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    Ruin Bar

    4.1 (475 reviews)
    Open 3:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

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    RUIN BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - Ruin Bar

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    Valerie G.

    Super duper cute place to have a drink. Drinks were tasty and strong. Fast and friendly service. Would love it even more, if it was roomier. It's so small, you can easily bump into people. But it's a place that I'd definitely like to go back

    Nicole E.

    The ruin bar is a speakeasy in the lab at Costa Mesa. It has a really cute patio feel with twinkle lights. Otherwise, the inside is dark and intimate which holds to the speakeasy vibe. The bartenders here are phenomenal especially Jess she makes great conversation and makes some great cocktails. Big fan of the cocktail list here! I really enjoy the halo halo and love in drunk. My hubby loves the espresso martini here. This is a great spot for drinks especially for a late night cap on the weekends.

    Criss N.

    I love Ruin Bar! The decor and seating options are what make this bar really special. Many seats are couches, discarded carnival ride pieces, and comfy stools. There is always a fun piece of art to look at and drinks are delicious.

    Yesterday's Feelings cocktail
    Doug B.

    We are always looking for new speakeasies, Tiki, bars, and other interesting bars to explore. I always search on Yelp and Google for new places, and somehow Ruin Bar has eluded us for years until now. Ruin Bar is located in The Lab which is a small outdoor mall area in Costa Mesa which has a variety of small shops and places to get food and drink. The parking lot is actually pretty big, but has a reputation for always being full. We arrived at 5:30pm on a Thursday evening and got one of the last few available spaces, so I can only imagine what it is like later in the evening and on weekends. I wouldn't quite say it is a speakeasy, but it has many speakeasy vibes. The location is not 100% plainly identified and we had to ask the host at an adjacent restaurant where it was. When I try to think of how to describe it, I think this is the kind of place you would find in a postapocalyptic world. A small abandoned looking space obscured by overgrown vegetation and filled with a random collection of knick-knacks inside and out. It has the greatest vibe and totally works. There is a small outdoor patio that makes you feel like you're deep in the woods. The seating and tables are an interesting collection of totally different things. When you walk inside, it is almost like entering a museum. There is so much to see, so many things on the walls, things above, and different small seating areas. We had an early dinner at one of the restaurants here at The Lab and arrived at Ruin Bar around 6pm so it wasn't very busy yet. This worked much to our advantage, as I think we got the best seats in the house inside the ski tram. It is definitely the most intimate place to sit with four small seats inside, a very small wood table on the side which can hold a few drinks, stringy curtains, and lights above which rotate colors when it starts to get dark outside. There was some great music from the 70's and 80's being played. To get drinks, go to the bar at the back and place your order. The bartender(s) will make them right next to where you order, and call out your drink when it is ready. I started out with the Halo Halo which is a play on a popular Filipino cold desert. It comes in a large schooner glass and has a great purple color. You can taste the macadamia, coconut, and ube flavors with the rum there nicely in the background. It also has some creaminess from the oat milk. It comes with a spoon and is topped with has a variety of sweet items including fruity pebbles, two cherries, two sour watermelon slices, a papaya slice, coconut flakes, and I think the other topping was a date paste of some sort. This adult milkshake-like cocktail is definitely unique! My girlfriend started with An Incan Ruin, which had a nice red color and was garnished with a lit piece of Palo Santo wood of that had a nice aroma. It was well balanced and had some complexity. To start the second round, I ordered the Yesterday's Feelings drink which is served in a blood bag with a straw. It was a nice light lemony vodka drink, and there was a slice of kiwi fruit in the bag. Her second drink was the Love In Drunk which was a nice pink drink with a cucumber garnish. It was also a nice light vodka drink, and the grapefruit and guava flavors were there nicely in the background. It also had a little fizz. We decided to share one last drink and ordered the Estoy Enamorado. I usually don't like the strong smokiness of Mezcal, but some places are doing a great job of toning that down and this one is an amazing cocktail. The mint leaf garnish starts you off with a great aroma. The orange sherbert does an excellent job of adding a nice light orange flavor and some creaminess. Combine that with the coconut cream and the smokiness of the Mezcal is toned down to the absolute perfect level. There's also a little spiciness from the Ancho Reyes Chile liqueur. This cocktail is one of the best I've had in a while, and I can't wait to have another one soon. Kim and Jess were excellent bartenders and so friendly. They were totally up for chit-chat since we got there early and it wasn't super busy yet. If you have never been here, definitely add Ruin Bar to the top of your list of places to visit.

