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 are sold out and we will not be selling tickets the day of the event. If you are already on the waitlist and a ticket becomes available - you will have the opportunity to purchase through Wednesday, April 22nd. Please keep watch for an email (check your spam).
Event Check In
For our Ticket Holders: Check In will begin at 4 pm on Thursday, April 23rd
We will have (2) Check In locations:
1. West End Check In is in the parking lot located at 8100 La Mesa Blvd. (in the La Mesa Village Plaza across from Farmer’s Table restaurant)
2. East End Check in is on the sidewalk outside Casa Gabriela located at 8384 La Mesa Blvd. (4th Street/La Mesa Blvd., directly across from The Lookout/gazebo)
Please note, samples at participating restaurants will be available beginning at 5 pm - 8 pm.
Parking is available along La Mesa Blvd. and adjacent streets. We do suggest using a rideshare or carpooling, or public transportation.
We will not be selling any tickets the day of or at the event.
Participants
Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverage Stops
Bougie's Cheese Shop
Casa Gabriela
City Tacos
Coin Haus
Curbside Eatery & Drinkery
Edible Arrangements
Farmer’s Table
Hacienda Cazadores
Lightbulb Coffee
Limoncello
Mario’s de la Mesa
Pete's Place - selfie station & giveaways
Pink Rose Café
Sheldon's Service Station
Surfrider Pizza
The Aubrey Rose Tea Room
Tour de Tapas
Trolley Stop Deli
Alcohol Sip Stops
Act II - Above Board Liqueurs
Amethyst Moon - Humboldt Cider
Blackbird - Hugo Bleu Cognac
Chua Plastic Surgery - Deerhorn Valley Vineyards Winery
La Mesa Optometry - Bodega Cat Whiskey
San Pasqual Winery - San Pasqual Wine
Sara's Selections - Spirited Brands Margarita
Small Batch - Helix Brewery
Spa Piel - Aztec Link Vodka
The Floral Craft – Pasion Tequila
The Jackalope - Raca Leza Mezcal
Whissel Beer Group - Good Boy Vodka
Taste of La Mesa Village FAQs
- Tickets are sold out. Will you be adding more tickets? No, we only have a certain number of tickets available for the event and are unable to add more.
- Is there a waitlist? The waitlist is now closed.
- If I am on the waitlist how will I know if a ticket is available? If/when a ticket becomes available and you are the next person on the waitlist, you will automatically be sent an email to let you know tickets are available for purchase. Just follow the instructions in the email in order to purchase. Note - once the ticket(s) are released, you will have 24 hours to purchase through Wednesday, April 22nd. Be sure to check your email (or spam folder) regularly so you don't miss the email.
- When did tickets go on sale? Tickets went 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.
- Do you offer refunds if I cannot attend? Refunds are available up to 7 days prior to the event.
- Are my tickets transferrable? Yes, if you are unable to attend and would like to give your tickets to someone else you may do so.
- 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 were sent an email on Friday, April 17th with detailed instructions for check in, including check in locations, check in time, what you will need and what to expect. If you did not receive, please email marketing@lamesavillageassociation.org.
- 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.
- Are there volunteer opportunities? Yes - we have secured volunteers for this year's event.
- Will businesses be open during the event? Yes - businesses will be open regular hours during the event. You are welcome and encouraged to patronize any of the restaurants, cafes, bars and retail shops before, during or after (depending on hours of operation) the event. Or, return to La Mesa Village another day.
- What happens if it rains? This
is a rain or shine event.
Questions? Please email Marketing@LaMesaVillageAssociation.org.