50 Best Cocktail Bars near La Mesa

“Second visit - glad we went back! Just as great as the first visit. Had a wonderful time last night during restaurant week. Excellent option!s! We chose the restaurant week menu - one veal, and upgraded one meal to try the seafood special - sea bass. Delicious. Rice ball appetizers and meatballs. The almond tort for dessert was amazing. Service was excellent even though restaurant was full. Food timing perfect and servers were friendly and fun.“

“One of the best places in San Diego for Mexican food that delights you with its wide variety of dishes with fresh products daily, I highly recommend it for any formal or informal event 10 out of 10.Vegetarian options: Very good selection of legumes, vegetables and fruits for salads“

“Does and done to heaven. Their Thursday oyster happy hour special is delicious. Handcrafted cocktails will not disappoint. Service is ok as it is extremely busy during dinner. You don't get a ton of attention. However, I feel that the quality of the food makes up for it.“

“So glad that I finally made it to this bar after living in the neighborhood for so long. I'm also very glad that I came in with a regular who knew a person or two as this has a very "locals" feel to it. First thought that ran through my head was that it was much bigger than I had expected it to be. I didn't even make it to the other side of the bar, which is also sizeable. Service was quick and there were a few folks playing pool on one of the two tables that I saw, (there may be more) and it had a nice outdoor space for patrons to go to for a quick smoke or two. Prices were average and the people were friendly, and for that, what more can you really ask for in a neighborhood bar?“

“I've seen this place for yearssss and never thought to stop in, but my salon hosted a dinner here, and this place was a little vibe, kinda lowkey . The food was good with live music . Definitely gave a casino vibe with the decor, but it's definitely a cool little date spot with ya friends or man's “

“This place is beautiful. It takes my back home (Guadalajara)The food is amazing, authentic, Mexican food. I always get upset when I go to taco shops and call that Mexican food!! This is for real!!!!They have a full top shelf bar, the bar is big and beautiful, the de or is breath taking.Thank you for bringing a little bit of home to San Diego!!Parking: You park on the streetKid-friendliness: They have a kids menu“

“Went to Johnny B's for the 1st time the other day. I live in La Mesa so I'm all for supporting local. Burger and fries were awesome. Janelle was our server and she was THE BOMB.COM!! Her attention to our needs made the dining experience fabulous I'll definitely be returning“

“Have been trying to get to Lola 55 since last year when my daughter started at school at USD, finally this parent’s weekend my daughter skipped some of the festivities and I made it there. Not only are LOLA 55 tacos, cocktails delicious, but their presentation is magnificent. Their ambient music selection is also great. Not your typical taco stand.“

“The gentlemen were super nice and really attentive to my preferences. It blew my mind the way they combined ingredients to make the cocktails taste exactly how you wanted them to. I had a Tiramisu cocktail for dessert and it was phenomenal!“

“LOVE this restaurant!! Great food served by an excellent crew. Had dinner here one night, back for lunch the next day. Out of town tourists that wished we were local.Parking: Maybe quick free parking at the bank. Street parking was difficult.“

“Enjoyed a tasty branzino with lemon caper sauce, Lemoncello cake, and good cocktails. Also enjoyed the personality and getting to know more about the business by talking with one of the owners, Flavio. Recommend and will return. Felt like family.“

“First visit to Wormwood and it was an excellent culinary experience. It was a bit loud in the dining room and it is not a cheap dinner date but the service was phenomenal and the food and drinks were, for the most part, delectable. Tonight we ordered a farmers loaf of bread to share which came out steaming hot and accompanied by a delicious butter. We also ordered the French Onion dish that made my eyes roll to the back of my head. Let’s suffice to say I could have just ordered a couple of those French Onion apps and been perfectly content without needing a main dish. Nonetheless, our party ordered the Sea Bass, Chicken and the mushroom pasta dishes as mains. Everyone was happy with their meal and the plating was beautiful as you can see in the pictures. Overall it was a great meal - maybe not a regular date night sort of place but worth it for an occasional splurge.“

