Mr Balboa

I’m in my 40’s and used to get my haircut at Mr. Balboa’s as a kid. My friends and I truly enjoyed the conversation with Wayne, and we always had a pleasant experience.
I have to say today, things just aren’t the same. I thought it would be fun to take my kid (8 yrs) in for a trim and let him see the old place where I used to get my haircut. We walked in the door and the old man working was extremely rude. I don’t know if he was having a bad day, or if he is just always an unhapp/​grumpy old man. I think the latter of the two. I was so disappointed with the initial conversation that we walked out without even getting a cut.
The sad part was Wayne’s wife was sitting in one of the chairs and I got the opinion she was embarrassed by this guys demeanor. It almost felt like she didn’t want to say anything due to this guy’s overwhelming rude personality.
I will tell you what, I’m a pretty go easy type of guy, and not overly critical when it comes to most things. With that said, I was so disappointed in this place!

Needed a haircut while we were here on vacation so I walked to this place. An old school shop with an eclectic décor.
I sat down in the chair of a lady that had a bit of a shaky hand and I was nervous, but after it was all said and said and done my hair was cut, but my neckline was crooked.
Not bad, but I don’t think I’ll come back.

This place stinks! Their hands shake while they’re cutting your hair… They’re timid to do much more than take a little bit off and there’s a good reason for that… because they aren’t very good.

Hmm.
What can I say… very old school type of barber… very friendly guy… but…the haircut sucked.
Maybe I have a different standard due to my NYC style cuts… just booo

Back when I lived in Newport on the peninsula I would go here to get my hair cut. This place is totally a vintage barber shop and I enjoyed going here but I stopped because I didn’t always enjoy my haircuts. I think this guy specializes in older folks hair, or young kids, but not the post adolescent male. I always felt like I was supposed to enlist in the military after getting my haircut here. These traditional barbers sure are cool, they lather your sideburns and neck and shave them with a straight razor and everything. You literally feel like you’re at the barber shop shown in 1998 film Pleasantville, but I just don’t dig the crew cut look that I seem to always end up getting stuck with when I go to traditional barbers. So if you’re looking to take your kid/​newphew for his first haircut this is a great place and he’ll get a lollipop, or if you’re over 40 I would recommend this place. Closed on Sundays. Traditional. Legit in every way. But just not for me.

Tony at Mr. Balboa is great. This place is like a freeze frame preserving a piece of American history. I highly recommend getting a straight shave — its $ 18 but worth every dollar.

The balboa peninsula often feels a bit detached from the mainland. The beaches are less crowded, the materialism is toned down a lot, and it serves up a good dose of friendly, laid back island lifestyle. Of course, it’s still Newport, but it is classic Newport, before Kobe Bryant, before the real estate boom and before those God-​forsaken soap operas and reality shows.
Mr. Balboa is a classic barbershop that serves up a heavy dose of peninsula hospitality. This barbershop has a long history and a well-​deserved reputation. I have been coming to Tony and Linda for haircuts and great conversation since my college days and I’ve never been disappointed with either.
Besides that, Tony gives the best shaves in the Western United States, bar none. I’ve had some God-​awful results from barbers with my full beard and baby skin. He once told me that shaving me was almost as difficult as shaving a hemophiliac, but that he enjoyed the challenge.
Tony also has great taste in music, and I don’t say that about a lot of people. Linda is a sweet lady and also gives great haircuts with the warm hospitality that Southern California is unfortunately not famous for any longer. It’s great to know that places like this are still around and going strong, despite the major culture shift that has been affecting Orange County for a while now.
During the summer, I always follow up my haircut and relaxing shave with a little tanning on the beach, which is right across the street. It’s never too crowded and serves as a peaceful ending to my Saturday routine.
Even though this review might make it harder to get my Saturday appointments, I owe it to Tony and Linda for the years of great service they have given me. If you want to experience the true American barbershop in all its glory before it becomes extinct, this is the place.