Dreams come true in all sorts of places: just ask owners Victoria and Patrick.

Vinya: vino + vinyasa, 5185 Balboa Avenue,

Clairemont Mesa; Driving up to Vinya: vino + vinyasa, I was confused. The Balboa Crest Shopping Center in Clairemont Mesa housed a liquor store and a check-cashing site. Could there really be a serene yoga studio and wine bar hiding somewhere in this sad-looking strip mall tucked in among the big box stores? Happily, yes.

Owners Victoria and Patrick are a couple with a dream: to create a community space where yoga friends can hang out after class without having to travel and reconvene. It began in 2016 when they got married and earned their certifications in both yoga and wine. They opened their doors in December of 2022, and since then, they’ve been working their butts off to make the dream work — greeting the customers, pouring the wine, teaching the yoga classes, and even stepping into the kitchen on the chef’s day off (which happened to be Sunday, the day I visited).

Salad and Sauvignon Blanc: a perfect post-yoga repast.

Vinya is open and spacious, with a casual warehouse feel. If you want to hang out in your Lululemon leggings and a sports bra or hoodie while you sip your cabernet, that’s totally cool. When I visited, most people had their yoga mats propped up next to their tables. I took an evening Vin/Yin class, which started with a quicker-paced vinyasa flow of dynamic poses, followed by a more meditative yin period utilizing yoga blocks, bolsters, and blankets for relaxation. The props were provided free of charge, but it’s probably best to bring your own mat, as is customary in most yoga studios. (Rental mats are available for an additional charge.) Class lasted just over one hour and cost $28. Afterward, I noted that four people chose to stay and have a glass of wine at the bar. Victoria and Partick’s vision was becoming a reality. Besides the yoga folk, Vinya also welcomes Meetup Groups and hosts special events, such as a monthly coloring-book club and live jazz nights.

Salmon avocado toast: simplicity and style.

There are a lot of solid options on the menu: colorful salads and promising sandwiches. I was tempted by the stuffed French toast ($16), crab cake sando ($18) and baked brie ($12). And I wish I could have ordered the Burnt Basque Cheesecake with cinnamon whipped cream and paprika spiced pecans ($8), but that was, sadly, a weekday-only offering. My mom always taught me you need a reason to return!

Vinya offers an ever-changing wine list (plus a wine club), featuring both familiar and unexpected regions such as California, Mexico, France, Tanzania, Chile and Bosnia-Herzegovina. There are typically 15 different wines on rotation and 9 beers on tap. I sampled the L’Aumonier Sauvignon Blanc from France’s Touraine province, which tasted of dried apricots and subtly sweet lychee fruit ($13). I was also pleased with my second choice, Domaine De Mourchon dry rosé from the Rhone Valley, which tasted like strawberries in the heat of summer ($13).

Burrata salad: a refreshing combination of contrasts.

Despite the A++ presentation, complete with delicately placed salmon rosettes and tiny sprigs of dill, the Salmon Avo Toast ($16) satiated my hunger but didn’t wow me. A simple crack of salt and black pepper along with a meager sprinkling of red chili flakes would have amped it up — ever so slightly, but just enough. And the chimichurri component could have been stronger. Still, I once had a boyfriend who said that “hunger is the best spice.” We broke up, but he did have a point. If you’re hungry and you like your avocado toast simple and uncomplicated, you will enjoy it.

The Burrata Salad ($13) was much more engaging. The scratch-made strawberry-blueberry sauce and balsamic reduction complemented the multi-colored beets and honeydew melon slices, and all that sweet tanginess was countered by the slightly sour burrata cheese, which hit with a refreshing sensation akin to a cold glass of milk. Mint leaves added a fresh herbal punch. And the dish was larger than I anticipated, easily shareable among friends as an appetizer or even enough to serve as a main meal.