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    Bootlegger's Brewery - Costa Mesa

    4.2 (182 reviews)
    ModerateBreweries, Pubs
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Bootlegger's Brewery - Costa Mesa Photos

    BOOTLEGGER'S BREWERY - COSTA MESA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Juke Box
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Bootlegger's Brewery - Costa Mesa

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    American Pilsner
    Fern H.

    Great neighborhood brewery. Been a fan of this company since my college days in Fullerton. Literally since 2011 / 2012. Really fun times especially at the OG spot. I know a lot about this place has changed and the bangers like knuckle Sammie and some other legendary hoppy offerings are no longer her what they once were it's still a cool spot with solid offerings. The Costa Mesa location is ideal surrounded by a bunch of cool other shops and restaurants. I'm actually pretty surprised it's not as lively or busy during the weekdays as of late . Cheers

    HALF pours are $5.5+ depending on the ABV; pricey for a brewery

    There is no pricing listed for a good reason: HALF pours are now the price of what used to be full pours. Now a 16oz here cost the same or more than a beer at a restaurant, or almost the price of a 6pack. For a brewery, this is extremely pricey. :( Ambiance is nice though-there's a big patio in the front to hang out. You can order food from the LAB and eat here as well.

    Katrina P.

    Great little brewery near John Wayne Airport! Nice selection of brews on tap to choose fun, many options "food wise" nearby to choose from. Stopped in on a Friday afternoon, indoor/outdoor seating. Nice ambiance and great service!

    What The Huck
    Michelle N.

    I'm really not a huge fan of beer, but I am a huge fan of breweries ;) Not sure why it took me so long to find this place, but it's definitely a great place to go when you want to hang, drink, and eat with your friends! We asked the man in the front for any recommendations that's sweet. He suggested, so I got the What The Huck (Huckleberry Cream Ale). It was pretty bearable for my boyfriend and I, and I actually came to like it (only a little). It was sweet and the aftertaste wasn't like a bitterness I'm used to having. There's an indoor seating area and an outdoor patio with seating. Wasn't hectic the day I went so it's perfect if you needed a place to hang out. I'd have to come back to switch it up from my usual Brewery X.

    Monica A.

    Great selection! This place always hits the spot love that they have a patio area too. And the staff is so welcoming with wanting to suggest whatever you're craving!! Emily, especially! Super friendly! We're gonna bit the Fullerton location next. And soon.

    Outside seating
    Brenda A.

    Been here many times! Much more relaxed than the other breweries/bars in the area. We never leave disappointed! Many beers to choose from. You can also sample them before ordering. The workers are very polite and helpful. Each time we visit there is something different.. food trucks, games, etc. The place is dog friendly!!! We usually go late at night so not sure how it is during the day, but so far no bad experiences & parking is always available.

    Annalisa F.

    visited this place while i was in the oc area and i must say its a super cute spot in a really nice shopping center. staff is super friendly and the drinks are pretty bomb. hella pricey but understandable for the location. definitely would come back to see how the vibe is at night.

    McKenna H.

    This place has many great beers and seltzer's. Theirs employees are friendly here. The atmosphere is great here and also some other places to go to walking distance. They provide board games to play. The El Chango lager is delicious here

    Far Out IPA - pretty good

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    Always solid beer and the location and patio is nice. Also good place to watch football.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Bootlegger's Brewery - Costa Mesa

    Are there still trivia nights on Wednesdays and if so what time?

    Do you still have the BBQ truck there every 1st Saturday of the month? Would be nice to have bbq food and beer together.

    There is a food truck every 1st Saturday of the month but it is not necessarily a BBQ truck.

    Is there any board games or games to enjoy with a beer?

    Heck yes! I've games at quite a few breweries.

    Is there a pool table?

    No pool table

    Are they still doing trivia night on Wednesdays?

    Yes.

    Are there TVs outside? Football and beer on Sunday?

    No outside. They have a few inside. You can see them from the patio if you sit in the right spot. Note: even inside is very open and the wall opens up to the patio

    What night is trivia night?

    wednesday

    Is this business kid friendly?

    No.

    Can you go if not 21 as part of a large group?

    No.

    Do you have to be 21 and over to sit at the bar top? Got here and two minors sitting there felt awkward..

    Yes.

    Do they serve food?

    We do not, but there is lots of local restaurants that can deliver food to you, or you can bring your own food in.… Read more

    Do they have a set price for tasting for two?

    All of their tasting flights are a set price around $10 each.

    Do they serve whiskey?

    Just beer

    Anyone know if they have wine? Asking for a special lady friend 😃

    They do not, but they do have sodas and coffee and a wide variety of different styles of beer.

    View All 18 Questions

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    The Harp Inn

    The Harp Inn

    4.0
    (343 reviews)
    3.4 mi
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    Excellent ash tray. Food was pretty good too. Immaculate vibes. 10/10 would recommend.read more

    The harp is definitely an institution in Costa Mesa. I mean I cannot tell you how many times I have…read morebeen here. Long before Yelp was even a thing, and long before the internet really was put into the hands of the cow in person, this was the hub. This is where you went to meet people, exchange ideas, have conversation and more. The harp is really an institution in Orange county. And not just because it has longevity, there's a reason that it has sustained power. This place is probably one of the most authentic Irish pubs I've been to. Having been to Ireland. I can attest that this is right there with a standard pub in a small town. Which makes it wonderful. The people that run the place, especially Paul, is one of the reasons why I keep coming back here. He's personable, funny, and no-nonsense right. I like his way of thinking and his approach to customer service a second to none. Now let's talk about the food and drinks. From a drink standpoint. You cannot go wrong with this place, the drinks are thoughtfully made, this guy knows how to pour a beer. As far as food goes. I highly recommend the beefeater sandwich, and you cannot go wrong with the chicken wings. Some of the best wings I've had ever. Friday and Saturday nights is usually popping pretty hard when they have bands playing. So, good luck trying to find a seat anywhere in the place. When there is an event that night. You will have to get there early for sure. The bottom line? This is a go-to hangout. If you are looking for a good watering hole to meet people, just hang out and have a good time, or watch a game on the big screen TVs. F*** I would highly recommend the harp to anybody and everyone in the Orange county area.

