San Diego

The San Diego nightlife scene is much more diverse and innovative than it was just a decade ago. Back then, options were limited to the pricey singles-heavy dance clubs Downtown, the party-hearty atmosphere of Pacific Beach, and a handful of charmingly musty neighborhood dive bars popular with locals. Today options in San Diego have expanded dramatically, boasting more than 90 craft breweries throughout the county, not to mention several stylish cocktail lounges.

The Gaslamp Quarter is still one of the most popular areas to go for a night on the town. Named for actual gaslights that once provided illumination along its once-seedy streets (it housed a number of gambling halls and brothels), the neighborhood bears only a trace of its debauched roots. Between the Gaslamp and nearby East Village, Downtown San Diego mostly comprises chic nightclubs, tourist-heavy pubs, and a handful of live music venues. Even most of the hotels Downtown have a street-level or rooftop bar—so plan on making it a late night if that’s where you intend to bunk. On weekends, parking can be tricky; most lots run about $20, and though there is metered parking (free after 6 pm and all day Sunday), motorists don’t give up those coveted spots so easily. Some restaurants and clubs offer valet, though that can get pricey.

Hillcrest is a popular area for LGBT nightlife and culture, whereas just a little bit east of Hillcrest, ever-expanding North Park features a diverse range of bars and lounges that cater to a twenty- and thirtysomething crowd, bolstering its reputation as the city’s hipster capital. Nearby Normal Heights is a slightly less pretentious alternative, though whichever of these neighborhoods strikes your fancy, a cab from Downtown will run about the same price: $15

Nightlife along the beaches is more of a mixed bag. Where the scene in Pacific Beach might feel like every week is Spring Break, La Jolla veers toward being more cost-prohibitive. And although Point Loma is often seen as a sleeper neighborhood in terms of nightlife, it’s coming into its own with some select destinations.

If your drink involves caffeine and not alcohol, there's no shortage of coffeehouses in San Diego, and some of the better ones in Hillcrest and North Park stay open past midnight. Many of them also serve beer and wine, if the caffeine buzz isn’t enough.

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  • 1. Fairweather

    East Village | Bars/Pubs

    Hidden in plain sight next to PETCO Park, Fairweather is an urban tiki oasis with a top-notch cocktail menu that boasts classics like daiquiris and their signature frozen pina colada alongside modern interpretations of old-school tiki drinks like corpse revivers and mai tais. Come by during Comic-Con in July to view the parade of costumed characters while sipping on a rum refreshment on the balcony.

    795 J St., 2nd fl., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
    619-255–6507
  • 2. False Idol

    A walk-in refrigerator harbors the secret entrance to this tiki-theme speakeasy, which is attached to the full-service restaurant Craft & Commerce. Beneath fishing nets full of puffer-fish lights and elaborate tiki-head wall carvings, the knowledgeable staff serves up creative takes on tropical classics with the best selection of rums in town.  The bar fills up quickly, especially on weekends. Make a reservation online a week or more in advance.

    675 W. Beech St., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
  • 3. Mothership

    South Park

    Launched by the team behind Kindred, Mothership is a cocktail experience right out of the most fantastical science fiction. Its interior has to be seen to be believed, half of it resembling a cinematic spaceship and the other half looking like the alien worlds it landed on, while the drinks they serve—with names referencing the likes of Alien and Star Trek—are dazzling and delicious tiki concoctions. Reservations open up 21 days in advance but fill up fast, but bar seating is first-come, first-served.

    2310 30th St., San Diego, California, 92104, USA
    619-630--2187
  • 4. Noble Experiment

    There are a handful of speakeasy-style bars in San Diego, though none deliver so far above and beyond the novelty quite like this cozy-yet-swank cocktail lounge hidden in the back of a burger restaurant. Seek out the hidden door (hint: look for the stack of kegs), tuck into a plush leather booth next to the wall of golden skulls, and sip on the best craft cocktails in the city. For even more exclusivity, check out the speakeasy-within-a-speakeasy Young Blood, which is an all-inclusive cocktail experience in an adjacent space for the up-front fee of $67.  Reservations are almost always a must, so be sure to call ahead.

    777 G St., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
    619-888–4713
  • 5. Starlite

    Mission Hills | Bars/Pubs

    Bar-goers are dazzled by Starlite's award-winning interior design, which includes rock walls, luxe leather booths, and a massive mirror-mounted chandelier. A hexagonal wood-plank entryway leads to a sunken white bar where creative cocktails, such as the signature Starlite Mule served in a copper mug, are mixed. During warmer months, procuring a spot on the outside wood-decked patio is an art form.

    3175 India St., San Diego, California, 92103, USA
    619-358–9766
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  • 6. The Casbah

    This small club near the airport, the unofficial headquarters of the city's indie music scene, has a national reputation for showcasing up-and-coming acts of all genres. Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and the White Stripes all played here on the way to stardom.

    2501 Kettner Blvd., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
    619-232–4355
  • 7. The Grant Grill

    Though the Grant Grill—located on the ground floor of the historic U.S. Grant Hotel—is a full-service restaurant, it's built up a reputation in recent years for stepping up San Diego's craft cocktail game. The cocktail menu is updated seasonally with fresh ingredients and themes (one recently featured a mini "Voodoo" doll frozen inside of a large ice cube), all of which are both innovative and palate pleasant. The atmosphere is comfortable and elegant, even on its busiest nights.

