Costa Mesa Stories

Melting Pot of Culture Comes to Life

Costa Mesa is THE cultural epicenter that locals from surrounding cities flock to for unforgettable events, arts experiences, and culinary creativity. It's a natural product of its seven diverse neighborhoods steeped in Latino/Hispanic heritage and home to many pockets of other cultural groups. Explore Costa Mesa’s cultural melting pot:

Orange County Museum of Art: Comprising over 4,500 works of art, OCMA’s permanent collection focuses on art produced during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries by artists with ties to California.

Mercado Gonzalez Northgate Market: The Mexican food hall and marketplace is taking Costa Mesa by storm with over 20 colorful stalls and food options including famed El Moro churro stand from Mexico City.

Action Sports:Some might say that Costa Mesa is to the action sports industry as Silicon Valley is to the tech industry. With the creation of top brands like Hurley, Volcom, RVCA, Rip Curl, and Vans the city is truly home to inspiring new ideas, events and clothing in action sports.

Eatcationing® in Costa Mesa

Orange County’s food scene used to be uninspired and unoriginal - it was an area where restaurant chains were ubiquitous and new foodie outposts simply didn’t exist. Costa Mesa changed has become the county’s culinary capital serving up everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to hole-in-the-wall food havens. Eat your way through your vacation on an Eatcation®.
Some of the newest outposts:

The Plot: Step into a culinary adventure at The Plot, where every dish tells a vibrant story of flavor and sustainability. Their 100% plant-based menu focuses on near zero waste from kitchen to table.

El Maizano: Introducing El Maizano, the newest culinary sensation crafted by the brilliant team behind esteemed Mexican eateries in Los Angeles and Mexico City. Prepare to be captivated by an array of dishes that pay homage to the essence of masa while celebrating the full diversity of Mexican flavors.

Ramen Row: Locals know (and now so do visitors) about “Ramen Row” in Costa Mesa which is home to over a half-dozen soup stops specializing in their own spin on the soul- satisfying broth potent with umami flavors. 

Costa Mesa: City of the Arts®

Costa Mesa is known as the City of the Arts®. Whether you want to tour a museum, enjoy a theatrical performance or visit the Costa Mesa Art Walk, there is no better place in Orange County to do so than the Arts and Theater district in the city. Start by taking a trip down the Avenue of the Arts, and you'll find the Arts Campus which includes the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, which hosts traveling Broadway shows, major ballet companies, international dance troupes and celebrated artists. It's also home to the Pacific Symphony, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, the Pacific Chorale and the Pacific Symphony, all of which perform at the award-winning Segerstrom Concert Hall. Plus Argyros Plaza hosts free outdoor events throughout the year. For those who like to mosey through museums, check out Orange County Museum of Arts (OCMA), which recently celebrated its one-year anniversary and houses 4,500 pieces of modern art and rotating exhibitions. Admission to the museum is free.

Where the Locals Play in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa is a cultural epicenter that locals from surrounding cities flock to for unforgettable events, arts experiences, and culinary creativity. It's hard to believe the metropolitan city used to be a farming town and is a short 10-minute drive to the Pacific Ocean. Locals (and visitors alike) flock to the SoBeCa district – the center for creative makers and small businesses. In this neighborhood, you'll find The LAB (Little American Business) Anti-Mall and its offshoot, The CAMP, which provide a truly one-of-a-kind shopping experience. Don’t sleep on the annual OC Fair, which delights visitors with a wide array of events, concerts, carnival rides and super-eclectic fair food. If you miss the fair, don't worry. The OC Fair and Events Center has more than 150 events year-round. A trip to Costa Mesa is not complete without a visit to South Coast Plaza, the largest luxury shopping center on the West Coast, attracting over 20 million visitors every year from all over the world.