33 Best Bars in Costa Mesa

“Amazing food and atmosphere. We sat at the bar and have to give our bartender/waiter Jake a huge shout out. He was the best! Definitely going back again.“

“Love it here! Music is always on point m! 😍“

“Cool spot, came here on a Monday looking for a place that stays open late, this place blew my expectations for a regular bar, we had a DJ playing house music, the strobe ball was cool, great low lit ambience, felt like a goth bar with a modern kick to it, booth seating was comfy and spacious. Drinks acceptable, had a few beers on tap and Espresso Martini, this is now my mid week go to spot. Definitely will come back.“

“This is the best place to watch a Philadelphia Eagles football game! Great group of people and staff are on it. Food and drinks are really good and not over priced! Fun and lively environment and definitely recommend as the place to be on game days if you bleed green! Go birds!“

“Nice place.“

“Oysters are always super delicious and fresh! The list of oysters is extensive and ever changing. The salads are so filling and the clam chowder is the bomb! Staff is always friendly and the service is great.“

“Perfect place to hang and catch up“

“Me and my husband felt like going somewhere fancy the other night so we went to the Guild. We sat at their bar and had a few drinks. The service was impeccable and I can't stop thinking about their Espresso Martini, it was one of the best ones I had in my life. My husband loved Riserva Paper Plane the most. We will be back for sure!“

“I go to this bar more than I like to admit and I’ve found that it’s not just because the drinks are cheap, the people are weird, or that’s it’s always a fun night. I find myself going back because the service is top notch. Kari is always on top of it and Rory is always holding down the fort. Hats off to you both and I’ll see you next weekend“

“Delicious Italian cuisine! Stylish interior of the Restaurant!“

“We were in town, visiting family members. It turned into a full-blown nightmare for my son and I. To erase the negativity, our hotel clerk recommended this jewel of a bar across street...from the moment we stepped into this place, it turned into an awesome experience and made our last night in town, fun and relaxing. Pool, music, people...genuine. The lovely, energetic and experienced bartender, was absolutely on-top of ensuring not just us, but that all the clients, were taken care of. If you want to distress and wipe off the negativity, this is the place to be!“

“Love the atmosphere, everyone that walks in just wants to have a drink, a good time and make friends... Best little dive bar in Costa Mesa and Penny is the coolest bar tender :-)“

“This place is a hidden gem! The food will exceed your expectations. The only improvement I would love to see is beers on tap.“

“LOVE the GOAT‼️♥️ 1st place I headed on my last day to begin my RETIREMENT‼️ Life is good‼️😃“

“Had an amazing time last night (8/27) at Cowboys & Poodles! Both Mo & Chris were attentive and welcoming; making it feel like home and a place where I can be myself! Cocktails were delicious and perfectly crafted/balanced. There was a pop up cowboy show that happened out of nowhere, which caught me by surprise, it was so much fun and entertaining to be part of! Definitely something new and unique I’ve seen done at a cocktail bar. Needless to say I will definitely be back for the good vibes and amazing drinks! 🤠🤙🏽“

“The staff was very kind and attentive to customers. They had a great beer selection and some cocktails that were fun to try. I got 2 flights and sampled several options. All tasted great. Best beer on tap, best Japanese beer in Orange county.“

“Food & Drink:
We visited Ruin Bar for a nightcap..they were both bold, creative & full of character. The presentation was fun & the flavors layered, making each sip into a little adventure. I loved the detail behind each drink.

Service:
The bartenders were friendly & welcoming despite the crowd. They made sure orders were correct & helped guide us through the menu when we asked.

Ambiance & Vibe:
Ruin Bar is eclectic, quirky & moody in the best way. It feels like stepping into a vintage curiosity shop with artsy touches, hidden corners & unusual décor. The indoor-outdoor setup at The LAB adds to the charm. It’s definitely atmospheric. There was a line around 10pm even on a weekday, & seating is limited, so it can feel energetic and a bit chaotic—but that’s part of its appeal. You order at the bar, grab your cocktail, & then find a spot or stand.

Value & Price Point:
For craft cocktails in a unique space, the price felt reasonable. Given the vibe, creativity & attention to detail, it felt like you’re paying for the whole experience, not just a drink.

Overall Impression & Tips:
Ruin Bar is a must for anyone who loves a drink with personality. Come with patience (there might be a wait), get there early if you want a seat, & be ready to enjoy somewhere that feels more like a hidden world than just a bar.“

“We went in late, everything else was closed.
My GF was extremely hungry so they took a quick order of a taco first, ordered it and then came back for the order she received her Taco satisfied her hunger. Then the shared food came out, She ate 3/4 of that. She must have been hungry.
The waiter was extremely accommodating, repeated checkups on us.
Wonderful demeanor.
Told manager about our great experience and suggested a bonus for him. I also gave him an extra tip.“

“Food was delicious champagne was nice we also enjoyed the music“

“Service was top notch -extremely nice and informative on menu. Food was ridiculous good I recommend the grapefruit salad with chicken“

“Great place to watch the games good food“

“The cheeseburger was AMAZING!!!“

“Roberto is the best cook! The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. The best part was the breakfast Saturday morning! Roberto made the best cuisine, the servers Roberto (another) and Adrianna were the most friendly and warm welcoming staff!“

“Gabriel the manager, waiter, bartender, my everything, was outstanding. We were a last minute party of 8. He was attentive, anticipated our needs, accommodating, just over and beyond excellent customer service. The food was great. Oscar assisted us as well and so friendly and great customer service. Highly recommend and thank you for a wonderful experience.“

“Filling in every aspect of the meaning of hunger“

“This was the best buffet I have ever been too. You could tell all the food was being made from scratch. It all tasted authentic. The tortillas were made in front of you and so were the quesabirrias and sopes. $50 per adult 18 for kids over 3 it was well worth it. Our server Ricardo was attentive and friendly“

“overall, it was a good experience. I went there with a couple of friends to have some beers and play some pool. warm and cozy. people were nice. I would probably give it a five star if they had a cocktail waitress to make it easier to get drinks.“

“It was chill, not too crowded, great music. I didnt eat anything, just came for the music.“

“Great work by this group, every year! Fun stuff!“

“Nice place, clean and friendly staff. Most importantly, the food is so awesome. The owner takes pride with his food! Not only the plating looks nice, but it’s so tasty. I don’t even understand those 1 star reviews. Will definitely come back for more!“

“10 out of 10 for me best burger I've ever had so juicy and the Mac and cheese is to die for. They always have great seasonal drinks as a well as a full bar so you can quite literally get whatever you want. Great music and chill vibes not to far off the beach“

“We stayed at the Hilton in Costa Mesa and had coupons for complimentary Continental breakfast 2 mornings. The first morning we upgraded to hot buffet breakfast that included scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, oatmeal. The eggs were powered, the sausage tasted like cardboard and bacon was so-so. The oatmeal was homemade and was good! This breakfast cost $18.00 + tax. The second morning we ordered off the menu and was better choices getting fresh cooked food. My wife had omelet with hash browns and toast and I had eggs Benedict with hashbrowns and tomato slice and coffee. We both enjoyed these menu options!“

“Fun atmosphere, I honestly don’t think it’s meant to have kids 12 and under. Good music while you enjoy your meal“