Solid venue with a cute atmosphere. It's managed by the local church and run with integrity!read more

From the owner: Formerly "Hidden Gem La Mesa" our hall offers an open, customizable floor plan allowing you to meet…read moreyour vision, match your energy, and elevate the entire experience. From birthday parties to intimate weddings let's get planning your dream event!

If I could give The Train Station 100 stars, I would! From start to finish, the owners made…read moreeverything super easy and convenient, which took so much stress off hosting. The space behind the caboose is spacious, with plenty of seating. It was also super easy for our catering to set up. The caboose itself has been turned into the most adorable little bar, which adds such a unique and charming touch. Everyone was loving how adorable this place is! The Owners of the Venue are Truly passionate and they have put their heart into making this venue something truly special. We actually pulled off a surprise party here and had 50 people hide behind the caboose while we waited for the guest of honor to show up for his 60th surprise! The whole vibe of the venue is so fun and welcoming. I can't recommend The Train Station enough if you're looking for a truly special spot for any kind of celebration!

I am thoroughly enjoying having my Paint Parties twice a month at the Train Station…read more Daniella is an excellent cook and barista . She serves as we paint ! it's been a blast ! Everyone leaves telling us they will be back!!!

We celebrated my daughter's baby shower at Brick and Laurel, and it was such a beautiful and…read morememorable day for our family. The venue was absolutely perfect! Patrick, the Venue Manager, was so kind, friendly, and easy to work with. From the planning to answering our questions and making sure everything was set for us, he helped make the entire process go so smoothly. It allowed us to simply enjoy such a special milestone with our daughter, family, and friends. We're so grateful we chose Brick and Laurel and will always have beautiful memories of that day!

We've hosted two birthdays and a baby shower at Brick + Laurel because it's a nice and cozy space…read morethat offers everything you need for a small event. We love that the space already has an aesthetic so it's decorated even before we put anything up. It's convenient to rent tables and chairs on the spot and having the flexibility to fix the space up any way you like is great. I also love that they have a fridge that we've used for cakes and desserts. Our friends and family have complimented how nice the space is and they like how easy and accessible it is to park nearby and walk up. Pat and team have been super helpful, informative, and communicated with us throughout the process, making everything so easy. We're excited to continue having events here in the future.

Had a great experience at Babylon Palace Banquet Hall! The venue was beautiful, clean, and had a…read moregreat atmosphere. The staff was friendly, helpful, and made sure everything went smoothly throughout the event. The food was also really good and everyone had a great time. Overall, a great place to host a wedding, birthday, or any special event. I'd definitely recommend Babylon Palace to anyone looking for a nice banquet hall in El Cajon!

Great service great drinks wonderful place. Highly recommend. Five stars and understatement.read more

My daughters sweet 16 was epic!!!!…read more Nani and Nani's Events came highly recommended from multiple friends. When I contacted her, she immediately booked an appointment to come in to meet her and to look at her venue. Hidden Gem is truly a hidden gem. At first site, you might think it won't accommodate an extremely large party....WRONG!! The space was perfect for our party and our party needs. There is an oversized outdoor patio, a large indoor hall and a separate kitchen. Pssst, there's even a private bridal suite. All of our needs were met during the planning process. Admittedly, there were times that I blew up Nani's phone because I'm a control freak. She always remained so professional, reassuring and supportive. She listened to ALL of our desires and boy did she get to know my diva child. By the time of the party, Nani pulled out every bell and whistle to make my daughters story book day. It was breathtaking. Her family/employees assist in helping set up and smooth running of the event. I felt like they were family of ours. Not to mention, Nani kept me on schedule the whole time. I would recommend that you give her full creative direction for your event because you will never be able to think of the intricate details that run through her mind. I'm already mentally planning my next event...and I don't know what it is :) Thank you so much for all you did for our family!

Hidden Gem is a venue for parties and celebrations. There are indoor and outdoor spaces …read more Restrooms are clean, well lit, and sanitary. Parking is plentiful.

This is a hidden gem is Mission Hills. It is a perfect venue. I had my daughter's graduation party…read morefrom SDSU here. People were blown away! Very comfortable. Furniture is allowed to be moved to create different areas to congregate. We had a dj, a cup flip table, corn hole game down the driveway and a s'more bar with a fire in the fire pit. We were given access to the "barn" early enough to set everything up. Reasonably priced. Please consider for your next party.

