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Best Airport Bars In Orange County

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(credit: Bistango)

Whether you want a burger and brew, or a shot and some shooters, bars in and around the airport have your libation needs covered. While some excel in mixed drinks, others offer quantity over quality to help warm you up for long flight. All of these places promise charm and excellent decor in common, even if their themes aren't at all similar.

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Anaheim Ducks Breakaway Bar & Grill
Terminal C
18601 Airport Way
Santa Ana, CA 92707
(949) 252-5200

Orange County is proud of its Stanley Cup Champion Ducks, and John Wayne Airport opened up a great bar and grill in the team's honor. The vibe is great for sports fans, with memorabilia and televisions lining the entire place and a great mix of food and drink as well. Some of its signature drinks reference hockey verbiage, and all of them manage to get the un-sobering job done. John Wayne Airport offers a mix of flavor and choice, but nothing quite as Orange County as this Ducks-themed bar.

javiers 2
(credit: Marian Bacol-Uba)

Javi's
Terminal C
18601 Airport Way
Santa Ana, CA 92707
(949) 252-5200
www.javiers-cantina.com

If you've never seen a tequila tree, it's about time. Swing by Javi's, a local dining location with a great menu, from seafood and Mexican specialties, to two dozen tequilas and finger food. Free chips and salsa with your order is always a nice bonus, especially when your margarita has given you a craving for something salty. Be careful, because with food this good, you might miss your flight while ordering your next drink.

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(credit: Thinkstock)

Vino Volo
Terminal C
18601 Airport Way
Santa Ana, CA 92707
(949) 252-5200
www.vinovolo.com

You can't talk about airport bars without mentioning Vino Volo. Its menu is broken down into what food matches well with its wine, even including a sweet wine for a chocolate torte or cheesecake. For those in a rush, everything may be packaged for a to-go meal, or sit down and enjoy its free WiFi while sipping a glass of your favorite red or white. This is a touch of class in an otherwise hustle and bustle airport experience.

posch
(credit: Posch Restaurant and Grill)

Posch Restaurant and Cocktails
18912 MacArthur Blvd.
Irvine CA 92612
(949) 833-1900
www.poschrestaurant.com

Located right down the street from John Wayne Airport, Posch is as nice as its name suggests. Beyond the four-hour nightly happy hour with killer martinis (including the 007), its design and elaborate interior is one of a kind. If sitting an airport and eating next to frantic businessmen and 20 unsupervised children isn't your bag, head down to someplace more mature and focused on making you relaxed. Its menu is a simple balance of land and sea, giving both the freshest fish dishes while also allowing carnivores the chance to satisfy their meat tooth.

bistango
(credit: Bistango)

Bistango
19100 Von Karman Ave.
Irvine, CA 92612
(949) 752-5222
www.bistango.com

Bistango boasts a focus on art and live music in addition to delicious libations. This place is stumbling distance to the airport, so don't fret about taking a cab if you need to tip a couple extra bucks. If you're having a going away party before cashing in that one-way ticket to your dreams, Bistango offers private dining rooms for 50 to 500 people, depending on how much you will be missed. Its wine list is almost 15 pages long, so don't expect to be given the bland choice of "red or white."

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Jesse Seilhan is a writer, editor and photographer from the California Bay Area. After moving to Long Beach, Jesse continues his passion for writing and music by covering concerts, interviewing top artists, and giving a dose of wisdom in a crazy, mixed-up musical world. His work can be found at Examiner.com.

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