On March 16, 2026, La Mesa opened on George Gershwin Avenue. Not the most obvious neighborhood for a cozy Spanish restaurant, as the Zuidas is mostly known for glass towers and business lunches with receipts. But that's exactly what La Mesa capitalizes on. The concept is built on the idea that a table brings people together, whether you come as a couple or with a larger group.
The menu goes in two directions. On the one hand, there are the tapas, small dishes based on high-quality Spanish ingredients that you share with whoever is sitting next to you. On the other hand, there is the grill. Grilled dishes to complement the smaller bites, making it a full-fledged meal without necessarily plowing through a three-course menu. The Basque influence is not neglected here: that cuisine is known for direct flavors, good produce and little fuss around it. That fits the tone La Mesa wants to set.
The wine list matches the cuisine, with a selection that goes with Spanish flavors. No elaborate world wine list, but a focused choice that matches what's on the table. The atmosphere is informal, they say themselves. And that's no luxury for the Zuidas, because the neighborhood has enough sleek eateries where you instinctively lay low. La Mesa aims for something looser, something warmer.
La Mesa brings a Hispano-Basque approach to a part of the city that did not yet have it.
The name ‘la mesa’ was chosen deliberately. The table as a symbol for connection, for coming together, for the ritual of eating together. That may sound heavier than it is, because in practice it's simply about good tapas and grilled food in a pleasant environment. La Mesa brings a Spanish-Basque approach to a part of the city that didn't yet have it. And sometimes that's reason enough to go there.