1. The LAB Anti-Mall

    1. The LAB Anti-Mall

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    Costa Mesa, CA

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    The LAB Anti-Mall

    3.8 (461 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Cd tunnel
    Deanne R.

    My son noticed this spot on instagram, and wanted to come visit. I've seen it for years but never have wanted to stop. Well today we came, wow what a cute little outdoor mall. Little shops, from coffee, donuts, pizza, records, some clothing I think. Lots of outdoor seating. Not place to come n shop, it's mostly to hang out. At least that's the vibe.

    Tammy T.

    Call me crazy. Call me a Facebook mom. Call me insane. But I feel The LAB Anti-Mall is a bit overrated and not a 10/10 or as "happening" as my 15 yr old daughter said it would be. She was getting me SO HYPED up about this place that I took time out of my weekend to drive 50+ minutes here for a visit - but I ended up disappointed. Of course, I know that Tik Tok are all over this place and there's a bunch of teens posing the same pose at the same spots for likes (like my daughter) so I am sure she had fun with her friends. However, I just wished they had more shops and restaurants for me to hang out at while the kids are in line to take their pics. Overall, I give a 6/10. (My daughter gives it a 11/10 but it's too bad she doesn't have her own Yelp account). Because I am a good mom (lol), I don't mind bringing her back here, but I personally think I'll have a better time shopping at South Coast a few blocks away. P. S. No admission charge. Free parking.

    David C.

    The LAB is a pretty cool outdoor "anti" mall with a few shops including an ice cream shop, a record store, and a clothing store with more to come. It is a little underwhelming as it currently is but I believe the place is relatively new. I think most people visit here to work or hang out in the central common area that is actually a very cool spot with some benches and nice sunshine that comes through.

    Tunnel with used CDs (Nov 2025)
    Luke L.

    The LAB Anti-Mall (established in 1993) is a hip outdoor shopping plaza in Costa Mesa and The LAB stands for "Little American Business". The CAMP is another hip shopping plaza across the street and many visitors check out The CAMP and The LAB Anti-Mall all at the same time. [Parking]: There's a designated parking lot for this shopping plaza, but the lot is usually packed during normal weekend business hours. [What to expect here]: The anchor shop here is Nook Coffee Bar as this coffee shop always has a long waiting line. There's also a public restroom for all visitors to use. The LAB Anti-Mall has more of a first date friendly vibe than The CAMP as visitors will find the following at The LAB Anti-Mall: * A tunnel with used CDs * The Wishing Tree * Art installations * A cool fountain right next to Nook Coffee Bar with water flowing out from colorful oil barrel drums * A larger open-air seating area than The CAMP [Conclusion]: If you ask me what's the #1 best first date spot in Orange County without having to consider parking nightmare, then there's no question it would be this shopping plaza. P.S. - The LAB has a sister property called The Casino in San Clemente.

    Ice cream from Stella Jean's
    Steve S.

    Lovely indoor / outdoor experience for locals and visitors in the Costa Mesa area. From food and cocktails to retail and novelty experiences... there's something for everyone at the LAB.

    The cool walkway with CDs
    Arturo M.

    The LAB in Costa Mesa is one of those places that feels instantly cool the moment you walk in. I love that it's not your typical mall experience. Instead of just stores, there are open areas where you can hang out, relax, and enjoy the atmosphere without feeling pressured to buy anything. At the same time there are plenty of food spots and unique shops to wander through, so you get the best of both worlds. The vibe here is warm and welcoming, perfect for a casual day out with friends or even just solo time. I stopped at Seabirds for a bite during my visit and the food was pleasant, but what really stood out was how easy it was to just slow down and enjoy being there. The layout makes it feel like a little hidden community spot rather than a big shopping center. Another bonus is the location. It's right next to another shopping area within walking distance, so you can make a whole afternoon of exploring without having to move your car. Between the creative touches, the chill atmosphere, and the mix of shops and restaurants, I definitely plan to come back. This is the kind of place that makes you want to linger, whether you're eating, shopping, or just soaking in the scene. Highly recommend.

    Katrina S.

    This place is so cute ! Has so many places to get food and drinks . Parking may be difficult at certain times on the day but I've been lucky not to come during super busy hrs . I love the vibes here and places they offer . The prices at the places here are pretty high but they are all unique places . A lot of options and types of food to choose from . I went to two places the lady told I went a both places had great customer service.

    Ivy S.

    Loved the laid back vibe and handful of cute family owned boutiques and eateries. Savored a matcha chai latte from the Nook and triple berries vegan donut from GoodTown Donuts. A great outdoorsy space to read a book and spend with friends :)

    cool decor
    Tony J.

