50 Best Beer Bars near La Mesa

“Retro arcade conveniently located in La Mesa. Don't drink so can't speak to the beer selection but they have a wife variety of taps. If theres a beeryou wanted to try this is a phenomenal opportunity. Played for about 45 min, 2 ppl cost $27 incl good tip. Sundays are free play all day. I'll be back“

“Update June 2026: still my number 1 favorite brewery. Always a great experience. Tonight the beer was perfect, the band (Setting Sons) was excellent, and the food truck was great ( Surf Me A Taco, or is it Surf Meat Taco) ! Great place. Praguenosis, haze for horses, King Rufus - incredible beers.

Original: Great place, friendly with awesome beer! The old brick building and the patio with lights is just a perfect atmosphere for a beer!“

“Great place to do a little work done and there is great food too. There is usually a lot of places to sit. They sell beer for any occasion like if you just want to sit and have a drink work a little or to like something to bring to a party or to have at home. They sell mostly six packs of beer.“

“Happily went to the wrong location! Awesome beer!“

“Friends of Friends and Wavy Burgers - This is my favorite coffee shop in National city. It’s artistic, unique, and fun. I always find something new and delicious, and that’s selling it short. I’d take friends or family from out of town here, and I have. Definitely a highlight of National city and the owners should be very proud.

Only vice is sometimes the music is a touch too loud or vile with expletives over and over again… no thanks. Those days I just grab my food and dip. That’s a knock on an atmosphere star.

I will keep coming here! I’m a big fan of their orange Thai tea latte :)“

“Great space and good beers. Always good for that sunset on the patio.“

“My roommate and I have been coming here for a while, it's easily one of our favorite regular spots. The atmosphere is stylish and gives off great vibes and always feels welcoming. The food is always fresh coming from local California farms. The drink menu is solid with all of the staples and some with added twists. The owners Chris and Jenn are amazing, they and their staff are always kind and provide incredible service. Other points to consider are the burger of the month, a rotating culinary delight often themed and always delicious, and the establishment holds many different events from art shows, drink and paint, trivia and so many others. Honestly, it's always a great place with friendly people. Chris and Jenn are leaders in the community and work to not only provide delicious food, and a great experience but also work hard to make the community better. Would recommend, and do recommend to everyone and anyone. 5/5 stars.“

“Great burgers, quick service. Good value for money.“

“Comida riquísima!!! Authentically delicious! 🔥🇲🇽“

“Phenomenal food, fun atmosphere, excellent staff & owners. Highly recommend!“

“Place is fire. So many beers to choose from you don't even know where to start. I'd say ask the bartenders to pick your drinks for you. It's funner that way.“

“Loved everything we got tonight, the chicken sandwich, pulled pork, amazing! So were the fried Mac and cheese balls!!!!“

“great food and BBQ sauce 🙂“

“Cheddar shrimp and grits were so good!“

“One of my favorite bars in the city! Great cigars, deals on drinks, and a vibe that’s always chill but never boring. Staff makes you feel at home every time. I even love bringing in my board games here it’s the perfect spot to relax, hang with friends, and just enjoy the night. Easily one of my favorite bars in the city.“

“Josh was super friendly and seated us promptly. The food was all really delicious and the service was fast. They where on top of refills and clean up. Each roll tasted so fresh and flavorful. 10/10 recommend and can't wait to come back.“

“Really delicious and reasonably priced food. Love the fusion style. The Tokyo fries are one of my absolute fav things on the menu. As well as the fried kale and Banh mi 🤤 Decent beer, wine, teas, and specialty drinks.“

“We had an amazing experience, and a big part of that was thanks to Sergio! From the moment we sat down, he was attentive, friendly, and genuinely cared about making sure everything was perfect. His recommendations were spot on, and he checked in just the right amount without ever being intrusive. It’s rare to come across service like that—professional, warm, and efficient all at once.

