We're back on island time and as always a pleasant time people watching and having a few drinks.

This was our 2nd visit to Descanso and definitely not our last! We first visited in July of 2023 and opted for the double chaise lounge rental. We enjoyed the entire day lounging and being served amazing food and beverages! We are back again, this time October 2024. We rented a cabana, number 2. Our service was great! Food selection had just changed, compared to their summer menu. Wish there were a few more options of appetizers, but chips were good, burger and fries were good. We arrived by boat on a Friday around 11:15am, took a taxi to Descanso, stored our luggage inside the cabana, and enjoyed the beach, food and drinks all day while we waited to check into our rental house at 4pm. There are outdoor private changing rooms and indoor restrooms a short walk away if you need to change. Highly recommend coming here. Prices are totally worth it! We always end up falling asleep in the afternoon it's so relaxing! Also, if you have an elderly family member like we did traveling with us; there is a walking path behind the cabanas that they can use instead of walking across the sand!

Great place to disconnect and enjoy a drink. We ordered their signature drink which was the Buffalo Milk & a Pina Colada. Both drinks were very generous in alcohol. At $16 a drink, the alcohol better be flowing. We loved the Buffalo Milk and we didn't care too much for the Pina Colada. I loved sitting on the deck, viewing the ocean. The ambiance alone is worth a visit.

I've been to Catalina a couple of times and this is the first I've headed to Decanso Beach. It's going to be a must especially their Original Buffalo Milk Drink :) Seating area is great it's a public private beach so you can enjoy the beach and only pay if you want to rent the beach chairs. We sat at a table by the bar and were promptly attended to. It was nice to have a drink and be able to walk to the water. They also have bathrooms and dressing rooms that were cleaner than some at the other side of the beach. We enjoyed our time relaxing and having some tasty drinks.

This is the high point of our trip. You should definitely make a reservation for beach chairs overlooking the ocean. They serve food and drinks so get ready to have fun and enjoy Catalina! Our waiter is very accommodating and loves his job serving beach side. The guacamole was good and the chips are greasy so I used a fork. I'm drinking a Bloody Mary and enjoying sitting under my umbrella on this gorgeous 90 degree day on 9/4/24!

Yes renting a pair of beach chairs at Descanso is really steep. Is it worth it? Absolutely. I'm really glad we did bc after checking out the little shops on Catalina, there's really nothing much to do after besides enjoy the beach. Why not do it with tasty drinks in a comfy lounger in the shade? For $130 we got a pair of beach loungers, an umbrella, complementary waters, towels, and a server (who by the way, was excellent and very attentive). You have the rental from 10am-5pm. We got there a little after 12pm and it was all ready for us. You also get access to their bathrooms, showers and changing rooms. There is another area of the beach that doesn't require you to purchase lounge chairs but I believe it's $2pp to access. The beach here is pretty rocky so pro tip: wear water shoes. We had such a relaxing time here, we did not regret it one bit.

Descanso Beach was a major highlight of our trip to Catalina. We booked two ocean front lounge chairs two months in advance because they sell out quickly, especially during summer weekends and when cruise ships dock for the day. There were 3 in our party, so my husband just relaxed in the sand between the chairs. I'm glad we had an umbrella because the sun hits directly on this beach, and although it was only 73° that day, we burned quickly. We received complimentary smoothies and cold bottles of water upon arrival. Our server Lisette was awesome and checked in on us often. The Mai Tais hit the spot, as did the coconut shrimp tacos. The vibe was enhanced by a really terrific live band that began playing right on the beach around noon on a Sunday. The shore is extremely rocky, so bring water shoes. Although the water temperature took some getting used to, it felt refreshing on a hot summer day. Bring your goggles too! Numerous fish can be found hanging around the kelp just a few feet from the shore. The waves were calm and gentle, and the water was clean and clear. Bathrooms were ample and clean, and outdoor showers were on the property. The bar area was really crowded and rowdy. Our final bill was $170 plus tip for 6 cocktails and two meals. Since we stayed at The Pavilion, a partner hotel, we charged to our room to take advantage of the daily dining credit, so we really ended up paying $150. The cost was 100% worth a day of fun in the sun on Descanso Beach. It's definitely a must do while in Catalina. I can't wait to return again soon!

I can't say enough about this little Catalina beach club. The drinks were great and the vibe was very fun. Even for a Monday. It wasn't completely dead, which is kind of what I was expecting. The food also is worth trying the staff. we're all very nice and answered all of our questions about the menu and gave us some fun facts about Catalina as well. I was here with my family visiting from out of town so the Catalina trivia was a great touch. Thanks to the staff for giving them a great experience and making them feel welcome!

Note: I went here during the off-season so I can't vouch for the $2 fee. This beach club is very beautiful with access to a clean beach with calm little waves. I went on a perfect day, it was a little windy but not too hot and not too cold. We walked into the seating area where we were greeted with a menu and a friendly server named Pablo. We automatically went for the drinks - The Original Buffalo Milk - (10/10) this exclusive Catalina Island drink is a must try when visiting. It comes with Creme de cacao, banana liqueur, vanilla ice cream, nutmeg, banana chips, and Tito's vodka (this alone was what made me want to try this). It is on the sweeter side, but beauty of this drink makes people turn heads and ask the bartender "what drink does she have?" - strawberry margarita with patron silver - (11/10) I just want to thank the bartender for being ever so generous and giving my mom an excellent pour of the patron. You are an angel on this earth. She left that restaurant all happy. For the food: - DBC burger: (8/10) - this cheeseburger was delicious and the fries were alright, my only downsides were that the lettuce and pickles were on the side, and that it was a little red in a certain spot and not well done. But to be fair, I don't remember if I asked for it well done - so that's on me, so hence the 8/10. - burrito (10/10) it was surprisingly very filling, my mom loved it. I didn't get a chance to rent a cabana only because we didn't see the point - we were only going to be there for a little while so we spent most of the time exploring but on our next visit we'll be sure to check it out and give an update review. Overall this is the perfect place to chill during the off-season. its not as crowded as the main area and its away from most of the tourists.