The bartenders are all friendly and remember you and your drink. This place is a hidden gem!! Doesn't look like much from the outside. You might miss it, if not looking for it. Inside is very cute tiki themed with a a beautiful and roomy patio out back. Sterling, the karaoke host is awesome! It's usually not too busy when I'm there, so you can definitely sing multiple songs, if you're going for karaoke Thur-Sat nights. Tiki themed drinks but full bar available. read more

Was visiting San Diego because of a friend's theatre performance at The Moxie Theatre. After the show we mixed and mingled with the cast who suggested going to tiki/surf bar called The Luau. This place was great. Bright, vibrant and full of tropical decor. The bar was packed. We got a four high top seater in the main area. Glad we did because it was karaoke night! In between songs the dj would play pop star music videos. There was a back patio with more seating. Surprise of the night was when Sterling the security guard sang a song from "Wicked". Will definitely go back again! read more

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Wow! Hidden gem. The staff is so welcoming and kind. The drinks are incredible. I wish they had a small kitchen. Could explore more of the drink menu if there'd be light "bites". read more

Rare bar review for us...random walk in while we had the dogs out and stopped by this amazing local haunt out friends have been recommending for a while. Super chill vibe, drinks are bomb, Denae is amazing, and they're dog friendly! I'm hearing legendary stories about karaoke night so we'll be back for that. If you want food, they don't have it, but there are a couple close by places that you can bring food in. We love it here, and it's definitely in the rotation for fun drinks and a great getaway a couple blocks from home. read more

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We were riding home from OB with friends when they took a detour and introduced us to The Luau. They love all things tiki and have been frequent flyers of The Luau since its inception. They are part of the OG regulars. While Becky and I had never even heard of it. We loved The Luau! What a great little hidden gem in La Mesa. Great bar inside with a menu full of tropical tiki themed drinks. Ice cold beer for me...and complimentary Goldfish snacks! Whaaaat? Yep! You read that right! The patio out back is really where it's at! The patio is rad. You gotta' check out The Luau! read more

The Luau - Patio out back. - Tiki Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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We've heard about The Luau and have been wanting to try it for some time. Passed by tonight and made a U-turn to get to it. So glad we did. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with such warmth from Denae that we instantly felt like regulars. The vibe is just right--stylish without being pretentious, cozy but still buzzing with energy. But what really made the night was the bartender, Danae. Friendly, attentive, and clearly passionate about her craft. Every drink she recommended was spot-on, and watching her work behind the bar was like watching an artist in action. She even took the time to chat and make sure we were enjoying everything. Service across the board was top-notch. You could tell she cared about creating a great experience. We never felt rushed, and every interaction was genuinely kind and thoughtful. We came in with high hopes, and this place exceeded every one of them. Already planning our next visit--this is definitely going to be a regular spot for us. Highly, highly recommend! read more

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Came here to grab a drink and I wasn't alone. The place wasn't full, but there were other customers enjoying their drinks and conversations. They have a nice selection of cocktails to choose from. If you love tiki bars than this spot would satisfy. There is also an outside patio area, but it was a lot later in the night and it had been raining so inside it was the best move. Definitely a spot that I could see myself going back to again. Gives an almost a little bit of an upscale date spot. read more

The Luau - Tiki Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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We were out celebrating Sunday Funday a few weeks ago and happened to stop by about an hour after opening and it was completely empty-- my hubby and I had the place all to ourselves and it was such a great time ! Denae was bartending that afternoon and took great care of us-- let me tell yaaa about it ! If you've never been, The Luau is such a hidden gem in La Mesa . The exterior is actually so simple and modern,-- and the inside is even cuter ! The Hawaiian decor and tiki theme is such a vibe ! It's located right off of El Cajon Blvd and stands alone in front other shopping plazas . Parking is a little rough since you'd have to look for street of neighborhood parking, but we didn't have any trouble on a Sunday afternoon . Denae was so warm and welcomed us right away when we walked in ! The Luau is just a bar, so there's no food menu, but Denae gave us a bowl of goldfish to snack on which was nice ! Here's what we got for drinks ! Mai Tai: Strong, delicious, and exactly what a mai tai should look\taste like ! Painkiller: So fun and even comes with a souvenir back scratcher you can take home lol Blue Hawaiian: This is a creeeper, but so good ! Overall, The Luau is a solid, head over there to grab a tropical drink if you're missing the islands . Or maybe check out their karaoke nights on the weekends if you're looking for a fun night out ! (They even have board games you can borrow to play while you're there) . read more

