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.“

“*Ladies, read this* I pass this place all the time and decided to give it a try one night with friends. It's got an up beat vibe, good music, friendly people and some typical sports bar stuff. Pool, darts, other games, so its got somethijg for everyone. The drinks are really great and the bar staff are even better! I will try to post the video I took of one of the male bartenders. He's handsome, super happy and friendly, and really fun to watch make drinks!! Stop by to watch football, it's an Eagles bar, play some games, have a great drink, do a little dancing, watch live bands, or just go watch the bartender do his thing! No matter why you go, it will be a fun time!“

“Perfect place to hang and catch up“

“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.“

“Every year, I got to drive down to OC from the Bay for High School or College Reunion at least once. This time for Cal Poly Reunion over the holidays. My friend gave me a tour on South Coast Plaza at Christmas and it was amazingly beautiful. He took me to the food court in Bloomingdale's that has so many nice restaurants, mostly Asian Fusion instead of going to the VN town for VN food. We just wanted to have a light lunch before a nice dinner later that day.
Blossoms & Brass we tried.
The place is quite small, not many tables, but you can sit outside to have fresh air or NOT LOL. It's clean, modern, hip IMHO. The menu is quite simple. So what should we get. Wagyu Sandwich, $20 is quite reasonable in this beautiful shopping center.
This is one of the best sandwiches of any kind I've had so far. The bread was amazingly crispy and soft prepared. The beef was tender and marinated just right, so tasty. The chips were crispy and need more because I can't stop munching.
I was glad my friend took me here, tried new restaurant, and great food for a reasonable price.
The service was attentive and excellent.
I'll try something new next time I'm down here or NOT. Still remembering the bread and the beef.“

“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!“

“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 :-)“

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

“As someone who always loves to find the speakeasy places in the states, I did have a lot of fun here. I did go on a slow week day and for me that made it more enjoyable with friends. Definitely has a good/fun setup for the speakeasy atmosphere.“

“🌟 Welcome Experience
From the moment we stepped into Ruin Bar, we were transported into a world of moody vibes and cool underground energy. The lighting, the music, and the crowd created an atmosphere that felt both electric and intimate—like we’d discovered a local secret. It was the perfect place to unwind and sip something special. 🎶🕯️

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🍸 Delicious Drinks
Every cocktail was a work of art! The Rye Old Fashioned was bold and smoky with just the right touch of sweetness—classic perfection. The Inca Ruin brought a creative twist that had us intrigued with every sip, while the Bees Knees was light, citrusy, and oh-so-refreshing. Each drink was balanced, flavorful, and made with serious craftsmanship. 🍯🍋🍹

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🙌 Outstanding Service
Huge shoutout to Kim and Jess, the dynamic duo behind the bar! These two bartenders were absolute legends—welcoming, fast, and full of personality. They mixed drinks like pros and made everyone feel like regulars, even if it was their first time there. Their good vibes truly elevated the whole experience. 🙏💫

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💬 Final Thoughts & Recommendation
Ruin Bar is more than just a bar—it’s a vibe, a flavor, and a memory all rolled into one. If you’re craving cocktails with character, crafted by two of the best bartenders around, Kim and Jess will take great care of you. Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur or just out for a good time, this spot is a must-visit. Cheers to unforgettable nights! 🥂💃🌙“

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

“It's just your average bar. During Taco Tuesday they have a food truck come in but the problem is that they don't post prices on the truck itself for some reason. The truck is overpriced and don't really recommend it. The bar itself is decent place with a patio in the back to relax and talk. There is plenty of seating as well.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“I visited Yard House on a Thursday night, which wasn't too busy, but still kinda hyped. I was greeted by the host and sat at the Bar. The drinks were so good. I tried the Lavender lemon drop Martini, and it was amazing. The host recommended their whiskey glazed salmon, and it was absolutely delicious. All the staff were super friendly and I had a great experience at this location.“

“Great place to watch the games good food“

“First time dining here and it was absolutely amazing! The food was delicious, the atmosphere was great, and everything exceeded our expectations. What truly made the experience extra special was our waiter, Roberto. He was incredibly attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable—he made us feel so welcome and taken care of from start to finish. You can tell he genuinely cares about the guests' experience. We will definitely be coming back, and we'll be asking for Roberto!“

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

“Heard about this place from a friend and had the pleasure of visiting during the weekend. Of course we had to try their mimosas and brunch menu!

Food was amazing, and drinks were also delicious. Our server was attentive, overall everything was excellent. We’ll definitely be back.“

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

“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!“

“Filling in every aspect of the meaning of hunger“

“I always thought this was purely a bar, but I can tell you that they have a pretty mean brunch menu! I would highly recommend coming here. It’s dog friendly, the servers are amazing, and despite being so close to Harbor it’s quite quiet.“

“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!“

“Bad experience with a patron. Gave me CRAP about my outfit. I was wearing red flannel and a brown vest and a Cap. He asked why I was wearing that outfit and that I should leave or not wear that attire. My friend tryed to avoid him but he was wasted and kept on going. We asked what he wanted me to wear instead and he said not that. He said my friend looked normal in his brown leather jaled and pullover. But he was not happy with my outfit. Which I just randomly picked out to hide my bear belly. Lol He then asked why am I wearing that and why did I vote for him. (I still did not know what he was talking about) I said I Im not into politics leave us alone. I'm just wearing clothes. He said No, You know what your doing. I said Yes, Im wearing clothes. So he left. Then 20 mins later a girl (Caucasian) comes in and talks to me and my buddy for like 20 minutes. Then my buddy leaves to the restroom and I ask her what is wrong with my outfit. Some guy was being madly racist, and is wrong on me. She said, was he wearing a beanie I said yes. Well he’s Not wrong. She said I’m like what is wrong with you guys I’m just wearing clothes. She said well you shouldn’t be wearing that vest. Cause you’re not a hunter. If you were a hunter the vest would be dirty and your vest is even Hurley brand. You should not wear that and me, and my friend were like OK, so what should I wear? Mexican clothes. She said it’s just different. You wearing that. I’m like I’m just wearing clothes. I’m so confused.“

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

“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“