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    The Wayfarer

    3.9 (318 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    The Wayfarer Photos

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    THE WAYFARER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    DJ
    Live music
    Very loud
    Hipster

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    Recommended Reviews - The Wayfarer

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    Reviews With Photos

    Legend Zeppelin JUN2025
    Franklin M.

    Drove out here to see another tribute band called Legend Zeppelin. I had bought my tickets in advance through Eventbrite and had the ticket loaded on my phone's wallet. They don't have a scanner for the QR code so I had to show an email or be on the printed list with the names of all the prepaid tickets. Despite this drawback the staff was very nice and I enjoyed a night listening to some classic rock music.

    Elaine L.

    This place definitely deserves zero stars! I came here with about a group of 20 people for the Death Cab Karaoke event last Saturday night. We were all having a great time until the bartender started being rude to my fiancé! When my fiancé and a friend of ours went to the bar to grab another drink the bartender responded by saying, "Fuck that! You tip like shit! I'm not serving you"! He also slammed the bottle that was in his hand against the bar top as he said that comment. First of all, my fiancé was tipping every single time he bought drinks! Secondly, tipping is not mandatory! After the comment was made, my fiancé walked away and went outside because he no longer felt welcomed. He did not react or talk back to the bartender whatsoever but as he walked outside of the venue one of the bartenders walked outside and stood in front of venue with one of the staff members at the entrance booth. They were watching my fiancé because they probably were assuming that he might react to what the bartender said. When our party decided to leave the event my fiancé said have a good night to the bartender and the other staff member standing in front. But they both defensively responded by saying, "What did you say"!? As my fiancé repeated himself both the guys ignored him and didn't say anything back to him. It was a bummer because we had a great time at the event and the venue was nice but the bartender was just rude! Here's a photo of the bartender that refused to serve my fiancé!

    Nachos and Chicken Cesar
    Soraya S.

    Absolutely wonderful food for a bar. Nachos were amazing and would come back just for them. Cesar was a little underwhelming but the flavor of Nachos made up for it. Cute place for live music. pool. relaxing.

    Pulled Pork sliders

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    11 months ago

    The great band legend zeppelin was there for concert I'd enjoy the drink and play pool

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    2 years ago

    Miguel makes the best margaritas! Great taco Tuesday, be sure to ask for him specifically

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    Love the Friday night live music. Must do if you like alternative music. The band is amazing and drinks are decently priced

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - The Wayfarer

    Is seating first come first serve?

    Yes it is but they have a good number of table seating for dining .

    Do they serve food during concert nights & if so until what time? :)

    Hi Lively, food is served during concerts until 10pm.

    Do you have a karaoke night?

    Yes, every Sunday night 9:30-1:30

    Sunday have Live Music?

    Sundays is Karaoke

    Are you still doing trivia nights on Tuesday?

    Yes we are Jacqueline!

    For shows, do they kick people out at a certain time so they can start collecting the cover charge?

    No, if you're inside prior, they don't charge you. But once the bands start playing they start charging to enter.

    Is it 21+?

    Yes they are ...

    What's the average age?

    26 to 34

    View All 23 Questions

    Review Highlights - The Wayfarer

    Is definitely doesn't have the same shows that the Detroit bar but that place was pretty legendary...

    Mentioned in 21 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Cafe Sevilla - Paella

    Cafe Sevilla

    4.2(1.8k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Cafe Sevilla This place is honestly another favorite spots…read morein Orange County. I've even bought gift cards here just to give to family because I love it that much. The whole experience is what makes it special--the ambiance, the Latin flavors, the service, everything is on point. But what really sets it apart is the folklórico dance performance. You don't just eat here, you get a full experience. It feels like a beautiful little piece of Spain brought to Costa Mesa. The dinner is like a full three-course experience while you watch the dancers, and it's just so memorable and unique. If you're in Orange County, this is a must-visit spot--you really should treat yourself at least once. Also, if you stay after dinner, it opens up into a club and you don't have to pay entrance into the club. They have a nice bar outside, so the ambience is flowing Ali he with drinks. The evenings that I've stayed after they have two rooms OK they have a DJ room and then they have the band room, I don't know if they have a band every single night but the times I've been there they do and I like that you one room is very club vibe and then you can go into the band room and it's more like salsa lit up vibing. I myself still have a gift card for their café side that I'm excited to use soon and check out. Can't wait to go back this week.

