• About
  • News
  • MAPS
  • Calendar & Events
  • GALLERY

Travel Costa Mesa Blog

Archives for Locals

7 Ways to Ring in the New Year in Costa Mesa

Posted on December 13, 2023 | 6:19pm

Get ready to wrap up the year with a celebration to remember! Costa Mesa is gearing up for an epic New Year’s Eve, and there’s no shortage of things to do. Whether you’re in the mood to dance the night away or indulge in a delicious dinner, there’s something special for everyone.

1. Catch Deadmau5 at TIME Nightclub

– photo by TIME Nightclub

Ring in the New Year at TIME Nightclub, featuring the legendary Deadmau5! Join the celebration starting at 9pm, where pulsating beats and infectious rhythms will keep you dancing all night long. Elevate your experience with a VIP Table package for an New Year’s Eve party for the record books. 

2. New Year’s Eve 4-Course Menu at Water Grill

– photo by Water Grill

Make your New Year’s Eve truly special with at delicious 4-course prix-fixe menu at Water Grill. Elevate your experience with a thoughtfully curated $50 wine pairing option. Cheers to a night of indulgence, celebration, and culinary perfection!

3. Party at Sevilla Nightclub

– photo by Sevilla Nightclub

Add spice to your NYE bash at the vibrant Sevilla Nightclub! Be sure to secure your spot for the party by making reservation now. Dazzling lights, salsa beats and an electrifying atmosphere, this promises to be the biggest NYE party in Costa Mesa.

4. Attend a NYE VIP Celebration at MESA

– photo by Mesa

Elevate your New Year’s Eve experience at Mesa with the NYE VIP celebration! Join the festivities starting at 8pm for an exclusive night of glamour and excitement. Indulge in premium champagne, savor tray-passed appetizers, and revel in the joy of the countdown.

5. Bling in the New Year at The Country Club

– photo by The Country Club

Start 2024 with a bang at The Country Club! Sip on bottomless champagne, treat yourself to a special Surf & Turf dinner, dance the night away with a killer DJ, and watch the magic happen with a balloon drop at midnight.

6. Don’t Miss an Epic Y2K Dance Party at Wayfarer

– photo by Wayfarer

Dance the night away at the New Year’s Eve Y2K Dance Party at Wayfarer! An unforgettable night of 90’s and 00’s covers by local favorite Sega Genecide. Tickets are just $20 in advanced and $25 at the door.

7. Keep the Party Going at a Hotel in Costa Mesa

– photo by The Westin South Coast Plaza

A stay at a Costa Mesa hotel is the epitome of a New Year’s Eve well spent – glamorous, carefree, and infused with a touch of luxury. Embrace the freedom to dance the night away without worrying about late-night transportation and wake up in the comfort of a hotel room instead!

Comments Off on 7 Ways to Ring in the New Year in Costa Mesa

Posted in Events, Food, Hotels, Locals, Misc

Winter Wonders in Costa Mesa: 5 Activities for a Magical Holiday Escape

Posted on December 11, 2023 | 9:36am

‘Tis the season, and if you’re in the mood for some festive fun, look no further. Grab your beanies, charge up your phones, and get ready to experience five totally Instagrammable Costa Mesa activities that scream holiday vibes!

1. Winter Fest OC, Where the Fun Never Ends

Dive headfirst into the holiday spirit at Winter Fest OC, Southern California’s largest winter festival! Glide through their enchanting ice-skating trail, enjoy winter themed cocktails inside a cozy fireside igloo, speed down a 150 foot ice tubing slide, and experience a dazzling light show perfectly synchronized to your favorite holiday songs. It’s a must-do event with plenty of attractions for all ages and so many festive photo ops to fill your IG stories!

2. Experience Holiday Shopping at South Coast Plaza

It’s time to get your holiday shopping done and where better to do it than at South Coast Plaza? The magical holiday décor transforms this shopping destination into a winter wonderland complete with a reindeer carousel and whimsical Santa Express train inside its festive corridors. With an unparalleled selection of high-end stores and holiday essentials, it offers a luxurious and memorable shopping experience for finding the perfect gifts.

3. Snap-Worthy Moments at the Town Center Park Tree 

This season is all about capturing the holiday spirit so don’t forget to take pictures at the massive Christmas tree in Town Center Park, right in front of The Westin South Coast Plaza. If you’re in the mood for a tasty meal, try Vaca, a local Spanish restaurant with a perfect view of the tree. And here’s a bonus – it’s just steps away from Segerstrom Center for Arts and South Coast Repertory if you are looking to top off your night with a live holiday performance!