    Hula Hula

    Located at The Lab in Costa Mesa, the Ruin bar is nestled in a quiet grove of trees. Our party visited on a recent evening when the spot was packed. The line was enormous, extending to the courtyard, and we patiently waited our turn while gazing at the whimsical and bizarre items strewn throughout the bar. Amongst the collection of strange things were sculptures and a gumball machine, which did not seem to be functioning. I ordered the Hula Hula cocktail, which arrived with many curious additions that were not part of the ingredients on the menu. The goblet was layered with coconut, gummy bears, cherries, breakfast cereal, and other sweet treats. I enjoyed the drink itself, but not the extra toppings.

    Bar area
    Sydney F.

    Ruin was a cool vibe, very limited seating and a small space but fun decor and drinks. Average price wasn't too far off a normal bar and I especially liked the various types of moscow mules. Both the Angeleno and the Italian were a fun twist on the classic drink. Would come back but be prepared to stand and probably not great with a huge group.

    Crystal Z.

    What can I say...? This place was evaaahhhh--reee--thing we wanted and more. Visiting from AZ and we try to make it a point to try new speakeasy bars and this bar was everything. We came on a Friday when they opened at 2 and had the bar to ourselves for awhile. Highly recommend that if you have never been here. It's smaller than I thought it would be based on reviews and photos but it's such a vibe in here. My fiancée is a photographer and we had a field day shooting in here. The bartender was amazing. Amazing with recommendations and even suggestions for other locations in different cities. Every cocktail we had was delicious and very balanced. It was a hot day out and this hit the spot!

    Stella L.

    Stopped by while waiting for a dinner reservation nearby and was happy to come across this cute, quirky spot. The ambiance is playful and unique with a cozy and intimate feel despite the small space. Ordered the Baby One More Thyme and Estoy Enamorado which were both delicious and well-balanced. Worth a visit if you're in the area.

    Inside
    Sepideh S.

    've been to Rune Bar countless times, and it never disappoints. I absolutely love their cocktails and the beautiful design -- it's truly one of the most unique bars in Costa Mesa and all of Orange County. Whether you're sitting inside or out, the vibe is always amazing. The bartenders are fantastic, and it's the perfect spot to enjoy great drinks and even better company. Such a gem!

    Entrance!
    Marjan N.

    A unique and vibrant spot offering a diverse selection of drinks, from creative new mixes to timeless classics, plus both wine and beer list. We were warmly welcomed and the fun began the moment we placed our order and watched our drinks being beautifully crafted with care and flair. Both the indoor and outdoor seating areas are enchanting, creating the perfect setting for creativity, connection, and good vibes all around. I was having such a wonderful time, I forgot I was in the middle of OC on a Sunday night. I'll be back to be be transported!

    Prom Date
    Sharona M.

    Ruin Bar is a small, hipster-y, speakeasy bar located beside Habana. Seating is cute limited and it's got some funky seating outside. The drinks are tasty and strong. We liked the cocktail Prom Date. Workers are super hipster. Inside they are playing Shrek on the television. I think I've said everything that needs to be said here.

    Left: espresso martini ($19). Right: paloma ($17)
    Brian F.

    Ruin Bar is located at The Lab in Costa Mesa next to Habana. The entrance is directly to the left of the main entrance at Habana but because it all kind of looks the same, you might miss it like we did. They have indoor and outdoor seating, but there isn't much throughout and might be standing room only if it gets really busy. We ordered the espresso martini ($19) and the paloma ($17). The espresso martini was very cold (a positive) and was really good! The paloma was also refreshing and the sparking grapefruit soda really accentuated the grapefruit flavors in the drink. We ordered at the counter and they made our drinks while we waited. When we went there was only one person making all the cocktails which was very impressive given there was a long line and we didn't wait too long for ours.

