Nomads Canteen — Restaurant in San Clemente

It is conveniently connected in the rear of the Award-Winning Nomad Hotel uptown San Clemente.

Inside/outside seating options with a lovely two-level patio for outdoor fun, and as the sun sets, it becomes the perfect spot for a refresher. Looking west, you can even see the pacific ocean from afar.

The inside space has booths, four tops, and a large center bar that hosts a flat screen with non-stop surfing from around the world—a full bar with a vast beer selection, including local and regional choices and monthly revolvers. Cool wall art surrounds the restaurant, the music is always pumping, and the beat will keep you tapping your feet with the likes of The Chillies, Sublime, and mostly rock! 🤘🏽

Be aware that parking on the premises is limited, but municipal parking is available next to and a road the street but it could be an issue during the weekends. There is a free trolley system that interconnects several towns and can provide worry-free transportation and is highly recommended.

The servers are very casual, friendly, and efficient and hustle to ensure your visit is pleasant. I highly recommend the house-made Watermelon Margarita, which quenches the thirst and provides solitude after a stressful day. The bar hosts many characters, from locals to surfers, contractors, passersby, servers, and vacationers. It's a fun and engaging crowd that can get busy and loud.

The kitchen staff don't play; They are specialists, speedy, and provide some amazing-looking dishes.

Nomads' menu includes Tex-Mex, such as tacos, nachos, and Tortas with fresh fish and vegetarian options —excellent salsas and guacamole.

Large Poké bowl with various ingredients such as ahi tuna, shrimp, pork, and even spam! If you're low on cash, ask for the Almost Broke Bowl, and the chef will find a way to take care of you. Other stuff like wings, TJ Dogs, and dessert are also available.

San Clemente has many restaurant options, but Nomads has such a chilled and authentic atmosphere we couldn't get enough! We stuck with Nacos with salsa and guac and Pokés almost every night and Watermelon Magos.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience because of the kind soul who worked as a team to ensure our experience was one to remember.

Thank you,...

Forget a dolla make ya holla, a porter for a quarter is what it's about. Introducing Flip It. Thursdays from 7-9 you order your domestic beer, house wine or as many of each as you'd like. Drinks are set on bar, cash in full is set on bar, coin master flips coin, you call it right your drinks are a quarter each, you call it wrong and you pay regular price with the cash on bar. Seriously. It's that easy and that much fun. They do beer and wine only so don't' come looking for patron, it's not that vibe or that place. It's a drinking game more or less.

Granted that's just for Thursdays, but any other time it's still a cheap bar to drink at. Lots of taps, but not quite the selection. I was hoping for more of an ale house selection of in house and locals and hard to find crafts, but their selection seemed generic and almost every brewery has a good beer, they just chose the wrong one's from each brewery.

Ahi tuna at a bar, scallops at a bar? Skeptical yet? Well don't' be. It's not a gastro anything. It's really more some simple food us coastal folk eat and their menu is pretty easy to do and being this close to the beach I imagined they were sourcing it well so it would be fresh and I was right. It's seared and served with a nice coconut curry type dipping sauce I get that and the almost broke and it's a great way to sop up the suds you ordered.

The island bowls kill the mainlander bowls any day of the week, but $10 for spam just aint right and mango chutney I could do without. I just wanted the cilantro. I did like the pickled cucumber and the grilled scallops combo. Basically if this was a restaurant you'd expect the prices to be 15-20% lower.

Come for the beer if you're not too crafty, come on Thursdays for some fun chances at drinking cheap, come to check out the food, but consider the prices. Don't be scared because it's a bar. Considering all this I find it well set up, great ideas, and plenty of potential, but I could also see them doing away with food all together if it doesn't catch on...

I had an amazing weekend at nomads. I read a lot of reviews, I went with an open mind and glad I did. Any naysaying that you may have read was complete untrue of our experience. First off parking was easy peasy and practically right in front. Self check in was pretty cool, everything was easy to access including the fantastic canteen above. Which we loved, the guacamole was so fresh and I loved the carnitas tacos. I recommend bringing cash for tips because the entire staff there was attentive and friendly. We were probably obnoxious guests (after some spirits) but we were treated so well. The hotel itself has so much personality, brightly colored and a the energy was top notch. We didn’t try the surf camp but thought it was so cool that the car you see in photos (the one that takes you out to learn) was parked right in front. Being right under the restaurant was not disruptive at all but the sound machine and ear plugs were a very considerate option. I am going back in October! Very happy had a wonderful weekend, oh we stayed in ohano room. I liked that the shower sat opposite the restroom. Did I mention I loved the beds. Anyhow I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Unless you prefer run of the mill. Nomads has personality,...