Southern California’s Costa Mesa may not get as much attention as its Orange County coastal counterparts Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, but with a much lower price point and its own set of unique attractions, its time has come.
“Our competitive advantage is what you’re going to see outside the four walls of your ballroom—arts and culture; the best shopping in the United States, period, end of story; the beach is close; and great restaurants,” said Paulette Lombardi-Fries, president of Travel Costa Mesa, who added many clients love the boutique shopping opportunities at South Coast Plaza, dubbed “the Rodeo Drive of the OC.”
Costa Mesa also counts a Michelin-star restaurant, the group-friendly Knife Pleat (French), and five Michelin-recognized restaurants, which Lombardi-Fries said is the most in Orange County. The compact, very walkable destination offers myriad cuisine types, and South Coast Plaza alone contains approximately 30 restaurants.
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Downtown is conveniently located only 10 minutes from one of the most traveler-friendly airports in the state, John Wayne International Airport (SNA), making departures and arrivals a breeze. Costa Mesa is adjacent to Irvine and about 10 minutes from the coast at Newport Beach.
The city’s three major group-friendly hotels are the 486-room Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa (48,000 square feet of meeting space); the 393-room Westin South Coast Plaza (29,000 square feet of meeting space); and the newly renovated, 253-room Costa Mesa Marriott (7,000 square feet of meeting space). Groups of 250 and smaller are considered ideal.
Interesting offsite activities in Costa Mesa can include the Orange County Museum of Art as well as self-guided tours of the various Art Walk installations around the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Art classes and teambuilding programs are also popular group activities.
“The term ‘ARTmosphere’ is just a great way of explaining what we have to offer,” Lombardi-Fries said. “We’re known as the City of the Arts. There’s a lot to take advantage of that no other city in Orange County has.”
4 Outstanding Offsites
Orange County Museum of Art
Groups can buy out this architecturally stunning venue within walking distance of the destination’s three primary meetings hotels, or simply tap its rooftop space or restaurant for smaller gatherings. Groups of up to a couple hundred attendees can be accommodated in various venues here.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Home to Broadway-style shows, musicals and the Pacific Symphony (in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall), the Segerstrom complex also boasts an outdoor plaza with free programming for the public.
Noguchi Gardens
Commissioned by the Segerstrom Family—which championed arts in Costa Mesa—this interactive sculpture garden representing the diverse regions of California can be reserved for private, one-of-a-kind events.
Westwood Coast
This casual steakhouse comes complete with a mechanical bull, stage for bands, line dancing and a large selection of whiskey and bourbon, and is ideal for buyouts.
Getting There
Costa Mesa is located in inland Orange County, California, approximately 40 miles from Los Angeles International Airport. Other airports serving the destination include John Wayne Airport (four miles); Long Beach Airport (24 miles) and Los Angeles/Ontario International Airport (46 miles).
Connection
