When the sun slips below the horizon and Costa Mesa’s lights begin to twinkle, there’s a fizz in the air—and not just from the bubbles in your glass. This city has a way of reinventing itself once the glow of the sunset kicks in: the coffee spot you loved that morning becomes a cocktail paradise, and the laid-back rhythm of the day turns into pure nighttime playfulness. Get ready to get fizzy with it in a city that’s all about experiences and connection.
Never been to Costa Mesa, or just never been after dark? It’s an easy drive from Los Angeles or San Diego, which it’s nestled between, but it’s easy to fly here too: just land at John Wayne Airport (SNA) and follow the signs for “beach cities.” You’re minutes away from hotels and world-class shopping, but more importantly, some of the best sips of your life.
Coffee to Cocktails
During the day, Hola Adios serves up coffee-shop staples like excellent cold brew and tasty breakfast and lunch items. Try the Strawberry Short-Pancake Pacos—yes, paco, that’s a pancake taco (trust us!). However, once night dawns, on Wednesday through Saturday, the cafe turns into Diner Noche and serves up dreamy, nostalgic diner fare like smashburgers and pickled onion rings and a brownie shake (yum).
Costa Mesa has another day-to-night switcheroo: Work in Progress is a great space to co-work and get your caffeine on during the day, but at night, it turns into Bar Tinto, with indulgent Mexican-inspired dishes, cozy lighting, and wine recs that always hit the spot.
Nightlife, Reimagined
If your idea of popping off involves popping bottles, if your fizzy good time is a neon-soaked dance floor, bubbles in hand, we have the perfect option for you: Time Nightclub is the heart of clubbing in Orange County. Think Vegas, but make it Costa Mesa. We’ve been to Vegas, and we prefer Time Nightclub’s vibe, TBH. Don’t tell. Bottle service, here we come!
Two words: Coastal Country. Westwood Coast puts the “Southern” in “Southern California.” It’s a music lounge and restaurant with live music, weekly line dancing lessons, and enough bourbon and whiskey to make you say, “Howdy, y’all!” Get your boot-scootin’ boogie on, and don’t forget to take your chances with Louis, Orange County’s only mechanical bull. Git giddy with it!
Rooftop Bars and New Experiences
If you’re looking for an iconic moment, try the pink rooftop bar at AhbA. We love the Damnit Janet, but their cocktails never miss, and they’re always reinventing the menu. Very rarely are hotspots as good as their photo-worthy ambiance, but AhbA truly is.
Salty Horse is new to the scene in Costa Mesa. It’s already getting major buzz for solid, classic brunch fare—and even more buzz for its dinner menu and the cowboy-meets-surfer aesthetic. Coastal Country is really having a moment. It’s in a restored feed barn; what better place to grab a matcha and stay a while?
If you love getting your fizz on but sans alcohol, we can’t think of anywhere better than Il Girasole. Check out their happy hour and their sober-friendly concoctions like the fizzy Fashionista, made with Frog Hollow Farm peaches, mint, and garnished with lychee. Stay for dessert to cap off an unforgettable night. We rec Pera al vino rosso.
After the night winds down and the fizz fades from your glass, Costa Mesa still twinkles. Stay in one of the many Costa Mesa hotels that suit every preference (and every wallet), and experience everything the city has to offer, from sunup to sundown.
