Speakeasy-style bar nears opening in Costa Mesa
Holiday, a new bar and lounge in Westside Costa Mesa, is going for vintage.
Tucked in a strip mall along West 19th Street, the venue — which will have soft openings starting July 15 and a grand opening in mid-August — is pitching itself as a speakeasy-style establishment with touches inspired by classic Hollywood and a 1900s French country plantation house.
It will feature craft cocktails and finger foods.
Once complete, Holiday won’t look like much from the street, but that’s on purpose, keeping with the speakeasy vibe.
The outside wall’s siding is black and white, matching the interior, where plush seating, classic street lamps and a collage of classic Hollywood photos have been set up. The bar is white marble.
Signature drinks will include the On Holiday — rye, ginger, orange juice, Angostura bitters and soda — and the Gatsby, featuring vodka, coconut water, Falernum, lime and cinnamon syrup.
Free seasoned popcorn will be served along with the regular menu, which includes cheese plates.
A separate area within Holiday — dubbed the “bar within the bar” — is the Red Room. The roughly 1,100-square-foot space will have its own entrance and be limited to those on the guest list or with memberships. It will serve the same food as Holiday but have a different bar menu with higher-end choices.
Holiday replaces the Lions Den and Maison. The latter had a brief run last year but ran into permitting troubles with City Hall and was caught hosting live music without permission.
The property, at 721 W. 19th St., is entitled to have DJs and dancing, but Holiday’s operators say they’re looking to have live entertainment. They plan to apply to City Hall for permission in coming weeks.
If the application is successful, patrons could see and hear a variety of performances, such as jazz trios or even beat poetry.
Holiday aims to host different performers each hour.
“It’s going to be new and fresh every time,” operating partner Mike Kinsella said during a tour of the still-under-construction venue Wednesday.
As for the name, marketing director Rob Arellano said being there is like being on vacation — or on holiday, as it were.
Expect low lighting, to a candle’s level, he said.
“It really goes with the atmosphere that people are looking to come and get,” Arellano said. “Every night’s a holiday.”
For more information and operating hours, visit holidaycm.com.
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Bradley Zint, bradley.zint@latimes.com
Twitter: @BradleyZint
