Guidebook for La Mesa
Food Scene
La Mesa Bistro & Bakery is a favorite breakfast spot. All you can drink coffee, great food, and friendly service. This quickly becomes a regular hang out in the mornings and is just down the hill.
19 locals recommend
La Mesa Bistro & Bakery
8697 La Mesa BlvdLa Mesa Bistro & Bakery is a favorite breakfast spot. All you can drink coffee, great food, and friendly service. This quickly becomes a regular hang out in the mornings and is just down the hill.
Tasty Tortas (Mexican sandwiches) with a cute outdoor patio, good Mexican beer and great prices.
10 locals recommend
La Torta Cafe
8356 Allison AveTasty Tortas (Mexican sandwiches) with a cute outdoor patio, good Mexican beer and great prices.
Some of the tastiest authentic Mexican food around - cheap, high quality and not too greasy. It gets rave reviews from Yelp.
Sarita's Taco Shop
9906 Campo RoadSome of the tastiest authentic Mexican food around - cheap, high quality and not too greasy. It gets rave reviews from Yelp.
A swanky "grill your own meat" lounge with dark leather, tasty drinks and a mellow atmosphere.
17 locals recommend
Riviera Supper Club and Turquoise Room
7777 University AveA swanky "grill your own meat" lounge with dark leather, tasty drinks and a mellow atmosphere.
The best Mediterranean food in San Diego county & one of the best Gyros anywhere. Great family-friendly spot to enjoy a great meal in a comfortable atmosphere. The food is delicious and cheap!
Haritna Mediterranean Restaurant
7303 El Cajon BlvdThe best Mediterranean food in San Diego county & one of the best Gyros anywhere. Great family-friendly spot to enjoy a great meal in a comfortable atmosphere. The food is delicious and cheap!
Tasty comfort food and great beer selection in a hipster joint owned by the folks that own Craft & Commerce. Downtown is about 10-15 minutes from the house.
67 locals recommend
Neighborhood
777 G StTasty comfort food and great beer selection in a hipster joint owned by the folks that own Craft & Commerce. Downtown is about 10-15 minutes from the house.
Tasty grub in an uber cool warehouse meets hipster joint near Little Italy.
151 locals recommend
Craft & Commerce
675 W Beech StTasty grub in an uber cool warehouse meets hipster joint near Little Italy.
Cosmos
8278 La Mesa BlvdLa Mesa's coffee hang out, with live music and decent coffee.
Best coffee in San Diego in a great little nook of the coastal stretch.
217 locals recommend
Bird Rock Coffee Roasters
5627 La Jolla BlvdBest coffee in San Diego in a great little nook of the coastal stretch.
There is one here and in Ocean Beach - regularly ranked San Diego's best burger.
66 locals recommend
Hodad's Downtown
945 BroadwayThere is one here and in Ocean Beach - regularly ranked San Diego's best burger.
Classic California pizza place - great pizza, surfboards on the wall and brews some great beer.
93 locals recommend
Pizza Port Solana Beach
135 N Hwy 101Classic California pizza place - great pizza, surfboards on the wall and brews some great beer.
Romantic with a great view of La Jolla - it's not your typical cheesy tourist trap - great food
248 locals recommend
George's at the Cove
1250 Prospect StRomantic with a great view of La Jolla - it's not your typical cheesy tourist trap - great food
Great food, comfortable atmosphere and plenty for the kids to do - there is an outdoor play area, great outdoor seating and the prices are reasonable for an upscale restaurant.
71 locals recommend
BO-beau kitchen + garden
8384 La Mesa BlvdGreat food, comfortable atmosphere and plenty for the kids to do - there is an outdoor play area, great outdoor seating and the prices are reasonable for an upscale restaurant.
Bayside Landing
3780 Ingraham StGo for the burgers and fries...huge, delicious and well-priced!
The new "It" restaurant of San Diego - great food, cool scene and tasty drinks.
123 locals recommend
Juniper & Ivy
2228 Kettner BlvdThe new "It" restaurant of San Diego - great food, cool scene and tasty drinks.
New restaurant with a great atmosphere...food is decent and it gets crowded...but, a fun scene.
207 locals recommend
Ironside Fish & Oyster
1654 India StNew restaurant with a great atmosphere...food is decent and it gets crowded...but, a fun scene.
Good meatball sandwiches with meatballs made from all sorts of "gourmet concoctions"...grab some handcrafted sodas and dig in. There is also a great cocktail lounge right next door.
96 locals recommend
Soda & Swine
2943 Adams AveGood meatball sandwiches with meatballs made from all sorts of "gourmet concoctions"...grab some handcrafted sodas and dig in. There is also a great cocktail lounge right next door.
Essentials
A good country grocer with a massive beer selection, great choice of meats, fresh pies from Julian and a down-home feel.
