Came by here with my husband last night around 5:45 pm. We were really fortunate to snag a parking within the 1st 5 minutes of entering the lot. I can see how many Yelpers can complain about the parking, since it seems that there just isn't enough parking for the amount of cars pulling up into The CAMP. Just to let you know, there was valet service available when we came though. Anyways, this was my first time coming here. I have always passed this place when I used to work in Costa Mesa years and years ago but never had a chance to shop there. I didn't like that there were very few signs and had no direction to what stores/ restaurants were where. There are 2 sections of restaurants and we didn't realize that until after we walked around one section looking for a particular restaurant that we were going to have our dinner at (118 Degrees, located in the front part The Camp, where Unami Burger is at). So that is definitely a negative (-1 star for that). But I do like the look of this shopping/ dining area. It has this hipster like and laid back vibe and I also liked seeing some of the random decor. Unfortunately Blackmarket Bakery was closed after we had dinner, oh well, next time then. But I still ended up stopping by Native Foods Cafe to pick up some dessert to go. I would like to come back to this place and try out another restaurant (and hopefully that bakery too). But I will probably come on a weekday during the day so I don't have to deal with any parking issues. Oh and real random, but the public (unisex) restaurant that is towards the back (passed Native Foods Cafe and Old Vine Cafe) has pretty cool tile. The tile in the bathroom have photos of rocks which looked kind of cool. Should have taken a photo of it :( .... Oh well, again, there is always next time. read more

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Fun thing to do during COVID...free concert every Thursday from the luxury of your car...Buy some great food and kick back and relax read more

The CAMP - Every Thursday The Camp gives you a free 2 hour concert...from the luxury of your car...Pretty cool during these times...Good Food also. - Shopping Centers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I visited Taco Asylum for the first time yesterday. The Camp is a cool spot, because you can walk around and check out different spots for retail, and there's a big variety of food! Higher end burgers and a new fast casual fish spot, a great vegan spot that has indoor and outdoor seating where I ate something w tempeh meatballs. I ate at the Vietnamese spot recently too. The bakery is good to visit, and it's great to see the airstream type retro trailers and most of all some trees! I'm sure many of us can get caught up in the daily grind and a little reminder of nature can be a breath of fresh air for the mind and soul. The Lab is across the street, so sometimes I hit both spots when I'm visiting these Costa Mesa shopping centers. I'll visit the center on Bristol w/ Halal Guys and Capital Noodles very often. Sometimes parking is a little rough at The Camp, but I try to go at off hours. I'm looking forward to trying some pasta at the Italian joint!!! That will def be one of my next food visits at The Camp. Wish there were more places like this in Los Angeles and maybe w/ less big chains like Umami, but more like Taco Asylum, the vegan spot, Vietnamese joint, and the Italian place... read more

The CAMP - Shopping Centers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Absolutely time for some over due maintenance on the staircase outside the wine lab. Absolutely no reason for that other than complete neglect. read more

The CAMP - Corroded staircase - Shopping Centers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We always enjoy visiting the Camp when we around south coast plaza to shop! It's a nice place to grab something to eat or drink. It's not crowded during covid. And everyone is wearing their mask and keep social distance. My son love coming here so we stop by to dine and relax when we have a chance. read more

The CAMP - Shopping Centers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I love the concept of the CAMP. Each business stands by the sustainability front in some way which makes me feel extra happy to support the businesses here. The Seed People's Market is my favorite because it's a giant warehouse offering goods made by local makers and artists, including handmade jewelry and housewares. Outside of goods, the CAMP is home to several restaurants, with plenty of organic, natural options, including Native Foods and Mesa. And of course, there are options for those who aren't looking for eco-conscious meals too. The one downside to this mini plaza is the lack of parking. While there is a lot behind the first row of businesses, the spaces get filled very quickly. I was fortunate to snag a spot in front of Milk + Honey, but that was a struggle in and of its own. There aren't a ton of merchants though (at most 2.5 hours) so you'd probably want to reconsider before waiting on that one family to return to their minivan so you can take their spot. Around the holiday season, the juxtaposition of string lights and the woodsy, rugged campground elements are absolutely dreamy. If you haven't yet checked out the CAMP and want to experience something different, you can find them right of the 55. read more