    This is always a wonderful place to go to, no matter what you in the mood for. Wonderful activities, such as looking for vintage vinyl records, picking out incense, potted plants, vegetarian or vegan meals, or protein dishes such as shish kebab! Furthermore, if you're looking for a great place to take a first date, and you're worried about conversation, just walking around here will surely initiate so many topics of conversation. Enchanting, would be my one word description of this place. Whimsical would be my second choice of one word verbiage. There's always something new and artistic to be seen and shared here. There's so many shops here that I like to visit ! so many restaurants, that are delicious and out of the norm. And those shops and restaurants always provided something, such as a service like a haircut, or the latest trend in clothing, etc. However on the other side of that ,if you'd like something vintage, or grunge, punk, etc., this is always a fine place to look for that as well ! Such as the shirt that we purchased from the Buffalo Exchange, Robert Smith from The Cure band, featured on a retro shirt! The LAB meets everybody's budget, whether they want to indulge or be thrifty.

    Stella's Vegan ice cream Maple banana bread
    Aguilar C.

    There's a bunch of cool merchants in this mini Mall. All local and very cool vibe. Me and my Bestie enjoyed Stella's ice cream parlor.

    Madeline S.

    I LOVE The Lab so much!! I've been coming here for years and I've loved seeing it evolve. It has a really cool, trendy vibe. I love that while it has evolved over the years, some things have remained the same -- like the CD tunnel! There's a great selection of shops and restaurants, as well as hangout spots. I do miss the huge Urban Outfitters and Gypsy Den, but hopefully something new will take their place too! I also love all the art and attention to detail too. Parking can be tough some days, but they do offer valet and it's very affordable.

    Entrance  old cds  that make noise in the wind
    Lydia S.

    Ot's just a cool place to hang out - I love Habana restaurant, the amazing donut shop at the other end, a large Hippy Dippy oils candles shop a beer establishment and LOVE the little card, shops, etc., in the tiny Airstreams buy your vinyl in the in the V dub. There's a cool vintage shop that has newer and older. Parking can be a bit of a challenge sometimes on the weekend your mileage may vary. !

    Me in archway made of CD's that are customized
    Diana M.

    This place is incredibly cute, the atmosphere is extremely artsy and pleasant to walk around at. Most of the stores were closed when I arrived around 6 PM but I can imagine earlier, its probably packed and lively. This is a quick go to shop spot or a spot for foodies. Definitely worth checking out.

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    Business owner information

    Photo of Linda S.

    Linda S.

    Thank you Tony for shopping small and for the great review and pics!

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    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - The LAB Anti-Mall

    Is this place suitable for studying?

    Hard to say. If you can find the right restaurant in back.

    I came here to planning to study but could not find any guest Wi-Fi. Does anyone know if they offer free Wi-Fi and if so what's the password?

    Hi Brian! The LAB does offer free Wi-Fi - the password is LABLOVESU in all caps. Hope that helps!

    Does it get crowded on saturday afternoon for taking pictures?

    I just went there today, a Saturday, during the afternoon hour from 3-ish to 6. Not very crowded during the first half but all of a sudden got jam-packed around 5. However, I expect it to be even more crowded around dinner time at 7 tonight!

    Is this kid friendly? I have 2 teenagers

    Yes it is.

    Is it LGBTQ+ friendly? Are there gender-neutral restrooms?

    They have bathrooms for men and women if you happen to fall into either category.

    Does this place have decent wifi?

    I wouldn't even call it decent. It is constantly connecting and disconnecting for me. Cant really get anything done because it is a WiFi for anyone to use and thus the sheer number of people connected to it reduced the bandwidth

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yes! People often come here with their dogs to take cute photos. It is an outdoor mall. Each store might have their own pet policy though.

    Do they have bike locks there, a place to store bikes?

    It's all the way passing seabirds, basically behind urban outfitters facing the windows of the van it was very hard to find but I found it haha ! No where near the car parking lot.

    Any restaurants that you could recommend for a group of 10 folk an the Anti Mall Lab?

    Hi Rosaline, Thanks for reaching out today! We recommend that you contact our restaurants… 

    View All 11 Questions

    Review Highlights - The LAB Anti-Mall

    I came here because of Nook Coffee and I was so very pleasantly surprised to discover this awesome Anti-Mall.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    South Coast Plaza

    4.2
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    Hi end shopping place. I usually come here for the food and shopping. This place has coffee…read moreshop and brand names stores you can shop all day here. My favorite is the swiss chocolate store and the Le Shrimp Noodles House. It's pricey but worth it! Come check it out and bring your whole family and enjoy the trotting and photo shooting while windows shopping, you might find something when you least expected . It has a Carrousel on the first floor for kids to ride for a fee. Parking is usually available at different sides of the Mall.

    Apparently coming in very casual clothes just for gelato then mall walking while admiring the shop…read moredisplays is a highly suspicion activity as my husband and I were followed by multiple security guards- including one zealous guard that followed us down a floor and across the mall then walked up on us while we sat for a few minutes to play on our phones. I have never encountered this issue in the past as I have always dressed nicely when visiting this mall and we have always in the past planned visits around getting a meal or buying some things during our mall walking, but this time we didn't want to spend much money and didn't bother to dress up which ostensibly is a huge problem to South Coast Plaza security and seemed to put a target on us. Good forbid two people who don't look rich want to enjoy a beautiful air conditioned mall on a hot day. Let this be a warning to all that you should look rich and/or visibly be actively spending money here if you want to avoid being followed.