“Came here for happy hour and sat at the bar.(+) Cocktails were delicious - Kingfisher Spritz, Golden Hour, and Favored Winds.(+) Happy hour salt and pepper fish was very good.(+) House made egg noodles - super good(+) Wagyu smoked beef rib - really good.( ) Service was nice but we got asked how we were doing by like three different people repeatedly and it got a bit tiring.(+) Vibe is cool. Nice bar, ambience is really nice.“

“For my money one of, if not the best speak easy in San Diego. The decor is super cool, the drinks are fantastic and it's so small and intimate that it makes for a really unique and fun experience. I've been inside at least 10 times now and it never gets old. Don't sleep on it, it's a fun vibe “

“SoCalTasting's journey to Mr. A's Bar and Restaurant in Bankers Hill, San Diego was nothing short of extraordinary. With breathtaking water and downtown views and bay paronama, close-up airplane sightings, and the mesmerizing cityscape, it's a must-visit. Our experience was elevated to new heights with mezcal drinks adorned with burnt tobacco leaves, creating a flavor sensation like no other. An unforgettable fusion of views and tastes awaits! Service was fantastic! Definitely going back there soon!“

“Came here for the first time to celebrate a friend birthday. We had the bottomless bubbles, which was a great deal, and really enjoyed the three juices. we also acute espresso martini and our friends drink. They actually wrote happy birthday. I had chili and I thought it was delicious. The weight staff was very friendly and the ambience was very clean and prestige. I will definitely be back..“

“atmosphere needs a 10 star option because this is truly one of the best spots in SD for a great theme.the drinks are a bit pricey $15-19 but worth the ambiance of the bar. The food is also high quality. mostly appetizers and finger food but presented and taste amazing. Great date night spot.“

“I cannot begin to say how amazing my experience was here. Biz, Emmy and the other person working (so sorry for spelling and names it was quite loud) on march 13th were absolutely amazing biz and his cocktail knowledge was impeccable. I came here solo with some anxiety and I was immediately felt at home. Later into the night they continued to provide amazing service and recommendations for other areas in San Diego. I'm visiting from Seattle and they definitely made my entire trip!“

“Whiskers & Wine is a must visit San Diego Destination. They partner with Whiskers without borders and always have a good amount of cats in the lounge, all of which are adoptable. Split up between the front bar entrance, the lounge and the upstairs Catio, there is plenty of space to hangout and play with cats. The cats are all friendly. The food and drink is great as well. They offer flatbreads, kitten tots, sweet potato fries and more. All are great to have to pair with a wine or a cocktail. My favorite cocktails are the perfect Meowtini and the Margarita Fresca (watermelon and mint margarita). Best flatbread is the Turkey pesto hands down. They do monthly events as well, yoga on the weekends, bingo and singles night. Just check their website and reserve your lounge experience today. I will definitely be back“

“The All American sliders and shrimp flat bread was spot on as usual but it was their draft beers that were not up to par tonight (not as cold as usual) due to them being slammed earlier leaving them with hot glasses. This is where 100% he saved the day. Zach our server on the fly suggested if he can turn these hot glasses into super cold glasses by super dropping the temperature by filling it up with lots of ice and water and then cleaning the cold glasses and topping it up with there tapped IPA immediately. It was effective and the beers were super drinkable again and delicious. Thank u Zach for being absolutely brilliant, entertaining and most of all taking care of your customers from the bottom of your heart!“

“Came in looking for a fried fish taco but their grilled fish taco was off the hook. Wasn't necessarily looking for ceviche but ended up trying their verde sauce shrimp ceviche, it was flavorful and spicy. Definitely coming back. Service was phenomenal, super friendly. The place is small and parking may sometimes be a little challenge but worth it to come and enjoy this pace.“

“Excellent service. Fun, eclectic interior. Extensive, thoughtful, innovative and well-executed menu. This place is all over it.?My breakfast tacos were packed with lusciousness and were accented beautifully with fresh salsa and a great serrano hot sauce the server provided. I also tried the orange cinnamon roll pancake special; the base pancake batter was just ok, and I didn’t get much orange flavor, but with the great crunchy topping, and the cinnamon both in the butter and swirled nicely into the cake, it was an overall success.?I’ll def hit this place up again the next time I have the opportunity.“

“Fantastic brunch, great service. This is on my must come back list.I've listed my dinner pics here. I definitely have to say that brunch is better than dinner. Service is definitely slow in the evening, not as quick and organized. Items don't come out in a timely manner. Still a fav of mine, though. ;)“