Do they call this The Camp because we wish we can just stay here forever? *Breathes in and exhales* I love outdoor things and this is the plaza I've always wished of. The abundance of flowers and writings everywhere makes me feel so much at ease. In addition, there is like couches and seats everywhere to make this the perfect place to read a book!!! The CAMP also holds different restaurants and vendors. The succulent / air plant is worth checking out!!!! Don't forget to check out the Wine Lab and experiment with your reds and whites. I seriously freaking love this place. read more

The CAMP - Shopping Centers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Love this place my kids had a blast going around and entertained between the ambiance, food and safety during covid! read more

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Valet on the weekends was a goofy move, and not something one would expect from an "anti-mall". Tons of spaces blocked off and sitting empty while everyone circles the already cramped lot. Foot traffic to the stores reduced (assuming they decide to stick around at all), stressing everyone out, all for measly valet money? C'mon, folks... read more

Convenient shopping center, many choices for restaurants in this plaza, besides self parking, valet parking available for customers. read more

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COVID safety review: Socially distanced (and shaded) seating next to the parking lot (~5 tables), 2 isolated tables adjacent to the Seed Market, 1 isolated table in front of the Boba place, and more outdoor seating near the bathrooms. Boba place and plant store are all outside. Bakery had their doors open with cross ventilation. Patio seating at Native Foods. I didn't see much masking on guests, and most people were eating, but I didn't get close to anyone either. Felt safe grabbing our food to go (masked) and eating outside in the breezy shade. read more

The Camp is such a cute artsy place to shop and eat. I was able to check it out this last week & was impressed. They have a variety of food places, dessert places, and places to shop! The ambiance is great! They have ample amount of parking and seating both indoors/outdoors. read more

Wow! But not in the World Of Warcraft sense... This mini-mall is incredible! The shapes and textures of the materials used to build this modern space are just too rad. It is like stepping foot into the pages of Dwell Magazine. I would hang out here all the time if I didn't live like 1600 miles away. Check it out! read more

The CAMP - Shopping Centers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I really like what The Camp offers. I have been going for a few years but mainly to go to Outer Limits to get pierced (Greg, Luc and Luna are all amazing!). The food there is great and the little shops are great and cute. The only problem is the parking, I know I'm not the first and I know I won't be the last but it's awful. If you don't get there early enough well good luck finding parking. If you're going with a group I would HIGHLY suggest carpooling. read more

I like the stores they curate here. It is certainly not your mainstream retail center. Milk & Honey is great. We like their deserts. The shop that sells all the Patagonia and outdoor gear is great. They have so many choice items. I really dig what they have to offer. And they have homewares upstairs. So many nice things. The open space and the natural flow of the landscaping. I like it. There are food and beverage options as well. Parking can be tight. They have valet parking for a fee. Located on Bristol a short drove off the exit from the 405. read more

Found another little hipster CAMP in OC. Reminds me a lot of Portland. Love this place. Parking can be a pain but there's a reason why. Every wall seems to be different from the others but it still blends in so well together. Nice mix of boutiques, restaurants, cafes. Many restaurants I want to try. Old vine cafe was excellent. Loved SEED peoples market. If you like this place go check out Lab Anti-Mall across the street. read more

My happy spot. I have Purre to shop at. I can grab a snack and a tea at BlackMarket Bakery or Vitaly, and I get my workout on at Trim. The ambiance is relaxing and perfect for dates. Thursday nights has live music .. read more

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Terrific mixture of wholesome, fusion fast casual dining, mixed with craft beer and wine venues. I simply love the Patagonia that is here and the combination of craft oriented goods along trending subjects like products sourced from nature and astrological themes that are popping up everywhere. There are tons of adorable little nesting nooks filled with macrame, fresh plants, and poetic Native American elements. The vibe is somewhat like the Anti Lab, but there are many more options here. read more

Great place, lots of food choices and shopping. Great vegan options. Free valet - Adil was the coolest valet i've met and the whole place feels very safe and well run. 10/10 read more

A lot of good food in this location, great for browsing around and really fun restaurants.

