San Diego is lining up a nostalgia-fueled sugar rush this summer. The first-ever Candy Land Café is set to take over Bayside Kitchen + Bar in Little Italy starting tomorrow, transforming the waterfront spot into a walk-through version of the classic board game. The limited-run pop-up, which runs into early October, promises oversized photo sets, DIY cookie decorating, and a candy-themed menu that swings between sweet and savory. Tickets start at about $24.50 and include a 90-minute seating plus small food and merch credits.
Inside the Life-Size Candy Land
Once inside, guests move through life-size scenes inspired by Candy Land, from Mr. Mint’s Peppermint Forest to King Kandy’s Castle and Jolly’s Gumdrop Mountains. Expect oversized props, a Sweet Adventure checklist, and plenty of places to grab that obligatory social-media shot.
The menu leans whimsical, with rainbow smashburgers, chocolate barbecue sliders, towering milkshakes, and a shareable "Chocolate River" fondue, along with interactive mocktails and cocktails. Activities include a DIY cookie-decorating station and exclusive merch for sale, according to the San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog.
Tickets, Hours, and How to Reserve
Tickets start at $24.50 per person and, per the event listing, include a 90-minute seating, a $10 food credit, and a $5 merch credit. Reservations are available through Bucket Listers.
The Candy Land Café runs from July 9 through October 4, with multiple time slots offered daily. The operation is cashless, and an automatic 20% service gratuity is added on-site. The pop-up fully takes over Bayside Kitchen + Bar at 2137 Pacific Highway in Little Italy. Children under 2 do not need a ticket.
Why It Is Landing in San Diego
Organizers timed the launch to roll right into San Diego Comic-Con and join the long list of offsite activations that turn the city into a summer entertainment hub. Bucket Listers is producing the experience in partnership with Hasbro.
Derek Berry called the café "more than a café - it’s a full journey," and Hasbro’s Matt Proulx said the activation brings the brand to life beyond the game board, according to the San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog.
The local tie runs deeper than a Comic-Con crossover. Candy Land was invented in 1948 by Eleanor Abbott while she was recovering from polio in a San Diego hospital, a history chronicled by PBS' American Experience.
Who It Is For
The café is pitched as all-ages fun, but heavy demand is likely during Comic-Con weeks and summer weekends. KPBS lists the recurring schedule and recommends booking ahead.
Tickets are open to the general public and not tied to convention badges, so families, nostalgia-minded locals, and visitors looking for an over-the-top photo op are all in play. If you plan to go, treat it like an offsite event: reserve a timeslot, arrive early, and budget for merch and on-site charges.