15 locals recommend
Valley Farm Market
9040 Campo RdA good country grocer with a massive beer selection, great choice of meats, fresh pies from Julian and a down-home feel.
Entertainment & Activities
Our favorite beach down in San Diego county - great shops, great surfing, wide open beach for kids to play and a great playground.
156 locals recommend
Encinitas
Our favorite beach down in San Diego county - great shops, great surfing, wide open beach for kids to play and a great playground.
Great beach for the kids to play on - lots of sand, surf and places to eat.
700 locals recommend
Pacific Beach
Great beach for the kids to play on - lots of sand, surf and places to eat.
Fifteen minutes from the house - this is one of the best Zoos in the world!
2510 locals recommend
San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo DrFifteen minutes from the house - this is one of the best Zoos in the world!
The tide pools at Cabrillo Monument are a blast - head there on a low tide and the kids will have a wonderful time and it's absolutely beautiful.
502 locals recommend
Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center
1800 Cabrillo Memorial DrThe tide pools at Cabrillo Monument are a blast - head there on a low tide and the kids will have a wonderful time and it's absolutely beautiful.
Great kid-friendly eatery - great spot in South Park that has good food and a great spot for the kids to stay entertained.
174 locals recommend
Station Tavern
2204 Fern StGreat kid-friendly eatery - great spot in South Park that has good food and a great spot for the kids to stay entertained.
Moonlight Beach
400 B StGreat playground, decent surf break and wonderful beach
Arts & Culture
Best place to see live music in San Diego - lots of independent bands come and play in this small and intimate venue.
271 locals recommend
Belly Up
143 S Cedros AveBest place to see live music in San Diego - lots of independent bands come and play in this small and intimate venue.
Everything Else
Great brewery in a run down building in a cool little town only 35 minutes up the road from the house. Alpine has beer fans all over the world.
8 locals recommend
Alpine Beer
2363 Alpine BlvdGreat brewery in a run down building in a cool little town only 35 minutes up the road from the house. Alpine has beer fans all over the world.
So much for the kids to do - the zoo, museums, running around in the park, etc...about 15 minutes away.
3290 locals recommend
Balboa Park
So much for the kids to do - the zoo, museums, running around in the park, etc...about 15 minutes away.
AleSmith Brewing Company
9990 AleSmith CtOne of the original local breweries
Societe Brewing Company
8262 Clairemont Mesa BlvdOne of the newbies - very tasty
Vons
2800 Fletcher PkwyA fine grocer nearby - has all of the staples
Great beach...playground for the kids, wide open beach and good food nearby.
87 locals recommend
Fletcher Cove Beach Park
111 S Sierra AveGreat beach...playground for the kids, wide open beach and good food nearby.
A meat lover's paradise - casual place that you order at the window and hang out at cool tables on the back patio. The line gets long so be prepared to wait a bit to order.
162 locals recommend
Carnitas' Snack Shack - North Park
2632 University AvenueA meat lover's paradise - casual place that you order at the window and hang out at cool tables on the back patio. The line gets long so be prepared to wait a bit to order.
Where the locals go...beautiful beach, great reef break for surfing (though respect the locals!)
272 locals recommend
Windansea Beach
Neptune PlWhere the locals go...beautiful beach, great reef break for surfing (though respect the locals!)
Great park that overlooks downtown, pacific beach and the surrounding hillsides.
185 locals recommend
Kate Sessions Memorial Park
5115 Soledad RdGreat park that overlooks downtown, pacific beach and the surrounding hillsides.
Drinks & Nightlife
Twisted Manzanita Ales & Spirits
10151 Prospect AvenueGood local brewery about ten minutes from the house.
Great European like pub with massive beer selection from San Diego's world-renowned breweries.
Hoffer's Cigar Bar
8282 La Mesa BlvdGreat European like pub with massive beer selection from San Diego's world-renowned breweries.
Tiger!Tiger!
3025 El Cajon BlvdTasty grub and huge selection of beers
Bottlecraft Little Italy
2252 India StGreat beer bar and grocer - big selection and cool vibe
A casual and comfortable pub just added to the local neighborhood. The food is tasty and prices are decent. They are currently getting a different liquor license so kids are allowed (now 21+)
34 locals recommend
The Hills Local Pub
8758 La Mesa BlvdA casual and comfortable pub just added to the local neighborhood. The food is tasty and prices are decent. They are currently getting a different liquor license so kids are allowed (now 21+)
Sightseeing
Sunset Cliffs
Beautiful walks along the cliffs
Beautiful views all around and cool to watch the gliders fly off the cliff over the ocean
268 locals recommend
Torrey Pines Gliderport
2800 Torrey Pines Scenic DrBeautiful views all around and cool to watch the gliders fly off the cliff over the ocean