Thank you, Sergio, for going above and beyond and making our visit so enjoyable. We’ll definitely be coming back!“

“Excellent service! The bartender at the rooftop bar was extremely friendly and kind and went above and beyond to make sure our group was attended to. The fire pit areas are so beautiful if you’re looking for a chill/lounge vibe with beautiful views in East Village.
We held an event there last year for the holidays, and the service and food were spot on. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a venue to host a large party or a small group of friends. Everyone can order what they want at the bar and they bring the food to you.“

“Very tasty beverages. Nice big ice cubes, made from tasty water. Friendly staff, and a back room shrouded in mystery...“

“This place serves 85 years of proven deliciousness. It is simple. It is hearty. These days, it is even out of the ordinary. Just go. You will be glad that you did. If you are like me, you’ll remember how Mom would heat the oven to 450 degrees and place the block of ice Hungry Man pot pie in the oven for one hour till it transformed into a cauldron of molten lava. My mother would even crack open the hood of the pie and load it with an extra cup of frozen peas and carrots that would cook to perfection in the heavenly inferno of scrumptious delight, which made me the muscular hunk of love that I am today. The San Diego Chicken Pie Shop serves up a pie that is an even better recipe than the one in my memories of my dear Mom. If your are nearby, give it a try.“

“I love this location. Been a handful of times. My first visit, was the first real time I have been introduced to Gluten Free beer. I have family friend who I believe is a “Celiac” and this brewery is one of the few that he can enjoy. I visited the Encinitas location, staff and vibe was off the day I went but here it’s always fun. Beer has gotten a little stale for me considering they always have the same product. So my only critique would be is experiment with more beers haha.“

“good food and beer on tap“

“The best spot for a beer after a nice walk by the pier! And, if you are lucky, like we were, you can get a chance to listen to bands rehearsing for the evening event at the Rady Shell. The service was great, we didn't get food... but everything smelled delicious, and the atmosphere and the views were amazing!! Must check it out if you're looking for a relaxing stroll by the ocean.“

“I picked up some ribs and a sandwich for dinner last night and the food was awesome as always. Portions were big enough that I had leftovers. Corbin O'Reilly and Vince always make me feel special!“

“Outstanding venue. First time visiting the establishment for lunch with some co-workers and I will be back for a more social setting!“

“Love the food and amazing service ♥️one a my best place!!!!!!!“

“I would have given a 5 star on the food, but since the water or soda that is served has ice in it, you get a 4. Putting a filtration system on the city water supply is a must in a city that has hard water like Santee has. The water and ice from the water taste nasty !!! When you put the ice from a non filtered water supply, the soda and ice tea then will carry that nasty flavor into the drink. I drank my wine without chilling it with ice, so that I could enjoy the flavor of my wine.“

“My favorite Nashville hot chicken sandwich and tenders!!!!!!“

“If you want a spot to watch a Philly game, this is very clearly the place to be in San Diego. I've watched Birds, Flyers, and Phillies games here. It's absolutely packed for Eagles games, with the crowd spread between two indoor spaces and a large outdoor area. IMO, the IPA choices here have been comparatively weak when San Diego has so many great IPAs to offer, especially at both nearby North Park and Pure Project, but there is a decent selection of other styles. However, the pretzel is the real selling point. Whether on its own or as the bread of a sandwich (the Spicy Turkey was recommended to me and it is quite delicious!), the soft pretzels are the real deal. I saw lots of people coming in just to eat, and I can't blame them.“

“A unique concept where not only is it a beer/liquor store but if you wish to buy the beer in the fridge and drink it on premise you pay a small corkage fee. This allowing you to try a variety of beer with a much lower price than the average bar while being able to take home said beer in a 4 or 6 pack. They also have a variety of cheese in the back and a sit down area tk relax and enjoy north park for what it truly is and feels like.“

“Everything about it is fantastic! The beers are delicious and the owners are so welcoming! Thank you for hosting my 29th birthday!!!💕“