    Belle L.

    Popular bar with speakeasy vibes. Got the massive ube drink that I didn't realize would be so large. There was a lot going on with the drink and it honestly tasted like a dessert in a drink. Love the cocktails and vibes. Fun place for a date or small group gathering.

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    2 months ago

    The love in drunk is my absolute favorite drink of all time. Love the atmosphere and the area. Favorite bar is all of Costa Mesa.

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    Ask the Community - Ruin Bar

    Can food be brought into the bar?

    Does Ruin Bar have an pick up or delivery options?

    No we do not.

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yes and cats 🐱

    Is there an age limit?

    21 and over

    Is this bar family friendly?

    It's a bar so if your family is 21 and over then the answer is yes. 😬

    Does this place have a full bar? Or all soju based?

    Full bar! Strong drinks.

    Are reservations needed?

    No this just a normal bar with no food so come and leave as you wish

    What are their weekly specials?

    Hi Pilar, We have have happy hour on our soju based cocktails for $6 Tuesday and Wednesday from… Read more

    Is it a good place to meet single girls?

    depends on what night.

    View All 18 Questions

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    Verdant

    Verdant

    4.0(33 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    We were going to OCMA so my friend suggested we dine at Verdant which is in the museum, or at least…read moreit used to be. We checked in at the museum front desk and my friend said we were going up to restaurant on the third floor. The person at the desk said they moved it and it was on the first floor now. She pointed over to what I knew to be the snack bar that had been there since opening. We went over and sure enough it was just drinks snacks and a few pre-packaged light meals. I have to guess they just quietly went away.

    I'd like to start out by thanking our server, Christian for being very accommodating and helping us…read moreout on Sunday! I had made a reservation online for 6 people at 12:30pm and my reservation was accepted. When we got to the museum, we were told the restaurant was closing at 12:30pm and I felt very upset. Why was the reservation accepted then? When I got to Verdant, there was no one in sight. The restaurant was empty and there was 1 other party, but no staff. I actually ended up making my way near the kitchen, and that's where I found Christian, who appeared really busy. He explained that they had a wedding later that day and had to close at 1pm for set up. He still sat our party and was very kind, accommodating and helpful. He gave me a great tip and said when making cafe reservations, it's best to call ahead, because they do sometimes have event buy outs. As far as the ambiance, it is a really beautiful space. But, it was SO cold. It seemed like the AC was on full blast. The food was pretty good, but the menu seemed to change since I was there last.

    Photos
    Verdant
    Verdant
    Verdant - Setting up...

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    Setting up...

    The Great Room

    The Great Room

    4.3(6 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    The great room is a restaurant within the Weston. It's got a casual but ups ale type vibe. I had…read morebreakfast there and it was on point. I had the classic American breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns and sourdough toast. The servers were attentive without being too present. I always appreciate that. I'd come back tomorrow if I was staying another night.

    Brunch at The Great Room in Costa Mesa was such a classy casual vibe. The ambience feels modern and…read morerelaxed, and we had a lovely view of the fountain outside which made everything feel a little more elevated and serene. We ordered the Lox and Bagel with smoked salmon, capers, cream cheese, pickled red onions, fresh dill, and sun dried roasted tomatoes. The salmon was fresh and silky, and I loved the brightness from the pickled onions and dill. The roasted tomatoes added a nice depth of flavor. I also had the white crab white omelette with spinach and substituted the fruit for hash browns. The omelette was light and fluffy, and the crab added a subtle sweetness. The hash browns were crispy and satisfying. Cappuccinos were great, rich, smooth, and perfectly foamy. Just note they are nine dollars each, which feels a little steep, but they were well made. Service was pretty good overall, attentive and friendly without being overbearing. Overall, a solid four stars. Great atmosphere, quality brunch options, and a polished setting that feels perfect for a relaxed weekend catch up. I would come back for the vibes and the cappuccino.

    Photos
    The Great Room - Fire Table

    Fire Table

    The Great Room
    The Great Room

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    Ruin Bar - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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