We’re thrilled to share our end-of-year guide to the best Costa Mesa has to offer. From mouthwatering meals to one-of-a-kind shopping and unforgettable experiences, we’re celebrating the highlights from each of Costa Mesa’s diverse neighborhoods.
How did we choose the best? We tapped into staff and community favorites, kept our finger on the pulse of everything new, and thrilled with every viral video. The result is a curated list of what captured the heart and soul of Costa Mesa in 2025.
We couldn’t include every stop we loved, so we recommend you use this to kick off your itinerary and discover—or rediscover—everything that makes Costa Mesa an unexpected favorite. Let’s dive in and celebrate the best of this year!
Eastside Costa Mesa
Eat: Salty Horse
What makes it special: You’ll be ooo-ing over the drink menu, aaa-ing over the food, and somehow end up with a full spread at Salty Horse. The space is a cowboy meets coastal vibe, with a fusion menu pulling flavors from Asian, Mexican, and American cuisines. In a hurry? Grab their classic Cowgirl Matcha to go. Got time to settle in? The pink pitaya pancakes and loaded soyrizo breakfast burrito are perfect for brunch.
Shop: Paseo 17
What makes it special: This Spanish courtyard-style retail space has everything you need to build-your-own perfect day. You can start with coffee at Milligram, then treat your skin to a facial at Freeface. Refresh your wardrobe at Purre Boutique or find a new signature home scent at Slow Goods. Pick up a freshly made bread at Rye Goods and pair it with artisanal jam from Mercado Mesa or finish strong with an Italian dinner at OSPI.
Experience: Snake Yoga
What makes it special: Only in Costa Mesa! What started as a passion project quickly became a viral sensation at LXRYOGA. As seen in People Magazine, this snake yoga experience pairs you with friendly, non-venomous ball pythons for a unique class that’s both calming and exciting. In small-group sessions, yogis first learn how to hold the snakes, then are paired with their own snake for the duration of the class. It’s the perfect way to conquer your fears—or try something totally out of the ordinary.
Westside Costa Mesa
What makes it special: A local favorite in Costa Mesa’s coffee scene, Neat lives up to its name with simple, elegant décor in minty green and cool cream. Their menu is equally neat, dotted with latte essentials, seasonal favorites, and a lime jasmine green tea that you’ll be coming back for. As day turns to night, Neat undergoes its own transformation, becoming Third Place in 2025, a wine bar with cozy, glowing lighting and rich conversation.
Shop: Saltwater Leather Co
What makes it special: Tucked into a creative enclave just minutes from the Pacific Ocean, Saltwater Leather Co is named for the water that nips at their heels. A true family affair, primarily run by mother and son, Jaime and Chase Huante. Some may call Jaime a multi-hyphenate, an accomplished chef, and formerly embroidery and crochet teacher at The CAMP, but it’s her leatherworking that shines the brightest. Their Belt Bar and Custom Italian Leather Sandal experiences are hands on, creatively affirming experiences where attendees walk away with luxury goods made by their own two hands. It’s an experience only possible in Costa Mesa, and it’s one that utterly captivated us in 2025.
Experience: Wayfarer
What makes it special: The Wayfarer is Costa Mesa’s live music venue and gastropub, celebrating over ten years of bringing live performance right to the community. Every style of music has a home at The Wayfarer, and everyone is welcome. Drop by and you might discover your next favorite band. We couldn’t help but take notice of the calibre of talent taking the stage this year, and we can’t wait to see what 2026 holds.
Mesa Verde
Eat: Il Girasole
What makes it special: Blue velvet seats, modern art with colorful impasto, bright and tangy passionfruit, silky smooth tiramisu—Il Girasole is a rich delight for the senses, from the decor to the cocktails to the dishes and dessert. Soon to round out a year in Costa Mesa, the concept belongs to Florence-born Chef Antonio Bevacqua. Il Girasole is California-forward Italian food that has a way of lingering even after you’ve left. Find it at SOCO and The OC Mix.
