If your Costa Mesa itinerary includes “grab a drink,” you’re already doing it right. Whether you’re fresh off a flight, wrapping up a shopping spree, or heading back from the beach with sandy shoes, Costa Mesa has a happy hour for every mood. With lively patios that strum with live music, this city knows how to turn a casual drink into an entire evening.
The Ultimate Guide to Pre-Dinner Fun
SOCIAL Costa Mesa offers one of the more extensive happy hour menus in town, happening all day on Wednesday, and Thursday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. You can try out menu items like a pork belly sandwich or prosciutto and pear flatbreads. Sip on $6 beers or enjoy $4 off glasses of wine.
If you’ve spent the afternoon browsing the small businesses at The LAB, make your next stop Habana for “La Social Hour.” The colorful patio pairs well with Cuban bites, and the craft cocktails turn up the vacation energy in Costa Mesa. Every happy hour item, food and drinks included, is just $12. Cool off with a creamy piña colada or order the chile mango mojito, topped with colorful garnishes that are almost too pretty to drink. On the food side, the ham and cheese croquets or slow roasted pork sliders bring plenty of flavor to the table.
Live music and a round of drinks make a good duo at The Wayfarer. Stop by from 5 to7 p.m. for $8 cocktails, then stick around for live performances from local bands spanning genres from folk to Western Gothic. See who’s playing.
If you’re looking to start early, Wild Goose Tavern on 17th Street has you covered with one of the earliest happy hours in town, running Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This cozy neighborhood pub with rustic lodge vibes serves up familiar-but-elevated grub and weekly specials.
Happy hour at South Coast Plaza? Yes, please. Head to AnQi Bistro for “Red Hour,” where bites and cocktails are all priced at $10. Share plates like the Sweet Corn Ma La Elote or An’s Famous Garlic Noodles while sipping on a refreshing yuzu margarita or lychee martini.
Just around the corner, VOX Kitchen serves up a Chinese-Peruvian (Chifa) fusion happy hour Monday through Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. Their $10 cocktail lineup tastes perfect alongside their garlic chicken wings after a full day of shopping.
Heading back from the beach? Triangle Square makes it easy to keep the fun going with plenty of happy hour options all in one spot. At Sevilla, Tuesdays are made for tapas with 50% off 26 different Spanish small plates perfect for sharing with the table. Casa de Onda brings Tulum-inspired vibes weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m. with colorful cocktails and coastal Mexican flavors. For something more country-cool, head to Westwood Coast for happy hour bites like cowboy queso and southern meatballs at half off. Stick around on Tuesdays and Thursdays for free line dancing classes.
Happy Hour Without Leaving the Hotel
Not every great happy hour requires calling an Uber. Several Costa Mesa hotels have their own cocktail specials, cozy lounges, and post-travel bites worth checking out before heading out to explore the city.
- Hilton’s Bristol Palms – Sip on cold beers and enjoy a wood fire pizza inside the hotel’s spacious bar area.
- The Westin South Coast Plaza’s Great Room – Relax beside the hotel’s outdoor waterfall while enjoying a round of cocktails and live music.
- Costa Mesa Marriott’s Amuse Bar– Perfect for a low-key evening close to your room, with daily happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. including handcrafted cocktails and local brews.
- Avenue of the Arts Hotel Silver Trumpet Restaurant & Bar – Enjoy lakeside patio views while sipping on a signature or musical-inspired cocktail paired with one of their house-made desserts.
- Crowne Plaza’s Fireside Tavern – Settle into the relaxed sports-bar atmosphere with flavorful flatbreads and drinks by the fire pit during happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m.
- Ayres Hotel’s Le Chateau Garden Bistro – The charming courtyard and peaceful fountain set the scene for happy hour from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., featuring $5 beers, wine, and a variety of shareable bites.
Between the margaritas, patio hopping, and shareable bites, Costa Mesa’s happy hour scene proves the best part of vacation might just happen before dinner.
