When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Details here.

Home » Stays » Hotels & Resorts

Best Places to Stay in Costa Mesa

Kim Orlando

Updated

November 8, 2024

French inspired courtyard at the Ayres Hotel Costa Mesa. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

Facebook22 Tweet Pin LinkedInShares22

Two nights in Costa Mesa makes holiday shopping fun, with a variety of shopping options, art and the beach all in close proximity. Shopping at South Coast Plaza alone could fill an entire day, with luxury brands, tech stores, and popular labels stretching across two blocks. The LAB and The CAMP showcase Costa Mesa’s artsy side, offering thrift gems, local art, vegan doughnuts and a speakeasy. Staying overnight gave me a chance to pace myself and actually enjoy the process.

Check out more Costa Mesa hotels here!

Here’s a look at 7 nearby hotels that make it easy to turn a shopping trip into a mini getaway. Several Costa Mesa hotels offer holiday shopping packages that include passes to the invitation-only Access Lounge at South Coast Plaza.

Residence Inn Costa Mesa

Residence Inn grounds with two-story stucco buildings with white trim - one full building and one partial separated by sidewalks. There are palm trees and outdoor white staircases to each unit. — Residence Inn grounds. Photo credit Kim Orlando

This is the place I generally stay when I visit Costa Mesa. We even had our son’s wedding party there. Why? Because the Residence Inn Costa Mesa just keeps getting better. We love the location, the fireplace and the in-room kitchenette. The breakfast is hot and tasty and the common areas are clean and spacious. There have been some recent updates, including new mattresses and updated air conditioning.

Highlights:

Holiday Shopping package: $50 gift card upon check- in. New package coming soon: $100 gift card to South Coast Plaza and Access Lounge pass with a stay of two nights or longer. Call hotel for details (714)241-8800).
Full kitchen with dishes
Walking distance to The CAMP, The LAB, and “Brewery Row” on Randolph Street
Pets allowed, + $150/stay

The Westin South Coast Plaza

The Westin Costa Mesa courtyard fountain and waterfall with palm branches overhead. There is patio seating on either side of the water feature. — The Westin Costa Mesa courtyard fountain and waterfall. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

The Westin is practically next door to South Coast Plaza (reachable via a pedestrian bridge) and to Segerstrom Performing Arts Center and the Arts District. Its wellness mantra, “Feel well, sleep well, eat well, move well” is found throughout the property. There is pickleball (also open to locals via Resort Pass), a gorgeous pool surrounded by palm trees, cabanas and a large gym.

The rooms are spacious and the “Move Well” room includes a Peleton and fitness gear. I always appreciate a nod to local and the shadow boxes along the hallways feature local wineries, restaurants and products.

Highlights:

Holiday Shopping package with $100 gift card, valet parking and Access Lounge pass
Pedestrian bridge to South Coast Plaza
“Move Well” Suites outfitted with Peleton bike and fitness gear
“Eat Well” menu at the on-site restaurant, The Great Room
Pickleball courts + equipment
Pets allowed, + $100/stay
No resort fee

Costa Mesa Marriott

Every room at this Marriott is a suite and most have balconies, which is great if you are on a shopping trip with friends or traveling with family. It’s a 10-minute walk to South Coast Plaza and Costa Mesa’s Arts District, making it convenient to see a show or shop. The pool and outdoor seating overlook a small lake.

Art is the theme and this Marriott is focused on local. Locals are invited to free art shows by local artists, Taco Tuesdays ($2 tacos!) and Wine Wednesdays (free tastings), and live music. Parking is validated for public events and for guests.

Highlights:

Holiday shopping package with gift card to South Coast Plaza (call for details)
Largest rooms in the area, with balconies
Outdoor space overlooking the lake
Pets allowed, + $150/stay
M Club access, breakfast and refreshments

Ayres Hotel Costa Mesa/Newport Beach

Collage of the welcoming colorful lobby and queen room at the Ayres Costa Mesa. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

The Ayres brings a touch of old-English charm to Costa Mesa, and it’s cozy in all the best ways. You’ll find warm, inviting decor, with a charming, French-inspired courtyard and delicious food at the onsite restaurant, Le Chateau.

The restaurant is owned by the hotel and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and room service. Locals come for happy hour, their famous Monte Cristo sandwich and brunch. I had never eaten a Monte Cristo until I visited Le Chateau and it was an indulgent decadent treat: grilled ham and cheese held together by French toast bread, sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with a side of liqueur-infused raspberry jam. Yep. Loved it. Took it all home, including the jam.

Monte Cristo sandwich sprinkled with powdered sugar and a side of liqueur infused jam. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

The hotel group has a personal touch, being family-owned with corporate offices right next door. One building offers all junior suites, and each building has its own pool, hot tub, and laundry. The gym is shared although one building has cardio bikes for a quick workout.

Avenue of the Arts Hotel

As a Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel, Avenue of the Arts has an artsy, boutique vibe, and it’s practically next door to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The rooms are modern with balconies that overlook the pool and lake and there’s artwork throughout for a full culture immersion. Art and nature are important elements to the design of the hotel as are evident by the water element in the lobby and abundance of tropical plants throughout. I have eaten at the onsite restaurant, Silver Trumpet, several times and can vouch that it is worth a visit. Although there is plenty of indoor seating, we always opt for the firepit tables outside.

