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“

“I stumbled across this place on accident. And I’m very glad I did. Very unassuming at first on the outside. The interior and lay out is very cool and dynamic. They really do capture a more industrial bier garden than most in SD county. The quality of the beer was memorable as well. The taste, smell, and color were all incredibly fantastic. Would love to return soon.“

“Pretty standard craft brewery vibes with the awkward staff as a pairing. Nice quiet neighborhood, above average beer, certainly on the pricier side for a pint these days. Small coffee shop inside is a nice touch. Will stick with the occasional Harland can purchase at the store to bring home.“

“In traveling around the US and Mexico, there are a few restaurants which stand out as memorable and indelibly so for the delicious food that they create plus in a manner and care that makes the flavors and texture just that much better.

We decided to try here for something different for breakfast add were we definitely pleased!

We started with the guava and cheese gelatte, a pastry that pleasure senses like a soft plushy sledgehammer. WOW!

The Smiley Christo, a tasty breakfast sandwich that I did not want to stop as well as the Mc Muff… that was even better!

All washed down with a Buko Pandan Latte, iced, and a B.S. Palo Santo Latte, hot.

What a great way to start our travels!

I recommend this place and even we make the same route shading someday. We’ll BE BACK!!“

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

“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.“

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

“great food and BBQ sauce 🙂“

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

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

“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!!!!“

“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.“

“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...“

“Singularly the best brewery in San Diego
Been going there for 10+ years

The owners are are family to me & my husband, have been awesome friends for a decade.

The beertenders are fun, educated about the beers & are all family to me

The beer is some of the best i’ve had in my life, my desert-island beer lives on the board, Drink this or the Bees Die

Being gluten-free makes the beer healthier for me, less pain in my joints, no bloating, & tastes amazing.

Overall 100/10 for me, now & forever“

“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!“

“Cheddar shrimp and grits were so good!“

“good food and beer on tap“

“Love this bar! Outdoor seating is amazing I brought my dog and he had a great time too. Our server/bartender, Joe, was great! Super friendly, and knew the beer menu really well. I gave up drinking a few years back but was delighted to see 10 n/a beers on the menu. Great vibe, highly recommend!“

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

“Great nights whenever we're there. Excellent pasta dish with lots of sauce and garlic bread. Accompanied by talented singing crowd on Saturday karaoke nights, pleasure to listen to. Kid-friendly management/staff... a real family treat. Be there.“

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

“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.“

“What a surprise for just picking something off the map! Beautiful view, but the food was SO SO good, and a great price. We had the Baja shrimp taco- generously sized and perfectly dressed. The pastrami burger- oh my…the bun was perfect, the beef and pastrami delicious, and the ONIONS WERE OUT OF THIS WORLD(wish I could do mine this way. Even the grilled cheese was top notch, done with crispy cheese inside and great quality bread. Lastly, we had the potato pirogies which were crisp and toasty on the outside and creamy inside and the hopping sauce we could DRINK. The employees were very nice and service was swift. Probably the best, quick meal we have had traveling in 2700 miles. Much appreciated!“

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

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

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

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

“Good food. Great service !“

“Good job n thank you so much“

“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.“

“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. 🍻“

“Love all the art 🙂👍“

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

“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!“

“This review is mostly about the Beautiful Bodies Burlesque show, Heartbreak Hotel on 2/6/26. I would've missed this place entirely if not for the show. That would've been sad. We had dinner beforehand. Casual place with some great choices in the taproom. I loved the guava cider. The tacos were good but our separate orders arrived on one plate and cold 😬 seems like they'll have to work on that. Tasty though. We arrived about 6:30pm and were told the pork belly wouldn't be ready for two more hours. We instead had a Cali taco, like the burrito in taco form. Even cold it was good. The surf and turf taco was good too. Chips and guax were tasty. Also the mole tater tots were good but know it's a large portion. 3.5 stars. The true highlight for me was the space downstairs with a bar that holds various events. Last night's was Beautiful Bodies Production was top notch. Best time ever! They put on a great show. Each performer was unique and amazing. The whole vibe was beautiful. I'm thrilled to have been a part of it. I'll be at the next one for sure. I loved sharing it with my daughter-in-law and hope she spreads the word to encourage her friends 💖 the little speech at the end had me tearing up bc it's one of the reasons why I find burlesque such an empowering and inclusive space. Thank you for gathering the talent and putting on a show to be proud of!“

“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!“

“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!“

“The food was absolutely amazing! The service was excellent! The atmosphere was great! We will definitely be back. We wanted to try every single dish on the menu! Tried 4 this time and will be back to try the other dishes. This is a must go to place!“

“We eat here a few times a month, mostly Sundays, always pep. pizza, been ordering that from Filippis pizzas throughout SD for decades. The ppl at this one in particular are always super nice and they're very hard working. The tall fella in the front, the 2 waitresses, all the unsong heroes in the back, I just wanted to take the time to thank them all. This pizza I got today is probably the best one I ever ate from Filippis haha it was super fluffy, absolutely fantastic.“