Beautiful Architecture
Noted contributors to this three-story, 2.8 million-square-foot venue include famous architect Frank Gehry and legendary sculptor Isamu Noguchi, the latter of whom came up with California Scenario, a small plaza anchoring one end of this mighty mall. In 2000, landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson added more attractions by contributing a stunning pedestrian bridge to the scene that had a practical purpose: to connect one part of the shopping center to another. The woman behind the making of the celebrated “Princess of Wales” fountain in London’s Hyde park also came up with the enchanting Garden Terrace at this monstrous Costa Mesa mainstay.
Deluxe has always been the watchword at South Coast Plaza, but is especially so after the grand mall enjoyed a massive $30 million remodel ordered by part owner Anton Segerstrom. Out went the burgundy floor tiles and in came Italian marble. Travertine fountains and other mesmerizing water features were also installed, and bronze was used as the rich material for railings and fixtures like elevator doors originally made of brass.
Fashion Mecca
Fashion designers of all types are well represented in this mall. The mall boasts the most high quality retailers of this sort under one roof in the entire United States. Among them is jeweler to the stars Harry Winston and shoe czar Christian Louboutin. Also on the premises are such high shops as Versace, Prada, Gucci, Hermes, Chloe, and Louis Vuitton.
Extraordinary Cuisine
Hungry shoppers often spend hours inside the confines of South Coast Plaza which creates quite an appetite. Luckily, there are top rate dining spots to be found here to eat and get some rest. South Coast Plaza offers top notch eateries like Lawry’s Carvery, Charlie Palmer (located inside Bloomingdales), Vie De France, and Din Tai Fung, the latter serving all kinds of Chinese fare including super tasty, Shanghai-style xiaolongbao.
Customer Convenience
Convenience is the name of the game at this mall. A valet is always on duty, so buy to your heart’s content without worrying about carrying too many bags to your car.
Area Specialty Shops
Outside of South Coast Plaza, The LAB and The CAMP are two other shopping destinations to be considered. These so-called anti-malls take guests indoors and outdoors to enjoy what some say are slices of paradise for area hipsters.
The LAB (aka Little American Business), once a night vision goggle factory, now plays host to places like Lobby, which offers the latest in men’s and women’s fashions, as well as the most coveted housewares and hard-to-find books. The CAMP also has special places in tow, including Active Ride Shop, which serves adventurers with specialty products for all sorts of surf, skate and snow experiences.
Unique Boutiques
Looking for more standout boutiques? Costa Mesa boasts a variety of smaller places with big followings. Consider the South Coast (or SOCO) Collection for dozens of shopping opportunities found in small enterprises and showrooms like Perch for alluring lifestyle brands. The OC Mix is a collection of unique shops run by locals like Eva’s Trunk and Denim Bar. And then there’s The Triangle, a group of specialty spaces in which a movie house, a night club, a bowling alley, a cocktail bar and a slew of top notch dining spots like Saddle Ranch Chop House dwell in harmony.
Promenade Shops
Also not to be missed in this Southern California shopping nirvana: The 17th Street Promenade shops, which are situated in the Newport Boulevard and 17th Street area, including such mainstays as Surfside for all your sporting goods needs, Anne’s Boutique Wines for a highly curated vintage collection, and Vaping Industries for tobacco products of all description. Happy shopping!
