Dive Bars in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa's dive bars are mostly along 17th and 19th Streets, a world away from the South Coast Plaza crowd. The Wayfarer on West 19th doubles as a small live-music room for local bands, and North Left on East 17th pours local craft beer and hosts karaoke nights. The exception is Memphis Cafe on Bristol, near the malls — the dressed-up end of the category, with dark wood, neon, a bourbon-heavy back bar and a kitchen that stays open late. All of them run weekday happy hours, and that's when dive-bar prices really show up. Times are on each listing.