Do I need prior bonsai experience?

No, workshops are beginner-friendly and instructors teach every step from potting to pruning.

Venues vary; Mission Brewery is generally family-friendly but confirm the under-21 policy when booking.

What is included with a ticket?

Each ticket includes a tree, a ceramic pot, soil, basic tools to borrow, and two hours of instruction plus Tree-iage support.

Can two people share one tree?

No. Tickets are sold per person and each attendee must have their own tree and seat.

What if the class is canceled?

Refunds are issued only if the class is canceled for insufficient numbers or by the operator; check cancellation policies when booking.

Is there ongoing support after the class?

Yes—Bonsai Bar offers follow-up support through their Tree-iage program to help your tree thrive.

Tiny Trees and Craft Beer: Bonsai Bar Workshop at Mission Brewing, San Diego

On a lively night in East Village, Bonsai Bar at Mission Brewing turns craft culture into green handiwork. Located at 131 14th St in San Diego, California, this two-hour workshop invites beginners and curious hands to build and take home a living miniature tree while enjoying a neighborhood brewery with roots back to 1913.

The experience centers on hands-on bonsai basics: selecting a young specimen, pruning and potting in a ceramic container, and learning simple maintenance techniques you can use at home. Hosts provide everything—trees, pots, soil, shears and a chopstick for root work—plus two hours of step-by-step instruction and ongoing Tree-iage support after you leave. The venue is part of Mission Brewery’s historic footprint in San Diego, a place where exposed brick, industrial beams, and poured concrete create a relaxed, social setting that feels equal parts classroom and neighborhood bar.

What makes this offering special is how it combines tactile craft with a convivial urban atmosphere. Bonsai Bar is not a formal horticulture course; it’s a creative, accessible entry to plant care that emphasizes practice over perfect technique. The tiny trees are a chance to learn about structure and scale, soil composition, and seasonal rhythm in a compact, manageable project. The location itself is a feature: Mission Brewery’s 1913 legacy and family-friendly policies make it an appealing option for a date night, a friend outing, or a low-key solo experiment.

Practical details matter: arrive fifteen minutes early to check in, order food or a drink, and pick your tree and pot. Tickets are sold per person; each attendee leaves with their own tree and pot. The workshop is designed for beginners but offers techniques that will reward repeat visits—wiring, pruning principles, and watering routines introduced in plain language.

Bonsai Bar connects city dwellers with living craft and helps demystify plantkeeping. It’s also quietly sustainable: small specimens use little water and can thrive in apartments with basic care, making this class a low-impact way to bring green into urban life. If you’re staying in San Diego’s East Village or downtown, this two-hour session is a practical, hands-on break from hiking and coastal trips—an opportunity to slow down, learn a new skill, and leave with something alive to tend. For visitors looking for an evening that blends local history, craft beer ambience, and creative learning, Bonsai Bar at Mission Brewing is a memorable, approachable pick.

Note that workshops may be canceled if minimum numbers aren’t met, and refunds are only issued in those cases; check policies when booking. Mission Downtown welcomes families and dogs according to venue rules, and under-21 guests may be allowed with a guardian—confirm before arriving. Bring curiosity, and expect friendly guidance from instructors throughout the evening regularly.