Presented by Ratowsky Group at Compass · Sister brand of HB Locals Only
The honest local's guide to Costa Mesa: the Eastside, the Westside, the best food scene per square mile in Orange County, and the neighborhoods, from a team that eats here weekly.
What is CM Locals Only?
Most real estate content is a sales pitch in disguise. This isn’t. CM Locals Only is the resource we wish existed when friends ask what Costa Mesa is really like: where to actually eat, where to take the kids, which parking lot to aim for, and the honest trade-offs nobody mentions in a glossy listing.
It’s presented by Ratowsky Group at Compass, the father-son team of Craig and Justin Ratowsky, with 58 years of combined coastal Orange County experience and the same honest-local playbook as HB Locals Only, our guide to Huntington Beach next door.
Best of Costa Mesa
Local list
Best coffee
Where to find serious coffee in Costa Mesa, mapped by area and what each one's good for.
Local list
Best parks & playgrounds
The Costa Mesa parks and playgrounds families actually rotate through, ranked.
Local list
Best things to do with kids
The kid outings locals actually rotate through in Costa Mesa, ranked, including two that are completely free.
Local list
Best burritos
Where the real burritos are in Costa Mesa, mapped by corridor and what each one's good for.
Local list
Best tacos
The corridors, counters, and trucks where Costa Mesa's tacos actually live, mapped honestly.
Local list
Best pizza
Where to find real pizza in Costa Mesa, from serious ovens to late-night slices, mapped by area.
Local list
Best breweries
Where to find serious craft beer in Costa Mesa, mapped by district and what each one's good for.
Local list
Best hikes & trails
Where to find real trails in Costa Mesa, mapped by spot and what each one's good for.
The Tides · Newsletter
Inventory, days-on-market, neighborhood-level price moves, and the strategic plays we are seeing on the coast. No fluff. No mass blasts. Unsubscribe any time.
Frequently asked
Work with Ratowsky Group
Justin and Craig Ratowsky at Ratowsky Group at Compass work Costa Mesa and the surrounding coast every week. We're happy to give you the honest local read, no pressure.