    I go to Sevilla usually once a week on Sundays, for Salsa/Bachata dancing. And while I love the…read moreevent, I have to say the fact that this establishment still allows SMOKING on the patio is really disturbing. People are actively moving therefore they breathe that disgusting stuff twice as much. And don't let me start on breathing that while eating! For me personally...I already ended up in the hospital, because of second hand smoking, once. And I really don't want to do it again. Also what would be handy...is another LIVE bartender. Whoever is there so far looks like he's there as a punishment. Wanted to order a drink at the bar and the guy totally overlooked me. and that's not the first time. So yes...if the place can fix these two things, it would be a way more pleasant experience for, as I believe, many. Thank you.

    Photos
    Cafe Sevilla - Full indoor bar

    Full indoor bar

    Cafe Sevilla - Bacon Wrapped Dates, Potatoes, and Meatballs.

    Bacon Wrapped Dates, Potatoes, and Meatballs.

    Cafe Sevilla - Espresso.

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    Espresso.

    Tiki Bar - Stage area

    Tiki Bar

    2.8(189 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Bar is fun but beware of the taco lady. She nabbed me for an extra $20. I was totally sober and…read morehanded her $20 for a $9 dollar order and asked her to add a quesadilla to my order ( which was 3 tacos) then she asked for the total of two orders. -$24. $9 for 3 tacos and $15 I guess for a carne asada quesadilla. I handed her $20 and she repeated "$24". I told her I just gave you a $20 -she said no. I had just taken out $80 from their ATM so I know it wasn't in my wallet because I only had $60. I canceled the quesadilla And said screw it- paid her the extra $20. So basically $29 for 3 street tacos. And went in my way. She is sneaky. Probably gets away with this on buzzed dudes in the bar.

    I had a couple drinks at a live music show Ashley Felton and Daniel Bonte and the Bona Fide, I…read moredidn't have any food. The sound system was on point, both acts sounded great. The lighting and the sound system was on point with other great venues. This was my first visit to the Tiki Bar. Parking is limited and I had to find street parking a couple blocks away but no issues there. Prices were great, some venues like to gouge you for drinks. $9 for well cocktails $5 for bottled beer. You can't beat that in most venues. Compared to HOB it was a steal and the same level of music and people. Smeller venue but great sound, great energy and great people. Prior reviews that said bright lights and bad drinks I did not experience that at all. The tiki vibe is admittingly lacking there's a sparse amount of tiki related decor but the tiki drink I got was great and strong and cheap! What more can you ask for. The crowd was great except they all scattered like cockroaches when the music ended LOL!

    Photos
    Tiki Bar - Codefendants - They were so good!

    Codefendants - They were so good!

    Tiki Bar - Tiki Bar

    Tiki Bar

    Tiki Bar - Tiki

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    Tiki

    Observatory - Balcony seating.

    Observatory

    3.1(1.2k reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$

    My first time here, but definitely not my last!…read more The Observatory is a fabulous venue in Santa Ana. Parking was easy for us as we'd purchased a pass and we arrived pretty early. The entrance process was licketty split - we carried everything in our pockets. Upon entering, there's a photo spot, merch off to the right, as well as a bar and outdoor seating. To the left of the entrance is a smaller room, this time used for vendors,, but I suspect could be a multi-use space as needed. Bathrooms - clean and well stocked throughout the night - are also this way. Up along a poster covered hallway, and into the concert area you go! There's the stage in the front and a bar in the back. It's GA here folks, but there's a balcony with seats above. We chose the first tier behind the dance floor as there's a standing bar/shelf that spans the railing which is great to lean on and space to put drinks down. The location was perfect for us - up high enough to see everything going on onstage, great view of the folks dancing, and again, offered a space for our drinks and a restful lean. The sound system and lighting effects were fantastic! The lighting perfectly fit the dark, moody, goth atmosphere while the music was as clean and powerful as you'd want. No muddy, echoy, indistinct sound here. And extra wonderful? A pumping AC that kept the packed house cool and fresh as everyone danced all night. Such a great concert and really, the perfect venue for it: intimate yet spacious enough for comfort. Really great venue!