4. Indulge in Sweet Delights at Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee

– photo by Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee

Satisfy your craving for a sweet treat with freshly made donuts from Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee. With accolades from Condé Nast, this eatery has become a culinary sensation, and you must try their limited-time holiday-themed options. From bourbon delights to peppermint perfection, experience the joy of the season in every bite.

5. Watch A Christmas Carol at South Coast Repertory 

– photo by Jenny Graham

The holidays in Costa Mesa aren’t complete without watching a performance of “A Christmas Carol” at Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory. This long-held tradition is the absolute best way to enjoy a captivating performance of a heartwarming classic tale.

Comments Off on Winter Wonders in Costa Mesa: 5 Activities for a Magical Holiday Escape

Posted in Events, Food, Locals, Music & Art, Shopping

10 Places to Get Your Barbie™ Fix in Costa Mesa

Posted on July 18, 2023 | 7:51pm

Come on Barbie, let’s go party! With the whole world ready for the Barbie™ movie opening July 21, we found a few fun places in Costa Mesa where we could definitely see Barbie stopping by…and where you can channel that fun, colorful energy into a Barbie moment yourself. Here’s 10 spots to check out in Costa Mesa and get your Barbie fix!

Local Fare

Local Fare is ready for the season with a whole line of Barbie-inspired products including this cuter-than-can-be beach towel. Find other items to go with your pretty new towel including more fun things for the pool or beach. Visit Local Fare in the shops at The OC Mix.

Coffee Dose

It’s like Coffee Dose was made for Barbie. With a bright, whimsical design and cheeky quotes on dishes and mugs, it’s a delightful cafe to spend the afternoon dreaming about Ken while the pink Corvette is parked outside.

Susie Cakes

Susie Cakes has bright, fun cakes for order or purchase including a Barbie cake with Barbie and her friends! Stop by and see them and taste something delightful at The OC Mix.

SoCo & The OC Mix

With great shopping in a rustic spot full of unique boutiques and pop-ups, SoCo and the OC Mix is one of Costa Mesa’s delightfully fun indoor and outdoor shopping and dining centers. We can see Barbie getting her Instagram moment in front of this sign and then picking up an adorable locally made blouse or earrings!

Forever Nails and Spa

We think Barbie would just love this manicure, but if you want some different choices, they know what they’re doing over at Forever Nails and Spa.

South Coast Plaza

Barbie loves a good designer pair of shoes or bag, and these stilettos from Jimmy Choo seem right up her alley. You can find the Jimmy Choo store at South Coast Plaza, and here are some other ideas from them in the South Coast Plaza blog featuring beautiful items in Barbie Blue.

Costa Mesa Bloom

Costa Mesa IS the City of the Arts®, so you can’t miss checking out some of the great public art in the city. Dress in your cutest colorful outfit like @hellokatiegirlblog and take a picture in front of the “Costa Mesa Bloom” mural, just outside Triangle Square off Harbor Blvd. Inside Triangle Square, you’ll find awesome dining and entertainment too.

Nectar Bath Treats

The bright and bubbly personality of the bath bombs and soap treats Nectar Bath makes seems like a perfect fit for Barbie’s bathtub. Visit the store on Level 1 of South Coast Plaza’s Carousel Court (and take a ride on the carousel while you’re at it!).

Fill Bakery

Pretty and delicious, Fill Bakeshop is a must stop to get your bubble gum pink Barbie treats. Make sure to get extras for Ken and the gang.

The Crack Shack

Did you know Richard Blais’s Crack Shack opened its first OC location in Costa Mesa? One of their best sandwiches is aptly named the “Malibu Barbie Q” and we’re sure you’ll love it. This fried chicken sandwich with an onion ring, bacon and melted cheese might make it harder to keep that famous 18″ waist, but everything in moderation!

Don’t miss the Barbie™ movie, coming out July 21.

Comments Off on 10 Places to Get Your Barbie™ Fix in Costa Mesa

Posted in Food, Locals, Misc, Play, Shopping

Ten Ways to Heat Up Your Summer in Costa Mesa

Posted on May 30, 2023 | 8:23am

The joy of summer is back, and Costa Mesa is ready to welcome you for a summer full of fun in Orange County. From exciting new dining to Broadway shows to one of the biggest fairs on the West Coast, there’s just so much to see in Costa Mesa.

Great New Dining

Costa Mesa offers Orange County’s only Michelin-starred restaurants – three of them, to be
exact. A slate of new dining destinations are popping up around the city, adding to its already
robust varieties of cuisine. But that’s not all! A host of exciting new restaurant concepts have opened or are opening this summer, and the new dining continues to raise the bar as a perfect spot for an Eatcation®.