Shop: Thrift & Secondhand Finds
What makes it special: “Thanks, it’s vintage,” is what you’ll be saying after a day spent making your way through Costa Mesa’s upcycling shops. Start out at the brand-new Goodwill of Orange County on Harbor Blvd, where you’re going to need a few hours and a double shot of caffeine to power through. We didn’t know what a treat a brand-new Goodwill is until we had it. The treasures are bountiful, the shop is sparkling clean, and your cart will be overflowing. Follow up with 2nd Street at The CAMP, Buffalo Exchange at The LAB, and Landers Supply House right across the street from Goodwill.
Experience: Costa Mesa Country Club
What makes it special: If a professional golfer—aka Jake Knapp—has teed off here, then it’s definitely a must-do. The Costa Mesa Country Club is a quiet, scenic gem featuring two classic municipal courses, a 30-tee driving range, and pristine practice areas where pros and amateurs alike fine-tune their game. Designed in 1967 by William F. Bell and Ronald Fream, the courses have stood the test of time.
South Coast Metro
Eat: Ramen Row
What makes it special: No Eatcation® is truly complete without a slurp-worthy stop at Costa Mesa’s famous Ramen Row! This noodle nirvana is where locals—and now lucky visitors—find bowls of soul-soothing broth brimming with umami-packed flavor. Don’t miss local favorites like Ramen Nagi, Slurpin’ Ramen Bar, Hakata Ikkousha Ramen, and Kashiwa Ramen. Trust us, one slurp, and you’ll understand why this is the ultimate comfort food row!
Shop: South Coast Plaza
What makes it special: In the shopping Olympics, South Coast Plaza takes gold. It has the highest concentration of luxury brands in the United States, and this year brought several notable firsts:
- First Dior Beauty in North America
- First Manolo Blahnik boutique on the West Coast
- First Delvaux flagship on the West Coast
- First-ever ZARA Man
Honorable mention: Pop Mart. No, it’s not new to South Coast Plaza —but it was our Labubu plug for the year, and honestly, that deserves a recognition.
Experience: Mitsuwa Marketplace
What makes it special: Back from Japan and already missing it? Luckily there’s Mitsuwa Marketplace. This Japanese-style market is packed with hard-to-find snacks, fun stationery, and plenty of aisles worth browsing. Some of our favorite finds include fruit daifuku, cream pan, frozen Kirin beer, and matcha soft serve. Be sure to explore the food court, it’s a quick escape to Japan minus the flight (and jet lag).
Theater and Arts District
Food: Moongoat Greenhouse
What makes it special: In a city rich with independently owned, high-vibe coffee shops, this just might be the best vibes around. Half greenhouse, resplendent with leafy friends from mother-daughter duo DashnGrow, and half goat—that is, Moongoat. Moongoat Coffee is a Costa Mesa-based independent coffee chain, and this marks their second location in Costa Mesa. Just steps away from public sculpture garden, Isamu Noguchi’s California Scenario, stop in for coffee, matcha, or their delicious breakfast biscuits.
Shop: Maum Market at OCMA
What makes it special: Orange County Museum of Art has a dedicated curator in an unexpected location, and that’s their gift shop. While you can still browse the traditional Taschen tomes and greeting cards, it’s primarily dominated by Maum Market, a collective of Asian creators and Asian-founded brands. Shop locally made home goods, gifts, wellness products, and little pieces of luxury before stepping into the main galleries of the museum. Maum Market puts a special focus on handmade, small businesses, all with an elegance and attention to detail that suits a location as stately as OCMA.
Experience: Pacific Symphony
What makes it special: Don’t hit the snooze button: Pacific Symphony has new blood and refreshed energy coming into their 2026-2027 season. 2025 marked Alexander Shelley becoming the Artistic and Music Director Designate of the Symphony, and he took the conductor’s podium with a surge of dedication and enthusiasm that permeated throughout the Symphony’s home at Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. In Costa Mesa, the City of the Arts®, Shelley proves that classical music has its place in a city teeming with creativity, style, and counter-culture expression.