    326 Broadway, San Diego, California, 92101, USA
    619-744–2077

    Nightlife Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner on Sun. and Mon.
  • 8. The Grass Skirt and Captain's Quarters

    Pacific Beach

    This pair of speakeasies delights guests with high-theme decor and engaging menus. Entering the nondescript storefront, a sign above the desk in the seemingly cluttered travel agency reads "Other World Travel," but the working kitchen behind offers a hint that all is not as it seems. Accessed through a false freezer door on the left, the Grass Skirt tiki bar serves a wide selection of rum-based tropical cocktails and a menu of shareable pupus in delightfully kitsch surroundings. Venturing through the hidden door to the right transports travelers to the refined Captain's Quarters of a 17th-century sailing vessel where small bites are served alongside a gin-centric cocktail menu. Be sure to reserve a table through the website—these hidden gems are no secret!

    910 Grand Ave., San Diego, California, 92109, USA
    858-412–5237
  • 9. The Rooftop by STK

    Gaslamp Quarter | Dance Club

    At this rooftop bar and lounge atop the Andaz hotel, a fashionable crowd sips cocktails poolside while gazing at gorgeous views of the city. Thursday through Saturday, the scene heats up with a DJ spinning dance music, while velvet ropes and VIP bottle service please the A-listers (like Prince Harry) in the crowd.

    Andaz San Diego, 600 F St., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
    619-814–2060
  • 10. Vin de Syrah

    This "spirit and wine cellar" sends you down a rabbit hole (or at least down some stairs) to a whimsical spot straight out of Alice in Wonderland. Behind a hidden door (look for a handle in the grass wall), you'll find visual delights (grapevines suspended from the ceiling, vintage jars with flittering "fireflies," cozy chairs nestled around a faux fireplace and pastoral vista) that rival the culinary ones—the wine list is approachable and the charcuterie boards are exquisitely curated. This is more than just a wine bar: the cocktails are also worth a try.

    901 5th Ave., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
    619-234–4166

    Nightlife Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 11. Westgate Hotel Plaza Bar

    The old-money surroundings, including leather-upholstered seats, marble tabletops, and a grand piano, supply one of the most elegant and romantic settings for a drink in San Diego.

    1055 2nd Ave., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
    619-238–1818
  • 12. Aero Club

    Mission Hills

    Named for its proximity to the airport, this watering hole draws in whiskey lovers for its unbeatable selection.

    3365 India St., San Diego, California, 92103, USA
    619-297–7211
  • 13. Altitude Sky Lounge

    Location is everything at this sophisticated lounge on the roof of the 22-floor San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter. The views of the Downtown skyline and Petco Park will give you a natural high.

    660 K St., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
    619-696–0234
  • 14. American Comedy Co.

    Gaslamp Quarter | Comedy Clubs

    At this underground space modeled after the legendary comedy clubs in New York, there's not a bad seat in the house—which is especially great since the venue pulls in some of the hugest names in stand-up comedy.

    818 6th Ave., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
    619-795–3858
  • 15. Amplified Ale Works

    Pacific Beach

    Pacific Beach often veers between the trendy and the tawdry, so this genuine craft brewhouse offers a more casual middle ground. Amplified serves more than a dozen in-house-brewed beers and healthy, vegan-friendly Mediterranean/Californian food at its scenic outdoor beer garden with breathtaking ocean views.

    4150 Mission Blvd., San Diego, California, 92109, USA
    858-270–5222
  • 16. Baja Betty's

    Hillcrest

    Although it draws plenty of gay customers, the festive and friendly atmosphere is popular with just about everyone in the Hillcrest area (and their pets are welcome, too). The bar staff stocks more than 100 brands of tequila and mixes plenty of fancy cocktails.

    1421 University Ave., San Diego, California, 92103, USA
    619-269–8510
  • 17. Bang Bang

    Gaslamp Quarter | Dance Club

    Part sushi bar and part discotheque, Bang Bang offers both a good culinary game as well as a lineup of superstar DJs providing beats and breaks. It's become famous for its bathroom decor, adorned with images of actor and heartthrob Ryan Gosling.

    526 Market St., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
    619-677–2264
  • 18. Bar Basic

    This spot is always bustling, in part because it's the place to be seen for Padres fans or anyone else attending events at Petco Park. True to its name, Basic reliably dishes up simple pleasures: strong drinks and hot, coal-fired pizza. The garage-style doors roll up and keep the industrial-chic former warehouse ventilated during the balmy summer.

    410 10th Ave., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
    619-531–8869
  • 19. barleymash

    This gigantic space can resemble either a raucous club or a sports bar, depending on what night you're there. But the drinks are strong and reasonably priced, and the reclaimed wood decor makes for an intimate atmosphere, even when the DJs are spinning mostly Top 40.

    600 5th Ave., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
    619-255–7373
  • 20. Bivouac Ciderworks

    North Park

    In a town dominated by beer, craft ciders offer a refreshing alternative to the typical IPA. True to its name, Bivouac's design incorporates an open front and an interior seemingly held together by ropes—the rear table with suspended bench seating is a favorite of larger parties. Cider aficionados and newcomers alike can sample a wide range of styles through customizable flights, while skeptics can stick to the selection of wine, craft beer, and fruit-based cocktails (think brandy). The Filipino-influenced menu, much of it gluten-free and vegan, is as big a draw as the cider.

    3986 30th St., San Diego, California, 92104, USA
    619-725–0844

    Nightlife Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.

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