Archives for Misc

Your stomach is rumbling for brunch… but there’s a forty-minute wait and you haven’t even had coffee yet. In Costa Mesa, you don’t need to download a reservation app or know the owners to score a table. We’ve collected some Costa Mesa restaurants where you’re guaranteed a seat—just show up hungry, and you’re in. From strip mall legends to breweries where your jeans and Vans fit right in, this is a city where the best bites (and pints) are hiding in plain sight.

If you’ve never been to Costa Mesa, we’re in a sweet spot between L.A. to the north and San Diego to the south (and we’re only minutes from the beach). If you’re flying in, definitely arrive at John Wayne Airport (SNA) and save yourself a bunch of hassle.

Costa Mesa’s No-Reservation Hall of Fame

Our first pick is Prince Street Pizza, a New York fave with a recently opened Costa Mesa location. Here, pizza meets pop culture (like viral collabs with DOOM, Machine Gun Kelly, and even Milk Bar), but the stars of the show are definitely the delicious Sicilian-style pepperoni cups and excellent sauces. Get your favorite flavor by the slice or a whole pie—and it’s open late, perfect for midnight cravings.

The Taco Stand started nearby in San Diego with founders from Tijuana, so it’s got the Cali-Mex flavor you crave. The Grilled Pescado taco is great, but the whole menu is full of bangers like their freshly made Churros and Mar y Tierra Fries. Add your favorite salsa from mild to crazy hot and enjoy. 

If you’re already in the neighborhood for tacos, walk over to The CAMP and hit up Salty Bear Brewing for delectable craft beer. They don’t have a kitchen, but they do have Fruit Punch Hard Seltzer and Pineapple Express Hazy. (Hot tip: The CAMP is a primo location for grab-and-go food in general.)

Yubuya Sushi is efficient deliciousness: it’s cashless (so bring your card or app) and orders happen at a self-service kiosk. Not familiar with yubu? Think fried tofu skin stuffed with goodies—a pocket of pure flavor. Go for the Spicy Tuna or Avocado Krab, or if you’re not into tofu, try a Fresh Salmon Don bowl.

You’ve probably already heard of Bootleggers Brewery, but did you know it’s got a tasting room in Costa Mesa? With over two dozen brews to try, like the Dark & Malty or the What the Huck (a huckleberry cream ale), you’re going to find something you love. It’s dog-friendly and has outdoor seating as well, so you can soak up the sun while you ponder your hops.

Now, for this next pick, we’re switching gears a bit. It’s technically a grocery store, but hear us out. Inside Mitsuwa Marketplace (which should already be your go-to for Japanese groceries, just sayin’) are a bunch of hidden gem restaurants and shops. Try Hamada-Ya Bakery for coffee and pastries or Matcha REN for premium matcha soft serve and other treats. If you’re more into savory, get some udon at Sanuki Seimen Mugimaru and thank us later.

Much like Mitsuwa, Mercado Gonzalez is more than a store: it’s a playground for your tastebuds. Wander a food court that’s straight out of Mexico City but transplanted to Costa Mesa. Mercado Gonzalez is 70,000 square feet of possibility, from El Moro Churrería to Aguas Frescas Las Delicias and La Tamalería. Every option is fresh, fun, and fast—and there’s no reservation (or passport!) required.

We doubt you need an excuse to turn a delicious meal into a full-on vacation, but it truly is impossible to sample the best of the city in one day. Stay the night so you can get at least three meals and maybe some snacks. With a variety of Costa Mesa hotels to choose from, all you need to do is pack a bag and bring your appetite.

Comments Off on Under-the-Radar Eats in Costa Mesa

Posted in Misc

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.

Comments Off on Get Fizzy With It: Costa Mesa After Dark

Posted in Misc

You know that feeling when some places just click? That’s Costa Mesa. Whether you’re desperate for a weekend getaway, want to catch up with friends over drinks and a perfect meal, or if you’re eager for an afternoon of retail therapy, the city does all the work for you. From coffee at sunrise to cocktails at sunset, Costa Mesa delivers such a good time, it’s almost surreal. All you have to do is show up. For real. 

New to the City of the Arts®? Costa Mesa is at the heart of Orange County, just a few miles from the Pacific Coast and John Wayne Airport (SNA)—which we always rec flying into, since it’s so well located, scrupulously maintained, and chill to navigate. We’re a short drive from Los Angeles or San Diego, too, which makes us a great home base for exploration. 

Retail Therapy On Easy Mode

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention South Coast Plaza first. It’s a mecca for shoppers, with over 250 stores all under one enormous, air-conditioned roof. Nothing illustrates how effortless Costa Mesa is than being able to hit up Michelin-rated food and designer flagship stores in the same location. If there’s something you want, it’s going to be at South Coast Plaza.

Some of South Coast Plaza’s recent additions include the first Manolo Blahnik on the West Coast (here’s to you, Carrie Bradshaw!), the first ever Dior Beauty flagship in North America, and Zara’s first stand-alone menswear boutique in the United States. 

If you need to refuel amidst all the shopping, a quick and easy solution is Collage Culinary Experience. It’s the plaza’s dining hall that’s really more of a culinary collective. Whatever you crave, if it’s sushi, ramen, tacos, or something sweet, hit up Collage. (We usually hit up a few places in Collage and make ourselves a little tasting menu of our faves. Great place for groups, families, and choosy eaters!)

Just beyond the plaza, there’s tons of tasty options if you’re looking to explore some more. Mercado Gonzalez, called the Disneyland of Mexican food by locals, offers seventy-thousand square feet of a Mexican market experience: shopping, eating, drinking, and generally excellent vibes—local meets luxe and everything in between, and you can do it with a margarita in hand! Mitsuwa Marketplace is a ticket to Japan: hit up Matcha Ren for the perfect sweet treat, but don’t miss out on the affordable necessities at Daiso or Maido for one-of-a-kind gifts and stationery. 

Culinary Joy at Any Time of Day

Our favorite day-to-night spots take care of your appetite, whenever it happens to appear. In the daytime, hit up Hola Adios for beachy cafe excellence, but at night, the same spot turns into moody Diner Noche, with nostalgic, Americana diner vibes. Work In Progress has a similar switchup: cafe during the day, but an intimate, fun tapas bar (Bar Tinto) at night.

Art, Culture, and Chill

Had your fill of shopping and eating? We can’t leave out one of the major draws of the city: its arts scene. Try the Orange County Museum of Art—it’s not some stuffy museum with all the old classical paintings. It’s modern art featuring everything from kids programming to Bar Verdant, which we know from experience is a great place to grab wine on a date.

We’re called the City of the Arts® for a reason. Whether it’s OCMA, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, or the three stages at South Coast Repertory Theater, our Theater District has something to offer everyone.

Stay in the Center (or Drift Toward the Coast)

If you plan to stay in the Arts District (near South Coast Plaza and OCMA) and want something walkable, you’re looking at some incredible hotel options: Westin South Coast Plaza, Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Costa Mesa Marriott, Hilton Orange County Costa Mesa, and Crowne Plaza.

If you want to be closer to the beach (and we don’t blame you!), there’s wonderful options too: OC Hotel and Ramada are great picks. Make sure to look at all the options to pick the best place for your stay.

Whatever your choice, just know that when you arrive in Costa Mesa, everything falls into place. You’ve got endless options for shopping, dining, exploring, and enjoying art—whatever your taste, a surreal good time is always on the menu.

Comments Off on Plan Less, Live More: Costa Mesa’s Guide to a Surreal Good Time

Posted in Misc