Vaca brings Spain to SoCal via three-time Top Chef competitor chef Amar Santana. We’re big fans of the Bocadillos, or Spanish sandwiches, with vegetables or tuna. It’s our mission to get through the entire tapas menu someday, but it’s hard when we absolutely have to save room for the paella. 

Officially known as California Scenario, this sculpture landscape is like being transported to another world, but it stays grounded in the indigenous plants and materials of California. It’s a vital, peaceful outdoor space, and it feels like getting lost and finding something vital at the same time. Our favorites are the Forest Walk and Desert Land. 

Consistently hailed by diners and critics alike as “masterful” by the Los Angeles Daily News and “high end” by the Los Angeles Times, Mastro’s Steakhouse is serving the finest mouthwatering hand-cut prime steaks and fresh seafood with live music, while also striving for excellence in guest service and a distinct ambiance. Some of the noted dishes besides its signature 400-degree steak plates are carefully crafted lobster mashed potatoes, a two-foot-tall seafood tower, and a melt-in-your-mouth butter cake. 

Costa Mesa is the home of South Coast Plaza, one of the most prestigious shopping destinations in the world. With more than 250 boutiques and restaurants, this luxury shopping destination has one of the largest concentration of high-fashion retailers in the world and the highest concentration of design and fashion retail in the U.S.

Hana Field by Tanaka Farms is a hands-on farm experience in Costa Mesa where visitors can explore fields, pick fresh produce, join guided tours and workshops, and learn about sustainable, organic farming. With seasonal activities, educational programs, and a farm stand full of fresh goods and local finds, it’s an easy, feel-good escape into nature for all ages.

MoonGoat Greenhouse is where sunlight and good coffee flow in equal measure. With its airy design and plenty of space to unwind, it’s perfect for catching up, working, or simply taking a break. And while you’re there, take a stroll through the nearby Noguchi Garden — the ultimate spot for a peaceful pause in your itinerary.

Commissioned by Henry Segerstrom for the new Orange County Performing Arts Center that he generously donated to the city of Costa Mesa. Fire Bird is a major architectural sculpture of enormous scale created by Richard Lippold. Lippold’s Fire Bird is really about the colors and rhythms of music and how they relate to the asymmetric architecture of Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is one of the nation’s most respected multi-disciplinary cultural institutions. It offers an impressive range of programming—from award-winning and fan-favorite Broadway productions such as Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Phantom of the Opera, and Cats to acclaimed orchestra performances, concerts, and a variety of free community events throughout the year.

The LAB—short for “Little American Business”—went from an old goggle factory to Costa Mesa’s favorite artsy hangout for people to enjoy unique shops and eateries. It’s the laid-back heart of the SoBeCa Arts District, where cafes, shops, murals, and music all blend together into one big creative vibe. With rotating art, quirky installations, and cozy spots like the Living Room and the wishing tree, The LAB always feels colorful, fun, and very human.

Mitsuwa Marketplace is a Japanese-style market that features hard-to-find foods and delicacies, as well as baked goods modeled after those in Japan. Its centerpiece is the food court that serves mostly Japanese cuisine, everything from house-made udon and ramen to slivers of freshly cut sushi.