The Luau - @angiela.eats (SD foodie Instagram) - Tiki Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Took my gf here for a surprise and she was so stoked. She loved the decor and ambiance of the place. We had the pleasure of being served by Jonah. This dude knew his stuff and answered any questions we had. He made us 4 different drinks in total and all were so good. Not to mention he kept the coconut shell constantly full of complimentary goldfish and pretzels. He also let us know that they got karaoke there (I think Thursday-Saturday)! Shoutout to Jonah and the Luau for making our first visit there a memorable one. It definitely won't be our last time being there read more

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Dearest Luau, I really wanted to love you. We decided to spend my daughter's birthday celebrations in your lovely bar. The bartender was so resourceful when we requested a specific birthday song he made it happen. The musical build-up when bringing out scorpion bowls was quite the show. Excellent service from this young man. However, as the night proceeded, we met the *bar host* . He greeted my daughter with a hug and said he loved her energy and our celebrating.... I believe that wasn't the truth. Now those who know me understand when I celebrate, I celebrate EVERYONE, the girl done singing, the young man who has a birthday, the beautiful singing from an excellent singer. Like I said, everyone, I'm proud to do it. We love to send love. Unfortunately, at this establishment, the young man at the door was not a gentleman who liked such celebrations. Firstly, I was shamed for my pick of karaoke song, I'm not a singer, sir, and I'm here for a good time, not a long time. Ok, I let that slide and was chilling as I chose another favorite song to butcher. After singing my song and hearing the excitement and cheering from my family, I was pumped. I sat down with them. We were having a great time when someone decided to rain on our parade. I was going to order another round of drinks, but my mind was quickly changed. The young, handsome *bar host* came to tell us we were cheering for others at about a 12, and we needed to take it down to an 8. This gentleman thought it was ok to tell my daughter whose birthday it was, that she shouldn't be cheering others on so loudly. Well, hell, I didn't know we were at church.  I chose to stay up until my nieces sang. We cheered really loudly, and I let the bartender know he was appreciated. I also told him we were much too rowdy for their bar, so we were leaving. Where he proceeded to say Wow, she has a pair of lungs. I said, "Yes, and I made them and I'm proud." I wanted to love you so much, Luau, your drinks were lovely the atmosphere was great. When you tell a woman's daughter to be quiet who has fought her whole life to have a voice, you lose not only a customer, but you put sadness in my heart. We will continue to spend our money in the bars that welcome our celebrations and how we spread love and light. Because you know we going to come full force with sunshine, rainbows, and our set of lungs.. Now, if you read this far, go get a drink, but please keep it to a golf clap if you go. Must not anger the lovely gentleman at the door. Besos, take care  P.S Lime in the coconut in Chula Vista accepted the rest of our monies that night. For you folks that like to celebrate follow me for more tips. *edited for correct terminology * read more

I'm not usually someone who posts negative reviews, but I felt this experience needed to be addressed. We came to Luau on a Saturday night to celebrate a friend's birthday and enjoy karaoke. The bartenders were wonderful, the drinks were great, and we were having a fantastic time. Unfortunately, the entire evening was overshadowed by an extremely unpleasant interaction with the DJ. While we were in the middle of a song and simply trying to engage the crowd and encourage everyone to sing along, the DJ approached us in a very aggressive manner. Instead of discreetly pulling my friend aside to explain that she may have been doing something incorrectly, he chose to confront her publicly. He grabbed her arm, stood over her, and yelled at her in front of the entire room. There is never a reason for a customer to be physically grabbed or publicly humiliated, especially by someone representing the establishment. The situation was embarrassing, upsetting, and completely changed the atmosphere of what had been a fun celebration. The staff behind the bar provided excellent service, which makes this even more disappointing. However, because of this interaction, we will not be returning. Based on our experience, I cannot recommend this venue for karaoke. It's unfortunate because the establishment has a lot of potential, but this incident left a lasting negative impression. I sincerely hope management addresses this behavior to ensure other guests do not have a similar experience. read more

Great Drinks. But if you dont close out your tab properly you will wake up to 40 dollars over charge. They steal in this place. Honesty goes a long way... especially with repeat business. Nice decor. read more

Jonah, Carter, Tony, Sterling, Denae, Spencer and Brett are the most respectful servers I have ever experienced at a bar! Jonah always brings the best vibes and Carter always makes sure I'm doing well! Favorite bar of El Cajon! Couldn't ask for more! read more

