Costa Mesa is a community in Orange County, California, located between Newport Beach on the coast, and Santa Ana and Irvine. The city is popular for its large, diverse shopping malls and districts, its performing arts centers and events, and its convenient proximity to the ocean. Visitors spend time in Costa Mesa to experience Broadway shows, world-class shopping, and exquisite dining. The Orange County Fair is held in Costa Mesa annually, and there are three popular golf courses in town.
Costa Mesa is just a few blocks inland from Newport Beach and it’s easy to see why it’s known as the City of the Arts™. Costa Mesa is the home of Segerstrom Center for the Arts, which presents all the top Broadway shows, concerts and even independent first-run plays at South Coast Repertory. Throughout the city, you can find sculpture installations by world-famous artists such as Isamu Noguchi and Joan Miró.
Visitors to Costa Mesa can also experience the art of shopping at the world-famous South Coast Plaza. This enormous shopping center has over 250 boutique shops and 30 restaurants, and you could easily spend a day here shopping dozens of high-end luxury brands – like Gucci, Prada and Dior – and enjoying the award-winning restaurants or VIP access hospitality suite.
But there are other shopping districts in Costa Mesa accessible for every budget. 17th Street is a large outdoor promenade with a diversity of local boutique shops and restaurants that suit every budget. For a more artsy, independent shopping vibe, visit The LAB or The CAMP, where you’ll find alternative clothing shops and cafés that feature musical acts, art shows, and poetry readings. Eco-friendly stores offer the latest in sustainable green products, and you’ll find lounges, wine bars and other great entertainment there. Also, look for Orange County events at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa, including the top-rated OC Fair.
The Costa Mesa and Newport Beach area has a mix of hotels, vacation rentals, resorts and RV camping. Costa Mesa is located in Orange County off the 405 Freeway and 55 Freeway (Costa Mesa Freeway), south of Santa Ana, and north of Newport Beach. Otherwise, you can take the Pacific Coast Highway to Newport Beach and head north a few blocks to reach Costa Mesa. To learn more about Costa Mesa hotels, attractions and activities, explore the navigation to the left.
