A plate of chilaquiles topped with two sunny-side-up eggs, fresh herbs, crema, and crumbled cheese, served on a rustic wooden table—perfect for featuring on any Costa Mesa travel blog.

Got the Brunchies? Get a Taste of Costa Mesa’s Best Brunch Spots!

Published Sep 18, 2025, 4:25pm

Looking for the best brunch in Southern California? Come to Costa Mesa. Brunch here isn’t just a meal—it’s an art form. Costa Mesa’s brunch spots deliver if you need protein after a morning surf, a hangover cure, or just some gossip with your avocado toast. From farm-to-table favorites to authentic Mexican brunch and elevated comfort food, here’s our top picks to satisfy your cravings. Grab your foodie crew and dig in!

Nestled between Los Angeles and San Diego, Costa Mesa is just a quick drive away for most SoCal locals. But if you need to fly in for your foodie fix, here’s a pro tip: skip the stress of LAX and land at John Wayne Airport (SNA) instead.

While thinking about where to stay for your brunch bonanza, take a look at the menu at some of our favorite brunch-friendly hotels.

Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel

A piece of fried chicken sits atop a golden waffle on a black plate, while syrup is drizzled over the chicken. The dish is lightly dusted with red seasoning, and greenery is blurred in the background.

Located in the heart of Costa Mesa’s famous arts district, Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa has a special package that includes a daily breakfast at their three-diamond Silver Trumpet Restaurant and Bar. Breakfast is generously served until 11am, making it perfect for the brunching crowd. Check out what’s included in the offer (free breakfast for kids, too!) on their website.

Ayres Hotel, Costa Mesa/Newport Beach

A white plate with assorted meats, cheeses, fruits, and nuts sits on an outdoor table, flanked by two glasses of iced tea with orange slices. Colorful flowers and umbrellas are in the sunny background.

Enjoy brunch al fresco at the gorgeous, European-inspired Ayres Hotel. Weekend brunch is served Saturday and Sunday, from 11am to 3pm, at the onsite Le Chateau Garden Bistro. Sip an Aperol Spritz and dig into a classic Eggs Benedict.
With your post-brunch siesta accommodations all set, let’s take a look at our top ten.

Eggs Benedict & Beyond

Saddle up for brunch at Salty Horse! Think coastal-meets-cowboy vibes with a flavorful menu featuring tangy-sweet Yuzu Matcha, graham-topped Campfire French Toast, and Ube Chicken & Waffles. It’s the perfect morning stop before heading down to the beach.

Global Flavors, Local Love

Two women sit at an outdoor restaurant table, smiling and enjoying a meal. Plates of food and drinks are on the table, and there are more tables, chairs, and orange umbrellas in the background.

The fresh, foraged flavors of the Pacific Northwest are present and accounted for at Plums Cafe. Ever had a Dutch baby? Plums serves this deep-dish pancake with butter, powdered sugar, and zesty lemon for kicks. If you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, you can’t go wrong with the Campfire Trout. It tastes like being in the PNW, but with no flannel requirement. Photo by @yelp.eats Tres Muchachos really had our number when they said brunch all day, every day! We’re big fans of the Rosemary & Artichoke Hummus with housemade chips, and the Ratatouille Chile Relleno is a slam dunk with a vegan option. Photo by @ocbbrunch Did someone say 1970s Australian beach eatery? Outpost Kitchen’s Aussie inspiration melds the past and the present with fresh, local flavors—so you don’t need a passport or a time machine to enjoy a Brekky Sandwich or the Date Mate Salad. Grab a cocktail (we recommend My Secret Romance for the yuzu of it all) and take it easy, mate. Or, if you’re short on time, swing by The Pocket for a quick bite from the same team behind Outpost Kitchen. Photo by @outpostkitchen Vaca inside the famous Mercado Gonzalez food hall is Mexican brunch turned up a notch. Think bold and unapologetically delicious! Order chilaquiles sizzling straight off the plancha, licuados en bolsita (milkshakes in a baggie, just like in Mexico), and even a Mexican-style charcuterie board loaded with queso, frijoles, and blue corn tortillas. Photo by @vacabrunch Playa Mesa’s Tres Leches Waffle is good enough to write songs about. If you need something lighter (it leaves more room for margaritas, or even better, a Mango Michelada), then try the Veggie Benedict. Playa Mesa is one of those places where you end up trying things from everyone’s plate. photo by @playamesa

A wooden table set with a Dutch baby pancake topped with fresh berries, toast with fruit, a skillet omelet with potatoes, lemon wedges, syrup, butter, and glasses of water.

Tres Muchachos really had our number when they said brunch all day, every day! We’re big fans of the Rosemary & Artichoke Hummus with housemade chips, and the Ratatouille Chile Relleno is a slam dunk with a vegan option.

A plate with two sunny-side-up eggs, grilled steak, sliced avocado, and a colorful mix of sautéed vegetables including zucchini and red peppers, garnished with herbs.

Did someone say 1970s Australian beach eatery? Outpost Kitchen’s Aussie inspiration melds the past and the present with fresh, local flavors—so you don’t need a passport or a time machine to enjoy a Brekky Sandwich or the Date Mate Salad. Grab a cocktail (we recommend My Secret Romance for the yuzu of it all) and take it easy, mate. Or, if you’re short on time, swing by The Pocket for a quick bite from the same team behind Outpost Kitchen.

A round white table at Outpost Kitchen Costa Mesa is set with plates of colorful brunch foods—avocado toast, waffles with berries, leafy salads, toast, and drinks—as multiple hands reach in with utensils and glasses.

Vaca inside the famous Mercado Gonzalez food hall is Mexican brunch turned up a notch. Think bold and unapologetically delicious! Order chilaquiles sizzling straight off the plancha, licuados en bolsita (milkshakes in a baggie, just like in Mexico), and even a Mexican-style charcuterie board loaded with queso, frijoles, and blue corn tortillas.

A wooden table topped with various foods: strawberry-topped pancakes, two tacos with potatoes, a burger with fries, grilled meat with guacamole, a cup of coffee with latte art, and a bag of pink drink.

Playa Mesa’s Tres Leches Waffle is good enough to write songs about. If you need something lighter (it leaves more room for margaritas, or even better, a Mango Michelada), then try the Veggie Benedict. Playa Mesa is one of those places where you end up trying things from everyone’s plate.

Bread Winners

Almond croissants topped with powdered sugar are stacked behind a glass display at a bakery, with a sign reading ALMOND CROISSANT in front and a blurred barista working in the background.

For us, it just isn’t brunch without baked goods. New to Costa Mesa is Rye Goods, an organic, seasonal stop for all sorts of goodies, including fresh-baked pastries and bread, incredible dishes like Eggs Provence with labneh and brown butter, and a carefully curated selection of wine. Photo by @ryegoods Okay, you shouldn’t go to a cafe just because they’ve nailed an aesthetic, which Coffee Dose definitely has; it looks straight out of a magazine. The good news is, in addition to being a pink-and-green paradise, Coffee Dose’s menu is beyond fantastic and worth the trip all on its own. So go, sip a delicious Rx Latte or try the Breaky Sando, and snap some of the coolest coffee pics ever. Photo by @coffeedosecafe We know, we know, we’ve spoiled you with too many choices. But honestly, why limit yourself to one spectacular meal? Why not turn your brunch into a full Eatcation^®? Stay in one of Costa Mesa’s stunning hotels and make sure to get your fill.

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Four young adults smiling and walking together outside a modern building; one woman in a red hat leads the group, while the others chat and follow, carrying shopping bags.