The Wayfarer

The Wayfarer has been the beating heart of Costa Mesa's live music scene since opening in 2014, carrying the torch of its predecessor the Detroit Bar, which launched careers for Cold War Kids and Young the Giant and hosted Modest Mouse and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs before the walls knew the Wayfarer name. The room is an intimate gastropub on the Westside with a devoted following built around strong food, craft cocktails, and a music calendar that runs nearly every night of the week. Monday residencies with no cover charge keep the room buzzing early in the week, while weekend shows bring nationally touring acts to a venue small enough to make every show feel like a secret. The food menu is serious, running steak burgers, Korean beef quesadillas, fried chicken sandwiches, avocado fries, and a Sunday brunch with bottomless champagne. The vibe is exactly what Orange County has needed: a real music bar that takes the music as seriously as the drinks.