There’s a small corner in northeastern Costa Mesa called The Guild Club, where immersive vintage rules the day, and stepping through the door is akin to exiting a time machine.
You might think it’s some speakeasy inspired by 1920s Prohibition, but it’s actually earlier than that. Strolling into the Guild Club takes one into a theatrical glimpse of the late 19th century… fine living, as if you were Winston Churchill.
It’s an intimate experience – with only about 1,000 square feet – featuring tables, a finely-appointed bar, wingback chairs, dark woodwork, seriously-dark mood lighting and (presumably) posh leather-bound books à la Ron Burgundy.
It’s elegant, without being too serious; touches, like monkey lamps, hitting the perfect note of whimsy.
Guild Trip: Lux, speakeasy-style sips and bites at The Guild Club, Costa Mesa.
Photos: Brandy Young
The proprietors, Noah and Marín Von Blöm, say that The Guild Club is sophisticated, yet whimsical. The venue, tucked within the South Coast Collection center off Hyland Avenue, first opened in 2017 as a reservation-only concept, akin to Disneyland’s exclusive Club 33. Six memberships were available for $15,000, plus an annual fee. Members owned a table and could easily visit, even on a whim; non-members had to try to get in far in advance.
After a closure earlier this year, The Guild Club lost it’s membership model and reopened to the general public, in October. The Von Blöms say their venue was due for a change, so they adjusted accordingly.
The dynamic Costa Mesa duo are no strangers to the scene. In 2013, they opened Arc at SoCo, an award-winning restaurant featuring a wood-burning oven. Arc helped spark a renaissance within SoCo, turning that entire commercial corner of Costa Mesa into a destination unto its own.
Later, they expanded with Restaurant Marin – adjacent to Arc – before closing that, and reopening it as Arc Pizza House. The couple’s company, DirtySexyHappiness Hospitality Group, also own Arc Butcher & Baker in Newport Beach.
Simple Selections, Elegantly Executed, at The Guild Club in Costa Mesa.
Photos: Brandy Young
The Guild Club is bar-first, more so than the Von Blöms’ other concepts. The Von Blöms say their cocktails focus on classics, made-from-scratch with “rare and superior spirits and technique.”
You can choose from drinks like the Czar (Beluga vodka, Rombauer wash with a twist) and the Churchill (Macallan 15 triple cask scotch whisky, seltzer and hand-cut ice). But they’re fun too, like the Girlfriend — a drink that changes daily.
Food is classy, but limited, with items like olives and cheese, shrimp, sausages, fried chicken pieces and lamb.
Photo: Brandy Young
“Costa Mesa is great for so many reasons,” Noah said about the area. “The city has little pockets, or villages, like in New York City. The diverse demographics of these communities make for a great group of guests. We have quite a few locals who are regulars.”
Walking into the Guild Club, you might be rubbing elbows with Costa Mesa’s finest, whether they’re executives and designers from the nearby Vans HQ or the Los Angeles (yet Costa Mesa-based) Chargers.
Eclectic was the word Marin used to describe Costa Mesa, where she and Noah met, and lived for years, before moving to Newport Beach.
Costa Mesans are a big part of what Marin loves about the business.
“You open a restaurant for the community,” she said. “That’s who restaurants serve.” ♥
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Connect with The Guild Club online at theguildclub.com and on Instagram @theguildclub.
