I cool dive bar with pool tables. Our bartenders were pretty cool and also gave us recommendations of good places to go eat at and also have delicious cocktails. I definitely am going to come back to this bar because it just felt like Home. read more

The security guard with the beard was extremely rude and acted more like a barback than security. We've been coming here for years... and last Friday a group of people took a table we were using, even though two of our friends were already sitting there and told them the table was taken. We were a group of about 7-8 people total. When we came back after grabbing drinks, we saw that the other group had completely taken over the table. They said they didn't care that we were regulars and called the security guard over. We explained the situation, and his response directly to us was: "I don't care, you can shut up, close your tab, and leave." We had already spent plenty of money there and were not asking for special treatment, but the lack of professionalism was awful. I've worked in customer service for almost a decade and have never spoken to a customer that way. This is exactly how a good place can lose loyal customers because of incompetent staff. read more

Bloodies and breakfast shots for Saturday brunch with my girl! We popped into Pete's Place for some post-Record Store Day bevvies and the service and vibes were perfectly enjoyable and chill as always. If you're in Downtown La Mesa looking for a great, cheap Bloody Mary on a Saturday morning, check out Pete's! read more

Popped into Pete's Place after enjoying lunch across the street at City Tacos. A regular stop for us when we're in downtown La Mesa. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Drinks are pretty cheap and the regulars are always welcoming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Shout out to our bartender Terri. She's cute as hell and her English accent is so damn charming. She is super friendly and funny and always provides stellar service. read more

I've been here several times and it's always a great time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]However I just called to confirm and they are NOT dog friendly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Just wanted to let anyone know in case they were wondering. We have a big "drinking club with a running problem" (hash house harriers) and depending on the day of the run/trail we start at a bar and we often like to find ones that are dog friendly so it attracts more of our members to come out. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a good bar but not if you want to run and drink with your dog haha![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The location of this bar is great though! Right on La Mesa Blvd, city tacos is near by and they are drinking persons heaven![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Also a running persons heaven! Haha! Recommend for sure. read more

My favorite bar! Great place to grab drinks. The bartenders are cool. There are restaurants near if you're hungry to grab food then come back for more drinks. read more

My parents and I stopped in to have a post-run/walk cocktail and were able to snag corner seats at the bar! Everyone was welcoming and we loved this place right off the bat. They had my favorite beer on tap so that's already 4 STARS right there!! My mom got the Bloody Mary and that thing looked DELICIOUS! Apparently the bacon they use was SOOOOO good! A few people had them and everyone raved! Prices were decent Many beers on tap!! The bar itself is nicely decorated with framed jazz artists pieces! Very cool! A very New Orleans type vibe. And a pool table to boot!! Parking in back as well is a plus as you know this area it's hit or miss. We already talked about coming back....you should too!! read more

Pete's Place - The bloody, Space Dust and a lager - Bars Near Me - La Mesa, California

Carl and Matt were so much fun! [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were celebrating a friend's birthday and had a lot of fun at Pete's[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

Great spot to hang out and have a drink! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is friendly and the service is exceptional.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Always a fun place to just hang out and watch the game![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff is top notch. They always make sure you're taken care of. read more

Absolutely my favorite La Mesa bar. All the bartenders are awesome and very chill and friendly every time me and my sister come in. Definitely a bar we frequent. There is plenty of food around this area if you need a pick me up before or after, they also have a large back patio for smoking which is perfect for anyone needing that smoke break between drinking. They have 2 pool tables that take quarters & if you're wanting to play, bring ya coins and go for it!! read more

See all

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The vibe here is great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Drinks are affordable, and the service is good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Standard sit down bar, no frills.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Sports on the TV's and the crew that works there are all personable and have their each individual personalities that makes going to this bar solo or with friends a really good time. Shout out to Carl, Bobby, Jeremy and Jessie. Thanks for a great time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice and cool inside and the outdoor patio in the back is pretty cool.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Best place to have a drink in the Jewel of the Hills! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Clean, safe place![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Erika is theeeee best! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Good environment and people, was there for Oktoberfest, nice except for the guy at the front checking ID's, seemed like a non verbal douche, had an outside beverage I was not supposed to bring , my bad on my part which I didn't know was not allowed.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Took it out of my hands and then just motioned outside. Seemed like he was on a bit of a power trip just from how he carried himself. Took the drink and disposed of it and came back inside, aside from that nice place and staff except that one guy. read more

Jeremy was so friendly when I was there! Very professional and great customer service. Definitely recommend going to Pete's Place!

