Ask anyone who lives here why they love Costa Mesa, and the food scene comes up almost as often as the weather. For a city of just over 110,000 people, Costa Mesa punches far above its weight when it comes to restaurants, coffee, and craft beer. You'll find Michelin-recognized kitchens, hole-in-the-wall taco spots, third-wave coffee roasters, and a brewery district that draws people from all over Orange County.
As a Costa Mesa-based real estate team, we spend a lot of time showing buyers around the city — and the conversation almost always drifts to where to eat. So here's our local guide to the best restaurants, cafes, and breweries in Costa Mesa in 2026. Consider it part lifestyle tour, part reminder of why this is one of the best places to live in Orange County.
The LAB Anti-Mall and The CAMP
If you only have time to visit one corner of Costa Mesa for food and atmosphere, make it the stretch of Bristol Street where The LAB Anti-Mall and The CAMP sit across from each other. These twin outdoor centers are the heartbeat of the city's creative culture, packed with independent restaurants, boutiques, and shaded patios.
Over at The CAMP, you'll find longtime favorites serving everything from plant-based bowls to wood-fired pizza, all set among string lights and drought-friendly landscaping. The LAB leans a little more vintage and eclectic, with coffee, casual eats, and one of the most walkable hangout vibes in the city. For new residents, this area is an easy introduction to what makes Costa Mesa feel different from the more buttoned-up parts of Orange County.
The 17th Street and Eastside Dining Corridor
17th Street is the everyday dining backbone of Eastside Costa Mesa, and it's one of the reasons homes in that neighborhood stay in such high demand. Within a short drive you have neighborhood Italian spots, sushi bars, brunch cafes, and quick-service gems that locals return to week after week.
This corridor is especially popular with the young professionals and families who gravitate toward Eastside for its walkability and proximity to Newport Beach. If you want to understand why this pocket commands a premium, spend a Saturday morning grabbing coffee and a pastry here and watching the neighborhood come alive. Curious how Eastside stacks up against other areas? Our Costa Mesa neighborhoods guide breaks down each one.
Costa Mesa's Craft Beer and Brewery Scene
Few people realize that Costa Mesa quietly became one of Southern California's strongest craft beer hubs. Tucked into the industrial pockets off Placentia Avenue and along the Westside, a cluster of independent breweries has turned former warehouses into some of the most popular weekend gathering spots in the county.
What makes the local brewery scene special is how community-driven it is. Many of these taprooms welcome dogs and kids, host food trucks, and run trivia nights, run clubs, and live music. For homeowners on the Westside, having a walkable or bikeable brewery district has become a genuine lifestyle perk — and a selling point we mention often when listing homes in the area.
When buyers ask what's changed most about Costa Mesa over the past decade, the answer is the Westside. The arts, the food trucks, and the breweries transformed it from overlooked to in-demand.
Coffee Shops and Cafes Worth the Trip
Costa Mesa takes its coffee seriously. The city is home to specialty roasters and independent cafes that have built loyal followings well beyond the city limits. Whether you're a remote worker looking for a reliable laptop-friendly spot or just someone who appreciates a properly pulled espresso, you'll find your regular order here.
A few things make the local cafe scene stand out:
- Variety of settings — from sleek minimalist roasteries to cozy neighborhood corners with outdoor seating.
- Remote-work friendly — many spots offer fast Wi-Fi and plenty of outlets, a real draw as more buyers prioritize home offices and nearby workspaces.
- Walkable clusters — in neighborhoods like Eastside and the Westside, your morning coffee is often a short stroll away.
For remote workers and downsizers especially, easy access to good coffee and a third place to gather can shape which neighborhood feels like home. It's one of the lifestyle factors we encourage buyers to weigh alongside price and square footage.
South Coast Metro: Dining Meets World-Class Shopping
On the north end of the city, the South Coast Metro area pairs Orange County's largest shopping destination with an impressive lineup of upscale restaurants. This is where you go for a special-occasion dinner, business lunch, or a night out before a show at the nearby performing arts center.
The dining here skews more refined and polished than the casual Westside scene, which is part of what gives Costa Mesa such range. You can grab tacos and a craft beer one night and enjoy a white-tablecloth dinner the next — all without leaving the city. For condo and townhome buyers who want urban convenience, this part of town is hard to beat.
Why the Food Scene Matters When You Buy
It might seem unusual for a realtor to spend this much time talking about restaurants, but lifestyle is a huge part of any home purchase. The neighborhoods with the strongest dining, coffee, and brewery scenes tend to hold their value well, attract steady buyer demand, and simply make day-to-day life more enjoyable.
When we work with buyers, we don't just talk about square footage and school zones — we talk about what your weekends will look like, where you'll grab dinner on a Tuesday, and which neighborhood matches the way you actually want to live. That local perspective is the difference between buying a house and finding the right home.
Thinking about making Costa Mesa your home base? Start with a free home value estimate, browse our current listings, or contact the More Real Estate Team for a personalized tour of the neighborhoods — and the restaurants — that fit your lifestyle.