“What we enjoyed the most was the excellent and friendly service from Grant who not only gave us great food suggestions but also some tips on where to go out on town. We are visiting so we very much appreciated his friendliness! The venue is unique and the vibe is happy and fun!“

“TL;DR amazing rustic decor with equally amazing new American-style food to match I came here on a weekday to hang out with some friends and was recommended by the attendant in their adjoining coworking space that the chicken sandwiches were the choice to make and it definitely didn't disappoint. Keeping it short and simple, I rarely ever crave new American cuisine since it's a hit or miss and some are good but most are mediocre with a price tag that isn't palatable, however, Bivouac was a clear exception The chicken sandwich was great, it was juicy and tender on the inside with a nice crispy exterior. The bun was lightly toasted inside and the cheese paired with the arugula and pickled onions were a blissful pair. The pickled onions cut through the fattiness and the arugula added a nice slightly bitter flavor contrast that I enjoyed Food aside, the decor was also well aligned with there themed location next door, the seating we had was a swing in a c-shape and moved all the c-shaped bench together which added a bit of thrill. It felt similar to a childhood experience and felt like one of those swings you'd have in your grandparent's yard or something similar Overall the setting and food were something I would come back to, if the interior was the only hallmark of this place I would likely not come back but the food from everyone I was with seemed to suit their taste buds well and equally fill everyone up“

“Not our first time to RO52R, but every time we visit this place, it’s an experience! We were taken cared of by their Lead Bartender “Brian”, and boy does he know his craft! We’ve followed Brian over the years at his many stops throughout his career tending bar, and he’s definitely one of the best! Thankfully, we came at a time when before the crowd filled the speakeasy. We tried five drinks, several of their signature creations, and several off-menu creations made on the fly. Sampled two appetizers to help offset the alcohol, and both were outstanding. RO52R’s ambiance is one of the coolest speakeasies in town. For first timers, it’ll blow you away. We absolutely love, love, love coming here! For those who are avid speakeasy enthusiasts, so you’ve tried the rest, if you want the BEST, this is THE spot! Food, drinks, service, atmosphere, music, and overall experience… It’s hard to beat!Parking: Located in one of those strip malls where there’s more popular business with available parking to match the need for patrons of each business. During peak times, you’ll definitely need some luck on your side to find an available spot. It’s the ONLY negative about this place…“

“I've been on a burger kick so my husband has been taking me to all his favorite places. I ordered the balboa burger and it was delicious ! Along with the fries , I really enjoyed the aioli sauce. I'm excited to come back and try out the different burgers. Everyone who works here is great ! It's a pretty cool place to drink some beers and play some pool.“

“I always wait to post reviews until I've been to a place more than once. This place doesn't disappoint. The Bar Chemists are Masters of Craft Cocktailing. Ben & Frank are super friendly, extremely knowledgeable and untra creative. Room 56 is our new favorite hangout.“

“On our last night we wanted a relaxed Mexican meal so headed to La Puerto at 560 Fourth Avenue.On arrival we were offered the worst table in the place. We requested a booth, which they didn’t want to give us one so we sat at the bar.The waiter was a lovely chatty guy who said he originated from Warrington.For drinks, we ordered cocktails. I had a Whole Lotta Love. This was La Puerta’s hand crafted house Margarita made with Reposado Tequila, Agave nectar and fresh lime.My husband had the Low Rider. This was La Puerto’s Cadillac Margahita made with Anejo Tequila topped with a blend of cognac and orange liqueur.I have to say neither of them were particular strong. There might have been some watering down going on.For food we ordered…Mix ‘n’ Match Signature Street Tacos. This was a combination of three tacos served with refried beans, rice, rajas con crema (sliced poblano pepper with cream), cotija cheese, limes.The tacos we selected were:Carnitas, my personal favourite. This consisted of slow roasted pork, guacamole and pico de gallo.Ranchero Shrimp, which was sauteed shrimp, ranchero sauce, cabbage, cilantro and crema.Pollo Asado, which included grilled chicken, guacamole and pico de gallo.Along with this we also had Pollo Asado Fries. These were really tasty loaded fries known as Papas Fritas La Puerta. Topped with Cotija cheese, jack cheese, grilled onion, poblano, crema, guacamole, pico de gallo and cilantro. The icing on the cake was the mixed in grilled chicken.“

