Fashion Island Shopping Center in Newport Beach spans a large outdoor area with upscale retailers like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, and Orange County’s only Neiman Marcus, so if you’re serious about shopping, you’ll find what you’re after. Beyond the big names, there are over 60 shops total, including specialty stores and boutiques scattered throughout the center.

What works well here with a dog is that the whole setup is outdoors. You can actually walk your dog through the shopping center and browse without feeling rushed or constrained—the pathways are pleasant and there’s plenty of space. The landscaping is nice enough that it doesn’t feel purely commercial, and you’ll find benches where you can sit for a few minutes if your dog needs a break or if you just want to catch your breath between stores. Many restaurants and cafes have outdoor seating, so you can grab lunch or coffee while keeping your dog nearby. That’s genuinely useful when you’re spending hours shopping.

The center does host dog-friendly events periodically, so it’s worth checking what’s coming up before you go. They’ve also installed water stations and pet waste disposal stations throughout, which shows they’ve thought through what dog owners actually need. A few things to confirm beforehand: some individual shops have their own pet policies, so policies on leash requirements or whether dogs can enter differ by store. Most outdoor areas are fine, but it’s smart to ask before heading into a particular shop.

Fashion Island sits in a pleasant part of Newport Beach with good access and parking. If you’re combining shopping with time outside, this works better than an indoor mall would. Your dog won’t be bored waiting outside a store entrance, and you get to actually move around rather than feeling trapped. It’s a solid option if you want to get some serious shopping done without leaving your dog behind.