The Luau - Tiki Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I LOVE the Luau. Sterling hosting karaoke is phenomenal, and he has the voice of a seasoned professional but fun. Bartenders Tony, Carter and Denae are all consummate professionals. Drinks are poured efficiently and friendly. I'd give this place 10 stars if I could. read more

The best Mai Tai, period Ok, it's a bar, but the staff takes such great care of you; I felt like a local. I've visited now three times and can we talk about consistency. Perfect. Tony makes you feel at home read more

The Luau - My love and I feeling the vibe. - Tiki Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We've been to The Luau several times now and it's become one of our favorite go-to spots in San Diego! The tropical vibes, fun cocktails, and friendly staff keep us coming back. On our most recent visit, my boyfriend, our friend, and I came in early in the evening when it was quieter, and we pretty much had the place to ourselves and honestly, it was a blast. Denae was amazing! Tony came in toward the end of our visit and brought such great energy. Super welcoming, fun to chat with, and totally made us feel like VIPs. We sampled all kinds of cocktails (the menu is creative and everything tastes fresh and tropical), and they didn't miss a beat. Whether you're with a group or just stopping in for a quick drink, the team here knows how to create a good time. Huge thanks to Denae and Tony -- we'll definitely be back again soon! read more

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This bar is incredible! I had a fun time here! I wanted to check out local bars in La Mesa and my friend suggested The Luau. The bartenders were Tony and John. Tony handed us some snacks: Goldfish and pretzels! What a treat! I had a Virgin Pina Colada. There was one drink that had a wooden back scratcher! The ambiance was warm and inviting. There was also a karaoke setup! Can't wait to come back!!!! read more

The Luau - Snacks - Tiki Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great spot, fantastic service, EXCELLENT drinks and a beautiful back patio. A fantastic way to drain the work day away!

I had a great time with my friend at The Luau! We sang karaoke on a Thursday night while I was in town. There was a very diverse crowd, which I loved! We were probably the oldest people there but they were all very friendly. The Luau is not a dive bar and is clean and didn't smell like stale beer. And there were some great singers. I will go back next time I'm in town and recommend the Luau highly. read more

We visited The Luau March 2026. Very nice Tiki Bar on El Cajon Blvd in San Diego. Denae, the bartender was fantastic. We had Mai Tais, very good, not too sweet. They have a large selection of Tiki drinks a good selection of beers as well. It's very clean and the outdoor patio is nice. read more

Shailey took great care of us. She was super helpful with drink recommendations, as well as food recommendations for nearby taco shops. She was also very funny and sassy. A gem for sure. We were on a parents night out double date and this place was absolutely perfect. The ambience here is fantastic and given its random location it is quite the oasis. You walk off the street and are transported to tiki land. The patio is so inviting and relaxing that it's a great place to end up for the evening, not just start at. Also, very clean bathrooms. The drink menu is extensive and everything looked good, which is not always the case to me. The pretzels and goldfish to snack on are perfect. We loved all our drinks (can't remember which were which now, sorry. But I don't think you can really go wrong!) and every part of our experience here and can't wait to go back! read more

The Luau - Tiki Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Drove past this spot several times. It's a pretty small spot and easily overlookable. Heard about it from friends and decided to stop by for a look. I ended up having several drinks and spent about 3 hours here. It turned out to be a really chill spot! There was only a handful of people in the bar. Maybe 12. And two bartenders. We all got served pretty quickly and everyone was really nice. I came in after a date night and was dressed up, but most people were there in casual clothes. In addition to the drinks we ordered, we also got a snack bowl full of pretzels and gold fish. And they replenish them when we finished the bowl. All the decorations are Hawaiian themed naturally. The front door is open and so there was a nice cross breeze blowing through the space. There's also a small stage so it looks like they may host live music from time to time. We ordered the following drinks: HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA'A which consist of - Gin, Almond Orgeat Syrup, Curaçao, Bitters, Pineapple, and Lemon. After one or two, you'll want to folic in the pacific blue. Polynesian 75 which consist of - Rum, Champagne, Cinnamon Simple Syrup, and Pineapple. Oh, bubbly South Pacific love, delicious and intoxicating say the angels from above. Singapore Sling which consist of - Gin, Benedictine, Cherry Brandy, Bitters, Lime, and a splash of Soda. This raffle drink will make you think you've gone to heaven while in the pink. The Luau Shooter which consist of - Rum, Curaçao, Almond Orgeat Syrup, Pineapple, Lime, and a splash of Soda. Navy Groug which consist of - three different rums, lime juice, grapefruit, soda water. I personally think the Singapore Sling and the Polynesian 75 were delightful. Best of the bunch. The others on the menu seemed a bit basic / something I can get elsewhere. Didn't feel as if the drinks were super strong though. Definitely high in sugar though. Which makes the hangover so much more worse. Either way... Happy with our choices. Sat at the bar and had a lovely conversation with the bartender. It opens at 2pm and closes around midnight. Prices are super affordable. 14 dollars ish per individual drink and 26 dollars for the share-a-bowl. Parking is street only. There's a lot adjacent to it with another bar and more businesses that are closed at night, you can try and park there as long as the bar is open. There's apparently a back outdoor patio but it was closed when we came. read more