    I went to The Observatory to hear & to see Gimme Gimme Disco in The Constellation Room. This event…read morewas put on by events producer Burwoodland (aka Ethan Maccoby & Alex Badanes). Mark Cuban recently gave a bunch of money to Burwoodland, so I thought this event would be decent. I was wrong. Gimme Gimme Disco was a hot mess. I did not at all have a good time. A ticket to this event cost $27-$31 depending on time of purchase, & parking cost an additional $15. The price & location led me to believe Gimme Gimme would be a well organized event with a properly prepared DJ who prepared a professional level DJ set. Not so, & not at all. Random disco music played before the DJ started, & then when the DJ started, I cannot say the mixing or transitions from one song to another were much better than simply letting songs play out on Spotify or Pandora or cutting to commercial on the radio. I wanted to give the Gimme Gimme DJ (Julimuah?) the benefit of the doubt, so I stayed for awhile to listen to see if the mixing got any better. The Gimme Gimme DJ did no real mixing. Songs were blended in at random points. A song with a tempo of 100 was played immediately after a song with a tempo of 115. Songs were regularly cut mid vocal etc. The quality of DJing/music was not good enough to expect people to pay money to buy tickets. I'm incredulous that The Obseratory would book such a mediocre event/DJ/etc. Because the Observatory is a venue where professional musicians often play, there was a sound guy or engineer on the sound board. I asked him what was going on with the DJ. I mentioned she was not doing any mixing at all. He agreed, & then he added: "Yeah. DJ culture has changed so much though." I do not know whether this was an apologetic statement. It is hard not to read/construe the statement like a subpar excuse. After speaking with the sound guy, I opted to request a refund, & to leave immediately. I asked a security/door staff to connect me with a manager. The security personnel referred me to management. Here is the gist of my dialog with the manager: Self: The DJ for Gimme Gimme Disco is not mixing at all. Songs are simply being played end to end with little mixing, beatmatching, etc. The dancefloor stops between tracks. It is just really bad. Sorry. Management: I hear you. Unfortunately, the Observatory cannot refund your ticket. Gimme Gimme Disco rented The Constellation Room so it is their event; not ours. They rented the room for the night. Self: Okay. I understand. Could you please put me in touch with the people from Gimme Disco who booked The Constellation Room & planned the event? Management: They (Gimme Disco) have a website, etc. [The manager then proceeded to show me the contact us page of the Gimme Disco site]. I realize the manager might not have legitimately known who from Gimme Disco coordinated the event. However, the Observatory staff did not make much of an effort to connect me with anyone who might actually issue a refund. A contact us form on a website is usually a dead end. So the rental format of some events, such as the Gimme Disco event I briefly attended, allows The Observatory to make money without much, if any, responsibility/accountability, & getting in touch with anyone representing an event results in being forwarded to a FAQ or Contact Us page. Seems like a pretty ideal business structure for The Observatory & any themed event planners booking events. The Observatory makes money renting space; the event makes money too. Anyone who feels or was cheated out of their money is left with no one to direct their complaint to--unless a website Contact Us page counts as a person. I obviously did not risk eating any food or drinking anything at The Observatory. I feared the drinks might be as bad as the music, so I walked back to my car sober, & happy to no longer be inside such an indifferent, disappointing, unprofessional, & impersonal venue. I am legitimately stunned that an event put on by Burwoodland & all the deep pockets behind it could be so utterly lamentable. I want a full refund. An apology from The Observatory &/or The Gimme Disco people would not hurt either. People should not have to pay concert level prices for crappy DJing, & a dismal ambience. I reached out to Alex Badanes for a refund. He initially suggested that I would be issued or given a refund. I never ended up receiving a refund. Neither Alex nor anyone representing Burwoodland followed through after the first hollow mention of a refund. Fake talent, mediocre event, & false gestures are the norm for Burwoodland & its reps.