“We’re from out of town but were craving some good fish tacos. TJ’s did not disappoint! We got the octopus, ahi tuna, garlic shrimp, taqueso shrimp, and smoked tuna tacos. The octopus and smoked tuna were our favorites! Our server was extremely helpful and provided great service.“

“Must visit if you are in the area. These tacos are DELICIOUS! Don’t expect a quick Taquería, these tacos are made to order with care. The corn tortillas are soft and clearly handmade, the fish has the perfect ratio of meat to crisp, and the slaw toppings are extremely thoughtful and unique.Big time recommend!Vegetarian options: Have a mushroom taco that is delicious!“

“We needed a good brunch place to finish celebrations for our friend's birthday and BAR did not disappoint. We were so happy to have live jazz entertainment. The food was very good and we were treated to a glass of champagne to toast our friend. Small but sweet touches made this brunch memorable. Thank you BAR.“

“Really good service. Very friendly and professional. Food was well prepared and favorable. Had our preteen granddaughters with us, and they enjoyed their meals a lot.Dietary restrictions: We shared our allergy issues, and all meals were free of issues.Kid-friendliness: They have a small game area that we enjoyed.“

“We went for weekend brunch and since we had reservations, we were seated immediately.Pros: We had the wood fired cauliflower and chicken sandwich. The wood fired cauliflower was simply delicious with a burst of flavors (tangy, sweet with a little bit of spice). The portion size is particularly small for this dish but we were warned by the waitress beforehand so we knew what to expect. The chicken sandwich was nice and juicy.Cons: For a brunch place, the only coffee option they had was the drip coffee. So if you're looking for a nice cup of latte or espresso or cappuccino, you won't find it here.“

“Delicious food and fun atmosphere. We came for late lunch before concert at Petco Park. Was fun to hear the sound check and Billy Joel. So many fun places to sit- see pictures. We sat on 2nd floor balcony and had prompt and friendly service by Spencer. The food is EXCELLENT. We enjoyed scotch eggs, the burger and crispy chicken sandwich. Burger was cooked perfectly, juicy and served with a delicious truffle aioli and roasted tomatoes and pickled onions. Highly recommend.“

“Came and ate here and had a few slushies. I had the Mexican Firing Squad, my husband had the Ube Colada. Both were delightful! To eat I had the Shrimp Fried Rice and my husband had the Fancy Grilled Cheese and added chicken. The food was delicious! Especially the SFR! It was a very large portion. A friend of ours had the wedge salad and it was huge and looked ? delicious. I will be ordering one next time. They had great music going on amd the staff were all super friendly and welcoming. I will definitely be back!“

“I have eaten at hundreds of restaurants in San Diego and not even once have I met someone as professional as Drew.He was attentive and took his time with our party. More than that, he was absolutely hilarious yet in the most professional way. I am really so impressed with the restaurant that they are able to find this type of talent.Drew is an amazing guy and we will definitely be visiting again when he is working there. Sincerely, the best waiter I have ever had. I wish I had more words to describe him.Thanks North Italia“

“You and Yours feels like coming home. It’s a place that I can come by myself sit at the bar and have a conversation with the staff about my life. I’ve celebrated so many occasions here and it is truly one of San Diego’s best. The drinks are unique, the staff is kind, and the price is completely fair for what you are getting. If you need a place for a pick me up, a celebration, or a happy hour before heading home, this is it.“

“This is the favorite sports bar spot in town for my husband and I! Not only do they have fantastic seating options but the food is insane (in the best way)! I could rave about their fries forever - and I probably will. Especially the animal fries. Service has always been efficient and friendly!“

“Dining at this Italian gem was a delight, highlighted by Frederico's impeccable service. The cheese wheel experience, where rigatoni met creamy perfection, was unforgettable. Each recommendation from Frederico enhanced our meal, making our date night not just about the food but the memory created. It's a place where culinary art and warmth meet.“

