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

Nelson's at Terranea Resort

4.6 (401)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 47 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for brunch
  • 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.

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
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Juan Nunez
  • Neighborhood
    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, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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What 401 people are saying

Nelson's at Terranea Resort reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Beach Cities

    Great for scenic views

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Nelson's at Terranea Resort offers an "unbeatable view" of the Pacific Ocean, creating a "relaxing atmosphere" perfect for capturing stunning photos. While opinions vary on food quality, standout menu items include the clam chowder and chips with guacamole. Service is often praised as "fabulous" and "thoughtful," enhancing the overall dining experience.

401 Reviews
  1. J VIP

    Orange County3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great View, Okay food This place has one of the best ocean views around, absolutely beautiful, especially at sunset. The vibe is super chill and perfect for a relaxed meal or drinks with friends. The food was good, but nothing that stood out. You are mostly here for the atmosphere and that part totally delivers. Would definitely come back for the view and the vibe alone!

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  2. Kimberly VIP

    Philadelphia11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing sunset view, very casual, a little noisy inside.

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  3. John

    Los Angeles11 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on March 28, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Nelson’s at Terranea Resort offers an unbeatable view of the Pacific Ocean, with waves crashing against the cliffs and a serene, coastal atmosphere that makes for a picturesque lunch setting. The open-air patio and ocean breeze created the perfect ambiance for a relaxing afternoon, and we took some stunning photos to remember the moment. Unfortunately, the food didn’t quite match the scenery. The chips and dip were easily the best thing we had—crispy, fresh, and paired with a flavorful dip that we kept reaching for. Everything else, however, was underwhelming. The burgers lacked seasoning and tasted uninspired, while the fries were overly salty and unremarkable. For the price, we expected something much better than standard hotel restaurant fare. Our server was friendly and did their best to accommodate us, but the overall experience left us feeling like we had paid for the view more than the meal. Nelson’s is worth a visit for the stunning location, but if you’re looking for a meal that’s as impressive as the scenery, you might want to dine elsewhere.

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  4. OpenTable Diner VIP

    Atlanta2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 24, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Only issue was dog at table next to us shaking and being pet while fur flying to our table. Consider a separate area for those with dogs.

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  5. Holly

    Los Angeles2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A beautiful location to celebrate my 40th. Thank you thank you

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  6. David

    Los Angeles6 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 15, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great ocean view Great customer service Great food

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  7. Erin

    Los Angeles3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Spectacular view, fabulous service (Pierce ) and exceptional food!!

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  8. Shelvy VIP

    Los Angeles2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    It was such a lovely experience, being able to be near the water and able to see whales and sea lions. Food was pretty good as well

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  9. Shawn VIP

    Los Angeles57 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on February 23, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Today we celebrated a birthday and I made mention of this when I placed our reservations. Started with golf, then the spa, then dinner. It was slightly overcast when we arrived for golf but after 30 mins or so the sun shined brightly. Nothing is better than playing golf on a sunny day and on the ocean! The spa was wonderful and we looked forward to a sunset, ocean view dinner. The sunset was beautiful, views of the ocean was beautiful; however, our dinner was regretfully underwhelming. We ordered clam chowder, chicken wings, and a lobster roll. Regretfully, the wings had zero flavor, the hot sauce on the side was just hot and the lobster roll was supposed to be a hot sandwich but was cold and the lobster was tough. The star of dinner was the chowder so readers, out of the aforementioned, definitely order this item. As for the other two…hmmm.

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  10. Dru Ann

    Los Angeles3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on February 21, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were a table of 4 people adults. I ordered the grilled swordfish tacos. The fish was not grilled but rather burnt and dry. Quite disappointing for the price paid. Cost for 4 people for lunch was $170 plus $32 for the tip so $202. The service was very good.

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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 4.6 stars by 401 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Los Angeles
  4. Beach Cities
  5. Rancho Palos Verdes / Rolling Hills Estates

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 47 times today
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
  • Neighborhood
    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, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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