    Photos
    The Byrdes
    The Byrdes
    Fish & Chips - Thursday special $12
    Fish & Chips - Thursday special $12
    This place is pretty popping on a Friday or Saturday night. Get there early to get good parking.

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    This place is pretty popping on a Friday or Saturday night. Get there early to get good parking.
    Kenwood's Kitchen & Tap

    Kenwood's Kitchen & Tap

    4.4
    (650 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    We were looking for a light, quick meal before a local concert, and our friend suggested this…read moreplace. It fit perfectly for us! It was a beautiful day, and we were given our choice of patio dining. Our server, Grace, friendly and efficient, was exceptional at checking on us which doesn't always happen when outdoors. She brought our drinks and meals quickly. One friend ordered sliders which she really enjoyed. She commented that it was the perfect size and tastes that she was looking for. Another friend and I split a steak salad. Sharing a salad off a plate can be an awkward feat, but they offer a split-plate up-charge for avoiding that! The salad was simple: steak, cherry tomatoes, and lettuce, but chopped fries were an unexpected addition. Overall, a great fit to get our night started off right!

    First time I came I think I just ordered foods that I don't like. 2nd time around today and it was…read moremuch better. Classic burger - tastes exactly that, classic. Your timeless American hamburger. Fresh veggies and meaty patty. Fish and chips - fried extremely well and the fish was incredibly flaky. Chipotle slaw was refreshing. Fries were king of stale Wings - hot buffalo and garlic herb. Hot and crispy and was very moist. Often wings are dry but this was great. Accompanying ranch fresh and very dill forward Came Saturday night before Father's Day and was a little empty. Seated immediately. Lots of tvs which had the World Cup on and dodgers game. Service was quick and attentive Onion rings - a little oily

    Photos
    Crispy Cauliflower
    Crispy Cauliflower
    Super Bowl
    Super Bowl
    Pork Chop

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    Pork Chop
    Malarky's Irish Pub

    Malarky's Irish Pub

    4.1
    (622 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $$
    Free parking
    Happy hour specials

    This morning, we had breakfast at Malarkys. The service is…read moreundoubtedly the most commendable aspect of the establishment. The staff is attentive from the moment you enter, and this morning was particularly busy with limited table availability. Despite this, they promptly acknowledged our presence and exhibited exceptional friendliness and assistance. During the order taking process, they continued to provide helpful guidance. Although the tables were packed I think the ambiance was acceptable. The noise level remained low and the service was swift and quiet. The menu had everything we would want. We had the chicken-friend steak and eggs and briskets and gravy. Eggs were cooked excellently, biscuits were also excellent. Here are my suggestions. Chicken-fried steak - this item tastes and feels like frozen steak pre-breaded and fried - tossed in the microwave and covered with white cream gravy. This item needs to be raised to the level of freshly fried and not in seed oil but in avocado or coconut oil (both are high temp and non-toxic) The gravy is white cream and flavorless - it needs to receive the "drippings" from the fried steak, sausages, or bacon to produce brown gravy with some flavor. This establishment does not have espresso - every other breakfast place in OC does - Breakfast Republic, Poached Kitchen, Cracked Egg, etc. Servers can make good espresso if the espresso machine is automatic like a Jura with two bean trays and a milk reservoir. This is a profit center and most places have a dedicated person who continuously make espresso drinks.

    I had to ask around for these names! Disgusting service and…read moreI felt unsafe Came in around afternoon. Now I'm throwing up and re thinking the food I ate and drank. This gentleman and women. I had to ask around for their names. Jenna/gena & Jordan. Lady was outright rude and disgusting. She gave a group of her own friend a discount and she didn't even buy anything. How come my friend who works here doesn't give me a discount? Found her social media which encourages me to not come back to support this business. Lady flipped us off, she was off the clock I can tell. I tried approaching her just isn't professional. The unprofessional worker mentioned she can not get fired as she's off the clock. Reviews state "best service" but I'd recommend giving this business a call to ensure you'll get the right service in Newport. I'm not sure if this worker was drunk or having a bad day. The gentlemen was plain out dumb. He has a customer service voice that annoys me so much and my group had to find another Pub to go to. I wasn't bothered at first but we saw him picking his nose. He didn't wash his hands and started contaminating the silverware. Where is health inspection!?!. My family & I will be looking elsewhere. I would not recommend hiring young adolescents. Allow older adults to run this business. We need those who are experienced. Adolescents ruin the image of the business. Here are images. Business and outside life should be separated. Very unfortunate for Malarky's Irish pub 0/10

    Photos
    Prime Rib sandwich special
    Prime Rib sandwich special
    Malarky's Irish Pub
    Malarky's Irish Pub

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    Bootlegger's Brewery - Costa Mesa - breweries - Updated June 2026

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