Overview
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, a region of Southern California. Costa Mesa is a robust community that features a focus on performing arts and entertainment. Costa Mesa provides a city-like feel in a suburban setting with a vast amount of storefront shops and residential areas.
3 sights · 3 things to do · 9 places to eat · 8 bars & cafés · 11 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Costa Mesa
Orange County Museum of Art
Specializes in contemporary art and houses rotating special exhibitions.
California Scenario
Work of public art by Isamu Noguchi that integrates landscaping, sculpture, fountains, surface-level and underground channels of water, and arrangements of rocks and plants. It has a very Zen sensibility that may remind …
Diego Sepulveda Adobe
Orange County Fairgrounds
The Orange County Fair is in full swing from mid-July to mid-August, featuring a wide variety of rides, food, games, and live events; with most of the latter being held at the 8,500-capacity Pacific Amphitheater and has …
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
The Segerstrom Center for the Arts (formerly the Orange County Performing Arts Center) features several auditoriums the range in capacity from 250-3,000 people to host a variety of plays, ballets, and symphonic performan…
TeWinkle Park
TeWinkle Park has a playground, walking areas, and a Volcom skate park.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jan–Dec. Summer highs reach about 74°F; winter lows dip to about 50°F. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Newport Beach)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SNA John Wayne Orange County International Airport, Santa Ana — 3 mi away (major hub). Directions
- LGB Long Beach International Airport, Long Beach — 17 mi away (major hub). Directions
John Wayne Airport (SNA) is just on the other side of the Costa Mesa/Santa Ana border. From there you can rent a vehicle, obtain a taxi, or use the bus system to get around.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Orange County Museum of Art, Orange County Fairgrounds, California Scenario
- Lunch Rooster Cafe
- Afternoon Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Diego Sepulveda Adobe
- Dinner Mitsuwa Marketplace
- Evening Tin Lizze Saloon
Day 2
- Morning TeWinkle Park
- Lunch Emelia Deli
- Dinner Silver Trumpet at the Wyndham Orange County
- Evening La Cave
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Costa Mesa is the food capital of Orange County; most of the county's best restaurants can be found here.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Throughout the 1800s, this area consisted mostly of a few farms and some apple orchards. Costa Mesa was incorporated in 1920; its name means "coast tableland" in Spanish. During World War II, Costa Mesa was the site of the Santa Ana Army Air Base, a military installation that existed from 1942-1946. The west side of the city features industrial properties that specialize in manufacturing while the northern part of the city features commercial properties that specialize in business.
Local information
Get in
By plane
John Wayne Airport (SNA) is just on the other side of the Costa Mesa/Santa Ana border. From there you can rent a vehicle, obtain a taxi, or use the bus system to get around.
By car
Home to one Interstate 405 and California highways 55 and 73; driving into the city is not hard. Harbor Boulevard, Newport Boulevard, and Bristol Street are important North-South roads in the city while Baker Street, 17th Street, and 19th Street are important east-west roads in the city.
Get around
OCTA operates a myriad of buses in the city. The most important ones are those that serve South Coast Plaza. Routes 51, 55, 57, 76, 86, 145, 172, 173, 211, 216 and 464 all serve the mall, which basically means that SCP is accessible almost anywhere in the county.
Cab Service, Cab companies are plentiful in O.C.
- 1-800-4-MY-TAXI A taxi service that explicitly serves Orange County
Don't underestimate the distance between blocks--especially if walking. Costa Mesa has longer address blocks than most other U.S. cities. For example, it's about a third of a mile (over 500 m) from 2500 to 2600 Fairview Blvd with three intersections in between.
See
Costa Mesa offers quality variety of shopping, fine dining, and entertainment options. Costa Mesa also features plenty of golf courses and parks in addition to being mere minutes away from the Pacific Ocean for people who want to spend time outdoors.
See California Scenario (Noguchi Garden)
Work of public art by Isamu Noguchi that integrates landscaping, sculpture, fountains, surface-level and underground channels of water, and arrangements of rocks and plants. It has a very Zen sensibility that may remind you of traditional Japanese temple rock gardens, but also integrates elements of modernism.
Do
Do Orange County Fairgrounds
The Orange County Fair is in full swing from mid-July to mid-August, featuring a wide variety of rides, food, games, and live events; with most of the latter being held at the 8,500-capacity Pacific Amphitheater and has featured performers such as ZZ Top, B.B. King, Weird Al Yankovic, Leann Rimes, and Fergie (from The Black Eyed Peas). When the fair isn't in effect, the fairgrounds are open year-round for a wide variety of trade shows, expos, and other events.
Do Segerstrom Center for the Arts
The Segerstrom Center for the Arts (formerly the Orange County Performing Arts Center) features several auditoriums the range in capacity from 250-3,000 people to host a variety of plays, ballets, and symphonic performances. The center comprises the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and Samueli Theater, plus the Tony-Award-winning South Coast Repertory (SCR), and a visual arts facility to be built at a later date. An expansive 46,000-ft² community plaza, which was created by Peter Walker and Partners, unites the two Centers. There are also many outstanding works of art, including Connector, a towering sculpture designed by Richard Sera that graces the plaza. Visitors are encouraged to take a walking tour of the district to experience the spectacular works of Jean Dubuffet, Henry Moore, Joan Miro, Charles O. Perry, and Isamu Noguchi, among other world-class figures whose artistry is on public display locally. A centerpiece (sited separately: see the "See" section above) is Noguchi’s 1.6-acre collection of sculptures and plantings called California Scenario.