Cute little eco-friendly outdoor mall with cute shops and great restaurants, food and drinks. This place definitely stands out different from most malls here in OC. My favorite must go to restaurant here is Native Foods. There is not ample parking here so make sure you give yourself extra time. read more

Excellent place to spot wierdos and yabos , if you ever feel you are left out, not understood or you just dont fit, go to the Camp, then you will realize you are the normal one. Highly recommended, oh , the parking sux ass, no really, its horrible. read more

Parking is horrible. Really not much to do here. Shops are limited. Good luck with the public restrooms

Love this place! Cute stores (Patagonia), bakery, Vitaly Caffé -- homemade gelato......this place has a great curbappeal and a relaxing atmosphere. read more

The CAMP - Great place to meet friends, The Camp. - Shopping Centers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great concept, nice shops and amazingly good food selection. Do not go without stopping for a Bacon PB&J taco at Taco Asylum (see my review on their page). I only wish the facility was larger and had more shops. But maybe that's a feature, not a flaw. read more

It's very quant and tranquil atmosphere. I love going to Press to get my stock of juices during my lunch break and grabbing vegan sandwich or açaí. read more

When I think about camping I think about: S'mores, camp fires, tents, sleeping bags, relaxing, reading, fishing, BBQ, ghost stories, family, friends and much more When I think of The Camp I think about: Banh Mi (East Borough), spring rolls (EB), shaved ice (Milk+Honey), refreshing lemonades (M+H), tacos (Taco Asylum), a three course lunch menu for only $20 bucks (Old Vine Cafe), vegetarian and vegan food (Native Foods Cafe), bicycles (Cycle Werks) and much more To be honest, if you asked me which I would prefer, a camping trip with the family or a trip to The Camp, I would definitely say a camping trip with the fam because that doesn't happen very often. That doesn't mean I don't love taking trips to The Camp though. Hell, since I first found out about The Camp a month or so ago, I have gone a bunch of times (see my check-ins for proof). My favorite Banh Mi place is located at The Camp (EB), as well as my favorite place to pick up a lunch time sweet treat (M+H). To date, I have not visited every restaurant and shop located at The Camp but I fully intend too. An interesting and awesome fact about The Camp is that when it first opened in 2002, it was the country's first green shopping center. The Camp features rooftop gardens used for insulation, they only use certified redwood and they have an on site percolation system that is used to avoid storm water runoff to the ocean. The Camp also uses native landscaping and the relocation of mature trees that have been slated for disposal. My absolute favorite thing about The Camp though is the individual messages painted on the ground at every parking spot. Some are inspirational, some are funny but everyone brings a smile to my face when I read it. In fact, parking is my favorite thing to do at The Camp because I'm always looking forward to seeing what message I will read once I park. It reminds me of opening a fortune cookie. Although, parking here can sometimes be difficult depending on the time of day. The Camp is my favorite shopping center in all of Orange County. I think everyone who either lives or works in the OC has to check out this place at least once in their lifetimes. Currently, I'm "The Duke" of The Camp, which is a title I'm proud to have. Now if I could only become "The Duke" of my family camping trips I would be The King of all things camping related. My only problem is my grandpa is the current King of our family camping trips and that SOB makes one hell of a S'more and knows some damn scary ghost stories. I doubt I will ever be able to dethrone him and steal his title. read more

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Inspiration Station If something can make me feel all warm and tingly inside, The Camp surely gets my vote. Bravo to them for making the growing need/trend a surefire way to capitalize. Sure they're making 'going green' classier, fancier, and all that jazz... but why not make it that way?! I ain't hatin' and I am actually embracing the love and good money making vibes flowing all through this place. SO, what makes me a real fan of The Camp: Great restaurants with out-of-the-ordinary concepts and food. That down to earth feel with a touch of modern class Are those fake cricket and bird noises? SWEET! Can I TAKE that camper and pick veggies from the gardens?? COME ON! Pricey much? YOU BETCHA! Nice things come with a price tag, yah know! Oh, CAMP... Let's keep this relationship going strong! You are my sunshine and breath of fresh air through all this nasty Cali smog. Please say this will last forever... ::dreamy eyes:: read more