The soul care house is a safe, warm, professional, comfortable place to heal…read more I have been seeking therapy here for almost a year now. I look forward to my appointments, not just because I know my life improves after every visit, but also because I will enjoy complimentary tea, calming music while I wait, and shop and browse the little market downstairs when I feel like it! I LOVE everything about the soul care barn. I will forever be grateful for my therapist and what this place has done for my soul.

My husband and I were so happy with our decision to have our wedding reception at the Crystal…read moreBallroom in El Cajon. From the beginning, we felt such a warm and genuine connection with the owner and planner, Tony B. He made us feel welcomed, supported, and truly cared for throughout the process, which meant so much to us during such an important time. We made multiple visits leading up to our wedding to make sure every detail was in place and everything would run smoothly, and Tony was always gracious, attentive, and reassuring. His involvement and care gave us so much confidence and peace of mind throughout the planning process. When some of the decor did not go according to was originally planned (due to amount of guests) Tony improvised and made everything so simple and easy. On the day of our reception, everything came together beautifully. The venue was elegant, inviting, and created the perfect atmosphere for our celebration. My husband and I were incredibly satisfied with our experience, and we are so grateful to Tony B. and the Crystal Ballroom for helping make our wedding reception so special and memorable. We would absolutely recommend Crystal Ballroom to any couple looking for a beautiful venue and a team that truly cares.

Terrible service and very disappointing experience. He asked for payment in advance, but after…read morereceiving the money, he did not deliver what he had promised. A significant amount of the work was missing, and the quality was very poor. He also arrived very late and, instead of taking responsibility for the issues, kept arguing and making excuses. The person we were dealing with was Tony, I believe, and he was responsible for handling our service and the problems that occurred. I would not recommend his services to anyone. Even for a small wedding, I would strongly advise against using this service. Very disappointing experience.

One of my favorite place for wedding parties. They have always impressed me on their food quality…read moreand taste. I highly recommend this place to everyone for any type of events.

I'm here for the second time, and all I got to say is good things about this place…read more Me and my family have a great time here, why is that? We have a good time with everyone that works here that comes here we tip well the staff here. That is the whole point. Good time starts with you. Quit pointing fingers to The's people that make it possible for us to have good time here. We will return again and again. Thank you for having us.

My stay at Courtyard by Marriott was truly wonderful, and Valerie was a huge reason why. From the…read moremoment I arrived, she made me feel genuinely welcomed and comfortable throughout my entire 4-day stay. Every interaction with her was met with kindness, professionalism, and a warm smile that never seemed to fade, no matter how busy things were. What stood out most was how consistent and thoughtful she was each day. She always took the time to make sure everything was going smoothly and created such a positive and welcoming atmosphere. It's rare to come across someone who carries themselves with such genuine hospitality and care for guests. Valerie's attitude and dedication did not go unnoticed, and she truly made my experience memorable. Employees like her are what make people want to return, and I'm incredibly grateful for the kindness and exceptional service she showed during my stay.

The hotel staff makes this hotel amazing! During our stay, we truly enjoyed how awesome Tonya and…read moreAna at the bar were. They were truly nice and helpful. Then, we accidentally left my husband's favorite jacket there, and John R at the front desk was extremely helpful and kind. He went above and beyond, and we truly appreciate his help. Thanks to John, we got my husband's jacket back, and we truly appreciate his incredible customer service. Best staff ever! Thank you Tonya, Ana, and John!

Just recently went to the garden and it was beautiful. Very well kept and had great signage. Mostly…read moresucculents and water saving plants found here. Loved the gift shop, great gifts! A volunteer told me that most of the items in there are actually handmade by the volunteers themselves! How cool. I went around noon in July and it was HOT! They did have a cool zone with AC but highly recommend to bring water and a hat. Very helpful volunteers, great monthly scavenger hunt at the beginning for the kids, and we loved it so much we got a membership. Now my family can go all year to this garden but also they told us it includes over 300 other botanical gardens in the US. If you are looking for a fun thing to do in east county, check out this hidden gem.

Tim T and Yally did a great job telling us more about this beautiful garden. Was so excited to do…read morethe self-guided tour and enjoy the calm scenery. Plants were delight tolerant and blooming. Loved every minute of it! Can easily spend and hour or two here.