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La Mesa is a city in Southern California located just east of Downtown San Diego, dubbed with the civic motto ‘Jewel of the Hills.’ Here’s our guide to the top 10 bars in the city.

The Regal Bar

The Regal Bar is a trendy hangout spot that offers just about anything you would want from a sports bar— inexpensive drinks, a heated patio, jukebox, live music, weekly karaoke and trivia nights plus unlimited free popcorn. Serving up 14 beers on tap every day with a large selection of domestic and imported bottled beers, The Regal Bar serves a variety that pleases all kinds of beer lovers. Stop at Regal to hang with friends and shoot some pool, or cozy up to your drink by the outdoor patio fire pits. With a great ambiance and excellent service, Regal is all about giving people a good time. Just about every night of the week, something is happening at the Regal Bar. Whether it is Karaoke Friday, live music on Saturday, or Sports Sunday, Regal is a place for people to get together and have a good time.

Address and telephone number: 8344 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA, USA + 1 619 469 1633

photo courtesy of The Hills Local Pub

The Hills Local Pub

Bar, Restaurant, Pub Grub, American

The Hills Local Pub is exactly what it sounds like — a cool and comfortable neighborhood pub. Food and drinks are reasonably priced and service is always on par, with staff insisting on learning everyone’s name as soon as they are seated contentedly at a table. Whether you prefer a casual cocktail or a burger and beer, The Hills has a full bar and kitchen ready to wait on your beckoning. Along with trivia nights and live music on Saturdays, the pub also offers other specials during the week like all you can eat tacos on Tuesdays, wing bargains, brunch specials, and happy hour where you roll the dice to receive your happy hour discount.

Jolt'n Joe's

Bar, Nightclub, American

Jolt’n Joe’s is a spacious, bi-level bar with a trendy warehouse vibe offering a spread of burgers, brews, snacks, and other goodies. The street level of Joe’s offers the ultimate Sports Bar with gaming entertainment that includes pool, ping pong, college sports and more—showing just about any kind of game you can think of. On the second level is the bar’s Fuse Nightclub featuring comfortable lounges, 100 foot bar, fully equipped DJ booth, large dance floor, flat screen and projection TV’s, laser lights, haze, and a 1,000 square foot deck overlooking 5th Avenue. Jolt’n Joe’s also has the Gallery Room, which contains more flat screen TV’s, pool, and ping pong tables, and the VIP Room with a huge 70 inch LED TV, personal stereo, plasma TV, and more lounges.

Johnny B’s Burgers, Brew & Spirits

Johnny B’s Burgers, Brew & Spirits is a bar that serves American basics and drinks in a casual laid-back setting. While it is not one of your late night party bars, Johnny B’s offers some of the best burgers you will find in San Diego. Try Lynne’s Awesome Patty Melt with a side of onion rings, a hickory bacon burger smothered in BBQ sauce, or kick up the heat with the jalapeno mozzarella sticks or pepper jack mac and cheese bits. Keep an eye out for happy hour and other daily specials.
Address and telephone number: 8393 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA, USA +1 619 464 2465

Next Door

Next Door has a calendar of events on their website from wine tastings to potlucks, live music to brewing classes—there is always something fun scheduled at the bar. While Next Door only serves snacks and sweets for food, you can order BBQ from the place one door over and they will deliver, or feel free to bring in your own food. Next Door is also dog friendly, so be sure to give the bar dog Sawyer a pat hello when you walk in.
Address and telephone number: 7235 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA, USA +1 619 741 5066

Hooleys Irish Pub

Hooleys Irish Pub serves comfort foods like Guinness bratwurst, Smithwick’s shepherd’s pie, corned beef and cabbage, Guinness Irish stew in a bread bowl, shrimp and chips, grilled salmon, and many others that will bring your appetite to a happy place. Hooleys also has a daily happy hour, specials every day of the week, and live music every Friday and Saturday night. Inspired by true Irish cuisine and hospitality, Hooleys offers a charming atmosphere and warm barstools to all of its visitors.
Address and telephone number: 5500 Grossmont Center Dr, La Mesa, CA, USA + 1 619 713 6900

Norm’s Cocktails

Norm’s Cocktails is a laid-back local dive with a Tudor-style front offering cocktails, draft brews, sports TV, and pool table for 50 cents per game. The bar itself is a pleasant atmosphere with large windows for natural light, clean bathrooms, and a jukebox for some nostalgic background music. For a glimpse into the local scene, Norm’s Cocktails is the place to go.
Address and telephone number: 7403 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa, CA, USA + 1 619 337 7825

Pete’s Place

Pete’s Place is a favorite of La Mesa residents and out-of-towners alike. The dimly lit brick and wood venue always draws a crowd of laid-back people ready to hang with some good drinks and music. Pete’s offers an outside patio area, pool tables, and six big-screen TVs always live with sporting events.
Address and telephone number: 8330 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA, USA + 1 619 464 9535

photo courtesy of Bolt Brewery

Bolt Brewery

Bolt Brewery is a unique outdoor setup with an industrial vibe featuring house-brewed craft beer and food vendors. Everyone here is friendly and live bands are brought in on occasion for entertainment. They even have some games on hand like bean-bag toss or Battleship for those who plan on hanging out and tasting their way through the brews.
Address and telephone number: 8179 Center St, La Mesa, CA, USA + 1 619 303 7837

The Rook

Bar, Pub Grub

The Rook is a chess-themed local bar of La Mesa serving wine and craft brews on tap. Entertainment includes a pool table, Pac-man, darts, and of course chess. Live music is also brought in on a regular basis with Friday nights featuring a jazz band and jam session. For a unique atmosphere with interesting people, stop by the Rook on your night out.

About the author

Since graduating from Bucknell University, Alana has been seeking out life as a nature and travel writer. With a thirst for adventure, she has traveled extensively through Greece for archaeology, Nepal as a volunteer, and much of the U.S. by road trip, seeing natural wonders of her native country. With every place, she keeps a writing and sketch journal to capture everything in the moment. She feels it is key to attaining the essence of what makes a place so alive.

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