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    Fashion Island

    Fashion Island

    4.2
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    4.3 mi
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    This is one of my favorite outdoor malls in the Orange County area for mall walking. As it is…read morelocated near the beach, the weather is always nice and there are plenty of places to sit and rest your feet at this mall with a nice view of the beach. The mall does tend towards high end stores with a small smattering of standard stores but in general, there are a wide variety of stores. Plenty of dining options from high end or quick casual. You can even do your grocery shopping here as there is a Whole Foods market. They occasionally have special events. I happened to be here during the Lunar New Year event so one of the areas was decked out with Year of the Horse decorations. I also always walk by the Koi pond to see how the fishes are doing. Staff has always been friendly and helpful when I visit.

    Fashion Island is in a great location and the property itself is really big and nice to walk…read morearound, but the actual retail selection leaves a lot to be desired. The Shopping & Entertainment: The Stores: Most of the shops just aren't stores that everyday consumers actually want. It's mostly filled with weird, random boutique stores that no one has ever heard of, charging ridiculous prices like $300 for a single t-shirt. No Movie Theater: For a mall of this size, it's pretty disappointing that they don't even have a movie theater to catch a film. The Silver Lining: Parking: The only consistently good thing about this mall is the parking situation. No matter when you visit, there always seems to be plenty of parking available. Final Verdict: It's a beautiful outdoor space to stroll through, but as a practical place to shop or find entertainment, it's just not the best.

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    The District at Tustin Legacy

    The District at Tustin Legacy

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    I think between The Marketplace and The District, this location probably just covers more of the…read morebasic shopping and dining needs for a pretty chill time, or if you want to just take a little walk somewhere, The District can be great for that. I recently came here for a Lunar New Year event, so it looked really packed because of the event itself. But it was spacious and parking was pretty decent. Lots of uncovered parking outside. It will get hot if it's a sunny day, and if you're walking further away from the parking lot, prepare for a warmer walk. With a few good dining options inside, I think that probably would make it worthy of a return visit to The District.

    Update 2026: -- Hostile environment. Two incidents in one…read moreevening. One driver suddenly shouted by me, "Do you wanna die?!" Several mins later, as I was moving into a parking spot, another driver cut me off, honked at me, and gave me a contemptuous hand signal. 2024: tl,dr: Beautiful plaza. Beware the traffic. Likes: + Variety of restaurants and shops. + Pleasant promenade between shops and restaurants. Appreciation: I used to complain about the lack of entrances/exits into this parking lot. Over the years, thankfully they have added one to slightly streamline outgoing traffic. In recent years they've added an exit leading into alley that leads out onto Barranca Pkwy. Non-likes: - Bad traffic. Many entitled drivers cut the wait at the stop intersections. Drive slowly and be careful. - Sometimes pedestrians cross without looking both ways first.

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    Nice view - good way to chill
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    Diamond Jamboree Shopping Center

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    I like this plaza that has outside seating that you can order whatever you want from your party if…read moreeach of you wants something different. Many options from tea drink stores, hot pot, BBQ, Korean foods, H Mart, Somi Somi, 85 degrees Bakery, and etc. You can get snacks, drinks, pastry, entrees, to desserts. Lots options. I enjoy walking around the plaza with lots options to choose from. Each person and get food to go and all sit outside the table. Good value.

    tl,dr: horrendous shopping area. but good restaurants…read more Likes: + This Shopping Center houses an awesome selection of restaurants like Pepper Lunch, Coco Ichibanya, and MeetFresh. Non-likes: - This large shopping center has only 3 entrances/exits, 2 of which are tucked away. So if you're looking to dine somewhere deep in like at Pepper Lunch, you have to navigate through abundant pedestrian and car traffic to find parking first. The floor plan designers should've included 1 or 2 more exits closer to the Alton Pkwy & Jamboree Rd intersection. - And parking is often horrendous throughout the whole day. From lunch hour to dinner hour, parking is almost always packed. You can expect to spend up to 10min seeking parking during the worst hours of the day. Even the parking structure in the back isn't sufficient during rush hour. - The back alley that passes by the church is riddled with horrendous, tall speed bumps. Awful on your car's suspension. They need to smooth out those speed bumps. Better yet, remove them entirely. They're not needed. - Also, many entitled drivers in the parking lot. For example, when they're at a stop sign and you're driving through the intersection because you don't have a stop sign, they jut out and almost collide with you. And if you honk, both the driver and the passenger in the other car will freak out and make a face at you as if YOU'RE the weird one. It may be worth the investment and mental peace to seek lunch elsewhere. - The center parking spots of the parking structure smelled like old urine. Parking there is a lil secluded, but boy does it reek.

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    Busy night life at Diamond Jamboree. Always a great place for dinner, dessert or just to hang out!
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    The LAB Anti-Mall - shoppingcenters - Updated July 2026

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