Best bar in Costa Mesa! Intimate setting with well-priced, well crafted cocktails. Heavy-handed…read morepours, so get ready to be indulged! The decor, furniture, fixtures, and piano were a sight to behold. Definitely coming back!

A very special bar, from the drinks to the decor. I really like that they are open during the day…read moreand also late at night, with mixed indoor and outdoor seating (though the outdoor seating is a bit worn). Vibes are always good. If you have some time while browsing The Lab during the day, I recommend stopping by for a drink! It's also nice to include in your barhopping itinerary in the evening since there are a number of breweries around too. I've had mixed experiences with the bartenders. Luckily, the gentleman manning the bar during my most recent visit was very friendly. Drinks are always great. I've tried a variety of drinks from the menu here, but my favorites are: -Love in Drunk, a lovely cocktail with cucumber and grapefruit flavors that create a fresh watermelon taste when mixed together -Bee's Knees, short but strong and sweet -London Mule, very herbal thanks to the gin and very refreshing

Had my first visit here a couple days ago. Great environment , great service and great food…read more (Although I wish the menu was a bit bigger ) still had plenty of choices to make it work though. Also the Asian lady who was manager was very welcoming

Chris was absolutely spectacular! From the moment we sat down, he made sure our mojitos were…read moreperfect and that every part of our dining experience exceeded expectations. His service was attentive, friendly, and truly made my birthday celebration feel special. The ambiance is incredible, it really gives you a little taste of Cuba with a Miami vibe. The chicken empanadas are an absolute must, and the ropa vieja was packed with authentic flavor. Every bite was delicious. If you're looking for amazing food, great drinks, and outstanding service, this is the place. Chris went above and beyond to make my birthday one to remember, and because of him, we'll definitely be back. Thank you for such a memorable experience!

Get ready to be transported into an old-timey disco cowboy & poodle wonderland. Just walk in, no…read moreneed for a reservation. The speakeasy was super cute and has fun spaces for you to enjoy your drink like a confession booth or a carriage! There were so many things to see in there and each little nook and cranny had its own personality and character. Drinks were great too! Everything that we had were full of flavor and strength. My favorite drink was the hibiscus vodka cocktail. Bar tenders were awesome and personable too. They also had intriguing mocktails too, friendly for those who don't drink. Will need to come back here whenever I'm in the area!

I got curious to try this bar since I always see a line outside, so I was like let's see the hype…read more I guess it being extremely small inside explains the line haha it is very cramped in there. It was still very easy to order at the bar, loved the unique cocktail menu, the drinks were yummy! I am giving it 3 stars since it is very cramped, hard to talk to anyone since it's loud, nowhere really to sit unless you get lucky, and can have a long wait time. Overall not bad if you have time and want to try a more unique cocktail/bar experience.

Super cute and is definitely a 'Newport vibe'. Service was great- thanks Kacy! You honestly go for…read morethe vibes, atmosphere and beachy aesthetics. The drink menu is honestly overpriced, but again, you go for the vibes. Worth it to go and watch the sunset!

The drinks are absolutely amazing and so unique! Our server, Jenna, was extremely pleasant and a…read moredelight to have as a server! More food options would be great, but what they do offer is delish! Great views of the ocean for a great little field trip!

Great ambience and drinks were great Prices are typical like…read moreany other bar~ Clean place too~ Came on a regular Monday night, had indie Spanish music going. Great spot to go if your looking for quiet night -hang out Also~ Shout out to Juan who gave great service and was very patient towards us

We love Kitsch Bar and have always had a good time here, which is why this was so disappointing…read more The bartender, Sofia, completely ruined the vibe for us. She was rude and came off really disrespectful, and at one point said things that felt degrading. It made my boyfriend so uncomfortable that he actually left and went outside just to get away from it. Instead of calming things down, she got more aggressive and tried to intimidate me and my friend into leaving. She straight up told us to go and wouldn't even let me finish my martini. I had a long week and just wanted to relax, and that moment felt so unnecessary and frustrating. We still love Kitsch Bar, but that experience with Sofia was not okay and definitely left a bad impression. Hopefully it's not something others have to deal with.

I came here because of the great reviews, and I couldn't agree more with all of them! The service…read morewas great, as soon as we walked in the gentleman at the front were so welcoming, and our server was just as great! He was very attentive and funny. My mom did say she wished she had more carne asada because it was so good. My Birria plate was so juicy, along with my michelada that was made just as I like it! I would definitely come back. This would be a good place to come for a birthday, as it is a beautiful restaurant.

Playa Mesa has a great atmosphere with beautiful aesthetics. In the evening, the open windows…read morecreate a nice breeze, though they do let a few flies in. The hostess was friendly, and our server was funny and kind. He was a little less attentive as it got busier, but the staff worked well as a team, so we never had to wait for refills or anything we needed. Parking in the back can be a little tight. The birria tacos were packed with flavor, and I loved the inside-out cheese crust. My husband's fajitas were flavorful, although the chicken was a little overdone. The guacamole was excellent, especially with the pepita seeds adding great texture. Overall, we enjoyed the flavorful food, service, and atmosphere. We'd definitely come back!

On a recent Sunday morning, I'd discovered this place (only open on Sundays) -- and determined we…read morewere heading there that evening! Enter the parking lot from Bake. Friendly, welcoming, professional, and attentive service. We ordered the following cocktails -- all beautifully presented, each with fine details (including clear ice cubes), passionately prepared, and with fun-&-uniquely different flavor profiles... unlike any cocktail we'd tasted: Last Cloud, $20 Warm Fade, $20 Kembu Highball, $18 Complimentary (warm) popcorn was appreciatively offered -- and refilled. I understand that the menu changes weekly. Dimly-lit, intimate bar with (if I'm not mistaken) 10 barstools at the bar top and limited seating (I seem to recall about 12) between high top and round tables. Fun to discover another speakeasy!

Such an amazing experience, easily the best cocktails I've had in years. The mixologist putting…read moretogether our drinks was like watching a true artist at work. He is very detail oriented, and you can definitely taste the complexity in the drinks. This speakeasy is open only on Sunday nights from 8pm-1am. There is a dj spinning music to set the mood. Parking is easy and right up front because most of the businesses are closed. I definitely recommend!

Nice little Mexican food spot located where HUB used to be. They don't advertise it on their menu…read morebut they have an unpublished kids menu that includes: grilled chicken with rice and refried beans, chicken strips with French fries or quesadilla (choice of cheese, chicken, or steak) with rice and beans. I really enjoyed the puerto Nuevo enchiladas and my 4 yr old loved them too! He also nearly went face down in the flan with coconut ice cream. My son loves coconut ice cream but now he also loves flan! They have a cool decor in the restaurant and it's very modern. There's a bathroom at the end and they have high chairs if you need them. Service was great and we'd come back again.

Palenque in Costa Mesa definitely nails the moody, Instagram-friendly aesthetic, but once you get…read morepast the low lighting and chic decor, it feels a bit more like a scene than a real value. It's a fun spot to grab a drink for the ambiance, but as a full meal, it leaves a lot to be desired. The food itself is okay--the quesa birria tacos have decent flavor and the carne asada comes with a nice char--but given the steep prices, you expect way better execution and more generous portions. Paying high-end money for pretty standard street food staples dressed up on nice plateware just feels overpriced. Service was fine enough, nothing to complain about, but the value just isn't there for what they're charging. On top of that, parking can be a bit challenging since it's tucked away in kind of a weird location. If you're going purely for photos, fancy cocktails, and a trendy date night backdrop, it fits the bill, but if you're looking for great food value, there are much better spot-on Mexican joints in OC.