Guidebook for Costa Mesa
Essentials
This is a small grocery with a small meat department but no bakery nor deli. What we love about it is its proximity to us and great prices on just about everything!
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Stater Bros. Markets
2180 Newport BlvdThis is a small grocery with a small meat department but no bakery nor deli. What we love about it is its proximity to us and great prices on just about everything!
Entertainment & Activities
Segerstrom gets wonderful performances on a regular basis.
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Segerstrom Center for the Arts
600 Town Center DrSegerstrom gets wonderful performances on a regular basis.
Food Scene
Eat Chow has a great menu full of fresh and local eats and a very California-inspired menu, plus a fantastic coffee bar. Favorite picks: Thai Beef Salad, Stuffed Pappers, Truffle Fries
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Eat Chow
1802 Newport BlvdEat Chow has a great menu full of fresh and local eats and a very California-inspired menu, plus a fantastic coffee bar. Favorite picks: Thai Beef Salad, Stuffed Pappers, Truffle Fries
Besides being delicious, Newport Rib adorns their walls with poster-sized photography of Costa Mesa history! See iconic streets before they filled with real estate development.
Newport Rib Company
2196 Harbor BlvdBesides being delicious, Newport Rib adorns their walls with poster-sized photography of Costa Mesa history! See iconic streets before they filled with real estate development.
High-end donuts. Favorites include bourbon-bacon and lemon meringue.
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Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee
270 E 17th StHigh-end donuts. Favorites include bourbon-bacon and lemon meringue.
Best breakfast joint in town. Family-owned and run, ecclectic place with great food and coffee. Only open for breakfast, and they only take cash. It gets busy, so go early!
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Side Street Cafe
1799 Newport BlvdBest breakfast joint in town. Family-owned and run, ecclectic place with great food and coffee. Only open for breakfast, and they only take cash. It gets busy, so go early!
Best Thai Food. They prioritize take out, so sit-in service can be slow so don't be in a hurry, but the food and prices are worth it! Cute fish tank inside.
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Bangkok Corner
2360 Newport BlvdBest Thai Food. They prioritize take out, so sit-in service can be slow so don't be in a hurry, but the food and prices are worth it! Cute fish tank inside.
Better than any pancake chain around. Huge menu with tons of options. Great coffee- owner said he gets the beans custom-roasted.
Pancakes R Us
212 E 17th StBetter than any pancake chain around. Huge menu with tons of options. Great coffee- owner said he gets the beans custom-roasted.
Great specials and self-seating in the bar area. Taco Tuesday deals are great.
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Mi Casa
296 E 17th StGreat specials and self-seating in the bar area. Taco Tuesday deals are great.
Spectacular food always, and a wonderful brunch option. Sunday brunch wait is always long, but self-seating is available in the bar area and you can usually find a high top table available. World-class views of Newport Harbor can be had from this sweet spot. Try the classic ceviche- you won't regret it.
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SOL Mexican Cocina | Playa Vista
12775 Millennium DrSpectacular food always, and a wonderful brunch option. Sunday brunch wait is always long, but self-seating is available in the bar area and you can usually find a high top table available. World-class views of Newport Harbor can be had from this sweet spot. Try the classic ceviche- you won't regret it.
Swanky place with build-your-own bloody mary bar. Ask for a table with a view. Stunning views of Newport Harbor.
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3 Thirty 3 Waterfront
Swanky place with build-your-own bloody mary bar. Ask for a table with a view. Stunning views of Newport Harbor.
Fresh and tasty! Great prices, even better service. Try the "OMG" role with mango. EN serves a reverse Happy Hour- after 8pm weekdays and all day Sunday.
EON Sushi
2340 Harbor BlvdFresh and tasty! Great prices, even better service. Try the "OMG" role with mango. EN serves a reverse Happy Hour- after 8pm weekdays and all day Sunday.
Drinks & Nightlife
The Harp is a fun Irish Pub that hosts great live music and trivia nights. Great Fish and Chips. They also have brunch (and it's not even that bad!) and a good number of TVs with football.
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The Harp Inn
130 E 17th StThe Harp is a fun Irish Pub that hosts great live music and trivia nights. Great Fish and Chips. They also have brunch (and it's not even that bad!) and a good number of TVs with football.
This place has a killer happy hour, and a stunning ocean view. Watch leaping dolphins and huge Pelicans flying up and down the coast while you dig into their incredible bacon-wrapped dates and sip a mango margarita.
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The Rooftop Lounge
1289 S Coast HwyThis place has a killer happy hour, and a stunning ocean view. Watch leaping dolphins and huge Pelicans flying up and down the coast while you dig into their incredible bacon-wrapped dates and sip a mango margarita.
Great place to watch sports. They have a TV at EVERY TABLE. Be warned: food seems pricey given the standard bar-food quality. Deals on drinks are good, and service is great.
Skosh Monahan's
2000 Newport BlvdGreat place to watch sports. They have a TV at EVERY TABLE. Be warned: food seems pricey given the standard bar-food quality. Deals on drinks are good, and service is great.
One of the few gay bars in the area, 'The Tin' is a great place to hang out and make new friends whether you're gay or straight.
Tin Lizzie Saloon
752 St Clair StOne of the few gay bars in the area, 'The Tin' is a great place to hang out and make new friends whether you're gay or straight.
Great karaoke! Low-key place with enough space for a big group to avoid feeling cramped.
Pierce Street Annex
330 E 17th StGreat karaoke! Low-key place with enough space for a big group to avoid feeling cramped.
Goat Hill Tavern
1830 Newport BlvdCosta Mesa's favorite local dive.
Parks & Nature
The Back Bay is a local gem. Walking/biking trails go all around the Back Bay. Beautiful at sunrise and sunset, when it's not at all uncommon to see leaping fish.
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Upper Newport Bay Naturreservat
2301 University DrThe Back Bay is a local gem. Walking/biking trails go all around the Back Bay. Beautiful at sunrise and sunset, when it's not at all uncommon to see leaping fish.
The Muth Center has lots of interactive displays that give you a feel for the natural history of Costa Mesa and surrounds.
Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center
2301 University DrThe Muth Center has lots of interactive displays that give you a feel for the natural history of Costa Mesa and surrounds.
Arts & Culture
The Getty is worth the drive. They have more than what you can take in in one day. Some Sundays they offer free drawing classes.
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The Getty
1200 Getty Center DrThe Getty is worth the drive. They have more than what you can take in in one day. Some Sundays they offer free drawing classes.
Shopping
The Lab calls itself an "anti-mall". Very hip place with local art, funky boutiques, and good eats. Personal favorites include Buffalo Exchange (high-end thrift), Gypsy Den (trendy cafe with open mic mights), and Habana (Cuban restaurant)
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The Lab Anti-Mall
2930 Bristol StThe Lab calls itself an "anti-mall". Very hip place with local art, funky boutiques, and good eats. Personal favorites include Buffalo Exchange (high-end thrift), Gypsy Den (trendy cafe with open mic mights), and Habana (Cuban restaurant)
The Camp is a trendy fun little spot with clothing boutiques and some of Costa Mesa's best restaurants including Ecco, Mesa, and Old Vine. Ecco in particular is great for brunch.
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The Camp
2937 Bristol StThe Camp is a trendy fun little spot with clothing boutiques and some of Costa Mesa's best restaurants including Ecco, Mesa, and Old Vine. Ecco in particular is great for brunch.
Newport Center/Fashion Island
401 Newport Center Dr