Dine, Drink & Discover the culinary scene of downtown La Mesa at our 2nd Annual Taste of La Mesa Village on Thursday, April 23, 2026 from 5 - 8 pm! Our thriving La Mesa Village continues to evolve as a go to culinary destination in San Diego County featuring a vibrant array of restaurants, cafes and bars.
This self-guided, walkable event features stops at local restaurants & cafes to sample delicious food and non-alcoholic beverages. We will also feature a variety of alcohol vendors who will be set up at "Sip Stop" locations at several of our unique downtown La Mesa retail stores and businesses! Ticketed guests will receive an event "Passport" map upon check in that will guide them to each participating location along the route.
Tickets
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 13, 2026 at 12 PM! A link will be posted on this page.
Ticket Options:
Taste General Admission, $45 - includes all food and non-alcoholic beverage stops
Taste Bites & Sips Galore, $55 - includes all food, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverage stops (available for ages 21+ only)
Taste of La Mesa Village FAQs
- When can I purchase tickets? Tickets go on sale Friday, March 13th at 12 pm PST on this webpage
- Does everyone need a ticket? Everyone must have a ticket to participate in the Taste of La Mesa Village event
- Do you offer a children's food ticket? We
do not offer a separate ticket for young eaters. This event is often "date
night" or a "friends’ night out" due to it being an evening
event, but younger eaters can certainly join you and nibble on your
samples, as we only have enough for our ticket holders. Our restaurants will also be open for regular business, so you can always grab your child a snack or meal at one of the many dining establishments.
- What time is the event? The event will run from 5 pm - 8 pm.
- Where do I check in the day of the event? All ticket purchasers will receive an email a week prior to the event with detailed instructions for check in, including check in locations, check in time, what you will need and what to expect.
- Is this event dog-friendly? While La Mesa
Village is very dog friendly, this event is not suited for dogs. All Sip Stop
locations are located inside retail businesses which makes it very tricky to enjoy beverage
samples and leashes at the same time. Service animals are, of course,
permitted.
- Will there be non-alcoholic drinks available? Yes.
In addition to water stations, we have non-alcoholic beverage providers on the
route, available to all ticket holders.
- Is this event ADA accessible? Absolutely!
Taste of La Mesa Village is a self-guided tour of downtown La Mesa using the
City sidewalks and walkways. Consider it a night out in downtown La Mesa!
- Where do we park? Metered parking is available on La Mesa Blvd., adjacent streets and various parking lots. We highly recommend carpooling, taking public transportation (like the Trolley, which drops you in the heart of La Mesa Village at Spring St/La Mesa Blvd.), or taking a rideshare such as Uber, Lyft, etc.
- Will any streets be closed/blocked for the event? No - we do not close any streets for this event. This is a self-guided walking tour along La Mesa Blvd. from 4th St. to Acacia Ave. Comfortable shoes are recommended!
- How will I know where to go/who is participating? Each ticket holder will receive a Taste of La Mesa Village Passport map upon check in that will have a list/layout of all participating businesses. Additionally, every participating business will have a large sign with a corresponding number to the Passport map to designate them as an official stop.
- Can I sample a business more than once? Unfortunately, we are only able to provide one sample per ticket holder. We do encourage you to please re-visit the restaurants, cafes and boutiques you enjoyed to get the full experience!
- Do I have to visit businesses in a certain order? No - the Passport map is simply a guide to let you know who and where the participating businesses are located. You can navigate your own path to the places you want to go.
- What happens if it rains? This
is a rain or shine event.
Questions? Please email Marketing@LaMesaVillageAssociation.org.