“I ordered it online and they were quick to complete my order. I ordered a pepperoni pizza and kids chicken quesadilla. The food was great. In regards to the pizza, the crust was thin just like I like it. The sauce was flavorful, and there was enough pepperoni on it. That's for the quesadillas. There were three Chicken quesadillas. I asked for only Monterey Jack cheese on it because they put both of them according to what I read, and they followed the instructions completely. I appreciate that because my great niece does not like the orange cheese as she calls it lol.“

“The best experience in San Diego. Sean is an incredible mixologist and human. He truly understands what makes a balanced cocktail. Besides that, he is an incredible human. This is a not to be missed place. Also the breakfast taco is *chefs kiss*.“

“I just celebrated my bday at Trailer Park After Dark and reserved the small trailer for my party. Blake and the bar staff went above and beyond to make this night special for us and accommodated all of my requests...I was worried I was being high maintenance but they came through and hung up a pinata I brought, set up this birthday backdrop I dropped off to take photos in front of and they even had a photo booth they set up for us. Everything came together so perfectly! I couldnt have asked for a more perfect night! We all had a blast! You should def consider this place for any event or just a night out with friends. Thanks again TPAD!!“

“I celebrated my birthday this weekend at The Famous, Bianca one of the bartenders was amazing.! Great customer service.! Including the owner, as I planned my party he communicated with me And made sure everything was good. This was my first time. I am definitely going back highly recommend this place.“

“I'm not vegan, but we visited Kindred for brunch because one in our party was vegetarian and we figured this would be a good place to take him. We were able to get a reservation for window seating in advance, choices were standard table or window. The table at the window was a long communal one and as our brunch experience went on, they slowly filled the other seats, trying to space out each party as much as possible, which was nice. For Saturday and Sunday morning, they let us know to only order off the brunch menu. We got the wfflhaus potatoes to share, which came as roasted fingerling potatoes doused heavily in vegan gravy. The gravy was thick and chunky and tasted pretty similar to the real deal. For my entree I got the norm code, which had scrambled vegan eggs, vegan sausage patties, fingerling potatoes, and I chose rice porridge for my side instead of toast. It was my first time having vegan eggs and it definitely tasted just like tofu, the color was a curry bright yellow, so while the attempt was good, it certainly was very different from actual eggs. The "sausage" were pretty tasty as it had all the spices a breakfast sausage would have though I thought it was a bit chewier than meat sausage. It was a decent experience for me for vegan food and I would definitely recommend it as a place to take vegan and vegetarian friends.“

“My wife and I are big fans of all things Tiki and we've been wanting to go to The Luau for awhile now. Last night we finally went and it was so worth it. We were greeted the moment we entered the door. The bar was full so we went to the outside patio which was decorated perfectly with tiki water fountains and vintage longboard surf boards. Our bartender John was amazing and lit the spiral propane heater as it was a bit cold outside. He got us our two Mai Tai drinks (they were amazing by the way)super quick and kept our bowl of Goldfish and pretzels full at all times. John was such an attentive bartender and made sure we always had everything we needed including waters. Mind you it was very busy and he had a lot of other customers to serve but in spite of that he managed to check on us quite often. As the evening got later the inside tiki bar was less crowded and so we went inside. It was decorated so cool and a very warm and friendly atmosphere. We met the other bartender Tony and he was very friendly and attentive as well. Great experience we will definitely be back. Excellent tiki drinks in perfect tiki mugs at a reasonable price. We were both so happy we went to " The Luau"“

“It's fun and quirky. Neat displays. I wouldn't say the video game selection was very good. But a good amount of pinball. All in all, it was a fun 60 min. There was a table in the middle of thenplace, that was full on gang members, that kept meeting the eyes of anyone that dared to look. So, maybe go in the day time?“

“Talk about a gem in SD GasLamp District. Great vibe, style and live music on a Thursday. Place made you feel like you were in KeyWest without the chickens or at least closer to Cuba than SD. Oh and the food was authentic (I guess; never been to Cuba) at least it ate that way. Give them a try.“

“The staff was super friendly, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was great. I have a gluten allergy and the staff was very helpful in informing me of what was a possible cross contamination risk. I ultimately had the fishermen's stew and they were able to give me a gluten free alternative to the traditional bread that is served with it. It was delicious and perfect. The lavender lemon drop was also really good!“