24 Best Cafes in Costa Mesa

“Honestly AMAZING! I was skeptical at first because it was in an office space but MAN that breakfast burrito was soooooo good! Exactly what I wanted. Light, good amount of meat and cheese and not greasy. I got a Vietnamese coffee to go with it and it was also delicious! I will be coming back :)“

“my sister forgot about me so I waited here. It's by her work. Really good spot to wait around for your sister who forgot about you. Here's a pic of me waiting for her in their outdoor seating. Coffee and food very good. Would come back even if I weren't waiting for my sister.“

“Ah, where do I begin? I’m so happy that I don’t have to go to Westminster or Garden Grove for some decent matcha now! Their chai is so good as well. I’m going to be a regular for sure. It’s a lovely atmosphere, the seats are nice. I can’t speak on their coffee just yet, but I’m more of a tea girl anyway.“

“Such a gem of a coffee spot! This cute little neighborhood café has quickly become one of my go-tos. They have a lot of different flavors so you can customize your cold foam. Everything tastes fresh and thoughtfully made. Their cold brew is bold but super smooth no bitterness at all 👏 and they have tons of great milk options from Straus.
The vibe is welcoming, perfect for grabbing a quick morning coffee or hanging out for a bit. You can tell they care about quality and the small details. Highly recommend if you’re in the area and want something that feels local and special! 🌿☕️✨“

“άψογο μαγαζί και άψογη εξυπηρέτηση“

“Perfect place for lunch sandwiches and burritos. All Fresh Dailey Patio dining Great.“

“Amazingly wholesome food. I came across this local business and it was so well prepared, you could taste the love and care that goes into their meals. I spoke with the owner as I was waiting for my food and you can tell that he really cares about his customers and preparing quality food. They cater too! If you are staying at the Hilton, you must try out this place!“

“The iced chai, churro latte (hot or cold) and their bagels are to die for. I live out of state but cannot wait to go back when I’m in So Cal! Employees are so nice too - seems as though they are very happy working there:)“

“So much fun! Been here multiple times. Had so much fun the first time I had to bring back my adult daughters to check it out. Can’t wait for the next trip.“

“This place was our family favorite brunch place prePandemic (before kids got married). After pandemic: price went up ridiculously. For two of us (me and hubby) $100 and we don’t even drink alcohol - just food and tip
We would still go there here and there but not like we used to. They won’t miss us cuz it’s always packed.

Service: service is good. I prefer servers here than Urth cafe in Laguna.

Space is clean for such a busy place. I haven’t yet to use bathroom so —-
Only thing is that it’s very very noisy. I guess people are happy there.“

“Love our experience at Eightfold Tea Shoppe this past weekend. The girl working was very efficient and was straightforward with us letting us know that the drinks were going to take a little bit longer than usual as there were several orders ahead of us and she was the only one at the moment. It was definitely worth the wait, the drinks were made to perfection; good balance with the tea taste and sweetness. We ordered the Earl grey cheese cream and mango swirl.

Will definitely be coming back next time we are in the area.“

“We always eat here before the theatre. Food is great, service is great, and very convenient. I like dining and then walking over to the theatre.“

“Iʻm from Hawaii so I was so happy to see that a 7 leaves still existed after pandemic! They make the best thai tea in my opinion but their vietnamese coffee is hands down so fresh and tasty. The employee was patient, funny & kind. He even have us a sample lf the Holiday Peppermint Coffee Drink, sooo good! The place was still cute and cozy! Love it! Aloha!“

“Went with my mom and sister. I had the soup and caprese. My sister had the ceaser salad and my mom had the ravioli. The food was yummy and the service was on point. The crowd is chill and the lighting and decore perfect for my headache from shopping....Anyway check it out“

“friendly, knowledgeable staff. I let them know it was my first time and they took the time to explain everything in detail. They even put on the cup "enjoy your first time " the coffee is outstanding!“

