Where to Eat, Stay, and Play in Costa Mesa—Orange County’s City of the Arts

Orange County’s Costa Mesa, California, is a tale of two cities: On one side of the 405 freeway you’ll find South Coast Plaza, one of the largest shopping malls in the country and the largest in all of California, along with the epicenter of the Orange County arts scene and high-end restaurants. On the other side, you’ll find a contrast to their bustling neighbor across the freeway—open-air shopping centers with a locals-only flair featuring standout breweries, activities, and food. Called The Lab Anti-Mall and The Camp, they are not your average indoor mall (the ones that originally opened in the 80s, 90s, and early aughts), but also not your average shopping center; you’ll just have to see for yourself. The Camp is an outdoor mall of sorts with environmentalism on the mind, while also supporting hyperlocal businesses. While tourists often chose Orange County’s iconic coastal cities for their travels—Costa Mesa’s westernmost border is just over a mile from the ocean—the City of the Arts leaves little left to be desired. What’s now the Orange County Fair and Event Center, was the Santa Ana Army Air Base during WWII, which brought thousands to the area, many of w