Guidebook for La Mesa
Food Scene
Delicious Russian food. Sundays and Thursdays they have soup dumplings, which are a must-try!!
59 residents recomanen
Pomegranate
2312 El Cajon BlvdDelicious Russian food. Sundays and Thursdays they have soup dumplings, which are a must-try!!
Harar Restaurant
Authentic Ethiopian food
Pho And Grill International
9676 Campo RdIf you need a pho fix, this place is close by and delish!
Nothing fancy about this place, but the verde and mole stewed meats are divine! They will let you sample anything you wish.
10 residents recomanen
Super Cocina
3627 University AveNothing fancy about this place, but the verde and mole stewed meats are divine! They will let you sample anything you wish.
Endless menu of Vietnamese specialties, including pho, spring rolls, broken rice and bahn mi.
Saigon Restaurant
4455 El Cajon BlvdEndless menu of Vietnamese specialties, including pho, spring rolls, broken rice and bahn mi.
Affordable Mexican food, close to the guest house. Try the California burrito or the ceviche.
Sarita's Taco Shop
9906 Campo RoadAffordable Mexican food, close to the guest house. Try the California burrito or the ceviche.
Little deli with all sorts of sandwich options, close to the guest house.
Sunrise Deli New York Style
9945 Campo RdLittle deli with all sorts of sandwich options, close to the guest house.
Authentic Ethiopian. Can be very slow service on the weekends, so I don't recommend taking young kids there. Food is EXCELLENT.
17 residents recomanen
Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant
4717 University AveAuthentic Ethiopian. Can be very slow service on the weekends, so I don't recommend taking young kids there. Food is EXCELLENT.
Delicious Indian/Himalayan food with a cute interior. The garlic naan is a must. We also love the tikka masala and vindaloo dishes.
15 residents recomanen
Himalayan Cuisine
7918 El Cajon BlvdDelicious Indian/Himalayan food with a cute interior. The garlic naan is a must. We also love the tikka masala and vindaloo dishes.
Upscale restaurant with a delicious menu. Close to the guest house. Great for a romantic dinner.
100 residents recomanen
Brigantine Seafood Restaurant
9350 Fuerte DrUpscale restaurant with a delicious menu. Close to the guest house. Great for a romantic dinner.
Yi Sushi
2650 Jamacha RoadGreat sushi restaurant that is close by.
La Mesa Boulevard
La Mesa BoulevardQuaint, walkable village setting with some great restaurants!
If you're looking for healthy breakfast/brunch options, this will do it! They are also open for lunch and dinner.
50 residents recomanen
Swami's Cafe
8284 La Mesa BoulevardIf you're looking for healthy breakfast/brunch options, this will do it! They are also open for lunch and dinner.
The Village House Kalina
8302 Parkway DrGreat Russian food and cute furniture. Hole-in-the-wall.
Great coffees/teas/pastries and a decent selection of meals. Sometimes there is live music.
34 residents recomanen
Sheldon's Service Station
8401 La Mesa BlvdGreat coffees/teas/pastries and a decent selection of meals. Sometimes there is live music.
Public Square Coffee House
8278 La Mesa BlvdRestaurant in a historic building in Old Town San Diego. Authentic Old West interior and furniture makes this place fun to visit!
9 residents recomanen
Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant
2660 Calhoun StRestaurant in a historic building in Old Town San Diego. Authentic Old West interior and furniture makes this place fun to visit!
Sightseeing
Cute shops on the harbor, great people watching, restaurants are touristy
762 residents recomanen
Seaport Village
849 W Harbor DrCute shops on the harbor, great people watching, restaurants are touristy
Wide open sandy beaches, boardwalk, people watching, lots of restaurants. Parking can be tricky.
700 residents recomanen
Pacific Beach
Wide open sandy beaches, boardwalk, people watching, lots of restaurants. Parking can be tricky.
Parc Balboa
Lots of museums and cultural spots to explore in Balboa Park.
Experience the history of early San Diego here! Historic buildings include museums, unique retail shops, and restaurants. We love getting freshly-made tortillas filled with butter or fresh salsa from Cafe Coyote. The woman who makes the tortillas has been doing this for decades! Our favorite restaurant in Old Town is the Cosmopolitan, which is in a historic hotel building with authentic old west decor and furniture. The food is always very good here!
170 residents recomanen
Vell Ciutat de San Diego
4002 Wallace StExperience the history of early San Diego here! Historic buildings include museums, unique retail shops, and restaurants. We love getting freshly-made tortillas filled with butter or fresh salsa from Cafe Coyote. The woman who makes the tortillas has been doing this for decades! Our favorite restaurant in Old Town is the Cosmopolitan, which is in a historic hotel building with authentic old west decor and furniture. The food is always very good here!
For a classic Southern California boardwalk experience, start here. Restaurants and retail shops abound!
96 residents recomanen
Crystal Pier Hotel & Cottages
4500 Ocean BlvdFor a classic Southern California boardwalk experience, start here. Restaurants and retail shops abound!
Entertainment & Activities
Zoo de San Diego
2920 Zoo DrThe iconic San Diego Zoo.
Huge water park, open in the summer. Lines can be very long on the weekends!
114 residents recomanen
Sesame Place San Diego
2052 Entertainment CirHuge water park, open in the summer. Lines can be very long on the weekends!
SeaWorld San Diego
500 Sea World Dr.Torrey Pines Gliderport
2800 Torrey Pines Scenic DrParagliding and hang gliding near La Jolla.
Classic beach-side amusement park, complete with wooden roller coaster and bumper cars. There is also a zip line and small ropes course. Tons of fun for kids and adults!
