I got a text saying that our table was ready and was able to easily communicate ahead of time. We arrived at the resort and were promptly offered a shuttle ride down to the restaurant (as I was on crutches). The shuttle driver even ran inside to snag 2 stuffed whales to give to my young kids. Very thoughtful. We arrived at the restaurant and had wonderful service from Tabitha—-everything from soft blankets to portable heaters. And then the sun came out blazing halfway through our meal and I overheard her offering a nearby table her own personal sunscreen because she overheard them talking about how they were unprepared for the sun and were concerned about exposure. I thought that extra touch was so thoughtful. I don’t even need to waste my space on talking about the view. It’s unbeatable. You won’t find a better view in any other restaurant ever. Period. You can even hear the waves crashing. If you sit on the west patio you will be treated to 180 degree water views that include the Point Vicente lighthouse as well. Food standouts: the hot lobster roll was perfect! Chips and guacamole excellent (and I don’t even usually like guacamole). Shrimp Cobb salad. Burger. Poke bowl. And the kids were all thrilled about their chicken tenders. Enough that they even asked to eat their leftovers the next day—which they usually aren’t willing to do. After lunch our group took a lovely stroll down the ocean path. Because I was on crutches I planted myself on a bench at the top while the rest of my group continued on and everyone was treated to outstanding—we were even lucky enough to see seals frolicking nearby. Because our validation got us $10 parking for the day, we could have explored for as long as we wanted. The path goes all the way to the lighthouse!

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  2. Marie

    Orange County

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The views are beautiful! The food was delicious, but the portions were small. The service was exceptional.

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  3. Alan

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The food and atmosphere were very good. Could have had more heat lamps.

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  4. Kristy

    VIP

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great ocean front dinning experience ! Great nice staff

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  5. Nani

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    Great view, beautiful setting, calamari was excellent, pretzel was the same price as calamari, seemed high for a piece of bread

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  6. Roseamber

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    The menu is deceivingly simple: each dish is way more complex. Such good flavor and utilization of unique ingredients

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  7. jenny

    San Diego

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on 28 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is one of my favorite place to take my mom to eat whenever I’m in town to visit her. The view of the ocean is stunning and the outdoor seating is our favorite. Foods are ok. Service is good but they can get busier.

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  8. Bonnie

    VIP

    Dallas

    33 reviews

    3.0

    33 reviews

    Dined on 28 December 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Service was nice but a little slow. Food was normal. Hostess was ok.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 28 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our waitress provided the best service. The food was delish! Highly recommend

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  10. Randy

    Las Vegas

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 26 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The location is awesome. Relaxed atmosphere and food was delicious.

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FAQs

Nelson's at Terranea Resort offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (866) 690-6821.

Nelson's at Terranea Resort is rated 4.5 stars by 378 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
8:00 pm
Booked 52 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Nelson's at Terranea Resort

100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Palos Verdes Drive South
  • Area
    Rancho Palos Verdes / Rolling Hills Estates
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00 am–8:00 pm Fri 11:00 am–9:00 pm Sat 9:00 am–9:00 pm Sun 9:00 am–8:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Gastro Pub, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Hotel Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Juan Nunez
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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