“Great restaurant! Food, service were on point!“

“Good food. Great service !“

“Craft beer places are a dime a dozen in SD, but I knew after one visit that Machete is easily going to become a favorite water hole to visit when I am in the mood for a good variety of craft beer. They have a bunch of different styles, and a selection of beers from breweries that I either haven't heard of or never tasted before. Love that. It gets boring seeing the same 3-4 breweries at every place that offers craft beer in SD.Vibe is super chill, casual and divey.Staff here is really nice. I didn't get his name, but he let me try a few different beers and gave great recommendations based on the styles I like.No food here, but the Papi’s Teppanyaki food truck is here from time to time. Check their IG for their schedule. Not sure if there are ever other options since I only recently found out about this place.Cheers!Edit: I came back a second time and the super cool bartender's name is Jett. If you come in on a day he's manning the bar, you're in great hands. :)

Kid-friendliness: There was a young family here with a stroller, but it wouldn't be my first choice for places to visit with kids.“

“Great food, great atmosphere, and the staff is the best.“

“Good job n thank you so much“

“Laidback, good wine and friendly“

“Delicioso 😋 love it. Ambiente para familia, pareja incluso solos!!“

“Stopped into Mason Ale Works in Barrio Logan and was pleasantly surprised to see they had hard ciders on tap. I ordered a cider flight and was immediately in my happy place — great variety and a fun way to try a few different flavors.

The bartender was super friendly, and the whole vibe was casual and fun, the kind of place you end up staying longer than planned.

Even better, you can grab tacos from Tacos El Villasana out back and enjoy them on the patio with your drinks.

Great little spot to hang out for a bit. 🍻“

“I attended an event at Meraki last night and absolutely loved the space! It’s beautifully clean, open, and so versatile—you can really make it your own. The food was delicious A++ (my favorite was the Fettuccine Alfredo) and the service was truly top notch. Such a great experience from start to finish. Highly recommend!“

“Love all the art 🙂👍“

“Great beer and good food! They also promote several social mixers. Definitely going back“

“Great beer selection, friendly staff, and a really unique atmosphere. One of the coolest features of Brewjeria is the underground venue downstairs, which hosts live music and comedy events. The only suggestion I would make is to promote the basement stage more clearly inside the venue. As a first-time visitor, it would be easy to miss that there is a separate underground space with its own bar and events. A little more signage could help more people discover it. Overall, a great spot on Third Avenue and definitely worth checking out“

“Tried Board and Brew for lunch today for the first time ever and I am in love! Had the Cali Delight with bacon and avocado added and it is probably one of the best sandwiches I've had in San Diego. The potato salad was really good as well. Will definitely be back!“

“This place is a real Gem, excellent coffee, tea & pastries. Cigar friendly, with a nice selection for sale. Even as a tourist you get that local neighborhood vibe and they treat ya like family! Staff was so friendly and hospitable! Loved the decor and atmosphere, this place will definitely be one of my go to stops when we visit again!“

“I picked up a box of sandwiches for a party… They were so delicious! Everyone at the party was so excited when they saw they were from board and brew. Highly recommend… My new go to place for any event! The staff was extremely friendly and efficient…“

“delicious food and friendly service! I love the soup!“

“The wings are one of the best in SD in my opinion! Hands down. Also friendly staff! Wanted to recognize Bryan for going above and beyond. We got takeout and our car would not start in the parking lot. He helped jump start our car on his break and we were able to go, no problem! Food service was already amazing, but THAT is what you call customer service. A great story to tell while recommending Pelicana. Thank you Bryan!!“

“Our waitress Laurie was absolutely amazing! She went above and beyond to make our visit unforgettable, and every dish we tried was bursting with authentic Italian flavor. Filippi’s Pizza Grotto in Mission Valley continues to deliver the best combination of delicious food, warm atmosphere, and outstanding service in all of San Diego.“