2026 is off to an exciting start at Spectrum Center, with new attractions, boutiques and restaurants adding to the world-class experience that’s also close to home.

1. Hijinx Hotel

The newest addition to the center isn’t a hotel at all but a place to gather with friends for memorable, experience-based entertainment. Choose from 15 challenge rooms that the company calls “part puzzle, part playground, part game show” and gather a team of two to six players to return to your inner child for a while. Or go for karaoke in private rooms for up to 15 people where you can belt out your favorite songs and get food and drinks delivered directly to your room.

2. Holey Moley

Don’t let any weather interfere with your plans to play putt-putt close to home. This new attraction offers three nine-hole courses that combine pop culture and nostalgia to delight you. Creative themes abound. Servers will find you on the course to bring drinks as you play, and the music is a hit with all generations. Come for the fun and check out the prevalent puns. After 8 p.m., it turns into an adults-only space with party and date-night specials.

5. Isabelle’s Cabinet

The Southern California-based boutique delivers West Coast chic vibes via flirty, affordable fashions from floral day dresses to going-out tops and more. What started as a pop-up is now a storefront ready to help you find the latest fashions. “Working with Irvine Spectrum Center as a pop-up has changed the trajectory of our small business,” says Chelsea McDowell, general manager of Isabelle’s Cabinet.

4. Mastro’s

The newest of nearly 20 Mastro’s locations across the country, this fine-dining destination at Spectrum Center wows with 10,000 square feet of stunning design and sumptuous food. Beyond the wine-bottle-lined entrance is a shimmering bar and lounge. The plush dining room includes one of the best walls in Irvine, a transfixing triptych of women with elaborate hats. There’s also a WinterFrost American wagyu, which is exclusive to this Ocean Club.

5. Gap

The brand has returned to Spectrum Center with recent collaborations that demonstrate the ability to stay relevant while maintaining timeless appeal. With sustainability initiatives, including water-saving denim programs, Gap brings heritage values aligned with Irvine’s environmentally conscious lifestyle. This bright, modern space introduces Gap’s latest prototype, designed to elevate the in-store experience with innovative displays and even a blue glow after hours.

6. Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream

Generous portions and dozens of flavors tempt residents throughout Irvine to come for the world’s best ice cream, as described by National Geographic. “It’s quite rare to make the ice cream right at the store, and we use the finest quality ingredients,” says owner John Wolikow. “The secret sauce is the heavy cream, which is a proprietary Handel’s recipe.” The brand began in 1945 and continues the tradition of high quality with a location opened last year between Nordstrom and Target.

7. K Photo La Vie

The Korean-inspired self-photo studio offers high-quality digital photo booths where visitors can take their own portraits. The experience draws from a popular trend in South Korea and includes customizable frames, professional lighting setups and an array of props. While not a traditional studio, the setup is designed to create polished, shareable images in a casual environment. The opening reflects a broader interest in interactive, DIY experiences at Spectrum Center.

8. Rolife

The toy store combines creativity and craftsmanship, artistry and play, via premium do-it-yourself miniature houses, collectible plush character dolls, intricate three-dimensional wooden puzzles, themed book nook shelf inserts and mechanical assembly models. Recent arrivals include the Suri’s Magic Princess figure with starlight skirt and iridescent scepter, Super Creator miniature Hong Kong Bites Cafe plus a Rowood Flower Puzzle Wooden Blooming Book.

9. Columbia

The flagship brand of Oregon-based Columbia Sportswear Co. has been creating innovative apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment for outdoor enthusiasts since 1938. Columbia has become a leading global brand by channeling the company’s passion for the outdoors and innovative spirit into technologies and performance products that keep people warm, dry, cool and protected year-round.

10. Din Tai Fung

The celebrated Taiwanese restaurant first brought the soup dumplings known as xiao long bao to international attention. Now there are 165 Din Tai Fung locations around the globe, with the newest located between Nordstrom and Target. Reservations can be made at dtf.com for the Feb. 6-March 2 soft opening. The dumplings are meticulously hand‑pleated with 18 folds by a cadre of chefs in the transparent kitchen. Varieties include one starring Kurobuta pork, another with crab and pork, as well as dessert versions. The menu offers all manner of buns, potstickers and noodles, too.