South Coast Plaza
 3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, California 

 California shopping

South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa is a preferred stop on shopping tours. Especially popular with travelers seeking designer names,  upscale boutiques and discount outlets offer everything from clothing, shoes, handbags, luggage, jewelry and glass items to designer foods.  Located across the street from the Orange County Performing Arts Center, South Coast Plaza shops span several city blocks. Many guests fly into Orange County/ John Wayne Airport 5 minutes away and check into a nearby hotel so they can spend more than one day shopping.   

Getting there is as easy as taking Orange County Connection Bus Service from Anaheim area hotels.  Included are Anaheim Plaza Hotel, Tropicana-Carousel, The Ramada Maingate, Howard Johnson's,  Sheraton Anaheim,  Disneyland Hotel, Pan Pacific Hotel, Inn at the Park, Anaheim Hilton & Towers, Anaheim Marriott, Quality Hotel Maingate and  Hyatt Regency Alicante.  Round-trip van transportation from your hotel to South Coast Plaza costs $8  Info: 800-782-8888 

South Coast Plaza Shopper Shuttle provides free shuttle service which takes  shoppers throughout South Coast Plaza, and South Coast Plaza Village on Saturday and Sunday 12 noon to 7 pm. Shuttle stops: South Coast Plaza at Bristol, Nordstrom - west side, Nordstrom- north side, Macy’s,  South Coast Plaza at Bear, West entrance to Crate & Barrel Furniture store,  West Main entrance to center,  West entrance to Macy’s and  South Coast Plaza Village near entrance to Antonello's Ristorante.  

Long Beach Area hotels with daily service include Queen Mary Hotel, Hyatt Regency Hotel,  Westin Hotel,  Renaissance Hotel and Hilton Hotel. Price & Info: 800-782-8888 

The discount shops are situated in two other shopping centers. One called Metro Pointe (pictured above) offers stores such as Nordstrom Rack, Best Buy, Marshalls, Mikasa and Barnes & Noble Booksellers. The other includes Ross Stores, Sporting Goods, a Toys R Us and tall men's clothing plus Cost Plus, Red Robin Restaurant and more.  
 

Open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday  11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Call first before going since times are subject to change..  A shopping mall that just keeps growing, South Coast Plaza and its across-the-street partner called Bear Street (formerly Crystal Court) offer around 300 shops, restaurants, banks and international stores.

©  D. Stock

Names such as Cartier, Chanel, Christian Dior, Escada, Fendi, Gianni Versace, Godiva Chocolatier, Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore,  St. John Boutique and Tiffany & Co. are but a few to whet your appetite.   Two carousels, one at Bristol Street and one at Bear Street feature colorful  reproductions. Carousel Court was first installed in 1967. .

A companion carousel based on the Legend of King Arthur now revolves at the Bear Street carousel.  Serious shoppers, give yourself a day to explore or you won't see all the shops.