Twin Palms Restaurant in Newport Beach to Fall Silent

Twin Palms restaurant in Newport Beach, which has been involved in a running battle with the nearby Four Seasons Hotel over noise, has shut its doors to the general public and will close permanently at the end of January.

The trendy French bistro, which featured live music that drew complaints from hotel guests, will host only private parties until it vacates the site Jan. 31, the restaurant said Monday.

The closure will have no effect on the original Twin Palms in Pasadena, which opened in 1994. A Twin Palms restaurant that opened last year in Valencia is operated by a separate management company.

Despite repeated efforts to muzzle the noise at the Newport Beach restaurant, it continued to draw complaints, said Jim Barthe, co-owner and partner in a management group that includes Cindy Costner, former wife of actor Kevin Costner.

When city officials began a review of the restaurant’s operating permits, the owners decided to close, Barthe said.

“The musical aspect of Twin Palms is key to our concept,” Barthe said. “If you can’t do that the way it’s supposed to be done, then it’s time to move on.”

When the Newport Beach restaurant opened in 1995, the noise conflict with the nearby hotel began almost immediately and led to a legal battle between the Fashion Island tenants.

Four Seasons spokeswoman Carrie Olson said the hotel sometimes had to move guests to rooms located farthest away from the music. Irvine Co., which owns the restaurant and hotel sites, will lease the restaurant facility to the Four Seasons, which plans to convert the space into a ballroom for banquets, weddings and corporate parties.