The atmosphere here is totally laid back and the drinks here are awesome. The bartender- Carl, is Amazing!!!! I tell him that I wanted a sweet drink after the Bloody Mary he hooked me up with a sweet drink! Then he hooked up my friend on finding the statistics data on single men frequent the bar. Act as a wingman who served you drink and gives you advise on the men that goes thru here and also make awesome drinks lol He is a great guy, is in a committed relationship with his gal. And still lookout for the single gals that wondering thru and gives her pep talk to keep her confidence up, on the sexual deviant that loams the online dating scenes. While she allowed me to texting fun lines to her online matches. Lol. There were few bites from these lines ...lol And meeting other fun bar people in the process. Overall a great atmosphere to come to, enjoying the night. Not too loud and have a decent conversation with. Drinks here is cheap too, learning that from other bar people here. There is no food served here, but they allow you to bring outside food to eats in the place. Nice!!! read more

Pete's Place - Carl~~! A caring guy! - Bars Near Me - La Mesa, California

I would totally recommend this bar. The owner is super nice and as this random man was trying to hit on me by myself and asked for me to pay for his tab for him and his girlfriend, the owner defended me and kicked out the guy that was harassing me, I appreciate it very much and I would recommend this bar to everybody because all the bartenders are very accommodating and the owner is understanding:) read more

This is my go to place for a drink or even just to hang out. I've had really good experiences with the bar tenders and front door security guard!! He's really nice!! I've been going here for a few years now !! The drinks are always good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is nice to be recognized as a regular because it makes the environment feel welcoming!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I've tried the regal and I'd much rather come here!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's a couple of pool tables to play pool and plenty of seating![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]When it's warm outside I like sitting out back. It's a smoking area as well for those who smoke.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Other customers are often quick to engage with you and make you feel welcomed.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff members set the tone! I feel safe coming here and absolutely know if things get roughty the staff handles it. If things escalate I've seen amazing staff say and handle things with grace "let's keep it down" "is everything okay?" "Let's separate" and it's handled and 99% of the time all is good. If someone isn't abiding by rules they tell them to leave and walk them out. I've reached out to the contact section off the Instagram page and immediately received a message back !! Michelle is attentive and I appreciate her response back!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]As a female, it's important for me to be able to go to a bar with or without someone and feel safe, welcomed and appreciated.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I read all the low star reviews & believe the bartenders have good intentions and discretion about letting people in, not serving anymore to someone, and seeing the longevity of how long they've been there speaks more volumes than a hersy on one encounter situation. read more

Pete's is always fun even without alcohol, lol I never met Pete but I would thank him person Everybody working there is Fun, thanks read more

Mr. Carl the best bartender to deal with he's understanding and passionate about what he does always a good time when I cruise through :)

This place is awesome! Stop by if you're in the La Mesa area. Good times & good drinks

What a great little bar! While upon first walking in you may feel like it's "local's only" I actually don't believe it to be so. I'm local-ish and admit that I typically only stop by Pete's when they have things like the car show or the farmer's market happening out front, which I think may be the case for a lot of folks considering La Mesa Village has so many activations throughout the year. Service is always quick and super friendly, the bar is nice and tidy, there's a pool table if you feel like hustling a friends, and the tab is never too expensive if you stick to the basics. Sometimes you live in a cool neighborhood and want to find a great bar and sometimes you want to move to a cool neighborhood for a bar. This happens to be the latter of the two. read more

Place at 4:30 in the afternoon has a group of guys playing pool and SHOUTING (84 decibels)instead of having a normal conversation. Maybe it's the high ceilings. No, it's not, just a bunch of old loud, drunk dudes. Maybe they're all deaf? Bartender is friendly enough. Maybe it's the right place but it's definitely the wrong time. One beer and I'm outta here. read more