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Great vibe here! My wife and our dog Tangelo aka TJ, had to evacuate due to the Eaton Fire and we were staying with pals in SD until the aqi cleared in Sierra Madre. It had been a challenging few days and the energy of our bartender (not sure on the spelling here but I'm going with the Greek spelling of Danae) was just what we needed along with the cocktails. She truly epitomized 'e komo mai,' and especially connected with our rescue pup Tangelo (from the SD based Labs & More). TJ had been a trooper through the evacuation and all the travel, strange places, high winds, and ash. TJ has discriminating taste when it comes to his petting allowance with new folks, and he chilled here, which is a testament to the kind and relaxing energy. The patio, the music, the conversations (mostly memories of all three of us independently living in different places in Australia!) and the sunshine revivified us from the hectic atmosphere we had been navigating for days. The drinks on the menu are festive and we were given great recommendations aligned with what we were in the mood for. The welcome shooter was beautiful in taste and spirit, and I imbibed and enjoyed both the Tropical Itch and an apropos Painkiller. We were all wholeheartedly grateful to have found this inviting space to decompress in. Aloha! read more

The Luau - Tangelo at The Luau - Tiki Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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The Luau.....their gracious and accommodating owner, bartenders, servers, karaoke hosts, and BAR HOST (I believe the term "doorman" is for hotels, condos, and the 1980's) make this bar a hidden gem. Like Cheers, at the Luau, everyone knows our names; the service and entertainment exceed expectations. And. The BAR HOST, who is a gem, consistently protects loyal patrons from rowdy crowds, people who have had one too many....and...from shrill, piercing shrieks that disturb the peace and ease of a lovely evening of listening to/singing favorite tunes. read more

This is a fun little neighborhood place! I'm not big on mixed or blended drinks, but I went out of my box! The drinks were fun, if that makes any sense. Our bartender was polite, patient and friendly Definitely a place to go back to for a fun night read more

The painkiller was super yummy. Surprisingly not so much for the Mai Thai and piña colada. You can't beat the ambience. They put a lot of thought into it and I felt like I was in another country. read more

We went here on a girl's night bar crawl and ended up staying for a couple drinks. The pain killer, kinda like a pina colada on steroids was so good...but watch out so tasty you don't realize how strong...just like I like 'em. Very chill Hawaiian tiki vibe inside and friendly bar staff. There was a cute little outdoor are that a group out there seemed to be enjoying very much & would love to check that out next time. read more

Will be returning for sure. Delicious drinks and a tiki bar atmosphere. Will make sure we hit a Friday so we can have funny and helpful Chloe again, as our server. Met Brett Rose and his lovely wife at Antica a few weeks ago. He said I needed to see his new-ish bar, The Luau. After mentioning Brett's name a couple times to Chloe, did not get a free drink, so maybe next time (hehe). We had a Zombie and Mai Tais. Mana Mai Tai was the butt kicker. Music was fun memory 60,70, 80's bands. At 9 pm the patrons increased and turned over to a much younger crazy fun customers singing Karaoke. read more

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Luau had fun, yummy holiday drinks and pretty atmosphere :) Carter was super friendly and provided great service! read more