Buy
Shop South Coast Plaza
An enormous shopping plaza that is so large that it has two campuses directly across from each other. Shops include the high-end boutiques that are also found on Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive as well as chain stores such as Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch. It is accessible from the 405 and 5 freeways. Directly across from the mall is the Metro Pointe at South Coast which is an open-air retail, entertainment, and commercial center.
Shop The Lab/The Camp
On the other side of the 405 is the outdoor "anti-mall" the Lab, featuring hip nationwide chains such as Urban Outfitters and Buffalo Exchange, but has also contains 2 fabulous restaurants, the vegan-friendly Gyspy Cafe, a great hair salon and more than enough independent boutiques (Carve, Blends, Treasury Dept, etc) Across Bristol St. is the also outdoor Camp, which is newer and more gastronomically-centered. Highlights include the Seed People's Market, Active, tattoo parlor Outer Limits and the restaurants Ecco Italian Cuisine, Native Foods and Valhalla Table. Both have incredible architecture and plenty of places to lounge, including a hammock. Though unaffiliated with the mall, an American Apparel store is located a few blocks away.
Eat
Costa Mesa is the food capital of Orange County; most of the county's best restaurants can be found here.
Eat Silver Trumpet at the Wyndham Orange County
Casual, dining overlooking a picturesque lake with outdoor clubhouse seating for those who prefer the fresh air. Breakfast available with fresh fruit, muffins and croissants baked daily, cooked to order omelets. Brasserie-style lunch and dinner menu includes char-grilled meats, fresh seafood and seasonal specialties. Wine list with over 20 California and regional selections.
Eat Doria's Haus of Pizza
Family-run hole-in-the-wall is a great place for inexpensive Italian food. German name, Italian menu, US style pizza.
Eat Taco Mesa
Gourmet Mexican place. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Try to visit between peak hours as this place is very popular.
Eat Seasons 52
Seasonally-inspired dining choices.
Eat Mastro's Steakhouse
Live entertainment in an elegant yet energetic atmosphere. Hand-cut USDA steaks on 400⁰ steak plates and fresh seafood. The piano lounge runs 7 nights a week and features specialty dry-ice martinis and cocktails. Mastro’s is Zagat Rated and named one of “the top 10 steakhouses in the US (Gayot).
Eat Mitsuwa Marketplace
Japanese supermarket with a food court that has an excellent choice of Japanese meals..
Eat Rooster Cafe
Great place for breakfast. Basic decor, seating inside and out. Mix of US and Mexican style meals.
Eat Tom's Place
Immigrant owned small business. Carries hamburgers, gyros, sandwiches, burritos, and even steak. Excellent service and super friendly staff. Great place to grab a quick bite to eat!
Eat Emelia Deli
New York City style deli right by the Lyon Air Museum. Serves sandwiches and NYC style desserts in a modest location.
Drink
Drink The Wayfarer
A 300-capacity music venue has found itself to be home to a wide variety of acts that have come through town (hip-hop artist GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan has performed here, as have grunge metal pioneers The Melvins in addition to local house DJs on Fridays and karaoke singers on Sundays.) Mondays always feature free cover and showcase the local band of the month all month long.
Drink Goat Hill Tavern
Very fun, gritty bar complete with a peanut shell-covered floor. 141 different beers on tap. Varied crowd,
Drink Hi-Time Wine Cellar
Though not a bar, Hi-Time has a broad selection of beer, wine, and spirits. Wine bar, a cooled wine cellar and a cooled walk-in beer refrigerator with exotic beverages from around the world. Hi-Time also features cigars and bulk-food items.
Drink Tin Lizze Saloon (Between the 405 and 5 freeways)
One of Orange Counties few remaining bars for gays, lesbians, and straights.
Drink La Cave
Subterranean steakhouse and lounge. Stiff pours, best entertainment in town. Keep a look out for "Sega Genacide," a 1990s cover band. Dimly lit lounge and bar area. Great dance floor, throwback to a bygone era.
Drink The Boulevard
Cool bar next door to Goat Hill.
Drink Tiki Bar
Small business bar with occasional live music and a mild tiki theme. Two pool tables for $0.75 per play. In the rear is a food stand that only takes cash. Some good bands here and there. No free WiFi. Golf game inside with a vending machine that sells cigarettes and snacks.
Drink Patrick's Pub
Costa Mesa's very own Irish pub. Lots of pool tables, shuffleboard, and stuff on the walls you'd expect in a setting such as this.
Sleep
Stay Avenue of the Arts Hotel
Costa Mesa's only AAA recognized 4 Diamond hotel. Amenities include an outdoor pool with private cabanas, the Silver Trumpet Restaurant, complimentary Wi-Fi, complimentary shuttle to/from John Wayne Airport, 24-hour room service, fitness center and concierge desk. Self-parking is $22 per day.
Stay safe
Costa Mesa can be one of the safest cities to visit but it also has its share of crime. Regions near Santa Ana can have criminal incidents spill over into the city as a result of gangs and narcotics. The city's Westside is lower-income and highly industrial, making it a somewhat popular destination for homeless people and panhandlers. The local police department does patrols on a routine basis, however, so criminal incidents are limited at worst.
Go next
You can leave the city either through the John Wayne Airport or by taking the local freeways out of the city. CA-73 and I-405 will lead to Los Angeles if you head north or to San Diego if you head south.
Considering that the CA-55 South terminates at Costa Mesa's 19th Street, CA-55 North will lead to northern Orange County and will connect to CA-91, which leads to Riverside California.
Nearby
Newport Beach
City / town · 53 listings · 3 mi away
Fountain Valley
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Santa Ana
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Huntington Beach
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Irvine
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Tustin
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Westminster
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Garden Grove
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