I (mexican) personally was told racist remarks from people sitting at the bar, while the bartender was serving drinks right in front of is. Additionally the main bartender was rude to our entire group and come to find out it's the owner of the entire establishment. More remarks were made from other bar goers as well so I can't recommend this as a great place to go. read more

The Owner of Pete's place bar during October Fest was extremely rude to me! When I was waving my arm for service he told me that waving was a no no that it would prolong service! Wow! Rude for an owner of an establishment period! Don't come here for service unless you want to be disrespected! read more

Pete's Place - Very rude Owner at Pete's place bar during the October Fest! - Bars Near Me - La Mesa, California

A real gem in the neighborhood, Pete's Place is a perfect spot to relax while talking about poetry and literature with the bartenders and owners. Get your shot of fernet ready, you'll need it while you bask in compliments and positive energy dealt from the friendly upbeat duo in matching Hawaiian shirts serving on a Saturday night. If day drinking is your thing, you will be met by lovely female bartenders with no judgement whatsoever. If you are lucky enough to make it into the front "penalty box" enjoy the regulars speaking highly of the village and the local La Mesa scene. It's also a great place to watch the Chargers game, Pete's Place is one of the last local bars that will turn off Bob Dylan on the jukebox so you can listen to the Chargers make their Super Bowl run. If you're hungry and their extensive selection of chips isn't enough, be sure to check out the highly recommended Por Favor down the street. Don't forget to order a pink drink, it's a local delicacy created right here in these exposed brick walls. I heard about the highly regarded Palm Ave Public House somewhere around here but can't find it on Yelp? Oh well. I will be back soon! read more

Pete's Place - Bars Near Me - La Mesa, California

Pete's place is BACK! Woke from Covid and Pete's Place is OPEN! The staff is back and friendly and ready to pour you your favorite drink. New barriers are up at the bar and the tables are spread out. MASKS must be worn while walking around, but once seated, take that mask off and enjoy your drinks. Good place to meet with friend and grab a drink. Still a fun place after the Covid restrictions. Will he back. Thank you friendly staff at Pete's!! read more

See all

The prices are awesome and the bartenders are pretty friendly. The crowd can be kind of dicey from time to time there's always some old white lady Karen trying to fight you here but it adds to the appeal there's character. Super cold beer and it's always fresh you can tell that they are changing kegs frequently. Definitely one of my favorite hangout spots that I frequent at least once a week. Thanks Pete's! read more

Awesome low key spot! Bring a friend or two & will have a great time. Saturday Nights are best as long as the juke box is set...otherwise May disappoint night. Drinks are still legit!!! read more

Pete's Place - From the bar - Bars Near Me - La Mesa, California

Best Bartenders ever, Jesse and Karl are awesome and always make my drinks perfect. The vibe is great and the pool tables are only a quarter! Definitely my favorite bar in La Mesa! read more

For a dive bar the place is extremely well kept and put together nicely. The staff has always been amazing no matter what time we come, and 25cent pool tables. read more

Pete's Place - Bars Near Me - La Mesa, California

Jesse was very helpful at the beginning of the evening however when I told him my drink was taken twice he became hostile . I was playing pool having a nice time and every time I looked up my drinks were gone . Jesse became argumentative and rude .I work far too hard to be treated like crap. Not a fun experience . sadly as I love meeting new people and shooting pool. read more

While the front certainly does not look enticing, with it being a blank, white brick wall, the inside is much more promising. Upon entering Pete's Place, you are welcomed to a full bar, and just beyond that lies two pool tables. Before 6pm, I believe, there is free pool. Your bartender will supply you with quarters, and everything is already set for you and your group to play! We came on Easter Sunday, around 5pm. The bar had a nice crowd, and it seemed as though either people knew each other or that was the atmosphere- one to make friends and to chat. People of all ages were there, and everyone shared the free pool quite well. Pete's Place is definitely the bar to come to when you're looking for a nice, relaxed evening out. The bartender, Jesse if I recall correctly, was attentive without pressing himself into conversations. He didn't push drinks on us, and he even offered to let us try different taps before a full pour. Jesse gave his input when I was interested in two very different beers as well. I am by no means a beer connoisseur, but they appeared to have a healthy, diverse selection of different beers, as well as the standards that you can't go wrong with. I love that they support local craft beers as well. Seeing the wide variety made me definitely want to return to try them all out. Additionally, I appreciated Jesse's care as I watched him create mixed drinks for other patrons as well. For a sweet, familial touch, the bar also provided a small, catered Easter dinner with all of the fixings for those who needed to carb up for some more drinks! It perfectly coincided with the La Mesa Village's welcoming vibes. Will surely be back! read more