Definitely a hipster's paradise! * This small community lot is the home to a lot of nice places to eat and get refreshing drinks! You have places such as Umami Burger, Blackmarket Bakery, Vitaly Cafe, etc. One of my favorite places here is Milk + Honey, which serves coffee, tea, and shaved ice desserts. The parking lot can be a bit cramped during busy hours, but there is a valet service available. My advice would be to either beat the traffic, come here early, or just carpool. But overall, this is a great place to just walk around, grab some good food and dessert. read more

****Nerds, Turds and a Place for Families and Dates!**** Nerds walk this place with fake glasses, skinny jeans and sport half-assed mustaches and beards that are in need of some miracle grow. While I am a people person, I lack patience for wieners that get most of their knowledge from Google searches on yesterday's technology. Upset with these comments? Let's discuss them. I am easy to spot here. I am the one walking around with the Samsung and real beard (if I let it grow for 3 days). Ok, so all jokes aside, this is indeed a family place and it is a bit artsy. There are plenty of cool people here, too. Uber cool! While parking sucks nuts, you can opt for valet. WAIT! Don't put your wallet away yet. You will need lots of cash, or plastic, for hanging out here. You don't just want to hang out, but the money you spend may be worth it if you are dining at such places as Vitally. Nothing beats good gelato, an OC evening and sitting on hand crafted benches and chairs. Nice fountains and artsy décor make me a fan. Sure, there are some nerds and turds here. However, there are way more cool peeps, families and couples walking around enjoying what Orange County has to offer. The Camp, Costa Mesa..another reason the OC is the best place to live! read more

I love the camp! I used to live in SF for a few years, and this place reminds me of it. It's hipster cool when I come here, it brings back bay memories and it makes me happy! They have lots of fun things to eat and drink and also shopping. It's great for a day or evening with your girls or perfect for date night! The only complaint I have, which is kind of huge one, is that parking sucks!!! ESP on a weekend or an evening. They do have free valet but there's usually a huge line to wait for your car and I hate that. Most of the time I get lucky and find great parking, but it's still annoying. Their parking area is so cute though. Each parking space has a quote or a saying. So in love with that idea! Def check this place out if you haven't already! read more

The CAMP - Shopping Centers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Gotta love the Camp! If not for it's inspiring architecture then for its Eco-friendly esthetic. I love walking the grounds here! All the water friendly plants and winding pathways are conducive to a relaxed and calming environment. In fact, there's hammocks hanging from the trees and Adirondack chairs beside a cozy fire. You can bring a book and read or chill out with your lap top and surf the net. Oh yeah, the Wi-Fi here is free!! There's also, of course, a variety of places to eat drink and be merry, as well. Each of which fits almost everyone's personal esthetic. There's the loungy and cool Mesa, where you can grab some cocktails over margherita pizza and steamed mussels. If that's not your schtick, then you can hike on over to Ecco for happy hour and nosh on meatballs, pizza & beer. For vegans, there's the famous Native Foods. For breakfast & lunch, there's Old Vine Cafe, which has an extensive menu of popular American fare. Of course, who can forget Milk + Honey for their delicious M+H special shaved ice and tasty ice teas! There's East Burrough for banh mi and Valhalla table for some gourmet sausage on the go and the list goes on and on! This had become my Go-To place on a lazy Sunday afternoon, where all I want to do is eat, lounge and chill... So, check this place out if you haven't already! Great food, interesting shops, cool peeps, and something new to discover everytime you go... See you there! read more