SoBeCa District
Eat: Green Cheek Beer Co
What makes it special: Neighborhood-wide, Sobeca spells community—or maybe only after a few drinks at Green Cheek Beer Co. Either way, the brewery, right off the hub of Randolph Street, is expansive in space but intimate in community. Try one of their many options that’s brewed right on sight, from a hard lavender lemonade to their Czech-style pilsner. Come hungry, too, because their food menu has one of the best smashburgers in Orange County, and their Triangle Supreme is a vegan-friendly dead ringer for a similar item from a fast-food favorite that rhymes with Raco Rell…
Shop: General Store by the Pour Kids
What makes it special: General Store by the Pour Kids has a lot of heart, thoughtfully positioned to bring a space into Costa Mesa that didn’t already exist. Part coworking, part coffee shop, part hip, branded merch, part importer of classic Japanese homeware—General Store takes on a lot, and it succeeds. It’s the perfect place to just “stop by and see what they have.” You’ll find unique gifts and new friends. If you see a design you like, be sure to go ahead and get it, as their merch is produced in small batches, and after they run out, it may never come back.
Experience: CANVASWORKER
What makes it special: Tucked into small garages right off Randolph Street is CANVASWORKER, the home of beginner-to-expert level classes on tote and backpack making. Douglas Davidson, industry insider and designer for The Brown Buffalo, leads with clear instructions, patience, and a style all his own that makes you feel instantly engaged. Hear stories about his decades working in the accessories industry, while assembling your project on professional, industrial sewing machines. No previous experience is necessary for his beginner-level tote making class, but Davidson’s steadfast guidance makes you feel capable of creating anything. Walk away with something you’ve created with your own hands, and with a new appreciation for the small details that go into the world we carry around us.
Honorable mention: You’ll find the coolest travel keepsake at Booth By Bryant! These celeb-approved, TikTok viral vintage photo booths snap iconic black-and-white photo strips for just $5. It’s a throwback moment with a modern twist and a timeless way to capture your Costa Mesa memories.
Central Costa Mesa
Eat: Uncle Fluffy
What makes it special: Uncle Fluffy is one of the many delicious ways to experience Japanese culture in Costa Mesa. It’s home to the jiggly golden cheesecake you’ve been seeing all over Instagram and opening only its third California location right here in Costa Mesa—and yes, it’s a big deal. Their original cheesecake is a forever favorite, but the pistachio and lemon flavors will have you coming back. And it’s not just about the cake—pair your fluffy treat with a coffee, fruit smoothie, or a blended drink to complete your experience. Opening soon at Triangle Square.
Shop: Mercado Gonzalez
What makes it special: Mercado González is a one-of-a-kind concept from the multi-generational González family behind 60+ Northgate Markets. This 70,000-square-foot food hall is a love letter to Mexican culture and traditions, bringing everything to life right in front of you—from fresh tortillas, churros, and carnitas to artisan-made shoes, serapes, Talavera, and skincare. Add live mariachi or some cooking classes and you’ve got an all-day destination that celebrates Mexican heritage in the best way possible.
Experience: OC Pride at the OC Fair & Event Center
What makes it special: The OC Fair & Event Center hosts more than 150 events each year, and OC Pride on September 27th easily made the top of the list. This year’s celebration was fun and designed with everyone in mind, bringing the Revolutionary theme to life through the free parade and Zero Proof Sober Space to the return of the Pride Marketplace. Party energy stayed high at the Pride Stage while Pride Family Camp and Teen Pride made youth feel seen and celebrated. Costa Mesa showed up with open arms, reminding attendees that inclusivity here isn’t limited to one month—but is a year-round value.