The Luau - Tiki Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Revisited recently. They decorate for different events like Halloween and Christmas and sometimes offer speciality drinks. This place is very casual. Think your neighborhood bar. Not a place to get dressed up for. Parking is along the street only. Do not park in lot next door or you will be towed. They open at 2pm which is a huge plus! Most places don't open until 5. They no longer offer the welcome shooters which was disappointing but I understand. They still offer the snack bowl with pretzels and goldfish which is nice. Sometimes they have pop ups with outside food companies but they do not have an on-site kitchen to sell food. They have indoor/outdoor seating. Outdoor doesn't get very much of a breeze so it's fairly hot outside. The decor is very cute. They can handle very large groups here. The music volume both indoors and outdoors was very loud. They play 70s music here. Tried: scorpion bowl. It was reasonably priced for two people. If it's during the day you they do not light it so I would only order this at night. Taste was good. Their Mai tais are very strong. A little too much for me. Polynesian - this was nice and bubbly. Not sure I would get again though. My go to's are the Nabana hammock and blue Hawaiian. read more

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What a super fun place. Upon arrival it looks like any old dive bar, but once you enter you can see it has the tiki esthetics. The bartender was friendly I forgot his name but remembered he haven't lived in SD long. There was a back area and loved the space. It's really cute and relaxing. The drinks were good. Yum and fun. read more

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Such a lovely quaint bar in La Mesa . The bartender Brent is very welcoming , he makes you feel very comfortable. He makes phenomenal drinks . I'm not kidding I thoroughly enjoyed the Mai tai and mango pina colada he made me . We went on a week night . There weren't a lot of people there . I liked it because I was meeting someone I hadn't talked to in a long time so it wasn't too loud to talk . Brent did mention there is a bigger crowd there on the weekends . I look forward to checking this place out again . read more

The Luau - Mai tai - Tiki Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Come here on Mondays for Mai Tai Mondays ! ($8) The service was great. I appreciated our server John for being helpful with his drink suggestions. The ambience of the place is also great. Typical tiki vibes like the bars you would find in Hawaii. As for the drinks themselves, they weren't super strong. Prices are reasonable. The only thing about this place which might be a hit for some people is the the whole bar gets overturned by trivia night on Mondays. So if you're trying to go to a bar to have a conversation, I wouldn't recommend. read more

The Luau - Mai tai! - Tiki Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

It was a nice small place with friendly vibes and good drinks. It was karaoke night on Thursday and everyone had a good time getting up singing or just singing along. We had two drinks and both were very good. read more

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Great customer service, our hard tender was so helpful with drink selection. We hung out for drinks with friends. Great outdoor seating. Will definitely be back. read more

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Great small local bar. Great spot to go to, week day or weekends. We love to go on Fridays when they have live music. Still a new bar so not super packed which we love. They are Hawaiian themed with so much great cocktail options, with a full bar including rum, tequila, whiskey or vodka. They also have beer, draft, canned or bottled with lots of craft and regular options. When you first sit down they bring you a welcome shot with rum and pineapple juice as well as a bowl full of goldfish and pretzels. Definitely a small local business that is a great hidden gem and we love to support. 10/10 recommend. read more

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We came here last weekend to celebrate my birthday and the Luau did not disappoint. The vibes were great, drinks delish, not too mention karaoke was on fire! We were checked in at the door by Sterling and he asked if we'd ever been there before- to which we said no but were excited to check out. He gave us a quick rundown and checked in on us a few times to see how we were doing. We immediately felt at home in this small and inviting space. Our service was great and drinks strong. Per Sterling's rec I got the Frida (Spicy Marg) and got it extra spicy- so good! You can tell that there are good people here, good vibes and a fun place to be. Even though it was intimidating karaoke-wise (because everyone was so dang good) you felt like with a little liquid courage you could get up there belt anything and still be appreciated. Thanks for the friendly service and positive vibes Luau! We hope to be back soon :D read more

If you want a great night came here. Great drinks I got the piña colada. Best vibes, i went with my friends and had an amazing time!

This is my favorite place. I start all my vacation here. I feel like I'm on Hawaii in El Cajon. Everyone so friendly and welcoming. Aloha!! read more

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Why did it take us so long to come here?! It's so good I'm posting while I'm sitting here! Within a couple minutes of sitting down at an open table we were greeted with a welcome shot (the luau shooter), a bowl of pretzels and goldfish, and waters. So far, the regular mai tai and skinny mai tai are both great and pack a punch. Also, the prices are much nicer than some other bars in the trendier neighborhoods offering tiki drinks. They have live music tonight and Hawaiian food available for purchase out back. Really fun decor both inside and out on the patio. Staff is really friendly. New favorite bar?? Edit: The burger from the food pop-up tonight (I think his business is called The Hawaiian Hippie) was very good. Savory, sweet, and super delicious! read more

The Luau - Skinny mai tai - Tiki Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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