Katella Commons to Anchor OC Vibe With Expansive Food Hall and Bar Scene
- Lola Olvera
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
The Anaheim development’s central gathering space will feature chef-driven stalls, six distinct lounges and a design rooted in local culture.
OC Vibe, Anaheim’s 100-acre, still-developing mixed-use district has unveiled the recently named Katella Commons, a 50,000-square-foot, two-story market hall with six bar and lounge concepts that will open in early 2027.
Katella Commons will be the culinary hub at the center of OC Vibe, providing easy access to the rest of the district’s attractions, like the The Weave office building, outdoor plaza and entertainment venues. Visitors can expect an eclectic, visually appealing, day-to-night food and beverage experience that is deeply rooted in Anaheim culture — the market hall is named after its location on Katella Avenue, and its new bar and lounge offerings are a nod to Anaheim’s thriving brewery culture, which is home to the well-known La Palma Beer Trail.
PHOTO 1: The Weave office building. PHOTO 2: Bar Bacchia. PHOTO 3: Vesper Lounge interior. Artist renderings courtesy of OC Vibe
“Katella Commons is intended to be the gathering place for Anaheim,” said Nick Pacific, vice president, Katella Commons Operations. “Every kitchen, bar and lounge within the OC Vibe district is intentionally designed to encourage discovery and give guests the freedom to experience the space and the food in their own way.”
Whether you're a wine connoisseur or simply curious to try new flavors, Bar Bacchia promises to satiate curiosity with its pop-up tasting events, featuring amaro-forward cocktails and curated wines, all in a dimly lit, wine cave-inspired ambiance.
With an elegant aesthetic informed by Japanese and Scandinavian design, Vesper Lounge will be a tranquil cocktail bar where you can sip on gin, martinis, spritzes and botanical spirits.
Barrel Bar is styled after a European cafe, and is intended to be a destination for visitors at any time of day — one can have a coffee in the morning and globally inspired small plates for lunch, and enjoy spritzes, classic cocktails, beer and wine in the evening.
Rea's Ranch is made for the casual hangouts, with a “California desert character,” a welcoming porch-style area, and the flexibility of choosing from coffee, draft beers and natural wines.
A lush, green gathering space will provide the "social heart" and main bar of Katella Commons, poised for large gatherings and events, and offering agave-forward cocktails, frozen drinks and modern classics.
PHOTO 1: Barrel Bar. PHOTO 2: Rea's Ranch outdoor seating. PHOTO 3: Katella Commons, exterior. Artist renderings courtesy of OC Vibe
Photo-ops abound at an additional cocktail lounge whose "late '70s glamour meets early '80s maximalism" atmosphere and aesthetically pleasing drinks will provide a high-energy and visually striking experience.
“People today care deeply about how their food and drinks are made,” said Chef Rémi Lauvand, who will be leading the culinary experience at Katella Commons. “They want to understand ingredients, sourcing and technique, and they’re excited to ask questions and try things themselves.”
Along with the six new bars and lounges, Katella Commons will also feature 21 chef-driven food stalls under one roof, all part of a market experience meant to capture the vibrant culinary identity of Orange County.
The overall Katella Commons experience will have renowned Chef Lauvand at its helm. Born in France and now based in Los Angeles, Lauvand has trained in highly respected kitchens across Paris and New York, and gained critical acclaim as executive chef of Montrachet in Tribeca. He has built a reputation for leveraging extensive knowledge of food science, classical techniques and creativity to develop unique flavor concepts.
Last November, OC Vibe announced its first culinary partnership with Next Food Network Star finalist and restaurateur Debbie Lee. Lee will lead two culinary concepts at the market hall: the elevated, Korean-inspired seafood bar Pado, and Mokja, a Korean snack cafe and bodega with street food favorites, both a reflection of Lee’s passion for marrying traditional culture and modern flavors.
Katella Commons is just one facet of the $4 billion, privately funded, 100-acre, mixed-use district that is still being developed around the Honda Center, with a planned completion date of 2033. Once fully completed, the district will feature Katella Commons, additional restaurants, an office building named The Weave, three new entertainment venues, a public plaza, 20 acres of open space, three miles of connected walking trails, two hotels and an apartment community that includes low-income housing options.
OC Vibe’s collection of entertainment venues will include The Honda Center, a longtime Anaheim staple that will be receiving a $1 billion upgrade to its guest experience services; the Golden Bear, a beloved Huntington Beach nightclub that closed in 1986 and will be reopening at OC Vibe in 2029; and a 5,000-person-capacity concert hall opening in early 2027. OC Vibe recently revealed renderings of the concert hall, designed by global architecture firm Populous. The concert hall will be capable of supporting a variety of entertainment options, including concerts, speaking engagements and sporting competitions, with an emphasis on providing quality guest and artist amenities.
“Artists won’t just play at OC Vibe, they’ll grow here,” said Eric Bresler, senior vice president of entertainment. “With the addition of the concert hall, we’re creating a rare ecosystem where an artist can move from an intimate club to a mid-size room to a major arena, all within one connected campus in the heart of Orange County.”