Highlights:

Holiday Shopping package (includes $100 gift card to South Coast Plaza)
Live music Fridays at Silver Trumpet lounge
Pets allowed, + $75/stay, with dog walking trail and VIP (Very Important Pup) package
Pre-show Prix fixe meal (T-SA)
Poolside cabanas

Hilton Orange County/ Costa Mesa

Hilton Costa Mesa double queen room with white linens, dark brown bedshirts, brown wall and carpets and sliding glass door to balcony. — Hilton Costa Mesa double queen room. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

Let’s start with the real stars of the show: the pizza oven and Beto, the bar artist. Beto is not just your average bartender; he’s an artist, blending drinks at the Hilton for 12 years that are as creative as they are delicious. His signature Aperol caviar lavender Prosecco is an experience in a glass, and his syrups are house-made with fresh lavender, basil, rosemary, and hibiscus.

Hilton Costa Mesa specialty cocktail: Aperol spritz with lavender and caviar and pizza oven in the background. — Hilton Costa Mesa specialty cocktail: Aperol spritz with lavender and caviar. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

The Hilton blends style with practicality. The open, modern lobby sets a welcoming tone and outside, the pool area is all about relaxation including private cabanas and a hot tub. There is great shopping and events to enjoy nearby: South Coast Plaza (3 min drive), OC Fair & Event Center (8 min), Segerstrom Center for the Arts (4 min) and the Newport Beach Pier (18 minutes).

Highlights:

Pizza Oven
Starbucks store in the lobby
Affordable suites and large double queen rooms
Complimentary shuttle to John Wayne Airport
Walkable to South Coast Plaza, The Camp, The Lab and Mitsua Marketplace
Special holiday packages that include Access Lounge passes in South Coast Plaza
Pets allowed, +$150/stay

Best Western Plus Newport Mesa Inn

Collage of updated double queen room, pool and airy, light lobby at the Best Western. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

Reliable, comfy and clean (as in award winning clean), Best Western Plus Newport Mesa Inn is a solid choice. It’s got everything for a convenient stay—spacious rooms, free breakfast (with the hot stuff, not just muffins!), and an easy drive to South Coast Plaza. All of the furniture was replaced in 2024 so it feels new and current. It’s one of those places that’s straightforward and makes getting around Costa Mesa a breeze without costing a fortune.

Highlights:

Rooms updated 2024
Complimentary hot breakfast
Airport shuttle
Awards for cleanliness

Kim Orlando

Kim Orlando, founder of SheBuysTravel, is a lifelong traveler, an entrepreneur and a sought-after social media and marketing consultant. She has made hundreds of appearances on TV and in digital and print media, sharing advice and tips built on decades of travel experiences. Hailing from the hills of Kentucky and taking her story to New York, Los Angeles, and beyond, Kim built an online platform, the original TravelingMom, that has reached millions of moms and empowered them to explore the world with their families. Today, TravelingMom has evolved into SheBuysTravel. Kim has been featured on “News Nation,” “Today,” “Good Morning America” and on numerous satellite media tours. She has contributed travel guidance to outlets including The Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal and more. (Read more about Kim’s media appearances here) Her travel mantra is simple: All travel counts. “You don’t have to go far. Leaving your home is travel,” Kim says. “Wherever you go, even just to the next town over, you can learn something new, see someone and something you haven’t seen before. “It’s good for the brain and good for the soul.” An epiphany in early parenthood started Kim on the journey that led to SheBuysTravel. She’d been a fan of a newsletter for women travelers, and she saw an opportunity. “I thought something like that for moms could be extraordinarily helpful,” she said. “I was traveling for work, traveling for fun, and I was looking for support.” That seed grew into the award-winning website TravelingMom, created as a resource for traveling families of all stripes. Today, TravelingMom has evolved into SheBuysTravel, with an expanded mission to serve women travelers at any stage of life. Millions of readers have visited the site for trip planning help, travel secrets, destination information and gear recommendations. What sets SheBuysTravel’s content apart, Kim says, is its foundation in real-world experience. “Our writers and editors have actually gone out there and done this stuff,” she says. “They’ve booked the flights, tried the tour, tested travel clothing, visited that new hot spot to see if it’s worth the hype. It’s all real.” Memorable Adventures A 2022 tour Kim guided to Bhutan was a particularly standout experience. “Bhutan sounds so exotic, of course,” she said. “But the part where my heart just glows and warms is thinking of the people we met – amazing women doing amazing things in Bhutan.” Their ranks included a former police officer whose ventures into food science helped mitigate food insecurity for residents of Bhutan’s highlands. Top Tips Planning for travel can be daunting, Kim acknowledges. “I always say: Go anyway. No trip is going to be perfect. There’s always going to be something you didn’t expect, something that doesn’t go the way you pictured or planned it. And that something is what’s going to make it a great trip.” And on a practical note: “Go early! Getting to the airport or hitting the road just an hour earlier relieves so much stress.” Kim’s Background Kim, a graduate of the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management, holds degrees in finance and entrepreneurship and has deep experience in developing and running businesses. Her previous work includes developing and running communications workshops and overseeing document management for corporations. SheBuysTravel hits a sweet spot where Kim’s two loves of travel and entrepreneurship meet. “The longer I work in this field, I only want to do more,” she says. “I find the travel world so exciting – not just the trips, but the whole online world of travel. There are still so many opportunities.” The World Awaits “The ‘best trip ever’ probably won’t be the same for an empty-nester or mom of three versus a single woman celebrating a bachelorette party with her friends,” Kim says. “We want to keep it real for traveling women, no matter what their age, life stage, where they came from or where they’re going. “We want to inspire women to travel in any shape or form.” In her free time, Kim enjoys visiting her adult kids, creating trips and traveling with her BFFs to explore the world. Her most recent adventures can be found on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Read full bio