The CAMP - Shopping Centers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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If you don't like The Camp, then you don't like nature. If you don't like nature then you shouldn't come here. The Camp puts a little bit of what should be there surrounding what shouldn't be there but is exactly what brought us here, you got me? The parking lot has cute sayings and advice, such as "Ride a bike" and whatnot. This outdoor mall has so many delicious offerings, I honestly don't know how you are supposed to choose, which means you can't just come here once. No matter where you end up dining, I suggest you end it at Milk & Honey for some tea or shaved ice. There are clothing stores as well, at least one sells Toms. The walk around the camp is relaxing and fun, especially for the kids who show us all how we should experience The Camp, as in jumping in the hammock and laughing uncontrollably, or skipping down the trails and of course, playing an awesome game of hide & seek. read more

The CAMP is a hipsterized version of "camping" in Costa Mesa. Within the camp resides a handful of novelty stores, shops, a bakery and restaurants. What makes this place unique is the atmosphere that surrounds it all-- trail signs, campfires placed throughout the space, and go-green signage/decorations, and a few hippie trailers here and there. Though it sounds like a tree hugging nightmare (or paradise, depending who you are), its much MUCH more upscale than it sounds. This place IS in Costa Mesa after all... you weren't expecting anything less, were you? MODERN meets MOTHER NATURE is what this place is. I was blown away by the funding, architecture and creativity put into this small area. I came here at night time, so I wasn't able to see all the decor in all it's glory during the day. However, the campfires were all lit and shined brightly (also provided some much needed heat on a cold night!). Not sure if they keep those lit the whole day, but they're definitely lit at night. The stores and restaurants are all quite expensive. Parking is horrible. And when I say horrible, I mean HOR-RI-BLE. The only upside to parking is the cute messages written on the parking spaces. Instead of the usual "COMPACT," you'll probably get a parking spot that says something upbeat, like "SMILE." I kind of love that. The restrooms are incredibly clean (and colorful), if you were wondering. If you're looking for a different environment to feed your hungry hipster soul, come to the CAMP! read more

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From Susan Sontag's "Notes on 'Camp'": "25. The hallmark of Camp is the spirit of extravagance." I guess that's it in one sentence. I like The CAMP, I've been going there for years, and I will continue to, but, if current trends continue, I'm not going to be able to afford much here very soon. Let's deconstruct this place, shall we? 118 Degrees - I really must get around to reviewing 118 Degrees. I wasn't too impressed with it on my first visit, but I really like it now. Oh, haven't you tried raw food yet? Do give them a try. Why, I used a Groupon for brunch this morning. Try that. Black Market Bakery - Please refer to my Yelp review on this subject. Tip: they have "happy hour" for some baked goods from 5 pm till close, M-Th? East Borough - I don't think I've ever tried them. Or, have I? Look at those prices. You'd spend half that in Little Saigon. Ecco - I've reviewed Ecco previously, too. You can have it. "You can say that again." (Get it?) Mesa - I don't think I'll ever come here again. It gets really crowded and I don't like crowds. I suppose if I were single and half my age then Mesa would be more appealing. I don't know this for a fact, but I suspect that Mesa is the reason why there is valet parking here. It is free, but I'm not sure that my Corolla responds well to strangers. If you feel similarly about your car, prepare to be frustrated about the parking situation. You may want to try parking on Randolph Ave. Better yet, ride your bike. We often do that. Did I mention that we live within biking distance (according to Yelp)? Milk and Honey - Free wifi. There's a nice patio, too. They also have interesting tea drinks. I haven't come here in years. Milk and Honey is the title of a John Lennon and Yoko Ono album. Native Foods - I really should review them, too, from the point of view of a vegetarian-sympathizing omnivore. The food here is good, and some of the mock meats taste remarkably similar to meat. If it's your first time here, ask them for recommendations. Note to self: try the Muffaletta. Everyone loves the Native Chicken, except possibly for people who don't like anything that tastes like chicken. Chef Tanya, please bring back the happy hour! Yeah, they have beer and wine. Old Vine Cafe - My wife and I hung out at Wine Lab today watching the line for brunch. This place is fine, but I don't understand its astounding popularity. If you don't like small portions, stay away! SEED People's Market - This is full of stuff that I would never buy, but if this is your kind of thing, I am a fan of the Balsam Fir Deodorant that is handcrafted by my sister-in-law, and I refer to it as the "marriage saver". Also, the Cedar Shea Hair Texturizer helps me maintain my looks. Taco Asylum - Do you like overpriced tacos? Me too, but I don't like to buy them. Check out their happy hour from 3-5, M-F. They might still do late night happy hour, too, but I can't verify this because their damned website takes too long to load. Decent beer selection. Umami Burger - This place looks all right. I don't have any plans to try it soon. Vitaly - Expensive pasta dishes. Madonna! If you're a gelato fan, by all means check it out. Our Italian neighbors love this place. We've met the owners, and they seem pretty cool. They have communal seating here, and we once met a French-Italian-Argentinian who was very nice. This might be a good place to take my parents. Wine Lab - Happy Hours: Noon - 6 Tues-Fri; Noon - 4 Sat & Sun; 4-6 Mon Interesting wine and beer selection. Come here, sit outside, and watch the world go by. Thanks for reading all of this. Do I sound cranky? I'm just getting started! For the uninitiated, here are some more places nearby that you can check out: The Lab (another CAMP-like collective) Memphis Tin Lizzie TK Burger The Huddle (I actually reviewed them) Commissary Lounge Ramen Zetton - Apparently they have vegetarian ramen. Can anyone verify this? How was it? Not that I went to Valhalla Table much, but I kind of miss it now. read more