    Photos
    Observatory - View from my seat.

    View from my seat.

    Observatory - Venue clearing out after the show.

    Venue clearing out after the show.

    Observatory - Table seating at the balcony.

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    Table seating at the balcony.

    The Country Club - Elegant dining area

    The Country Club

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$
    Takes reservations
    Happy hour specials

    We hosted my retirement party at The Country Club. We wanted something different from the usual…read morebuffet thing. The Country Club is beautiful. It's decorated in a 1930's speakeasy theme and is very clean and very well maintained!! My wife contacted Megan, the Event Coordinator who invited us to have dinner so we could check out the venue, go over some scenarios and sample the food. Megan was so super cool, friendly and knowledgeable. She made it easy...she was straight forward with pricing and had great suggestions. She listened to what we wanted and made all the necessary accommodations. We then did a food tasting to select the menu for the event. There was soooo much good food it was hard to make decisions but we did it!! Then came game day!! Megan and here team had everything ready to go. Megan introduced us to the staff members who would be serving us. Everyone was so nice, professional and attentive. Then came the food!! Everything was fantastic and beautifully displayed. All my guests had great time and loved the food and loved The Country Club!! Thank you Megan and the team and thank you to The Country Club!!

    This place was a real awesome surprise. Excellent food,…read moredrinks and service. From the outside you dont expect to walk into a beautiful room with such a stunning bar. I definitely recommend this place!

    Photos
    The Country Club - Mushroom Risotto made with Dashi Risotto, Braised Pork, Maitake Mushrooms, Slow Cooked Egg, Toasted Sesame Seeds

    Mushroom Risotto made with Dashi Risotto, Braised Pork, Maitake Mushrooms, Slow Cooked Egg, Toasted Sesame Seeds

    The Country Club - The Country Club's warm and inviting interior. The site has served as a dining and drinking establishment since 1953.

    The Country Club's warm and inviting interior. The site has served as a dining and drinking establishment since 1953.

    The Country Club - Large covered patio - great for event space and brunch parties

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    Large covered patio - great for event space and brunch parties

    Mesa - experience MESA

    Mesa

    3.7(1.9k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$
    Full bar
    Boutique

    Mesa offers an intimate, low-key ambiance with a thoughtfully curated aesthetic that sets it apart…read more The addition of a DJ creates a unique concept, making it an excellent choice whether you're on a date or enjoying a night out with friends. Couples who plan to stay for a while--or until closing--will especially enjoy sitting at the bar, as the venue transitions later in the evening into a more club-like atmosphere. Booths are often reserved for guests opting for bottle service during this time. The food is excellent, both in quality and presentation, and the service truly enhances the overall experience. The servers and bartenders are attentive, courteous, and highly professional, consistently ensuring guests feel well taken care of. Mesa is versatile enough to enjoy as a dinner destination or as a place to stay late into the night. Whether you're looking to eat and dance or simply relax and unwind, it's a great spot for couples and groups alike.

    It's nice to see the reviews finally reflecting the true quality of this shit hole. I hadn't been…read morehere in years and stupidly decided to give it another shot -- now I remember exactly why I stopped coming here in the first place. Same goes for their shitty sister location(s) Habana, which is just another thumbs-down disappointment of an establishment. Poor leadership. Trash food. Useless staff. Nothing has improved -- if anything, it's worse. Y'all should probably just close your doors. Keep it up though, you're well on your way to dropping below three stars. Absolute trash. Lol. ----In response to the "Biz Owner." I highlighted specific details. A reported review can always be reposted if taken down. Nice to see you pretending to care about operations. Maybe you should focus your attention better on improving your SOPs madam.

    Photos
    Mesa - Lychee Martini

    Lychee Martini

    Mesa - Craft Cocktails at Mesa

    Craft Cocktails at Mesa

    Mesa - MESA DJ

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    MESA DJ

    The Wayfarer - bars - Updated May 2026

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