Read more about the hot new restaurants in Costa Mesa in our latest press release, including Blossoms and Brass pictured below – a European, cocktail-forward restaurant with surprising Japanese influences.

Tickets to a Show

Segerstrom Center for the Arts (SCFTA) offers not only Broadway plays and musicals, but lots of other great outdoor summer events as well. The hottest ticket of the summer will be Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, playing July 11-23, 2023. With the world’s recent loss of legendary singer Tina Turner, watching this show will be bittersweet, but an absolute must to appreciate the life and music of this phenomenal artist.

Another show coming this summer is Six, June 13-25. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix 500 years of historical heartbreak into a celebration of 21st century girl power. For outdoor fun, be sure to check SCFTA’s calendar, including free dance events and their famous Movie Mondays free on the Plaza starting with The Lion King on July 10. Don’t forget to take a stroll through Costa Mesa’s Art Walk.

OC Fair

Costa Mesa’s biggest event of the year, the OC Fair returns July 14 – August 13 with the theme “Happy Together.” The Orange County Fair is the 9th-largest fair in the United States and dazzles visitors every year with its wide array of events, rides, carnival, fantastic food, and the biggest Ferris wheel on the West Coast. Tickets are on sale now – choose dates carefully as there are no refunds or exchanges. Fairgoers must choose a specific date due to a certain number of guests allowed per day.

Pacific Amphitheater

PacAmp concerts are one of the highlights of Costa Mesa’s summer roster, and this year’s slate of artists is an exciting one. Pacific Amphitheatre is the 3,000-seat outdoor stadium located on the OC Fair grounds, and offers months of summer concerts for music lovers of every genre. Enjoy artists like Robin Thicke, Neyo and Mario, Dwight Yoakam, Smokey Robinson and more. See PacAmp’s concert lineup here – and remember, your concert ticket purchase gets your free admission to the OC Fair as well!

Centennial Farm

Centennial Farm is a 3-acre working farm at Costa Mesa’s OC Fair & Event Center. Created to educate youth about agriculture and its importance to daily life. Centennial Farm is home to fruit and vegetable gardens, livestock, and the Millennium Barn. Two youth educational tour programs are offered, Discovery Days and Junior Farmer Tours – as well as year-round daily hours so the public can visit the farm. The Farm is well known for its Pig Cam, a live feed of the adorable Centennial Farm pigs. Check the Centennial Farm calendar for hours, and find out more about the farm’s programs here.

OCMA

With free admission to all visitors, there’s no reason to not make a visit to Orange County’s newest museum. On the Segerstrom Center for the Arts campus, the Orange County Museum of Art houses a collection of Check the OCMA calendar to see current exhibits and events happening this summer, including their monthly happy hour and pop-up talks!

Outdoor Shopping

Summer means being outside, but it doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite pasttime of shopping the day away! Costa Mesa has multiple outdoor shopping, dining and retail environments including The LAB, pictured here. Its sister facility The CAMP is directly across Bristol Street with a crosswalk connecting the two. Both of these shopping and dining centers offer relaxing and kitschy outdoor space (even hammocks!) along with a great collection of restaurants – in fact, The LAB even has a Michelin Star restaurant, Hana re sushi. Find a brewery, sustainable shopping, wine tasting, a tattoo shop, eclectic bars and so much more – and spend the majority of your day strolling outside in the California sunshine.

Don’t miss SoCo and The OC Mix – you’ll find one of Costa Mesa’s Michelin Star restaurants here, Taco Maria – plus unique local boutique shopping. Triangle Square houses a movie theater plus wonderful outdoor dining and OC’s only nightclub, Time.

Orange County Beaches

Costa Mesa’s just minutes from some of the country’s most sought-after Orange County beaches. A short ride away from the Newport Beach and Huntington Beach crowds, Costa Mesa offers reasonable hotel rates plus incredible shopping and dining, frequently within walking distance of your hotel. Here’s some secret OC beach spots you may not know about.

Lions Park Fish Fry

A cherished favorite local event, summer brings Costa Mesa’s 76th Fish Fry & Carnival in Lions Park, 570 18th Street, Costa Mesa. This year the number of carnival rides will triple in size, as the carnival will expand onto Davis Baseball field. The Fish Fry is run by the Costa Mesa/Newport Harbor Lions Club, which has been serving the community for over 100 years.