Hipster outdoor "mall" just right across from The LAB Anti Mall. Very nice and cute outdoor seating to chill and talk, great shops and restaurants are well. My favorite thing here is Milk + Honey. Whats the downside? Parking really sucks. It is very limited and cramped. PS: Use the crosswalk if you are jumping around from The CAMP and The LAB since its is a very busy street... read more

I absolutely love spending time here with my grown-up daughter's. Great outdoor shopping center with some great shops. They have great restaurants & the BEST bakery in the OC , called Blackmarket Bakery. It's located in a great part of Costa Mesa , close enough to the freeways , to head in or out during rush hours. During the evening they have pit- fires & seating located all over the Camp , great location for dates. It's beautifully landscaped gardens and adorable trailers , give you the feel as though you're on a camping trip. Love it during the nights here. Private parking lot and they offer FREE valet service , because it does become very crowded during lunch hours & weekends. read more

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This place is so new-age, awesome sauce. It's my 3rd visit and I fall in like, with something new every time! The parking sucks. Welcome to Costa Mesa, and minimal land to develop on. So good luck. Maybe park across the street at Del Taco, and piss them off, instead? The grounds are landscaped magnifcently well, with adorable things to look at, places to see, and interesting things to take picture of (or just gawk at). There are several stores to grab a bite to eat at, a drink in, exercise, or window shop around. Many consist of organic wear and healthier eating. A cool place to visit, at least once. read more

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There are so many great things to explore at the Camp. Yeah, the parking is not the greatest, but I've always walked here so that has never really concerned me. I love the variation in food options, although it's sad that some good places have had to close their doors due to the high rent and bad parking situation. You can buy a sweet Patagonia outfit at Seed Market, grab a coffee and pastry at Black Market Bakery, and get a delicious gelato at Vitaly all in one visit. Pretty great! read more

This urban retail center is located in Costa Mesa's SoBeCa District. An acronym of unusual rhythm, complexity and indeterminate enunciation, SoBeCa is an acronym for "South on Bristol Entertainment, Culture and Arts". Duh. This center offers customers a nontraditional retail experience. Spend an afternoon at this casual and lively place. Shop for stuff that you don't need... to bring home to keep with your other stuff that sits next to your crap which is behind your junk. [insert favorite "Honey we need to move, this house is too freaking small!" quote here.]. Eat at Native Foods, Unami Burger, Old Vine Café, or Taco Asylum. Protip: The CAMP also hosts Sobeca ARTwalk, film screenings and special events on the last Tuesday of each month. read more