Pete's Place - Free pool! - Bars Near Me - La Mesa, California

Local watering hole? Yeah maybe but this place is more than that. Great bartenders that remember you by name. Nice beer selection, best Bloody Marys if you wonder in on a Sunday. No joke the bartender Jesse makes a special concoction with freshly made bacon and they sell out every Sunday! Cocktails are on point and the people are nice. This is a great spot to catch a game, play some pool, catch up with friends, if you are a smoker there is nice size patio in the back. Bathrooms are clean and well stocked and please do yourself a favor if you notice the bathroom needs something then say something! They will take care of that right away. If you find yourself in the quaint neighborhood of the hills then make sure you stop in and order a drink. It's well worth it. read more

Pete's Place - Bars Near Me - La Mesa, California

Hey guys Anita here! Heard I was a made up profile. Ha ha ha surprise! surprise! I'm real and would like to invite you to my favorite spot for a game of pool and a drink. Pete's is still as wonderful as ever. I'm so happy they survived the worst of Covid and the place is as happy and jumping and friendly as ever. Everybody still knows my name! read more

I'm from LA, came for my Bday weekend, Been coming since the 5th leaving today the 7th Best bar we've found in town no BS ! Everyone is so damn cool Rayana (I probably spelled that wrong) , Big Og Jesse (he was served us the first night we came) , n Cool Boss Carol, and Scott another OG. Everyone was so cool down to earth Best bar we've came across !! PETES PLACE NIGHT OR MORNING !!! read more

Extremely disrespectful staff. U basically have to yell at the top of your lunges to get a drink because the girl bar tending doesn't have any awareness of who just sat down at the tiny little bar that can only seat like 12 people. And then they give you some bottom bottom shelf liquor in your drink that tastes absolutely horrible. What happened to the bartender who could actually make drinks? Sheesh this place has gone extremely downhill in the last year and I'm sad to say this but I'm definitely calling it quits on this place and you shouldn't even waste your time here. Such a wack vibe. read more

This is a busy dive bar in downtown La Mesa.... Saturday nights are busy but it was nice to see a diverse crowd. It would get packed then thin out before a new group of people would pack the place. Good music, good drinks and they do have two pool tables and a patio out back. read more

I am changing my review due to the dishonest, fake, and misleading news coverage provided by the ideological zealots of FOX5 of San Diego. Michelle Huey was advocating on behalf of patrons like myself that want to exercise their right to smoke. I thank her for her efforts in trying to dissuade the autocrats of the La Mesa City Council. Knowing that, I feel comfortable to continue going to Pete's Place to have a good time. read more

I was following my friend in with a cup of ice water in my hand. We thought it might be a good bar in which to talk to the ladies to... I wasn't even near the doorway when the bouncer, Neil, grabbed it violently from my hand and spilled the ice by my feet. Before he did this, I was backing away from the door and tried to explain it was just water. He said something about an open vessel, and I explained I didn't know about that law (if there is one), and that it was just water. Shortly later, my friend, dead sober like me, but not seeing the little line of people, tried to go in... The bouncer, Neil, stopped my friend, but did so in a real repugnant fashion. First, he was all touching on my buddy's jacket. Secondly, he was talking down to him. That's not cool! Plus, it's assault, just like ripping the water from my hand and slamming the ice cubes on the ground was. Yes buddy. Look up the definition. Haven't found anything on Google about a bar and an open vessel, but Google assault, and that's what you did! When I left, I called Scott. He said I should have called the police. Guess what? Next time that happens, I will. read more

Thank you Pete's Place for helping us throw an awesome get together last night! You guys helped us so much! It is such an awesome venue and all the employees are so incredible helpful! Kudos to Jesse and Karl!! You're the best!! Couldn't have done it without you guys! read more