Join in for three days of family fun June 23-25! Fish fry dinners, carnival rides, games, booths, listen to headliner bands, additional food stations, wine/beer garden, free giveaways, opportunity drawings, and more! All the money raised goes to support youth activities, sight and hearing conservation and other community needs.

Admission is FREE! Fish Dinners $15 – Food & Entertainment – Fish Dinners – Beer and Wine Garden – Carnival Rides – Games – Blues and Rock Bands – Booths – Opportunity Drawing –

Date & Time

Friday, June 23 · 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Saturday, June 24 · 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Sunday, June 25 · 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Goat Hill Junction Railroad

All aboard! A great family activity for locals and visitors, ride the model train for a 15-minute loop around Fairview Park on over 5 miles of track! Did you know Goat Hill Junction has one of the largest miniature train layouts on the West Coast? Managed by Orange County Model Engineers, club members operate over 40 gas and steam-powered model locomotives on the miniature railway. Riding Goat Hill Junction trains is great fun for both adults and kids. Free train rides every 3rd weekend of the month from 10am-3:30pm, weather permitting. Goathill Junction Railroad is located in Costa Mesa’s Fairview Park. It’s at 2520 Placentia Avenue between Adams Avenue and Victoria Street.

We know you’ll enjoy the summer in Costa Mesa! With its proximity to the beach and great OC hotel rates, Costa Mesa is your perfect home base to visit Orange County this summer.

Comments Off on Ten Ways to Heat Up Your Summer in Costa Mesa

Posted in Events, Food, Hotels, Locals, Misc

Mother’s Day 2023: Brunches, Shopping, Facials and More in Costa Mesa

Posted on May 9, 2023 | 2:24pm

Where to take mom for Mother’s Day? Look no further than Costa Mesa! We’ve rounded up just some of the fun, delicious things to do to celebrate Mom this year in the City of the Arts®.

Mother’s Day Brunch

The list is long and distinguished, but here’s just a sampling of the great Costa Mesa restaurants offering Mother’s Day brunch or specials.

Silver Trumpet: Brunch buffet from 10am-2pm. Use the QR code on the graphic to reserve!

Ayres Hotel: Brunch buffet from 10am-2pm. Click the link for the menu and reservations.

Outpost Kitchen: Special Mother’s Day choices; live music 11am-2pm.

Randy’s Donuts: MOM Donut alert! Get your Mother’s Day “MOM donuts” (Bavarian cream-filled with pink icing) May 10-14 at all locations. 2 locations in Costa Mesa.

Playa Mesa: Brunch from 9am – 2pm plus free champagne for mom with entree.

The Capital Grille: Moms are treated to a rose & such brunch specials as lobster frittata, blueberry bread, steak & eggs or — new this year — smoked salmon & caviar. 10 am-2 pm. A la carte dinner options available all day. Bookings here.

Cafe Sevilla is serving brunch from 11am-3pm with bottomless mimosas.

Knife Pleat: A luxurious tea service on Saturday between 11:30 am – 1:45 pm. Reservations here.

Mastro’s: Perhaps dinner is more Mom’s flavor, and you know she’ll be thrilled to eat at Mastro’s. Enjoy sizzling dry-aged steaks, incredible seafood, cocktails and live entertainment Sunday evening.

What about a luxe experience at Petrossian by Tiffany? Check out this recent MSN article.

Shopping

South Coast Plaza has a roster of great Mother’s Day shopping offers and events, including a macaron-making class on May 15 and a must-see Cartier pop-up.

Costa Mesa Courtyards is giving away a $200 gift card to the center for Mom’s Day. Check out their Instagram to enter @shopcostamesa.

The LAB will have two floral pop-ups May 13 and 14 so you can pick up beautiful arrangements by local florists. More information here.

Facials…and Other Events

The Facial Lounge is a wonderful Costa Mesa spot to treat Mom for a future visit. Enjoy one of their organic, vegan facials and their delighful day spa. Visit their site for gift cards or to book treatments.

For those on a budget who still want to treat Mom, BodyCentre Day Spa is offering a 50-minute weekday massage special for $59. M-Thurs booking. They offer gift certificates and many different services including emerald laser, facials, personal training, emerald laser, colon hydrotherapy and much more.

The Wine Lab is hosting a Mother’s Day Candle-Making Workshop Sunday from 6-8pm. What better way to workshop than with wine?

Locale Magazine has a list of fun, free things to do in OC right now(don’t miss free admission to the Orange County Museum of Art!) plus different ways to celebrate Mom in OC.

Comments Off on Mother’s Day 2023: Brunches, Shopping, Facials and More in Costa Mesa

Posted in Food, Locals