“Pretty much what I expected except the food which was tastier than I thought it would be (arguably the best part). It's obviously built for take away. Service workers were pleasant, preparation time wasn't too long, all food comes in take away containers, inside was stuffy and hot so I wouldn't eat inside. There were 3 small 2-person tables outside. Prices were more than I thought they'd be, but of course it's Orange County so that is true everywhere it seems. Over 10 dollars for most things. I ended up getting the French toast because it was only 7.99 and it was better than I thought it was gonna be for being one of the cheapest things on the menu.“

“Sunday morning breakfast was excellent. It was my first visit, and Bob introduced me to this charming spot. The Hearty Oats and English Breakfast tea were absolutely delicious. The staff was friendly and helpful, and I really enjoyed the period music.“

“Most of the one star reviews are B.S. hahaha

Let go through complaints I’ve seen line by line:

1) Service expectations :

It’s a coffee shop, having service expectations more in line with Mastro's is silly. Most of the Clerks are young, not mid career professionals, have some grace lol!

2) People parking in your neighborhood

this place is popular, and it’s located right next to a neighborhood with plenty of free parking. Yes it sucks that people park in-front of your house all the time. But you also live right by the beach. Parking is always awful near the beach??? In addition, where salty horses patrons park isn’t a reflection of the restaurant.

3) small portion sizes

Yes the coffees are small, and it can be expensive, I wish it were cheaper too, and I wish they offered at least 2 sizes. That being said, their prices aren’t out of line with what other nice coffee shops charge. Affordability is an issue for everyone, and it’s not fair that everything should be so expensive,

Overall, salty horses has a great costal cowboy atmosphere, great coffee and great food.

You can expect to spend 16ish dollars for an entree and 8ish dollars for a latte or matcha“

“Service was amazing and food was great! I’m in a food coma with the sample Mimosas that put me into the coma“

“Quiet place on your way to the bridge that connects the two malls. First off the floors, display windows, counters are clean. It's a French place with freshly baked pastries, cakes, chocolate loafs, baguettes, sandwiches, salads, coffee, champagne and imported goods from France. I recently discovered this place. Their salads are so big and very fresh. They offer a few selections...a beet salad, chicken pesto Ceasar and a House salad. Their sandwiches are also made that day and once they are gone they are gone. The girls are super friendly with that French flair and ready to box up a whole lot of goodness for you. So much selection for a petite place. Skip that Yu Cake that isn't even fresh but bussed in from God knows where and try this place. It's so affordable and a step up from homemade. They offer umbrella seating outside and because it overseas the garden and water ponds... it's really charming.“

“This is small place. They have a very good variety of coffee. I love the Ethiopian. I kind of retired my Nesspresso machine because of the Wilson Coffee. 😱“

“The cakes and tarts are great, but unfortunately they don't have an oven and don't heat up their croissants! Which is a bummer because cold and stale aren't the best. But other pastries like mille feuille and lemon tart were incredible. Best mille feuille I've had in OC! There's no place to sit inside the cafe, but you can take your food and pastries to the general complex with portola etc, and there's lots of open seating spaces there“

“Nan & Reece Make the Armani Cafe Shine!

My visit to the Armani Cafe at South Coast Plaza was a lovely escape and honestly, the service made the experience truly exceptional. It's chic, comfy and elevated, but the atmosphere remains incredibly warm and inviting, thanks entirely to the fantastic team.

I have to give a massive shoutout to Nan and Reece. They are always amazing and welcoming every single time I stop by! Their friendly faces and professionalism make you feel cozy and right at home.

The desserts are just as impressive as the service. If you have a sweet tooth, you're in luck. The selection is divine—I particularly enjoyed the flaky, buttery croissants and lemon ricotta cookies are to die for - I highly recommend popping in to treat yourself!“

“This is a learning experience for chefs and servers. So, knowing that your experience is different every time. It is hard to get reservations, and you need to be added to an email list that goes out and sign up quickly. The meals are themed.“