689 residents recomanen
Belmont Park
3146 Mission BlvdClassic beach-side amusement park, complete with wooden roller coaster and bumper cars. There is also a zip line and small ropes course. Tons of fun for kids and adults!
Fun hands-on activities for kids and adults alike. My kids love the clay area, where they can sculpt whatever they like and leave it out to dry while they explore the rest of the space.
115 residents recomanen
El Nou Museu dels Nens
200 W Island AveFun hands-on activities for kids and adults alike. My kids love the clay area, where they can sculpt whatever they like and leave it out to dry while they explore the rest of the space.
Parks & Nature
Inspiring views from the top of this little-known park, very close to our guest house! Take a short 1/4 mile hike around the pinnacle.
92 residents recomanen
Parc del Mont Helix
4901 Mt Helix DrInspiring views from the top of this little-known park, very close to our guest house! Take a short 1/4 mile hike around the pinnacle.
Mission Trails Regional Park Lake Murray
5540 Kiowa DrGreat place to go for a walk or run
With over 40 miles of hiking trails, there is something for every type of hiker or nature lover. If you're feeling extra adventurous, look up the Mission Trails 5 Peak Challenge! For families, I recommend the Mission Trails Visitor Center, which has fun activities for kids and ranger-led hikes.
194 residents recomanen
Parc Regional de Mission Trails
1 Father Junipero Serra TrailWith over 40 miles of hiking trails, there is something for every type of hiker or nature lover. If you're feeling extra adventurous, look up the Mission Trails 5 Peak Challenge! For families, I recommend the Mission Trails Visitor Center, which has fun activities for kids and ranger-led hikes.
Parc La Mesita
8855 Dallas StPlayground, tennis courts, and big grassy open space
National monument at the tip of Point Loma, with sweeping panoramic ocean and downtown SD views.
502 residents recomanen
Centre de visitants del Monument Nacional Cabrillo
1800 Cabrillo Memorial DrNational monument at the tip of Point Loma, with sweeping panoramic ocean and downtown SD views.
Cliffs, beautiful sunsets, and lots of hiking options.
1108 residents recomanen
Reserva Estatal de Torrey Pines
12600 North Torrey Pines RoadCliffs, beautiful sunsets, and lots of hiking options.
Where lush alpine forests meet the dry, desolate desert below... Prepare for amazing views from many spots all along Sunrise Highway! This is truly one of my favorite places on earth. The Pacific Crest Trail runs through Mt. Laguna, so there are lots of opportunities to pick up a little section of this famous trail that runs from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada.
34 residents recomanen
Mount Laguna
Where lush alpine forests meet the dry, desolate desert below... Prepare for amazing views from many spots all along Sunrise Highway! This is truly one of my favorite places on earth. The Pacific Crest Trail runs through Mt. Laguna, so there are lots of opportunities to pick up a little section of this famous trail that runs from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada.
We love checking out Green Valley Falls in the spring and early summer. Usually dries up by late July. There are also lots and lots of hiking opportunities throughout the state park.
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Visitor Center
We love checking out Green Valley Falls in the spring and early summer. Usually dries up by late July. There are also lots and lots of hiking opportunities throughout the state park.
Basketball court, playground, splash pad for kids, grassy open field, sidewalks.
Hilton Head County Park
1605 Hilton Head RdBasketball court, playground, splash pad for kids, grassy open field, sidewalks.
Drinks & Nightlife
This place has all kinds of beers and wines. Good place to hang out without a bar atmosphere.
14 residents recomanen
KnB Bistro - Del Cerro
6380 Del Cerro BlvdThis place has all kinds of beers and wines. Good place to hang out without a bar atmosphere.
Essentials
Laundromat that gets good reviews and is close to shopping. Also has free Wi-Fi.
Quality Wash - Coin Laundry - Dry Cleaning - Fluff and Fold Service
Parkway DriveLaundromat that gets good reviews and is close to shopping. Also has free Wi-Fi.
Trader Joe's
5495 Grossmont Center DrTrader Joe's in La Mesa.
Health food store that has good specials, and on Wednesdays you get the specials for both weeks (prior week and upcoming week). Bulk foods. Great selection of vitamins, essential oils, health/beauty too.
55 residents recomanen
Sprouts Farmers Market
152 N 2nd StHealth food store that has good specials, and on Wednesdays you get the specials for both weeks (prior week and upcoming week). Bulk foods. Great selection of vitamins, essential oils, health/beauty too.
When you need a standard grocery store, this is the closest one to our guest house.
9 residents recomanen
Vons
1201 Avocado AveWhen you need a standard grocery store, this is the closest one to our guest house.
Great middle eastern grocery store! Produce is cheap and varied. Try the freshly baked breads and mana'eesh.
26 residents recomanen
North Park Produce
3551 El Cajon BlvdGreat middle eastern grocery store! Produce is cheap and varied. Try the freshly baked breads and mana'eesh.
Everything Else
Rancho San Diego Library
11555 Via Rancho San DiegoIf you're looking for a library, this is a nice one!
If you're looking for a casino that's not too far away, this will do! The buffet is outstanding, and the food court is surprisingly delicious. We go there just to eat sometimes! My favorite food court item is the street tacos for $1.50!
54 residents recomanen
Barona Resort & Casino
1932 Wildcat Canyon RdIf you're looking for a casino that's not too far away, this will do! The buffet is outstanding, and the food court is surprisingly delicious. We go there just to eat sometimes! My favorite food court item is the street tacos for $1.50!